The State of Nebraska Agriculture

December 15, 2015 Leave a comment


By Governor Pete Ricketts

Over the past few weeks, I have joined Nebraska Cattlemen and Farm Bureau members at their annual conferences.  These events are always great opportunities to reflect on the year’s successes and challenges while also sharing ideas on how we can work together to continue to grow agriculture which accounts for one in four jobs in Nebraska.  While our state’s farmers and ranchers have faced challenges ranging from lower commodity prices to avian influenza this year, Nebraska agriculture continues to find new ways to grow.  Let’s review some of the events of the past year that positively impacted our state’s number one industry.

 

In January, I recommended dramatically increasing property tax relief provided through the Property Tax Credit Relief Fund.  Working with the Legislature, we were able to successfully deliver $408 million in property tax relief over the next two years – an over 45 percent increase over previous budgets.  While this is significant progress, there is more work to be done to improve Nebraska’s tax climate.

 

In March, I hosted the 27th Annual Governor’s Ag Conference in Kearney.  At the conference, we discussed the future of international trade, expansions of value-added agriculture, farm transitions to the next generation, and federal regulatory and policy issues impacting Nebraska farms and ranches.

 

In April, the Department of Agriculture and I led a delegation of Nebraska beef producers to New York City to visit four venues to promote Nebraska beef.  At these venues, we met with food journalists, nutritionists, and culinary experts to highlight Nebraska’s quality beef products and educate them on what makes Nebraska’s beef the best in the world.  Promotion and education are critical components of ensuring that today’s consumers understand how our Nebraska family farms operate.

 

This year, my administration also led international trade missions to the European Union and Asia.  In Europe, we visited the 2015 World Food Expo in Milan and Bologna to meet with key executive and organization representatives to tout Nebraska as an ideal location for food processing.  This fall, Lt. Governor Foley and Ag Director Greg Ibach led a delegation of ag producers on a trade mission to Japan, our state’s third largest trading partner.  Shortly following, a delegation traveled with me to Tokyo to meet with Marubeni, Itochu, and Kewpie, Japanese commodity and food processing companies that invest in Nebraska.  Additionally, Director Ibach traveled to Africa to explore other trade opportunities.

 

In June, Congress passed legislation authorizing Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), a policy which my administration supported because it opens up a path for additional opportunities for Nebraska to increase our exports and grow our economy.  TPA has helped move forward the successful conclusion of the negotiation of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).  TPP will lower trade tariffs imposed by countries such as Japan and Malaysia.

 

Throughout the year, we added eight counties to our Livestock Friendly County program.  In September, Hayes County became the 35th county in our state designated as “livestock friendly.”

 

In October, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit blocked President Obama’s Waters of the U.S. rule, also known as WOTUS.  This rule would have given the Environmental Protection Agency expansive new authority over Nebraska’s waterways that are the lifeblood of agriculture in our state.  Thanks to the leadership of Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson, our state did not have to comply with WOTUS this year, and we will continue to fight its implementation.

 

These are just a few of the highlights from the past several months.  As we enter 2016, my administration remains committed to helping our ag producers take advantage of new opportunities and confront whatever challenges lie ahead for agriculture in our state.  Working together, we can ensure that the industry continues to grow.  If you have ideas on how we can continue to grow agriculture in our state, I hope you will take a moment to share them with me by emailing pete.ricketts@nebraska.gov or calling 402-471-2244.

Governor Pete Ricketts

Governor Pete Ricketts

 

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Celebrating Nebraska Agriculture

March 19, 2015 Leave a comment


Governor Pete Ricketts

Governor Pete Ricketts

All across America, producers, consumers, and educators are participating in National Ag Week from March 16th-21st.  Here in Nebraska, the celebration recognizes many faces within our number one industry. Whether it’s a farm family’s decades-long success or the creativity of future ag leaders, those who contribute to agriculture in Nebraska come from many backgrounds.

 

During National Ag Week, I’m working with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture to promote the ag industry, which contributes up to $23 billion dollars annually to Nebraska’s economy. On Monday, I visited Omaha, Broken Bow, North Platte, and Seward to recognize the success of our state’s many agribusinesses. Nebraska’s Ag Director Greg Ibach, Nebraska Farm Bureau President Steve Nelson, and chair of the Legislature’s Agriculture Committee, Senator Jerry Johnson, joined me on the tour.

 

This month, I have teamed up with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture to publish its annual magazine, “Nebraska Agriculture and You.” This issue includes success stories from Nebraska’s poultry, honey, popcorn, and potato businesses.  The magazine’s 2015 “featured family” highlights a dairy farm in northeast Nebraska, which spans 44 years and 2 generations.  Mike and Joy Malena share ownership of their operation, near Leigh, with their 3 grown children and their children’s spouses. The family produces and sells 120,000 pounds of milk, per day, and also farms more than 2,000 acres of corn and alfalfa. The Malena Family’s story exemplifies the pride, loyalty, and hard work many Nebraskans can relate to when sharing the success of an agribusiness with a new generation. Readers may request magazines by calling 800-422-6692. A digital copy of the magazine is also available on the NE Dept. of Ag website, at www.nda.nebraska.gov.

 

National Ag Week also celebrates some of our state’s youngest ag visionaries, with a Nebraska Department of Agriculture-sponsored poster contest. This year, Nebraska’s elementary-aged students portrayed “a day on the farm” in their drawings, and I am honored to help judge the contest.

 

Keeping our youth inspired and informed about agriculture starts with education. Members of Nebraska’s Agricultural Youth Council (NAYC) are college-age students who advocate agriculture on behalf of our state’s youngest residents. NAYC members promote the industry to elementary students, and also introduce high school juniors and seniors to ag-related leaders and programs, through the Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute (NAYI). A few weeks ago, both groups participated in their first-ever “Youth in Agriculture” meeting at my Governor’s Ag Conference in Kearney. Close to 100 students met, and more joined via the internet, to hear stories from several recent college graduates, now working within Nebraska’s ag industry. NAYC Counselors Trent Mastny and Johnny Ference moderated the event, and hope to return to their home communities to work in agriculture. Both are great examples of up-and-coming talent within our state. After graduation, Trent plans on gaining outside agribusiness experience to help his family farm in Howells, and Johnny is already working to establish his own seed corn and agronomy services business in Ord.

 

I’ve long said that Nebraska’s number one resource is our people. Preparing our next generation of ag leaders is more important than ever, to keep Nebraska growing so we can continue to feed the world. As your Governor, I am proud of our state’s top industry and efforts by young Nebraskans to promote agriculture. We must also take time to thank our state’s many ag producers, who are working every day to Grow Nebraska.

 

As agriculture continues to grow, my administration welcomes new ideas from each and every one of you across our great state.

 

As always, you are welcome to contact my office at (402) 471-2244, or by email, atpete.ricketts@nebraska.gov.

 

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Nebraska Cattlemen Association Support Ricketts

June 17, 2014 Leave a comment


The Nebraska Cattlemen Association today announced its support for Pete Ricketts’ campaign for governor.

 

“I am honored to have the support of the Nebraska Cattlemen Association,” Ricketts said.  “Nebraska’s cattle producers are the best in the country.  One of my top priorities will be to help promote value-added ag opportunities that lead to economic growth throughout the state.  Continued strength and innovation in the beef industry will be critical.  I am very excited about the future of agriculture in Nebraska, and I look forward to working with livestock producers across the state.”

 

“The Nebraska Cattlemen Political Action Committee unanimously voted to support Pete Ricketts campaign to be Nebraska’s 40th Governor,” said Jeff Rudolph, president of Nebraska Cattlemen.  “Pete is a staunch supporter of the Nebraska beef community and we look forward to working with him to continue strong leadership for all of Nebraska agriculture.”

 

The Nebraska Cattlemen Association is the largest livestock production organization in the state.

 

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