A Long-Overdue Farm Bill for Nebraska Producers

For many, spring is a season full of new beginnings. A time when the sun sets later, the weather gets a little nicer, and excitement for summer plans begins to grow.

For ag producers across the Third District, spring is filled with hard work. Mornings start earlier and evenings stretch longer as they work to prepare for what lies ahead.

Many Nebraskan ranchers have just finished calving, which means branding season is now in full swing. For Nebraska’s farmers, it is time to check equipment and make sure their machinery is ready to go as they begin planting this year’s crops. Each year, these routines and preparations begin again like clockwork. They stand the test of time because regardless of current events, the latest trends, or the craziness in Washington, because there are some things that just have to get done.

While the same cannot always be said for Congress, the House recently did check one major item off its never-ending to-do list when we passed a long-overdue Farm Bill. I recently had the opportunity to share this update when I spoke with several members of the Nebraska Farm Bureau about key provisions in this legislation and what they would mean for Nebraska’s producers.

This year’s Farm Bill builds on our efforts from last summer’s Working Families Tax Cuts, where we strengthened crop insurance, permanently doubled death tax relief to $15 million per individual, and allowed producers to immediately expense 100% of new equipment costs. The House version of the Farm Bill would provide long-awaited solutions to several challenges facing agriculture. It would deliver a much-needed fix to California’s overreaching Proposition 12 mandate, ensuring out-of-state regulations do not dictate how Nebraska producers raise their livestock.

The bill would also build on previous efforts to strengthen trade by increasing support for export promotion programs like the Market Access Program and the Foreign Market Development Program, helping open new doors for American agriculture abroad. It would also increase Farm Service Agency loan limits, so producers have greater access to the capital they need to operate and grow.

In addition, it would permanently move the Food for Peace program to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), bringing a farmer-founded initiative closer to those who know agriculture best. It would also direct USDA to evaluate and strengthen its preparedness against foreign animal diseases, helping protect our livestock industry from emerging threats.

Just like our ag producers still have work to do, regardless of the season, my work for you in Congress is far from over. I will continue fighting to ensure Nebraska’s producers have the markets, tools, and support they need to succeed—not only for today, but for generations to come.