POLICY WATCH

Nov. 15 Hearing Focused on Barriers to Growing Ag

On Nov. 15, the Legislature’s Agriculture Committee will be hosting an interim hearing to examine opportunities for future growth in agricultural development, identify regulatory barriers to growth opportunities, and explore means to enable the state and local communities to be prepared to recruit and realize opportunities for agricultural development.

The hearing will be held in Doniphan, Neb. (Doniphan Area Event Center, 103 W. Pine Street). If you’re interested or plan on testifying in front of the committee, please contact Ansley Mick (ansleym@nefb.org) or touch base with your Regional Manager.

USDA Releases Hemp Rules

On Tues., Oct. 29, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the text of its interim final rule for regulations establishing a domestic hemp production program. Following passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized the production of hemp (0.3% THC or less), the Nebraska Legislature passed a bill requiring the state Department of Agriculture to submit its plan for regulating the production, processing, and transportation of industrial hemp for USDA approval by Dec. 31, 2019. The timing of the USDA rule should allow for submission and approval of a robust regulatory structure for the 2020 hemp growing season.

Extension, FSA to Hold Farm Bill Information Sessions

Nebraska Extension and USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Nebraska will host a series of Farm Bill education meetings over the next two months to assist producers as they begin to make farm-bill related program decisions. The 2018 Farm Bill, signed into law last December, reauthorized the existing Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) safety net programs that were in the 2014 Farm Bill, however producers will need to make new program enrollment decisions over the coming months. While the ARC and PLC programs under the new farm bill remain very similar to the previous farm bill, a few program changes coupled with changes in market conditions and outlook could significantly impact producer decisions.

Be sure to check for updates on locations, dates, and times. All times are local with registration beginning 30 min. ahead of start. Several additional meetings are being planned locally across the state in various locations. Register and check updates HERE.

Panhandle/North Central

• Ainsworth – Ainsworth Lutheran Church – December 16, 2-5 PM
• Bridgeport – Prairie Winds Community Center – November 22, 2-5 PM
• Chadron – Chadron State College – December 17, 1:30-4:30 PM
• Ogallala – Keith County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall – December 12, 1-4 PM
• Valentine – Mid Plains Community College – December 16, 9 AM-12 NOON

Southwest/Central

• Broken Bow – Custer County Fairgrounds – December 16, 1-4 PM
• Imperial – Chase County Fairgrounds 4-H Building – November 26, 1:30-4:30 PM
• Kearney – Buffalo County Fairgrounds Antelope Meeting Room – December 17, 1-4 PM
• Lexington – Dawson County Fairgrounds Extension Meeting Room – December 2, 1-4 PM
• McCook – Red Willow County Fairgrounds Community Building – December 3, 1:30-4:30 PM
• North Platte – UNL West Central Research and Extension Center – December 18, 1:30-4:30 PM
• Ord – Valley County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall – December 4, 1-4 PM

Northeast

• Bloomfield – Community Center – December 2, 1:30-4:30 PM
• Columbus – Ag Park – December 4, 9 AM-12 NOON
• O’Neill – Community Center – December 3, 9 AM-12 NOON
• Norfolk – Northeast Community College Lifelong Learning Center – December 18, 1-4 PM
• Wayne – Wayne Fire Hall – December 16, (2 meetings) 1-4 PM or 6-9 PM
• West Point – Nielsen Center – December 9, 9 AM-12 NOON

East Central

• Grand Island – College Park Fonner Park Room – December 5, 1-4 PM
• Mead – UNL Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center – December 3, 9 AM-12 NOON
• Scribner – Dodge County Fairgrounds Mohr Auditorium – December 11, 9 AM-12 NOON
• York – York County Fairgrounds Cornerstone Building – December 6, 9 AM-12 NOON

Southeast

• Beatrice – Gage County Fairgrounds 4-H Building – December 17, 9 AM-12 NOON
• Bruning – Bruning Opera House – December 5, 1:30-4:30 PM
• Humboldt – Ag Building – December 12, 9 AM-12 NOON
• Lincoln – Lancaster County Extension Center – December 16, 9 AM-12 NOON
• Red Cloud – Community Center – November 25, 1-4 PM
• Weeping Water – Cass County Fairgrounds – December 3, 9 AM-12 NOON

Public Forums for University Presidential Candidate

University of Nebraska faculty, staff and students, members of the media, and the public are invited to a series of open forums to meet and ask questions of Walter “Ted” Carter, VADM (Ret.), the priority candidate to serve as NU’s eighth president. Carter, the immediate past superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy, was appointed Oct. 25 as the priority presidential candidate by a unanimous vote of the Board of Regents. He was also unanimously supported by a 23-member Presidential Search Advisory Committee. Carter’s appointment is now subject to a 30-day public vetting period that will include open forums on each NU campus and across the state. At the conclusion of the 30 days, if the Board deems appropriate, it may vote to name Carter the university’s president-elect.

Community Forums

Saturday, November 2
9:00 a.m. – Kearney
Cunningham’s on the Lake, 610 Talmadge St.

Sunday, November 3
3:00 to 4:30 p.m. – Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture
Nebraska Agriculture Industry Education Center auditorium, Curtis

Monday, November 4
7:30 to 9:00 a.m. – North Platte
Best Western Plus, 3201 S. Jeffers St.

10:00 to 11:30 a.m. – West Central Research & Extension Center
402 W. State Farm Road

2:30 to 4:30 p.m. – Grand Island
Chief Industries Development and Construction Office, 3935 Westgate Road

Tuesday, November 5
9:30 to 11 a.m. – University of Nebraska-Lincoln City Campus forum (targeting faculty and staff)
Nebraska Union Swanson Auditorium

2:00 to 3:30 p.m. – UNL campus (targeting students)
College of Business Atrium, Hawks Hall, 14th & Vine streets

4:00 to 5:30 p.m. – UNL East Campus forum (targeting faculty and staff)
International Quilt Museum Great Hall

Wednesday, November 6
7:30 to 9:00 a.m. – Beatrice
Vintage Venue, 620 Court St.

12:00 to 1:30 p.m. – Nebraska City
Lied Lodge and Conference Center, 2700 Sylvan Road

4:00 to 5:30 p.m. – UNL at Nebraska Innovation Campus
NIC Conference Center Auditorium, 2021 Transformation Drive