Headline Stories
Farm Bureau Testifies Against Changes to Nebraska Livestock Brand Act
Nebraska Farm Bureau testified in opposition to LB1258 during a six-hour public hearing before the Legislature’s Agriculture Committee, raising serious concerns about the future of the state’s long-standing livestock brand inspection system.
USDA Announces Enrollment Period for Farmer Bridge Payments
U.S.Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is opening the enrollment period for the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program, providing $11 billion in one-time bridge payments to row crop producers in response to temporary trade market disruptions and increased production costs. The FBA enrollment period opens Feb. 23 and closes April 17, 2026.
Supreme Court Makes Ruling on Tariffs
In the most recent Supreme Court trade tariff case, the Court ruled that the President cannot use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs (import taxes) unilaterally.IEEPA allows a President, during a declared national emergency, to “regulate”imports.
Farmers Appreciate Release of House Farm Bill Text
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented this week on the House Agriculture Committee release of its version of the farm bill, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026. “Farmers appreciate Chairman G.T. Thompson and the House Agriculture Committee for their work in drafting a new,modernized farm bill.”
Economic Analysis: Labor and Layoffs
There is no doubt that company layoffs have far reaching impacts. Within the past two years, there have been layoffs from larger companies like Amazon, Target, and Google for a multitude of reasons: technology replacements, company restructuring, and fiscal pressure. More recently, Tyson’s announcement to close their beef processing plant in Lexington, NE have sent shock waves through the local community, state, and beef industry.
Momentum Is Building for Agriculture
Lately,farmers and ranchers have had no shortage of reasons to feel frustrated. We’re facing a tough economy, rising costs, and prolonged uncertainty around key policies that shape our ability to plan for the future. But in recent weeks,we’ve also seen some encouraging progress.
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