Leadership Academy Takes Nebraska Agriculture’s Priorities to Washington

Members of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Leadership Academy recently traveled to Washington,D.C., for a firsthand look at the federal policy process and to advocate on issues important to Nebraska agriculture. During visits with members and staff of Nebraska’s congressional delegation on Capitol Hill, they discussed the importance of completing a new Farm Bill and ensuring it provides meaningful support for farmers and ranchers.

The group also advocated for year-round E15, a fix to California’s Proposition 12, which protects a national marketplace for livestock producers, and policies that address high fuel and diesel costs facing farmers and ranchers.

Trade was another key topic of discussion, with participants emphasizing the importance of reliable markets around the world for Nebraska’s agricultural products and the need for trade policies that provide producers with opportunities to compete globally.

The Leadership Academy’s Washington D.C., experience extended beyond Capitol Hill.The group met with staff from the American Farm Bureau Federation to learn more about national agricultural policy and Farm Bureau’s advocacy efforts.Participants also visited the Irish Embassy, gaining insight into the United States-Ireland relationship, and the importance of international trade and agricultural markets. The trip provided Leadership Academy participants with an opportunity to see federal policymaking up close while giving Nebraska’s next generation of agricultural leaders a voice in the policy discussions shaping the future of the industry.

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