Livestock development grants proposed

Counties could receive grants for livestock development projects under a bill heard by the Agriculture Committee Feb. 10.

LB175, introduced by Ogallala Sen. Ken Schilz, would authorize the state Department of Agriculture to award grants to counties designated as livestock friendly. Grants could be awarded for strategic planning and improvements to public infrastructure.

Grants for strategic planning projects would be limited to $15,000 each. Grants for infrastructure projects would be limited to one half of the unobligated balance of the fund or $200,000, whichever is less.

Schilz said the bill would give qualified counties another a tool to stimulate economic development.

“It allows the Legislature to seek reasonable means to nurture and support the livestock sector of this state,” he said.

Jay Rempe, representing the Nebraska Farm Bureau, testified in support of the bill. Costs for new dairy operations have increased tremendously, he said, with a 1,000 animal enterprise now costing from $4 to $6 million to start. The bill’s restructuring of loan limits provides more opportunities for livestock producers to expand their businesses, he said.

Ben Gotschall, a dairy farmer from Raymond, testified in opposition to the bill, saying it would stimulate the development of corporate agriculture operations, which would compete with small farms such as his. Additionally, he said, larger producers have histories of animal and environmental abuse.

“The initiative does nothing to promote animal welfare or well-being and, in fact, promotes the growth of corporate agriculture, often at a large scale,” he said.

Robert Bernt, a farmer from Spalding, also spoke in opposition to the bill. He attributed the extermination of fish in the Pibel Lake State Recreational Area to contaminants leaked into waterways by large agricultural producers.

“If there is any chance … this would make counties such as mine more attractive to large scale producers, we don’t want it,” he said.

The committee took no immediate action on the bill.