Gov. Heineman Announces Details for Additional Farm Bill Listening Sessions
Gov. Heineman Announces Details for Additional Farm Bill Listening Sessions
Gov. Dave Heineman will host his second in a series of meetings to gather input from Nebraskans about the 2007 Farm Bill on Tuesday, Oct. 25, beginning at 8:30 a.m. MT at the Civic Center in Gering. Individual producers and those interested in rural economic development are encouraged to attend one of the four remaining sessions.
"I've been impressed with the input we've received so far," Gov. Heineman said. "I hope more of Nebraska's farmers and ranchers will take part in these sessions by commenting specifically on their vision for the next Farm Bill."
Times and dates have also been set for the Governor's remaining listening sessions. The third will take place at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 14 at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, with a fourth session set later that day for 1:30 p.m. at the Sandhills Convention Center in North Platte.
The final Governor's Farm Bill Listening Session is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 17 in the Activities Building at Northeast Community College in Norfolk. Greg Ibach, director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, will join the Governor at each of the sessions.
Ibach said, "The information gathered at these sessions will assist us in working with agricultural organizations and our congressional delegation to encourage a sound national policy for agriculture that meets the needs of Nebraska's producers and rural communities."
The Governor's first listening session featured testimony from Nebraska agricultural and rural organizations and was held during the Nebraska State Fair in August. Gov. Heineman also joined U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns at a Farm Bill Forum sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture during Husker Harvest Days in Grand Island.
Gov. Heineman serves as the lead Governor on Farm Bill reauthorization for the Western Governors Association. The input gathered during his five statewide listening sessions will be shared with members of Nebraska's congressional delegation, Secretary Johanns and leaders of both the U.S. House and Senate Ag Committees.
The Governor said, "Nebraska is one of the nation's top states in terms of agricultural production and importance. These sessions are an important chance to ensure the views of Nebraskans are part of the new discussion about the next Farm Bill."
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