State Legislature
Nebraska bills aimed at livestock expansion
Two bills in the Nebraska legislature would help facilitate livestock expansion in the state.
LB106 would make changes to the local permitting process for new or expanding livestock operations. It directs the Nebraska Department of Agriculture to develop an assessment matrix for use by county officials when determining whether to approve a livestock application. Supporters say it will help bring more consistency and predictability to the local approval process, where they say emotion tends to override the facts in livestock expansion decisions.
The other bill, LB176, would change current policy concerning packers and pork production, opening the door for hog farmers to partner with outside companies. Current state law does not allow meatpacking companies to own and raise hogs in the state. If the bill passes, farmers could enter into custom feeding arrangements with those types of companies.
We discussed those bills with Mark McHargue, a pork producer from Central City and vice president of Nebraska Farm Bureau. Farm Bureau supports both bills.
AUDIO: Mark McHargue
Nothing like working for the Chinese Smithfield hog company.