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Nebraska Congressman Fortenberry secures additional $20 million for USDA research center

The House Appropriations Committee has approved an additional $20 million for a one-of-a-kind USDA research center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to advance precision agriculture.

Nebraska Congressman Jeff Fortenberry tells Brownfield the multi-year project has already secured $11.2 million. “It’s just a big lift because it’s got big ambitious goals around regenerative and precision agriculture and it’s going to make a big, big impact for America’s farmers and ranchers.”

The center will be located on UNL’s Innovation Campus in Lincoln and should open within the next 3-5 years.

Fortenberry says the center will develop techniques for producers to improve sustainability. “What this does is basically try to maximize outputs of production while minimizing inputs in order to put more revenue in farmers’ pockets but also advance environmental health.”

Fortenberry says the center will require more funding and private-sector partners, but the first two down payments are a good start.

Fortenberry is the ranking member of the House appropriations subcommittee on agriculture, rural development and the Food and Drug Administration.

Jeff Fortenberry, Republican NE-01, Nebraska: