Nebraska farmers, lawmakers hope new farm bill passes in 2024

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The farm bill, federal legislation that’s been helping farmers feed the nation for years, is up for renewal.

The bill is typically made up of food assistance programs but also includes benefits for farms and ranches to keep them growing.

Some of those include crop insurance, conservation programs and disaster assistance.

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Paula Peterson, a cattle farmer near Waverly, is in Washington, D.C., speaking to lawmakers about the bill’s importance.

She has been farming for more than 30 years and doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon.

“We are fourth- and fifth-generation Nebraska farmers, and we’ve got a grandson who’s coming up to be the seventh generation,” she said. “That’s part of the reason making sure the farm bill stays active is really, really important to us, that we know our farm will be there for our grandson.”

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The current farm bill from 2018 expires at the end of September.

So lawmakers are hoping to pass a new bill this year to bring more certainty to farmers and keep the benefits going.

Rep. Mike Flood of Nebraska provided a statement about his hopes for the bill:

“We need to pass the Farm Bill. I’ve been traveling the 1st District, hearing from constituents about their priorities and hopes for the future of our state’s agriculture economy. It’s time for Congress to pass strong legislation for farmers and ranchers who work hard every day to produce the food, fuel, and fiber our world depends on.”

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At the Peterson farm, conservation practices are one of the most important aspects of their operation.

Peterson wants to ensure that the land they live and work on can still be used in the future.

“You can’t make more soil,” she said. “What we’ve got is what we’re going to have. You know what last year was like for us — we went with drought and then hail — and we have to have all those tools that we can use.”

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Peterson said investing in agriculture also helps provide the nation with better nutrition and food security.

“In Nebraska, we feed a lot of people,” she said. “Agriculture and nutrition is just hand in hand. You can’t have nutrition without agriculture.”

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