By Macy Byars
Gov. Jim Pillen, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Nebraska cattle producers met Monday afternoon to discuss new federal initiatives to support ranchers.
The USDA announced the “Ranchers First Initiative” Monday morning, which includes five new actions and programs to support American ranchers and beef production.
“We hear this over and over that if we lose more ranches, if this trend continues, then we will lose freedom in this country. Where there is beef, there is freedom. If we're not able to feed and fuel ourselves, we will no longer know the American dream,” Rollins said.
The initiative includes multiple expansions of USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs and federal funding opportunities.
Two FSA conservation programs can now overlap to speed grassland recovery following wildfires and other natural disasters. Producers will also have access to expanded Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) coverage for heifers through the FSA. It will allow ranchers to collect the difference between slaughter and retention value if the cost of keeping the heifer drops.
Programs for small ranching operations and beef slaughter facilities have been expanded, aiming to create partnerships and boost processing capacity amid closures of many processing facilities across the country.
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