Monday January 21 Ag News

Senator’s Property Tax Relief Plan Has Strong Support from Ag & Education Coalition

A broad-based coalition of Nebraska ag and education groups is supporting legislation that would provide more than $700 million in property tax relief while protecting essential public services such as education, services for the elderly, health care, highways and roads. Organizations in the coalition are each calling on their own members as well as all Nebraskans to show their support for real property tax relief by contacting state lawmakers in support of LB314.

LB314 is the result of two years of work by the Nebraskans United for Property Tax Reform and Education coalition and Albion Sen. Tom Briese to develop a responsible route to property tax relief.

LB314 would reduce the current over-reliance on property taxes and support K-12 education in Nebraska. It also adds $468 million to the Property Tax Credit Fund – which would bring that direct property tax relief fund total to $692 million. The bill also calls for a much-needed study to review the current system of funding K-12 education in Nebraska. LB314 would close several sales tax exemptions, add a surcharge to income over $250,000, increase the state sales tax by half a cent, and increase the tax on cigarettes and alcohol.

Nebraskans United Coalition members comments regarding LB314:

“We appreciate Senator Briese introducing legislation that reduces the state’s overreliance on property taxes and balances the tax system to fund education and other services.” – Robert Johnston President, Nebraska Soybean Association.

“This is the only bill that provides real property tax relief, adequately and fairly funds education, and creates a more fair and balanced state tax system. We will be asking our members and we ask all Nebraskans to show their support for real property tax relief by participating in hearings, making phone calls, sending emails, and writing letters to their State Senators.  The voice of citizens wanting real change must be heard.” –  John K. Hansen, president of the Nebraska Farmers Union.

"Any property tax solution which doesn't ensure the replacement of revenue for public schools is fiscally irresponsible. Senator Briese's LB 314 offers immediate solutions to address an unfair burden currently placed upon property owners.” – Michael S. Dulaney, J.D., Ph.D., Executive Director of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators.

“LB 314 is long overdue legislation to correct the tax shift of funding education by property owners. As a locally elected school board member, there hasn't been one decision made by our board that didn't try to balance the needs of our students while being fiscally responsible to our taxpayers. LB 314 reflects this balance of fiscal responsibility by modernizing our tax code and generating the revenues needed to meet the state's obligation to support public education.” – Dave Welsch, farmer and ag land owner, 20-year member of the Milford School Board, and member of the Center for Rural Affairs.

“This proposal will deliver property tax relief while still providing the children of Nebraska the high-quality education which will allow them to become the leaders of tomorrow. LB314 is the result of two years of hard work and study by a broad-based, bipartisan coalition and Sen. Briese. It will move Nebraska away from its over-reliance on property taxes and toward adequately funding education in the state.” – Jenni Benson, president of the Nebraska State Education Association.

“LB314 will provide sorely needed relief for property owners, especially those in the ag sector. It provides for not only the reduction of property taxes, but also a method to pay for the recommended distribution of revenues. Almost all the revenue generated in the bill would come based on taxpayer use or on elimination of exemptions that have hampered the state's ability to generate revenues in the past several years.  It pulls some of the focus away from property taxes which are fairly regressive. And it would ensure that more state funding reaches ALL school districts in the state regardless of size or location.” – Jack D. Moles, Executive Director, Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association

“This bill recognizes and honors the importance of both agriculture and education to Nebraska’s economy. We support LB314 and its guiding principal that we need adequate and sustainable funding for high quality K-12 education because it is imperative for the future of Nebraska.  It also provides a much-needed reduction in our over-reliance on local property taxes to ensure the tax system is fair to all Nebraska taxpayers.” –  Dr. Aaron Plas, Superintendent at Lakeview Community Schools on behalf of Schools Taking Action for Nebraska Children’s Education (STANCE).

“LB 314 will also protect public safety and help reduce economic costs resulting from excessive drinking. Raising alcohol taxes for the first time since 2003 will lead to fewer alcohol-attributable deaths in our state from drunk driving, alcohol-related crimes and certain cancers. The bill will also help to reduce the $1.2 billion in economic costs our state experiences each year.” – Chris Wagner, Executive Director, Project Extra Mile

"The Nebraska State Grange commends Senator Briese and the Nebraskans United coalition for their dedication to finding a compromise solution to resolving the long-standing impasse surrounding REAL and long-lasting property tax relief. Politicians have perennially promised solutions but have always fallen far-short on delivery. LB 314 may not have all the answers, but it provides the Legislature with a very real opportunity to achieve permanent and substantial property tax relief without pulling the rug out from under our local schools and government subdivisions. We support LB 314.” – Kevin Cooksley, Nebraska State Grange

“Sen. Briese understands how special education funding benefits all schools across the state and we appreciate his hard work and support.” – Stephanie Summers, Nebraska Association of School Boards Legislation Committee member, David City Public Schools Board of Education

NEBRASKANS UNITED FOR PROPERTY TAX REFORM AND EDUCATION
Nebraska Farm Bureau
Nebraska Council of School Administrators
Nebraska Corn Growers Association
Nebraska State Education Association
Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association
Nebraska Farmers Union
Nebraska Women Involved in Farm Economics
Nebraska Soybean Association
Gage County Property Tax Group
Nebraska Pork Producers
Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska
Greater Nebraska Schools Association
Center for Rural Affairs
Project Extra Mile
Milford School Board
Holdrege Public Schools
Nebraska Wheat Growers
Nebraska Association of School Boards
Nebraska State Grange
Boyd County Schools
Stand for Schools
Schools Taking Action for Nebraska Children’s Education



POSTPONED:  Women landowners invited to workshop

EDITORS NOTE:  This workshop was scheduled to be held on Tues Jan 22.  Due to weather concerns, the workshop has been postponed to a later date.  Watch the cfra.org website for further information.

Women who own or co-own more than 40 acres, may have inherited farmland, or are experiencing transition with farmland they own are invited to a workshop on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Milady Coffeehouse, 105 E. Sixth St. in Fremont. 

This “Empowering women through risk management,” workshop is designed for women non-operator landowners, and offers an opportunity for women to learn about areas of the operation that may be at risk, and how to address them.

“Women non-operator landowners face a variety of decisions and often rely on the advice of others,” said Sandra Renner, project associate at Center for Rural Affairs.

She said women who are feeling overwhelmed with all the decisions of farmland management will find this workshop especially helpful.

“Well-intended advice is not always in the best interest of managing the land or the landowner, so we’ve created this workshop for women to find answers and connect with resources while connecting with other women,” said Renner.

There is no cost to attend. Interested women are asked to register by Friday, Jan. 18. Attendees are encouraged to bring their questions or come to listen.

To register, contact Vicky at vickye@cfra.org or 402.687.2100 ext. 1038. Visit cfra.org/events for more information.

This event is hosted by the Center for Rural Affairs and made possible by funding from a USDA Risk Management Education grant.



Dicamba Training to be Offered Feb 5th in O'Neill

The three restricted use dicamba formulations (Xtendimax® with Vapor Grip®
Technology, Fexapan® with Vapor Grip® Technology and Engenia®) received approval from EPA for continued use in 2019.  To use these products, users must have either a private, commercial or noncommercial pesticide applicators license to purchase and apply these products.  However, there is an additional certification required by all applicators, mixers and transports of these products.  With the partnership between the Nebraska Department of Agricultural, the University of Nebraska Pesticide Safety Education Program and Nebraska Extension a training will be offered on Feb 5th, 2019 at the Holt County Courthouse Annex starting at 1:30 PM.  Questions regarding this training please contact the Holt County Extension office at 402-336-2760.

Other dicamba training opportunities in the area include:
  - Feb 7, 9:30am - Nielsen Community Center, West Point - Pre-register: www.roundupreadyextend.com - Questions: Corby Jensen 314-609-8204
  - Feb 14, 9:30am - Nebraska Innovation Campus, Lincoln - Pre-register: www.roundupreadyextend.com - Questions: Corby Jensen 314-609-8204
  - Feb 19, 9:30am - Ramada Inn, Columbus - Pre-register: www.roundupreadyextend.com - Questions: Corby Jensen 314-609-8204
  - Feb 19, 9:30am - The Beaumont Event Center, Wayne - Pre-register: www.roundupreadyextend.com - Questions: Corby Jensen 314-609-8204
  - Feb 25, 1pm - ENREC near Mead - Call Keith Glewen 402-624-8030 or email kglewen1@unl.edu



Continued Growth and Big Supplies for Pork, Beef, Poultry

An Iowa State University livestock economist expects record U.S. production for beef, pork and poultry in his forecast for 2019.

Demand for U.S. poultry and livestock remains strong at the start of 2019, but trade tensions could spark uncertainty for producers in the coming months, said Lee Schulz, associate professor of economics and livestock markets specialist. Consumers should expect grocery prices to stay roughly where they were at the end of 2018, but strong competition and large supplies could lead to good deals for consumers who know how to spot them, Schulz said.

He said both U.S. pork and poultry producers appear to be poised for record production in 2019. If so, that would be the seventh consecutive record year for poultry and the fifth consecutive year for pork.

"Beef producers have expanded aggressively the last several years," he said. "This year should beat the record beef production set in 2002."

Schulz qualified his 2019 predictions by noting ongoing trade disputes could send waves of volatility through the market during the year. Trade uncertainty with China and Mexico contributed to sharp price drops for hogs in August and September of 2018. The possibility of continued trade disruptions exists this year as well, he said.

"Going forward as we look at 2019, pork exports are expected up 8 percent. That could be much higher or much lower, really, depending on sales to China and Mexico," he said.

Expanded exports to other markets, such as South Korea, helped to drive the continued livestock expansion in 2018. But that expansion has led to large supplies, and Schulz said "there's going to be a lot of competition for the consumer's dollar."

Even so, he said grocery shoppers probably shouldn't expect significant price drops for red meat this year.

"As we get into 2019, I think we're likely to see prices similar to 2018 at the consumer level because demand remains so strong," he said.

Instead, he expects retail features and food service offerings to be bolstered by the plentiful supplies available. So smart shoppers should stay on the lookout for good prices when dining out or 2-for-1 sales and similar opportunities at grocery stores to fill up their freezers.



Farm Credit Services Invests in CSIF

Farm Credit Services of America (FCSAmerica), a cooperative dedicated to serving the agricultural credit and financial needs of farmers and ranchers, reaffirmed its support of Iowa agriculture through an investment in the non-profit Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers (CSIF).

The financial commitment made by FCSAmerica will assist CSIF in its ongoing efforts to provide direct assistance to livestock farmers as they strive to grow their farms successfully and responsibly.

"We're extremely grateful for FCSAmerica's contribution to the Coalition and deeply appreciative of their continued support of Iowa agriculture," says Brian Waddingham, executive director of CSIF. "With the increasingly complex and ever-changing regulations covering animal agriculture, farmers can use some assistance and the Coalition provides it directly to the families that need it most. FCSAmerica's investment underscores the value of our efforts."

A portion of the FCSAmerica investment will be used to support the Coalition's popular Green Farmstead Partner program; it offers timely and cost-effective assistance to Iowa farmers wanting to plant trees and shrubs around new and existing livestock and poultry barns.



Bovine TB Identified in North Dakota Beef Herd

North Dakota State veterinarians are investigating a beef herd in Sargent County after bovine tuberculosis (TB) was identified.

"In late 2018, we were notified that two adult beef cows originating from the herd tested positive for Mycobacterium bovis at out-of-state slaughter plants," State Veterinarian Dr. Susan Keller said. "The National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, confirmed the TB diagnosis in the cows."

The herd was subsequently tested by state and federal veterinarians and five additional cows have been confirmed affected. Additional testing is ongoing.

This strain of TB has not been previously identified in the United States and is most similar to cases that have been identified in Mexican cattle.

Tuberculosis is a zoonotic disease and can be transmitted from animals to humans and from humans to animals.

"An epidemiologic investigation is now underway, and further testing will be done to determine the source of the disease and to prevent its spread," Keller said. "The herd owners are fully cooperating in the investigation."

There are no other cattle herds which have direct contact with this herd. Animals which test negative for the disease may move direct to slaughter, but other movements are not allowed. Meat from animals that pass inspection is safe for consumption.

Keller said that the bovine tuberculosis eradication program is a state-federal cooperative program and that the North Dakota Department of Agriculture and State Board of Animal Health typically work with USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services on disease responses. Due to the federal government shutdown, federal funding and field staff are currently limited in their ability to assist.