Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District March Board Meeting Update
On Thursday, March 27th, the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) Board of Directors met for their monthly Board meeting. Aside from monthly reports and an update from the Logan East Rural Water System, Directors also discussed and voted on numerous items.
Irrigated Cropland to Irrigated Grazing Land Incentive Program Modification
One of the current incentive programs offered by the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District, for irrigated cropland that is converted into irrigated grazing land, received a few modifications. The program is only available for fields in the Phase 2 and 3 areas with a payment rate of $40/acre. Directors voted to amend availability to apply for the program to wellhead protection areas and to raise the payment rate to $100/acre. Payment is capped at $25,000 annually and a maximum of 160 acres. Though the program has been available for several years, it is a resource that has not yet been widely used.
The payment through this program acts as an incentive to maintain the cropland to grazing land conversion for five consecutive years. When it comes to the conversion of the property itself, there is a possibility for funding from partnering agencies such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
Former City of Scribner Pebble Creek Levee
The LENRD was approached by the City of Scribner regarding the possibility to purchase a segment of the former city levee – Pebble Creek Levee – and to use the remaining dirt as fill for City purposes. The section of the Levee was partially funded by the LENRD and is no longer in use due to the construction of the US-275 Bypass. Directors approved the request and, since the funds would be minimal, agreed that no payment from the City would be requested.
2025 Hazard Mitigation Plan Approval
One of the tools utilized by the LENRD to plan for and lessen the effects of disaster is the Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP). In fact, to be eligible for FEMA funding, it is actually a requirement to have one. A HMP helps identify vulnerabilities due to (primarily) natural disasters, and man-made as well. Mitigation actions drawn out in the plan help minimize, or eliminate, the effects of those hazards. HMPs are updated every five years.
This update period, the Lower Elkhorn NRD partnered with the Lewis and Clark NRD, Cedar County and Dixon County to merge two HMPs into one. Since many jurisdictions are on the boundary line, and impacted by decisions in both districts, it made the most sense to come together and create one cohesive document. The two NRDs collaborated with other jurisdictions – such as cities, counties, emergency management agencies, and numerous special districts – to piece the plan together. The final plan was approved by Directors.
Other Action
Directors also discussed, and took action on, compliance issues in the District. The violations included non-submittal of Management Area Reports which were due mid-January, and failure for producers to obtain Nitrogen Certification (or re-certification) in the Phase 2 and 3 Areas. Nitrogen Certification is a requirement for producers farming in the Phase 2 and 3 areas and must be obtained every four years. Numerous training opportunities were offered in February through March. A final Nitrogen Certification class is being offered on Monday, April 7th, at 2:00 PM at the LENRD office (1508 Square Turn Blvd., Norfolk, NE 68701).
Finally, an Interlocal Agreement with the City of Norfolk was approved to help provide financial support for the Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Since the LENRD provided financial support when the facility was first opened, the City of Norfolk has allowed residents of the District to utilize the facility as well. LENRD residents make up approximately 30-35% of the annual users. This Agreement will allow up to $5,000 in funding from the LENRD annually. It is pending final approval from the Norfolk City Council.
Did you miss the meeting? A recording is available on our Facebook page.
To learn more about the 12 responsibilities of Nebraska’s NRDs, and how your local District can work with you and your community to protect your natural resources, visit www.lenrd.org and sign up for our bi-monthly emails. Emails are sent on meeting week. The next Board of Directors meeting will be Thursday, April 24, 2025, at the LENRD office in Norfolk at 7:30 p.m. and on Facebook Live.
Nebraska Farm Bureau Advocates for Stronger Farm Bill, Tax Relief, and Expanded Trade in Washington, D.C.
A delegation of Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) members traveled to Washington, D.C. to push for key agricultural policies that will benefit Nebraska farmers and ranchers. Their discussions centered on securing a robust new Farm Bill, expanding trade with new international partners, and extending the provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The visit featured a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, who listened to the concerns and priorities from a combined group of farm and ranch Farm Bureau members from Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois.
Participating Nebraska Farm Bureau members included:
• Mark McHargue, NEFB President – Merrick County Farm Bureau
• Matthew Erickson – Johnson County Farm Bureau
• Chris Popken – Dodge County Farm Bureau
• Parker Jessen – Morrill County Farm Bureau
• Dawn Kucera – Madison County Farm Bureau
"As producers in agriculture, the Farm Bill provides a vital safety net which helps ensure a strong domestic food supply for our nation’s citizens as well as international customers around the world," said Mark McHargue, president of Nebraska Farm Bureau. "During our meeting with Secretary Rollins, we emphasized the importance of preserving the federal crop insurance program and providing solutions to roll back California’s Proposition 12 and Massachusetts’ Question 3. It’s critical that one state’s decision does not dictate production practices nationwide."
The Nebraska Farm Bureau delegation also discussed important reforms to USDA’s disaster programs, including enhancing flexibility in the face of natural disasters. They advocated for increased funding for the Foreign Market Development (FMD) and Market Assistance Programs (MAP) and for prioritizing working lands conservation programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Additionally, they pushed for limiting Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres to marginal, highly erodible, and non-productive land, while capping rental rates.
The expansion of agricultural trade continues to be a top priority for Nebraska Farm Bureau. After several years lackluster efforts by the Biden administration to expand markets, Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers are busy working through the many actions taken in the first few months of President Donald Trump’s second term.
“Under the first Trump administration, tariffs were imposed, and new trade deals were struck, however, we saw minimal progress on trade issues under the Biden Administration,” McHargue explained. "Since Inauguration Day, tariffs have been applied and threatened on Chinese products, Canadian and Mexican goods, and all steel and aluminum imports. Both Canada and China have retaliated with tariffs, and the European Union plans to impose tariffs on U.S. products soon. We urged the President to prioritize the expansion of trade with new international partners and to take steps to ensure that farmers and ranchers don’t bear the brunt of any extended trade wars," McHargue added.
The delegation also emphasized the need to extend key provisions from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017, which are set to expire on December 31, 2025. These provisions have provided significant tax relief for farm and ranch businesses, and without an extension, Nebraska’s farm and ranch families would face increased taxes.
"The TCJA has been a lifeline for many of our family farms. Provisions like the reduced pass-through tax rates, bonus depreciation, the increased estate tax exemption, along with many others have reduced federal taxes on all our nation’s citizens," McHargue said. “Letting the TCJA expire would harm family farms across the country.” In addition to meeting with Nebraska’s congressional delegation, the Nebraska Farm Bureau members also met with officials from the Canadian Embassy, the Renewable Fuels Association, and the White House Office of Public Liaison to discuss key issues affecting Nebraska agriculture.
Treasury Department Revises Beneficial Ownership Information Filing Requirements
Nebraska Farm Bureau newsletter
This week, the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an Interim Final rule that, among other changes, removes the requirement for U.S. companies and U.S. persons to report beneficial ownership information (BOI) to FinCEN and revises the definition of “reporting company” to mean only those formed under foreign law and registered to do business in the U.S. under the Corporate Transparency Act. The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) was included in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act as part of the Anti-Money Laundering Act. A bipartisan amendment with support from both chambers of Congress, the CTA requires companies to report information to the federal government’s FinCEN about the individuals who own or control them. The final rule implementing the legislation was issued in September 2022, and its original effective date was January 1, 2024, prior to legislation getting caught up in litigation. With this Interim Final Rule now in place, no domestic business or its owners are required to file BOI. The various court cases against the Corporate Transparency Act will continue to be litigated, and the underlying statute remains on the books. However, at least for now, this administration will not enforce it.
Nebraska Ethanol Board April 9 special board meeting to be held in Grand Island
The Nebraska Ethanol Board will meet in Grand Island at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 9. The meeting will be in the conference room at Bosselman Enterprises Headquarters (1607 S. Locust St.). The agenda is as follows:
Call Meeting to Order
Approval of Agenda
Public Opportunity for Questions, Comments or Concerns
Personnel
Adjourn
This agenda contains all items to come before the Board except those items of an emergency nature. Nebraska Ethanol Board meetings are open to the public and also published on the public calendar.
US Agriculture Secretary Rollins in Iowa TODAY
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins will be in Iowa today, Monday, March 31st. Secretary Rollins will visit an ethanol production facility, a hog farm, and meet with soybean producers and agriculture leaders from across Iowa. She will be joined by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Senator Joni Ernst, Representative Zach Nunn, Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig.
Stops today include
- Elite Octane, Atlantic, IA
- Manning Farm, a hog and diversified row crop farm, Waukee, IA
- Beck’s Hybrids, Colfax, IA
- Iowa Ag Leaders Dinner, Ankeny, IA
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to Keynote 13th Annual Iowa Ag Leaders Dinner
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced that U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins will keynote the 13th Annual Iowa Ag Leaders Dinner in Ankeny on Monday, March 31.
This is Secretary Rollins’ first official visit to Iowa since her confirmation as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. The event will also feature remarks from Gov. Kim Reynolds and Secretary Naig. Secretary Naig will also present Ag Leader Awards to three organizations and one business.
The annual Iowa Ag Leaders Dinner is hosted by Secretary Naig, organized by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and funded by the Iowa Economic Development Foundation.
Secretary Rollins Announces Aggressive International Travel Agenda to Expand Market Access for American Agricultural Exports
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins will visit six international markets in her first six months as Secretary to expand markets and boost American agricultural exports. At a time when the agricultural trade deficit is at nearly $50 billion following the previous administration’s little to no action in the international marketplace, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is working to diversify global markets, strengthen existing markets, and hold existing trading partners accountable for their end of the deal.
“President Trump has the backs of our farmers and ranchers,” said Secretary Rollins. “USDA remains committed to expanding market access around the world. I am going abroad to sell the bounty of American agriculture and to ensure the prosperity of our hard-working agricultural producers. Everything is on the table to get more markets for our products.”
Background:
This year, Secretary Rollins will visit Vietnam, Japan, India, Peru, Brazil, and the United Kingdom. Other USDA Trade Missions include Hong Kong, the Dominican Republic, Taiwan, Côte d’Ivoire, and Mexico.
India: The United States is India’s sixth largest supplier of agricultural products. The U.S. has a $1.3 billion trade deficit with India.
Brazil: The United States has a $7 billion trade deficit with Brazil.
United Kingdom: The UK is the United States’ fourteenth largest agricultural export market. U.S. producers face disproportionately high tariffs and small tariff rate quota volumes when exporting to the UK.
Japan: Japan is a top five market for many key U.S. commodities, including corn, beef, pork, wheat, rice, and soybeans. The U.S., however, faces competition from other countries in many of these markets.
Vietnam: Vietnam is the United States’ tenth largest agricultural export market. The U.S. has no trade agreement with Vietnam while major competitors like China do.
Peru: Peru is the United States’ third largest market for agricultural exports in South America, and the U.S. remains Peru’s second largest agricultural supplier. Key prospects for U.S. agricultural exports to Peru include ethanol, dairy products, meat, tree nuts, and pulses.
Gov. Pillen Praises USDA Efforts to Expand Ag Trade Markets
Governor Jim Pillen praised the efforts of U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to expand markets and access for agricultural exports from America. The USDA will focus on strengthening trade relationships with Vietnam, Japan, India, Peru, Brazil, and the United Kingdom.
“It’s pretty simple -- more trade is good for American producers,” said Gov. Pillen. “Our farm and ranch families work hard to produce the best, and they deserve to have more trade opportunities around the world. Whether we’re selling our crops, livestock, or value-added products, it’s good news for Nebraska that President Trump and Secretary Rollins are making trade a priority.”
During his first year in office, Gov. Pillen identified Vietnam and Japan as markets with massive opportunity and led trade missions to each one.
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