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AdvertisementNebraska Corn Board, Nebraska Cattlemen make joint trip to Washington, D.C.A team of eight cattle and corn producers and representatives were in Washington, D.C., recently to discuss issues of importance with government officials, Nebraska's congressional representatives and national trade association staffs. This was the third year of the Nebraska Corn Board-sponsored joint effort in Washington. The trip helps corn and cattle producers have a voice and offer input on issues that affect both corn and cattle producers in Nebraska. "We stressed our opposition to legislation that has been introduced that would create unworkable and unrealistic rules in the Clean Water Act," said David Nielsen, a corn producer from Lincoln and a member of the Nebraska Corn Board. "One proposal, in particular, would apply strict rules to small farm ponds or areas on a farm that flood or hold water when it rains." The groups also stressed their support of a Clean Air Act amendment that would prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from requiring livestock operations to get certain permits. "The intent of Congress with Clean Air Act rules was not to increase the cost and unfairly tax farmers for simply raising livestock," said Nielsen, who is chair of the Nebraska Corn Board's government affairs committee. Todd Schroeder, current president of Nebraska Cattlemen, said the groups also addressed the current discussion on various "cap and trade" and other greenhouse gas proposals. "We reminded members of Congress, their aides and government officials that agriculture is on the solution side of any climate change legislation," said Schroeder, a cattle producer from Wisner. Another important area for both groups is trade, and the ability of cattle producers to export beef to the world. "Open trade, and reasonable and fair trade rules, help us to sell more Nebraska beef around the world," Nielsen said. "That adds a lot of value to each head of cattle, which provides a tremendous economic boost. That, in turn, is good for corn producers who supply feed grains and, via ethanol production, distillers grains, to cattle." Schroeder said things like trade promotion authority for the President, continued trade negotiations and funding for the promotion of U.S. beef in global markets are all important issues for cattle producers and were addressed at various levels during the trip. The Nebraska Corn Board is a self-help program, funded and managed by Nebraska corn farmers. Producers invest in the program at a rate of 1/4 of a cent per bushel of corn sold. Nebraska corn checkoff funds are invested in programs of market development, research and education. Advertisement
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