LINCOLN, NEB. – Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) members from across the state traveled to Washington, D.C., last week to meet with Nebraska’s congressional delegation, key federal agencies, and White House officials to advocate on behalf of Nebraska’s farm and ranch families. During their visit, Farm Bureau leaders urged policymakers to expand international markets, protect essential tax provisions, defend the science behind crop protection products, and strengthen key elements of the Farm Bill.
“Having Nebraska farmers and ranchers speak directly with our elected leaders and members of the administration is incredibly important,” said Mark McHargue, NEFB president. “There’s no substitute for constituents telling their story firsthand and sharing how federal policies impact their ability to grow food while keeping their family farms and ranches viable. These conversations help ensure the voices of rural Nebraska are heard loud and clear.”
Key issues discussed during the trip included support for the proposed “One Big Beautiful Bill”, also known as the reconciliation bill, which addresses tax policy and Farm Bill provisions. NEFB members urged Congress to extend tax provisions important to agriculture, including Section 179, bonus depreciation, and the estate tax exemption indexed to inflation. Additionally, they stressed the need to make the extension of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent, protect stepped-up basis and property tax deductions.
“Although farmers and ranchers would favor an independent Farm Bill, we recognize the desire to incorporate significant provisions into advancing legislation. Should these important Farm Bill provisions be included in the final reconciliation bill, we would also like to see federal legislative solutions to California’s Proposition 12 and Massachusetts Question 3 which place unscientific animal welfare standards on meat products imported into their states,” said McHargue.
Trade policy was a major focus of the trip, with NEFB members calling on lawmakers and the administration to prioritize expanding international markets and removing non-tariff trade barriers. With agricultural exports making up roughly 30% of farm income in Nebraska, members conveyed that trade is a necessity for agriculture.
“Trade is essential. It is crucial to establish new trade agreements among numerous countries globally. The products we produce in Nebraska will not all be consumed within the state. We are the best at what we do, particularly in raising the finest beef in the world, a fact recognized internationally. Now, we must create pathways for our products to reach the global market,” said Bree DeMontigny, Cherry County rancher and NEFB Board member.
Another topic of concern was the recent release of the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) Commission report, which questioned the safety of crop protection tools. NEFB members voiced strong opposition to what they called misleading claims.
“On our family farm, we use crop protection products. We value the rigorous, science-driven work of the EPA to make sure these products are safe, enabling us to grow healthy and affordable food,” said Micah Erickson, a Johnson County farmer.
The visit included meetings with Sens. Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts, Reps. Don Bacon, Adrian Smith, and Mike Flood, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Senate Agriculture Committee staff, and the White House Office of Public Liaison, as well as the staff from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative. The group also attended policy briefings from the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), engaged in a Leader-to-Leader reception, and took part in the traditional Nebraska Breakfast on Capitol Hill.
Those attending the Washington, D.C. Fly-In were:
Mark McHargue, president, NEFB – Merrick County
Bree DeMontigny, North Central Region representative, NEFB Board – Cherry County
Micah Erickson – Johnson County
Darcie Gallagher – Jefferson County
Jim Gottsch – Douglas County
Barry and Cathy Heidtbrink – York County
Tim Lorenz – Sarpy County
Krista Podany – Holt County
The Nebraska Farm Bureau is a grassroots, state-wide organization dedicated to supporting farm and ranch families and working for the benefit of all Nebraskans through a wide variety of educational, service, and advocacy efforts. More than 56,000 families across Nebraska are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve rural and urban prosperity as agriculture is a key fuel to Nebraska’s economy. For more information about Nebraska Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit www.nefb.org.
