Prioritize Regenerative Agriculture

NCU believes the most important thing Nebraska can do is transition away from industrial agriculture towards a healthier and more hopeful family-structured regenerative agricultural future.  Regenerative agriculture focuses on healthy and living soils. The benefits of a regenerative system include decreased soil erosion and cleaner water, drought resiliency, decreased emission impact, more nutritionally dense food, increased aquatic and wildlife habitat, and healthier communities.

Regenerative agriculture is defined around 6 key principles;  1. Minimizing tillage, 2. Creating permanant root structures in the ground, 3. Increasing biodiversity, 4. Using those permanant roots + biodiversity to build soil armor, 5. Integration of livestock across more biodiverse farming operations, and 6. Respecting the context of the area's ecosystem, not re-engineering it.  These 6 principles should center themselves in Indigenous and Ancestral Wisdom. 

Regenerative agriculture is also about new markets for farmers and new rural entrepreneurial jobs based around the food production. The pathway to revitalize Nebraska's rural communities is regenerative.

 

Ban Development of New Large CAFO’s and Revive State-Level Corporate Farming Bans 

The American Public Health Association is calling for moratorium on CAFO’s until the public’s health can be protected. ​In order ensure our public’s health and quality of life, Nebraska must follow health experts’ medical guidance and ban the development of new, large CAFO’s. ​

Until recently, state-level corporate farming bans had long been a staple of Midwestern agricultural states. By banning out-of-state corporations independent farm and ranch businesses will be less likely to be bankrupted by multinational investor-owned companies that have benefited from special treatment by government. Corporate farming bans allow for a competitive and healthy marketplace.


Require Nutrient Management Plans For All Large CAFO's

Currently in Nebraska, the largest animal waste applicators, defined by the state as Large Concentrated Animal Feed Operations (CAFO's), do not have to file a Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) with the state.  Not having recorded NMP's makes it hard for Natural Resource District's and local communities to prepare mitigation strategies because there is a lack of awareness and communication around large waste applications.  NCU supports requiring large CAFO's to record a plan with the state, and also supports regenerative farming solutions as part of the NMP's, including cover crops and buffer strips.



Increase Residential and Public Use Setbacks From Large CAFO's

NCU believes in protecting existing Nebraska residents from the aggressive encroachment of large CAFO’s. Nebraska should increase residential setbacks​ for large CAFO's to 1.5 miles, and 2.5 mile setbacks from public use areas (schools, churches, communities, parks, recreation areas). This is a matter of public health and rural quality of life.


Require Disaster Mitigation Plans For Industrial Integrators (Poultry, Pigs, and Dairy Industries) 

NCU believes industrial integrators should report disaster mitigation plans with the state. When disaster strikes it is a smart strategy to have a good plan in place which outlines a solid line of communication between the industry, local health officials, and communities. This ensures higher probablities of community security and safety. NCU also supports eliminating the composting of infected poultry and all other deceased livestock on wellhead protection sites which was attempted in David City by an industrial integrator.

Reasons for requiring disaster mitigation planning in Nebraska include avian flu and other zoonotic diseases, bug or parasitic infestations including the new world screwworm, and climatic disruptions including fires, floods, and winds.


Require Industrial Agriculture Companies To Pay Into Disaster Funds

Nebraskans have high standards and we expect that companies back their promises. One promise NCU would like to see is for large CAFO's to pay into a disaster fund for environmental disaster mitigation efforts, particularly in dealing with water contamination. The liability should be with industrial ag companies, not Nebraska counties, communities and family farmers.




Require Industrial Agriculture Companies To Have Decommissioning Plans For Large CAFO Structures

Just as renewable energy companies are required by the State of Nebraska to have a plan and fund for decommissioning a facility at the end of its usefulness, we believe permitting of large CAFO's should include a decommissioning plan as well.  We have observed abandonment from the poultry, pork, and dairy industries in other regions of the U.S., and NCU would like to prevent the same degradation from happening to Nebraska's rural communities.


Open Up State Inspection and Interstate Shipment Of Meat

A key barrier to local and regional market access for independent livestock producers is an inspection system that allows only four companies to retain control of the entire livestock market. The current system overregulates local meatpacking facilities, making it hard for family farmers and ranchers to process their livestock.

Legalization of state inspection would allow more regenerative farmers and ranchers to supply nearby markets with locally raised meat, a necessary aspect of local food security in the likely event of future pandemics and climate disruptions (fire, floods, wind).

Nebraska should also enact a federal program called the Cooperative Interstate Shipment Program, which would allow farmers and ranchers to sell across state borders and further increase food security therefore reinforcing the regional marketplace.