LB 176 is dead for this year in the Nebraska Unicameral. The bill was an attempt to change the state’s corporate farming law to allow packer ownership of hogs. It was defeated in General File after 8 hours of debate and another 4 hours of debate on Select File.

The Nebraska Pork Producers Association supported the measure. Executive Director Larry Sitzman says it was a way to help increase pork production in the state.

Sitzman says Senators used scare tactics to defeat LB 176, instead of hearing the argument that most of today’s farms are family corporations.

Nebraska Farmers Union President John Hansen says the defeat of the legislation is a victory, but the fight is not over and they’ll gear up for a revisit of the legislation next year.