Nebraska Pork Producer Association members are backing Senator Ken Schilz’s measures, LB 176 and 175 heard before the Legislature’s Ag Committee on Tuesday. Lb 176 would allow pork processors to directly own livestock and Lb 175 provides funding to expand operations in livestock friendly counties. Pork Association Executive Director Larry Sitzman says Lb 176 is badly needed as Nebraska is losing out to other states and is in danger of losing its pork processing industry.
Sitzman says Nebraska agriculture needs to be more diversified especially with grain and land prices starting to go down after being up for several years. He says LB 176 would help provide many opportunities for the state’s farmers and ranchers.
He says both measures need to be approved as Nebraska is in a great position to capitalize on the Pacific Rim export market as that would involve a potential 32 million middle class customers. Sitzman says Nebraska is the closest pork producing state to the West Coast and can get exports out to that market quickly.