Nebraska Farmers Union leaders were disappointed at the Unicameral’s decision on Friday to end the ban on in-state packer ownership of hogs. President John Hansen says their next step will be to reevaluate the present ban on in-state packer ownership of cattle and develop new legislation for next session to correct LB 176.
He says there were a large group of citizens that were opposed to LB 176, but they weren’t able to overcome lobbying efforts that pushed the bill through.
Hansen says two of the largest packers, Smithfield and Tyson, each hired the two largest lobbying firms in Lincoln to work on getting LB 176 approved.
Nebraska State Senators voted 34 to 14 to lift the 18 year old ban on in-state packer ownership of hogs. Governor Pete Ricketts is expected to sign the measure.
