Latest news with #NebraskaDepartmentofAgriculture
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lab-grown meat ban is another step closer to becoming law in Nebraska
Cattle gather in a pen on a warm day. (Stock photo byPlus) LINCOLN — A bill banning lab-grown meat from Nebraska advanced Tuesday to its final round in the Legislature after a failed attempt to change the focus instead to labeling. The voice vote ended a two-day debate. Undertones of culture war politics were more on display during the second round of debate in the statehouse. State Sen. Barry DeKay of Niobrara — in a nod to some national Republicans calling similar bans around the country an attempt to stop the 'elitist' class from promoting unnatural foods — called lab-grown meat an attempt by groups to undermine Nebraska beef. 'I'd like to also share this quote from Bill Gates…rich nations should move to eat 100% synthetic beef,' said DeKay, who introduced the bill. Nebraska is marching toward becoming the fourth state to implement a ban on lab-grown meat. Mississippi was the third state to outlaw cell-derived meat. Florida and Alabama have banned cultivating and selling meat grown in laboratories in recent years. The proposed law doesn't ban alternative-meat products like the Impossible Burger, which is made entirely from plants. The target is cell-derived meat produced from animal cells, enabling the cells to multiply and differentiate into muscle, fat, and connective tissue without slaughtering animals. The bill would ban the production, import, distribution, promotion, display or sale of any cultivated-protein food in the state. State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln proposed an amendment to the bill that would have replaced the ban with labeling of lab-grown meat — a proposal supported by the Nebraska Farm Bureau. 'I believe that's a better, more thoughtful approach that's in line with agricultural leadership thinking on this topic,' Conrad said. 'I think a ban is too restrictive.' The amendment failed with a 12-24 vote. Nebraska is the second-largest cattle-producing state in the U.S., behind only Texas. Cattle and other livestock production are among Nebraska's largest industries, bringing nearly $31.6 billion to the state, according to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. The Food and Drug Administration approved lab-grown meat for human consumption in 2022. 'I believe it will only add to the arsenal group of individuals who want to engineer our dietary choices,' DeKay said in support of his proposed ban, 'increasing pressures to legally, culturally deny real meat out of animal welfare activists.' Conrad questioned the DeKay claims of negative effects. Democratic aligned lawmakers said labeling is a better option because it is a more free-market approach. Rural State Sen. Teresa Ibach of Sumner preferred the labeling approach. 'Because cattle is [Nebraska's] number one industry,' Ibach said. 'I will do everything to protect that. Banning it is not a bad thing.' Ibach said she is fine with either approach and was marked 'present not voting' for Conrad's amendment. California-based UPSIDE Foods, which sells lab-grown meat, sued the state of Florida for its ban on cell-derived meat last year. While a district court judge rejected Upside Foods's request for a preliminary injunction, the lawsuit is still ongoing. Uma Valeti, CEO and founder of UPSIDE Foods, said he recently met with Gov. Jim Pillen about the potential ban and called it a productive conversation. 'There's a lot of misinformation about cultivated meat,' Valeti said. 'Banning cultivated meat won't protect farmers; it will only limit Nebraska's ability to lead, grow its meat production capacity, and weaken its food system.' DeKay's bill was introduced at the request of Pillen, who owns a major hog operation based in Columbus. Pillen has called the creation of 'bioreactor meat' a 'dishonest attack' on producers in Nebraska. The Nebraska Farm Bureau supported legislation that would label lab-grown meat but not ban it, saying the bureau supports a free and open market and believes that there is a much better option than a ban. State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha supported Conrad's failed amendment. He said he and the Farm Bureau often disagree on issues. 'If the (Farm) bureau and I are on the same side of something, that's certainly something people should take seriously,' Cavanaugh said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nebraska feedlot political fight makes way to statehouse
A branding battle is emerging in Nebraska over whether feedlots should pay branding fees. () LINCOLN — A divide between rural Nebraska lawmakers is rustling in the statehouse. State Sen. Teresa Ibach of Sumner, in west-central Nebraska, has proposed a bill that would exempt a significant sector of agriculture in the state — feedlots — from branding and inspection fees under the state's livestock branding law that she has said she aims to 'modernize' with Legislative Bill 646. 'LB 646 simply provides an exemption for [feedlots], so [they] are treated uniformly across Nebraska,' Ibach said during the bill Agriculture Committee hearing. She has faced opposition from State Sen. Tanya Storer of Whitman, a freshman rural lawmaker from north-central Nebraska who proposed an amendment to essentially kill the bill and let lawmakers make a more informed decision later regarding one of the state's biggest industries. Her reason: Most lawmakers don't deal with cattle. 'The reality is there's only about four in this body of 49 that understand that,' Storer said. Nebraska is the second-largest cattle-producing state in the U.S., generating $13.2 billion from cattle and other livestock, according to the latest tally from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. Parts of that industry are regulated by the Nebraska Brand Committee, which is tasked with investigating cattle theft and verifying ownership through branding when cattle are bought, sold or moved in or beyond the brand zone in state law, essentially covering the western two-thirds of the state. Its services are funded entirely through fees, not by taxpayers. The divide on the Ibach bill is that it would exempt feedlots in the state's brand inspection area from paying branding-related fees, replacing them with a one-time payment of $500 to apply for feedlots to get exempt status. The Brand Committee called the legislation an attempt to 'severely' weaken the cattle industry's checks and balances, and several cattle industry groups have opposed it. During the bill's hearing before the Agriculture Committee, Nebraska Farmers Union president John Hansen said the Brand Committee provides security from cattle theft. He added the whole state should be under the Livestock Brand Act because the areas not in the branding area are an 'invitation for abuse.' 'If I were stealing cattle, I know that I would be trying to sell them in the area of the state that does not have brand inspection,' Hansen said. 'So the viability of the system will be undermined if this bill goes forward as is.' The Nebraska State Dairy Association testified in support of the bill and requested its own exception from the state Livestock Brand Act, calling the system a time and economic burden on the dairy industry because the branding committee hasn't updated its ID Program. 'Our producers are tired of waiting for the change to pay for a program that has no value to our industry,' said Steve Wolfe, who testified on behalf of the Nebraska State Dairy Association. Bill sponsors initially included all eight of the Legislature's Agriculture Committee members, though only six of the eight voted it out of committee for a floor debate: two original sponsors, State Sens. Mike Jacobson of North Platte and Dan McKeon of Amherst withdrew their names from the bill last week. Jacobson said it because his constituents won't like it. 'The only reason I signed on to begin with was to try to get to the point where we could negotiate something better than what we have today,' Jacobson said. 'Every email and phone call I've gotten on this issue, except from the feed yards who stand directly to benefit, have been not only no but hell no. That's a pretty strong message.' Other cattle-feeding states, including Texas and Oklahoma, deal with cattle branding differently. In those states, it's not mandatory but encouraged to deter theft, while brand inspections are mandatory in Wyoming and Colorado. Elliott Dennis, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor of livestock marketing and risk management, said Nebraska's cattle branding approach is unique because some parts of the state don't have to deal with the inspection fees. Dennis said the quirk is because areas in the eastern parts of the state have fewer cattle than most of western Nebraska. He said consumers wouldn't feel the proposed changes to the branding law. Feedlot owners and beef and dairy cattle growers tried but failed in 2020 and 2021 to comprehensively update state branding laws. Dennis said feedlot owners have historically been against brand inspection due to the frequency of fees they must pay based on their cattle numbers and because getting an inspector can slow down production. He said who proposed the bill tells a lot about its intention. 'This isn't a person unfamiliar with the cattle industry,' Dennis said. Ibach, a first-term senator, is married to the longest-serving state agriculture director Greg Ibach. She and her family own a cattle operation in Dawson County. She said the legislation is about updating the state brand law, not getting rid of it. 'To be clear, [the] bill does not do away with brand inspection inside the brand area, nor does it impact anyone's ability to own or use a brand,' Ibach said. In an op-ed last month on KRVN Rural Radio's website in Lexington, Ibach said she worked with the Nebraska Brand Committee and the Nebraska Farm Bureau after the bill's Agriculture Committee hearing to add amendments to address the concerns from the committee, farm bureau, and other groups. 'I believe the amendment addresses legitimate concerns raised by the testifiers and others,' Ibach wrote. Her amendment, AM 829, to LB 646, would cap the amount the Brand Committee can charge feedlots. Currently, the committee can charge for each additional increment of 250 cattle above the total of 1,000 cattle, which represents the lot's one-time capacity. Feedlots are charged a $1,000 annual permit. If the bill becomes law, it's estimated the committee would lose $1.6 million annually, roughly 25% of its operating budget. Nebraska Farm Bureau Senior Director of State Legislative Affairs Bruce Rieker said the Bureau's stance on the bill could change as negotiations between stakeholders in the cattle industry continue. 'There are very sincere conversations going on between many of the parties now, Rieker said. 'Much more so now than maybe they were earlier in the session.' On Tuesday, the Farm Bureau released a statement expressing disapproval of the amendment to the bill, signaling that it still opposes the changes. 'For more than 80 years, the Nebraska Brand Committee has played a vital role in overseeing livestock brand registration, enforcement, and proof of ownership.' The statement reads, 'We support the work of the Brand Committee and believe the Committee should have the fee authority necessary to adequately fund its programs.' Nebraska Cattlemen also expressed continued opposition to the bill. Still, the group said it would 'remain committed to working with Senator Ibach toward a solution that could be acceptable to the membership as we work to modernize brand laws in Nebraska.' The statement said the Cattleman Board of Directors would meet Tuesday to discuss and take a stance on the agriculture committee amendment. Storer announced an amendment late last week to Ibach's bill that would delay immediate action on the bill and call for a study by the Nebraska Brand Committee for potential solutions. Storer said she was 'frustrated' with how the bill was initially crafted without the input of the Brand Committee and the cattle industry. She said her amendment was reasonable and would give more parts of the cattle industry a say. 'I believe it is vitally important that we have an agency in place to provide oversight that prevents fraud and theft in that industry,' Storer told the Nebraska Examiner. 'So at the end of the day, anything that's going to weaken that agency…to prevent fraud and theft is problematic.' The legislation is set to be debated on the floor Wednesday. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lab-grown meat ban moves forward in Nebraska Legislature
State Sen. Barry DeKay of Niobrara, chair of the Legislature's Agriculture Committee, center, meets with Speaker John Arch of La Vista. March 31, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — A bill banning lab-grown meat from Nebraska advanced Monday to a second round in the statehouse after a two-hour debate. Legislative Bill 246 advanced 33-1. Nebraska would join a handful of states that have introduced legislation banning cell-derived meat. The bill was introduced at the request of Gov. Jim Pillen, who owns a major hog operation based in Columbus. Several lawmakers expressed concerns over the safety of lab-grown meat, while others called the bill a waste of time. The proposed law doesn't ban alternative-meat products like Impossible Burger, which is made entirely from plants. The cell-derived meat it targets is produced from animal cells, enabling the cells to multiply and differentiate into muscle, fat, and connective tissue without slaughtering animals. The bill would ban the production, import, distribution, promotion, display or sale of any cultivated-protein food in the state. If passed, Nebraska would be the fourth state to implement a ban on lab-grown meat; Mississippi is expected to be the third once its Governor signs it into law. Florida and Alabama have banned cultivating and selling meat grown in laboratories in recent years Bill author State Sen. Barry DeKay of Niobrara, said the bill aims to protect the Nebraska meat industry and consumers from 'adulterated food's effects.' 'Our goal is not to throw people in jail or impose heavy monetary penalties,' DeKay said. 'It's just to keep the product off the shelves.' Mississippi's ban punishes anyone growing or selling lab-grown meat with a $500 fine and up to three months in jail. Lab-grown meat has been a subject of culture war politics, as some national Republicans say a ban is an attempt to stop the 'elitist' class from promoting unnatural foods. State Sen. Tanya Storer of Whitman said she had leaned toward voting no before researching the topic. On Monday, Storer said not banning lab-grown meat is 'sending a message to the people of Nebraska that we believe it's safe.' 'I cannot look someone in the eye right now and tell them that self-cultivated meat is safe,' Storer said. Nebraska is the second-largest cattle-producing state in the U.S., behind only Texas. Cattle and other livestock production are among Nebraska's largest industries, bringing nearly $31.6 billion to the state, according to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. The Food and Drug Administration approved lab-grown meat for human consumption in 2022. DeKay alluded to a ban in France and other European countries as proof that his concerns over the safety of lab-grown meat are valid. State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln said lab-grown meat is a non-issue, because the product is not yet in stores and is just an issue that gives the governor 'a win.' Conrad added that there are other solutions, such as labeling the meat as lab-grown. 'I think it's beneath the Legislature…it's out of touch with what most Nebraskans want,' Conrad said. The Nebraska Farm Bureau supported legislation that would label lab-grown meat but not ban it outright. Pillen has said he supported the bill as a way for the state to protect consumers and defend agriculture because it's the lifeblood of Nebraska's economy. After the vote, the governor said, 'The creation of this bioreactor meat is simply a dishonest attack on producers in our state,' on X. State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair said the state has bigger issues to deal with. 'Beer and bugs, tackling the important matters that matter to Nebraskans,' Hansen said sarcastically. 'I'm hoping we'll get to property taxes.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Agriculture Day spotlight shows 244,000 Nebraska jobs supported by ag
Nebraska is recognizing National Ag Week. (Courtesy of Nebraska Department of Agriculture) OMAHA — A group of ag fans assembled Tuesday in Omaha to celebrate National Agriculture Day and spotlight the role the industry plays in Nebraska's economy. The Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, which hosted the gathering, was joined by representatives of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Nebraska Farm Bureau and Conagra Brands. Gov. Jim Pillen also made a pair of stops in Omaha on Tuesday, including at JBS Beef in South Omaha, presenting proclamations recognizing Ag Week, March 16-22. 'Nebraska's agricultural industry continues to be a cornerstone of our economy, providing jobs, economic growth and tax revenue for our communities,' said Mark McHargue, president of the Farm Bureau Foundation board, which raises awareness of the sector's significance. 'From small family farms to large agribusinesses, agriculture is integral to every corner of our state.' The group shared these highlights: Nebraska's ag sector supports more than 244,000 jobs statewide, contributes $97.4 billion in sales and generates more than $6 billion in tax revenue. Agriculture is behind more than 40% of jobs in 54 of Nebraska's 93 counties. Douglas County leads the state with more than 29,000 ag-related jobs. David Bracht, president of the Omaha chamber's agricultural council, said in a news release that Douglas County's leadership in creating ag-related jobs underscores the industry's impact not only in rural areas but in urban centers of the state. The speakers said Omaha is a hub for agribusiness career opportunities. 'Omaha innovators have created a city where you can dig in the dirt or dive into data,' said Sherry Vinton, director of the state Agriculture Department. 'Whether a gearhead, number cruncher, sustainability dreamer or a content creator, Nebraska agriculture has a place for you.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
The Independent
20-02-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Proposal to ban lab-grown meat in Nebraska gets pushback from ranchers and farm groups
The prospect of banning the sale of so-called lab-grown meat might seem like a no-brainer in Nebraska, where beef is king, but some of the proposal's staunchest opposition has come from ranchers and farming groups who say they can compete without the government's help. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen — one of the largest pork producers in the country — is behind the push to ban cultivated meat, saying he wants to protect ranchers and meat producers. The Republican governor signed an executive order last August to keep state agencies and contractors from procuring lab-created meat, even though it could be years before such products are on store shelves. A number of ranchers and meat industry groups are pushing back on the governor's plan. Dan Morgan is a fourth-generation cattle rancher from central Nebraska who supplies high-end beef to all 50 states and six countries. He welcomes companies seeking to produce lab-grown meat to 'jump into the pool' and try to compete with his Waygu beef. Stifling competition in a free market should be anathema in a Republican-dominated state like Nebraska, he said. 'It sounds like a bunch of right-wing Republicans echoing a bunch of left-wing Democrats,' he said, adding that the government should be limited to regulating the new product's labels and inspecting its facilities to ensure food safety. 'After that, it's up to the consumer to make the decision about what they buy and eat.' Nebraska is among about a dozen states that have introduced measures to ban the manufacture, sale or distribution of lab-grown products, according to . Two states — Florida and Alabama — have already enacted such bans. The target of the bills is 'cell-cultivated' or 'cell-cultured' meat, which is grown from the cells of animals in bioreactor steel tanks. The cells are bathed for weeks in nutrients, prompting them to grow and divide, turning them into skeletal muscle, fat and connective tissues. The push to ban cultivated meat comes well before the innovation could be considered an industry. While more than two dozen companies are working to develop such meat products, only two — Upside Foods and Good Meat, both based in California — have been approved by the federal government to sell cultivated chicken in the U.S. Even then, none of the companies are close to mass producing and selling the products on store shelves. In recent weeks, supporters of the Nebraska bill have shifted their arguments from industry protection to questions of safety surrounding cell-cultured meat. That includes its sponsor, state Sen. Barry DeKay, a Nebraska rancher, and Sherry Vinton, the director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. Both testified in support of the bill at a committee hearing earlier this week, calling cultured meat 'synthetic food' and voicing concern about possible health implications from eating it. But it's been no secret that the push for a ban is rooted in shielding Nebraska's traditional meat industry. Nebraska tops all other states for beef production and beef exports, according to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. Pillen named the ban among his top priorities during his State of the State address last month. 'The backers of these products are cut from the same cloth as the anti-farmer activists who want to put our agriculture producers out of business, and we need to recognize them as such,' he said. The Association for Meat, Poultry and Seafood Innovation, the lobbying group for the emerging cultured meat industry, disputes Pillen's insistence that it's a threat to the traditional meat industry, noting studies that show global demand for meat-based protein will double by 2050. 'We're really a complementary component here,' said Suzi Gerber, executive director of the association. 'So it's a little bit mystifying to me why any individual stakeholder would see this as a threat.' Several farm organizations, including Nebraska Farm Bureau, Nebraska Cattlemen and the Nebraska Pork Producers, agree they're not worried about competition from the emerging industry. Those groups prefer a sister bill that would only require they be clearly labeled as lab-grown products to separate them from traditional meat. More than a dozen states have also issued similar labeling bills, and some — like Colorado — have seen ban efforts abandoned in favor of labeling measures. Paul Sherman is an attorney with the Institute for Justice, which is representing Upside Foods in its lawsuit challenging the Florida ban. He said it's no surprise most of the proposed bans are being pushed by those with connections to traditional agriculture. 'I think it certainly shows that the purpose of these laws isn't about protecting public health and safety,' he said. 'It's about protecting traditional agriculture from economic competition. And that is not a legitimate use of government power.'
