Nebraska Farmers Union Applauds Appointment to Nebraska USDA FSA State Committee

LINCOLN (May 6, 2022) – Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) applauds the appointments of four additional members to the Nebraska FSA State Committee. They join Roy Stoltenberg of Cairo who was appointed to the State Committee November 1, 2021 and John Berge who was appointed to serve as the USDA Nebraska FSA Executive Director December 29, 2021. The State Committee is responsible for the oversight of farm programs and county committee operations. The State Committee hears appeals from ag producers unsatisfied with county decisions. The Committee also has a responsibility to makes sure FSA programs operate properly and are compliant with USDA equal opportunity and civil rights policies.

NeFU President John Hansen said, “We know that Becky Potmesil, Alliance; Paula Sue Steffen, Humboldt; Bill Armbrust, Elkhorn; and Aaron LaPointe, Winnebago will roll up their sleeves and tackle the huge backlog of issues and cases facing them. The past Administration’s State Committee was asked to resign last August, so there will be a lot of catching up to do.”

NeFU Vice President Vern Jantzen said, “We are extremely pleased with the appointment of these four State Committee members. They bring a diverse background of agricultural experience that helps them serve our diverse agricultural state. We thank the Biden Administration and USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for finalizing these long overdue appointments.”

Based on USDA data, Nebraska agriculture is the nation’s top commercial cattle processing state, cash receipts per capita, Great Northern bean and popcorn producing state. Nebraska ranks second in many categories including commercial red meat production, all cattle and calves, cattle on feed, alfalfa, ethanol, Pinto beans, Proso millet, and bison production. Nebraska is third in corn grain production and exports, and cash receipts from all commodities.

Hansen said, “Nebraska’s massive and diverse agricultural production goes hand in hand with the utilization of a wide range of federal commodity, credit, disaster, and conservation programs. Our state’s agricultural producers depend on farm programs to get beginning farmers and ranchers the long-term low-cost financing they need to get started, and direct financing for existing producers to help them stay in business. Our ag producers utilize various federal farm programs for risk management tools to help manage and survive adverse weather, fluctuating commodity prices, natural disasters, and even pandemics. Nebraska is a national leader in the use of a wide range of voluntary federal conservation cost share programs used to protect and enhance our soil and water natural resources for future generations.”

“The Nebraska State FSA State Committee is an important part of the USDA team that partners with Nebraska’s family farmers and ranchers to produce our nation’s food, fiber, and renewable fuels. If the current drought returns, the State Committee will play a critical role as they gather input from producers and counties and consider ways to use their discretion if appropriate to help farmers and ranchers salvage feed, hay, and grazing,” Hansen and Jantzen concluded.