Restriction on Corporate Farming Rejected
On April 1, 2008, the Nebraska legislature killed LB 1174, the proposal to restrict corporate farming in Nebraska. On a vote of 27 opposed to 20 in support the legislature rejected the committee
amendment that addressed opponent's concerns about the legislation by allowing unrelated farmers to form farm corporations. LB 1174 itself was withdrawn from debate after the amendment failed.
“While this vote is deeply disappointing, it is only the first round. We will be back. Nebraskans understand the importance of family farms and ranches, as well as corporate responsibility,” commented Dan Owens, policy organizer for the Center for Rural Affairs.
On March 12, the Agriculture Committee in the Unicameral passed LB 1174 on a 7-1 vote. Introduced by Senator M.L. “Cap” Dierks and co-sponsored by five other Agriculture Committee Senators, LB 1174 was a legislative replacement for Nebraska’s anti-corporate farming constitutional amendment, Initiative 300. I-300 was ruled unconstitutional by a federal court in the fall of 2006.
LB 1174 expressed the public interest in supporting owner-operated farms and ranches in Nebraska, reflecting voluminous research both in Nebraska and across the United States. This research has shown that owner-operated farms and ranches produce better social and economic outcomes for rural communities, healthier environmental outcomes, and superior stewardship of natural resources.
Unlike I-300, LB 1174 contained a compromise to allow five or fewer unrelated family farmers and ranchers to form a corporate entity. Addressing the foremost objection of long-time I-300 opponents, this compromise would allow true family farmers and ranchers to join together, pool capital and ease the transfer of farms between generations.
“We would particularly like to thank Senator M.L. “Cap” Dierks, those who co-sponsored LB 1174, and those who voted in favor of the bill out of committee. They showed true leadership and a dedication to support Nebraska’s family farms, ranches and rural communities,” concluded Owens.
Another priority of the Center for Rural Affairs' in the Unicameral is an adjustment to the Nebraska Microenterprise Tax Credit, Legislative Bill 1088. The bill would raise the cap on the Nebraska Advantage Microenterprise Tax Credit from $2 million to $5 million over the next two years. For 2008, that entire $2 million was used in less than two days.
That means that many qualified business owners do not receive the tax credit, inhibiting small business development in rural Nebraska. Along with other changes, the provisions of LB 1088 will make the Microenterprise Tax Credit work better for rural Nebraska.
This crucial legislative priority can make a real difference for rural communities. We need your help to win – call your state senator today!
Contact: Dan Owens, dano@cfra.org or 402.687.2103 x 1017 for more information on the Center for Rural Affairs’ priorities in the Nebraska Unicameral.
“While this vote is deeply disappointing, it is only the first round. We will be back. Nebraskans understand the importance of family farms and ranches, as well as corporate responsibility,” commented Dan Owens, policy organizer for the Center for Rural Affairs.
On March 12, the Agriculture Committee in the Unicameral passed LB 1174 on a 7-1 vote. Introduced by Senator M.L. “Cap” Dierks and co-sponsored by five other Agriculture Committee Senators, LB 1174 was a legislative replacement for Nebraska’s anti-corporate farming constitutional amendment, Initiative 300. I-300 was ruled unconstitutional by a federal court in the fall of 2006.
LB 1174 expressed the public interest in supporting owner-operated farms and ranches in Nebraska, reflecting voluminous research both in Nebraska and across the United States. This research has shown that owner-operated farms and ranches produce better social and economic outcomes for rural communities, healthier environmental outcomes, and superior stewardship of natural resources.
Unlike I-300, LB 1174 contained a compromise to allow five or fewer unrelated family farmers and ranchers to form a corporate entity. Addressing the foremost objection of long-time I-300 opponents, this compromise would allow true family farmers and ranchers to join together, pool capital and ease the transfer of farms between generations.
“We would particularly like to thank Senator M.L. “Cap” Dierks, those who co-sponsored LB 1174, and those who voted in favor of the bill out of committee. They showed true leadership and a dedication to support Nebraska’s family farms, ranches and rural communities,” concluded Owens.
Another priority of the Center for Rural Affairs' in the Unicameral is an adjustment to the Nebraska Microenterprise Tax Credit, Legislative Bill 1088. The bill would raise the cap on the Nebraska Advantage Microenterprise Tax Credit from $2 million to $5 million over the next two years. For 2008, that entire $2 million was used in less than two days.
That means that many qualified business owners do not receive the tax credit, inhibiting small business development in rural Nebraska. Along with other changes, the provisions of LB 1088 will make the Microenterprise Tax Credit work better for rural Nebraska.
This crucial legislative priority can make a real difference for rural communities. We need your help to win – call your state senator today!
Contact: Dan Owens, dano@cfra.org or 402.687.2103 x 1017 for more information on the Center for Rural Affairs’ priorities in the Nebraska Unicameral.
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Comments
LB 1174
Keep up your effort to restrict absentee corporate owned food factories. They are ecologically and economically disastrous and over the long haul, unsustainable. We are having difficulties with them here in Michigan and perhaps can learn from Nebraska how to write a statute that is constitutionally acceptable.
Send me your snail mail address so I can send you a check. I don'tdo credit cards on line, ever.
Al Connor
Thanks
Thanks for your kind words. And you're probably pretty smart not to do the credit card thing online. Our snail mail address is:
Center for Rural Affairs
PO Box 136- 145 Main St.
Lyons, NE 68038
Thanks again for all your support.
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