Nelson surprised at farm bill flap

U.S. Senator Ben Nelson voiced his concern over the newly passed Farm Bill during a telephone conference this morning with McCook residents.

"I am somewhat surprised by the controversy surrounding the Farm Bill. They are politicizing this more than they should," he said, referring to editorials in the Lincoln Journal-Star and Omaha World Herald.

"The truth of the matter is, this was a non-partisan bill." Nelson said.

While Nelson has some concerns regarding the bill, he said he voted for it because it needed to be put in place.

"When the everyday events of agriculture become an emergency, we have to do something," he said.

"It wasn't perfect, and I did vote for it," he said, explaining that items such as a payment limitation provision could be changed at a later date.

"This will bring half a billion dollars more for Nebraska farmers in the coming year," Nelson said.

He reconfirmed his concern over rural economic problems. "Every time I deal with an issue back here, I keep in mind the rural areas of the country," Nelson told the 11 individuals attending the meeting.

Nelson told Kay Lavene, executive director of the McCook Economic Development Corp., he was disappointed in the cutting of the Rural Development Commission from the state budget, but he believed that money brought to the state with the passing of the farm bill will go a long way toward building the economy in rural Nebraska.

He also suggested McCook look at the economic growth of Columbus and Norfolk and talk to officials there. "They have been able to develop their own economic region without the benefit of the Interstate 80 corridor," he said.

Nelson also made a commitment to look into the federal Risk Management Agencies policy that irrigated crop producers are not covered under the drought aspect of risk management. "It's a Catch-22," Angus Garey told the senator. "Farmers who have irrigated crops can't water because of the low reservoirs in the area. But irrigated land is not an acceptable factor in risk management."

"It also wouldn't be covered if they turn it to a non-irrigated crop."

"Crop insurance was to cover every kind of hazard," said Nelson. "Maybe between Tom Osborne's office and ours we can get something done."

Nelson also told those attending the meeting that his office is continuing work on maintaining Essential Air Service in McCook.

Those attending the meeting included Larry Eisenmenger, Stan and Mittie Quiqley, Linda Taylor, Duane Tappe, Gloria Masoner, Kay Lavene, Jack Hendricks, Scott Hoffman, Rebecca Vosburg, Angus Garey, Marie Owen, and Brenda McMurtrey.