NeFU Will Participate in NFU “Week of Action” Fly-In May 5-9, 2025

Lincoln, NE. Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) State President John Hansen and Gage/Jefferson County Secretary Don Schuller of Wymore will join other Farmers Union State organizations participating in National Farmers Union’s “Week of Action” targeted spring Fly-In to focus on the need to pass an updated and improved Farm Bill.

NeFU President Hansen says “We want to remind our Congressional delegation that for the past three or more years farmers and ranchers have been financially struggling with record high ag input costs and sagging commodity prices that have caused many operators to use borrowed money that turned their equity into debt in order to meet cash flow shortfalls. Our farmers and ranchers want and need an improved Farm Bill to help them survive the financial crisis they are facing.” 

Hansen pointed out that instead of an improved Farm Bill, ag producers are seeing efforts that undermine both foreign and domestic agricultural markets. The growing trade and export volatility from massive tariffs can cause long standing foreign markets to disappear over night. The massive funding cuts for foreign food assistance programs alone are $2.3 billion markets for surplus agricultural products.

Specialty food producers have seen the defunding of USDA programs that support local foods ability to serve schools and food banks.  In addition, there has been unprecedented uncertainty in many USDA farm program funding and USDA staffing.

“Financially struggling farmers and ranchers are facing huge amounts of additional uncertainty as they plant spring crops. We are asking Congress to prioritize the passage of a permanent bi-partisan five-year Farm Bill that has an effective income safety net, supports voluntary conservation programs, reliable risk management programs, competition in agricultural markets, and meets the food security needs of Americans of all ages. Our farmers and ranchers hope Congress recognizes the urgency of the economic situation facing too many of the families who produce our food and fiber. The ‘For Farmers Sake’ theme for this Fly-In is appropriate,” said Hansen.

NeFU Gage/Jefferson County Secretary Don Schuller said, “While many planters are rolling, some of our neighbors have still not secured their 2025 farm operating loans. Many of those struggling financially are younger and beginning farmers who do not have as much equity to fall back on. We need our young and beginning farmers to not only survive, but to thrive so they can keep the wheels of food production turning in our rural communities in years to come. When we lose good young ag producers, we are hurting our future.”

Nebraska Farmers Union is a general farm organization with 3,532 farm and ranch family members dedicated to protecting and enhancing the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers and ranchers, and their rural communities.  Since 1913, Nebraska Farmers Union has helped organize over 445 cooperatives.