LINCOLN, NE – Livestock farmers seeking to expand or start new livestock operations and the county officials tasked with approving them would both benefit from changes to the local permitting process as proposed in legislation introduced by Sen. Dan Watermeier of Syracuse.

Livestock farmers and county officials have long recognized the importance of livestock agriculture, but establishing clarity for both parties in the local approval process hasn’t always been easy.

“Livestock farming is a huge part of Nebraska agriculture. It’s critical that we have processes in place that works for farmers seeking local approval and for county officials who are charged with representing the interests of the county. Sen. Watermeier’s bill (LB 106) is a step in the right direction to giving both sides greater clarity in the process,” said Mark McHargue, Nebraska Farm Bureau first vice-president and a pork producer from Central City.

County officials and representatives of Nebraska livestock groups have been meeting for several months to discuss concerns and ideas for improving the local permitting process. The result is legislation following in the steps of other states that have incorporated a matrix for evaluating livestock facility applications to remove some of the subjectivity in the approval process.

“Both county officials and livestock producers want more consistency and predictability built into the process. That’s what we were striving for as we worked through these conversations. Clearly the legislation would bring significant changes to the process, but they are positive changes that maintain local control for the county, but ensure livestock farmers aren’t in the dark on whether they have a realistic chance for approval,” said Larry Dix, executive director of the Nebraska Association of County Officials.

LB 106 would direct the Nebraska Department of Agriculture to develop an assessment matrix for use by county officials when determining whether to approve an application. The matrix would consider numerous factors in an application ranging from size and type of livestock farm, to manure management and impact on local communities.

“There are significant costs involved when you’re looking at expanding or starting a livestock feeding operation. That doesn’t just mean money. People invest a lot time and effort into the process and quite frankly, subject themselves and their families to a high level of public scrutiny. This bill won’t change all of that, but it will provide a level of predictability to the process that doesn’t exist today,” said Chuck Folken of the Nebraska Cattlemen.

“I’m proud to be a part of an effort to bring important reforms to how we address livestock expansion locally. The fact that the counties and livestock interests have worked together to find a mutually agreeable process is a testament to both interests and their understanding of what livestock agriculture means to the state and our local economies. The process outlined in LB 106 reflects yet another step forward in growing Nebraska agriculture,” said Sen. Dan Watermeier.

Legislative Bill 106 is scheduled for a public hearing Feb. 12 before the Legislature’s Government Committee.