TESTIMONY for NeCGA
LB11
Appropriations Committee
November 9, 2009
Mr. Chairman and members of the Agriculture Committee:
The Nebraska Corn Growers Association would like to extend our support for LB 11. We would also like to thank Senator Dubas and the co-sponsors for introducing this legislation to ensure the future of Nebraska’s agriculture.
This week, this body will consider the state’s budget concerns although we face a short fall. Nebraska should appreciate the level of shortfall, when compared to other states across the country because a large part of the stable economy we have experienced is a direct result of agriculture. Farmers and ranchers have invested in the future of their respective industries by self-imposed checkoff fees which are managed by producer leaders. These investments have benefited the producers that invested into it and the Nebraska economy as a whole through the increased economic activity.
NeCGA supports LB 11 and its intent to ensure producers that their checkoff investments are managed in the manner that they were designed and intended. We believe it is simply wrong to have checkoff resources used for the general fund. Farmers already pay their fair share in property tax, income tax, and sales tax. To redirect their checkoff investment only creates a new tax on the back of production agriculture.
We would request the Committee to advance LB 11 to insure that Nebraska’s checkoff programs which were initiated by farmers, managed by farmers and funded by farmer’s, retain its original purpose.
