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301 Centennial Mall South P.O. Box 94982 Lincoln, NE 68509 PH: (402) 471-4276 FAX: (402) 471-3040 e-mail: sorghum@nrcdec.nrc.state.ne.us |
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Government Affairs Not all issues affecting grain sorghum occur in the field. In fact, a great many of them are
policy-oriented and start in our nation’s capital! In 1985, the Nebraska Legislature authorized the Grain Sorghum Board to
invest up to 25% of its annual funds to influence federal legislation. While the Board looks primarily to the
Nebraska Grain Sorghum Producers Association, the voluntary membership
organization, to provide leadership and direction on legislative issues, 15%
of the Board’s administrative expenses are directed to a Federal Government
Affairs Program. The Board maintains a close alliance, as well, with the National Grain
Sorghum Producers to address such issues as the farm bill; water quality and
environmental concerns; risk management; trade policy; and sorghum loan
rates. Additionally, crop insurance
reform; grain quality issues; FMD and
research funding; WTO negotiations; and fast track authority are addressed. Checkoff funds cannot be used to influence state legislative issues –
that has been defined as the responsibility of the producers
association. The Grain Sorghum Board
is, however, occasionally called upon by various state senators and
legislative committees to provide program information or to respond to
questions regarding the impact that pending legislation might have on
existing programs. |
