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Nebraska Farmers Union |
1305
Plum Street • Lincoln, NE 68502 Contact
John Hansen Office: 402-476-8815, Fax: 402-476-8859, Cell: 402-580-8815 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nebraska
Farmers Convention Highlights
Farmer and Community Owned Renewable Energy
LINCOLN,
Neb. – 150 participants attended the 93rd annual state Nebraska
Farmers Union convention held December 8-9th in Grand Island. The convention theme was “Renewing Rural
America with Farmer and Community Owned Renewable Energy.”
Governor
Heineman and First Lady Sally Ganem were Friday noon luncheon guests. During his luncheon speech, Governor
Heineman supported efforts to promote local ownership in wind, ethanol,
biodiesel, and valued added processing by ag producers, cooperatives and rural
communities. “The more local ownership
we have in that economic structure, the better off we are,” he said. “I have
seen it in a number of ethanol plants in this state, and it’s a good model. We
need more local ownership.” Governor
Heineman also addressed wind development by saying, “Wind energy is another
alternative energy source we need to take a look at.” The Governor thanked Nebraska Farmers Union for their PAC’s
primary election endorsement, and the ongoing positive working relationship he
has with Farmers Union.
Nebraska
Ethanol Board Project Manager Steve Sorum updated the convention on the
remarkable growth of new ethanol plants built and under construction. Sorum noted that Nebraska Farmers Union was
pushing for ethanol development long before there was even a Nebraska Ethanol
Board. Sorum said during his first day
on the job he met with NEFU District 5 Director Alfred Maronde who “infected”
him with his enthusiasm and vision of ethanol development. The convention later
passed a Special Order of Business honoring Alfred Maronde, widely known as
“Mr. Ethanol” for his tireless pioneering promotion of ethanol development in
the 1960’s and 1970’s.
Dale
Enerson, National Farmers Union’s Carbon Credit Program administrator explained
the basics of carbon sequestration, including how ag producers can receive
financial incentives from the Chicago Climate Exchange for storing carbon in
their soil. Enerson explained how the
program aggregates and then sells the carbon. Enerson received the President’s
Award for Service to Agriculture for his efforts to get the carbon credit
program established from Nebraska Farmers Union President John Hansen.
The
delegates approved a Special Order Of Business commending National Farmers
Union for sponsoring the national carbon credit program, North Dakota Farmers
Union for starting and administering the program, and Nebraska Farmers Union
for their successful efforts that signed up 70,000 acres of Nebraska no-till
cropland and new plantings of grassland and legumes.
In
NEFU elections, the convention delegates re-elected Roy Stoltenberg of Cairo as
Director from District 2, Vern Jantzen of Plymouth from District 4, and Dennis
Buse of West Point from District 6 to the NEFU Board of Directors. Stoltenberg serves as NEFU Vice-President
and Jantzen as NEFU Secretary.
Sally
Herrin of Lincoln and Gwen Grabouski of Beatrice were elected to represent
Nebraska at the National Farmers Union convention March 2-5, 2007 in Orlando
Florida as delegates from the membership.
Dave Mohlman of Red Cloud was elected first alternate, and Dale Nielson
of Chapman second alternate.
Three
members were selected to serve on the NEFU Foundation Board of Directors, Gwen
Grabouski from the membership, Sally Herrin from the NEFU District Presidents,
and Linda Kleinschmit from the NEFU Board of Directors. NEFU Foundation President Jeff Kirkpatrick
of Lincoln reported on the educational activities the foundation funded this
past year, including part of the NEFU Youth Camp.
At
the Friday evening banquet, Farmers Union Insurances District Manager Walt
Basel was honored with the President’s Award for Service to Agriculture for his
long time outstanding work of recruiting and training Farmers Union Insurance
agents that are committed to helping build strong rural communities.
Brooks
Daily, the new National Farmers Union Membership Services Director was the
banquet speaker Friday evening. He
emphasized the importance of service, and the important role Farmers Union
plays in serving the needs of both the farm and rural community.
Saturday
noon luncheon speaker, National Farmers Union president Tom Buis, said the next
farm bill has the potential to be much more favorable to family farmers and
rural communities. And a new Congress has the potential to be more responsive
to grassroots rural America, he said.
“We are on the cusp of some really great things happening in
agriculture,” Buis said. “Rural America sent a loud, clear signal for change.”
Buis
said Farmers Union wanted the next Farm Bill to strengthen the income safety
net for family farmers and ranchers, include a strong competition title with
real teeth to address growing market concentration in agricultural markets,
prioritize farmer and community ownership of renewable energy to maximize the
long term economic benefits, increase incentives for direct marketing to
consumer and value added opportunities, fully fund conservation programs for
family farmers, and address the causes of low ag commodity prices, not just
treat symptoms. He also said mandatory
Country of Origin labeling was unfinished business from the last Farm Bill.
Congress passed COOL, but the Bush Administration delayed and sidelined
implementation.
Three
candidates shared their experiences as first time candidates for public
office. Unsuccessful Lt. Governor
candidate Steve Loschen of Wilcox, unsuccessful candidate for Congress Scott
Kleeb, and successful candidate for Legislature, Annette Dubas shared their
experiences with the convention.
Fundraising, negative attack ads distorting their positions, and the
stress on their families were raised as negatives. Getting to meet and know lots of new people, having the chance to
help people, and receiving the support of friends, neighbors, and strangers
were mentioned as positives.
The
convention delegates adopted their new policy for 2007. Some renewable energy highlights included:
n
A
Nebraska Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) of 10 percent by 2015 for Nebraska
electrical generation, and a national 10 percent RPS that also includes public
utilities and coops.
n
Enact
Nebraska state legislation that adopts the Minnesota Community-Based Energy
Development (C-BED) model to protect public power while allowing locally owned
wind projects to utilize private sector incentives including depreciation and
Production Tax Credits used in other states to stimulate wind energy
development. C-BED is a grassroots
model that brings together a wide range of landowners and other local people to
invest in community-based and locally owned projects that maximize the economic
and social benefits of renewable energy development in rural communities.
n
Limit
public power’s use of eminent domain on C-BED based wind projects.
n
Provide
Nebraska incentives for promotion and development of biodiesel similar to that
for ethanol.
n
Oppose
importing ethanol and alternative fuels or lubricants, such as Brazilian
ethanol to meet any domestic renewable fuel standards.
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