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NE Farm Bureau requests federal help for livestock farmers

The Nebraska Farm Bureau is calling on USDA to take steps to help struggling beef, dairy and pork producers.

Among their requests is that USDA make meat commodities the main target for export sales, through the Market Access and Foreign Market Development programs.  Another request is to use unobligated funds to increase Farm Service Agency loan guarantees for livestock producers, giving them access to private capital to remain in business.

Farm Bureau president Keith Olsen says, while farmers and ranchers are no strangers to tough times, some are at the point of going out of business.  That will hurt local employment and the entire local economy, Olsen says, and will eventually impact the state economy as well.