Senator Ricketts’ Weekly Column: A Celebration of Nebraska Beef
Nebraska is the Beef State. Agriculture is the heart and soul of what we do. One in four jobs in Nebraska is related to agriculture. Beef is essential to our state’s economy. Recently, we celebrated a major win for our state and our beef industry. I joined over 1,000 people in North Platte for the ribbon-cutting of the new Sustainable Beef processing plant. It will process about 1,500 head of cattle per day when fully operational. It will create 850 good-paying jobs. It will also add $1 billion to the local economy each year. This is the power of Nebraskans coming together to solve problems.
The journey to this day started years ago. When I was Governor, I led a trade mission to Japan and Vietnam. On that trip, I spoke with Nebraska cattle producers about the challenges they faced. They shared concerns about the prices cow-calf operators were receiving. I told them the answer was competition. That conversation led a group of Nebraska ranchers to come together and launch Sustainable Beef. Now, their vision is a reality.
Sustainable Beef is a huge win for North Platte, for Nebraska, and for the entire beef industry. Local businesses are expanding. More families are moving in. This is what happens when we invest in agriculture. This is what value-added agriculture looks like. It’s taking our products and processing them to capture more of the economics.
This new plant is also proof that we can grow our economy while protecting our land and resources. Nebraska ranchers already lead the way in sustainability. They know how to care for their cattle and their land. Sustainable Beef will continue that tradition by focusing on responsible production practices that respect our environment.
Beef is essential to our state. Last year, Nebraska led the nation with over $2 billion in beef exports. We also led the nation in commercial cattle slaughter, with nearly 6.9 million head processed. Nebraska ranchers help feed the world. Our beef industry is not just part of our economy. It is our way of life.
Despite our success, there are threats to our industry. Radical activists want to push anti-beef policies that ignore science and common sense. Some want to take beef off the menu and replace it with plant-based substitutes. As Senator, I’m fighting against those radical policies. I’m pushing back against burdensome regulations. I will always stand up for Nebraska agriculture and our ranchers.
Standing up for producers also means passing a strong Farm Bill. Ranchers need the certainty of a full, five-year bill. A strong Farm Bill will protect risk management tools like Price Loss Coverage and Livestock Risk Protection. It will secure funding for the USDA Vaccine Bank. It will support working lands-based conservation programs that protect our resources while respecting private property rights. That’s why I’m working with my colleagues to get it done this year.
Food security is national security. The COVID-19 pandemic showed us how dangerous it is to depend on Communist China for critical supply chains. Without our farmers and ranchers, America would depend on other countries for the food we eat. That’s why facilities like Sustainable Beef are so important. They strengthen our economy, defend our way of life, and protect our domestic food supply chain. With the dedication of Nebraska’s producers, the future of our beef industry is bright.