Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) State President John Hansen and board members Lynn Belitz of Fullerton and Andrew Tonnies of North Bend will be among those in the Nebraska delegation attending the 124th National Farmers Union Convention.
NeFU will join other Farmers Union State organizations in attending the convention March 7-9 in New Orleans. Family farmers and ranchers from across the country will join together in “The Big Easy” for three days of meaningful fellowship, thoughtful policy conversations, and inspiring speakers.
In addition to Hansen, Belitz and Tonnies, Bill Armbrust of Elkhorn, Keith Dittrich of Tilden, and Marcia Regier of Beatrice will serve as delegates.
“It is always good to get together with fellow family farmers from around the country who share our passion for preserving and growing our traditional system of independent family farm and ranch owned food, fiber, and fuel production,” Hansen said. “This year’s convention will focus on the need for Congress to take immediate actions to help farmers get through the growing ag crisis.”
This year’s convention will feature outstanding speakers and workshop presenters, including Jason DeShaw, a national award-winning mental health advocate and singer/songwriter. In addition to record high ag input costs and sagging commodity prices, speakers will discuss the need for a major overhaul of farm and trade policies that have failed farmers and ranchers. Other topics of discussion include the need for an all-hands on deck national approach to expanded utilization of domestically produced biofuels.
Hansen pointed to the 2025 projected $47 billion balance of ag trade deficit and the thousands of farmers whose farm operating loans will not be renewed this spring as examples of failed current trade and farm policies.
“It is time we re-think outdated approaches that no longer serve family farm and ranch agriculture,” he said.
