All Responsible Nebraska Agriculture Deserves Our Support
By Roger Berry | 1/26/2007

James Knotwell’s misguided opinion piece “Agribusiness model doesn’t fit Nebraska,” which appeared in the Midlands section of the October 6, Omaha World-Herald, contained several wrong statements that require a response.

Mr. Knotwell made several false and misleading statements attacking the Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska (A-FAN) organization, and the future of agriculture in Nebraska. Many of his comments about Nebraska agriculture were based on a 60-year old study examining the structure of agriculture and impacts to local communities in California. It is ironic that the same edition of the Omaha World-Herald featured an article on ag tourism and showed a picture on the front page of a farmer using his cell phone to communicate with his pivot irrigation system. Whether Mr. Knotwell wants to acknowledge it or not, the world is changing and so is agriculture, particularly livestock farming.

Mr. Knotwell falsely accused A-FAN of supporting only large agricultural interests and an “extractive” approach to production. It is apparent someone with such harsh and inappropriate criticism either knows very little about the A-FAN organization and its objectives, or merely wishes not to learn. Perhaps, instead of being asked to leave (as I was by Nebraska Environmental Action Coalition (NEAC) organization leadership at the meeting to which Mr. Knotwell refers), he and others would have been better served to engage in the reasonable and open dialogue that A-FAN promotes. Let me help set the record straight and introduce you to A-FAN.

There has never been a time when it has been more important for farmers and ranchers to do the right things from an environmental, neighbor and community relations standpoint. Enter A-FAN, an organization formed to serve as a resource to help individual farmers and ranchers as they work to remain economically viable and meet these new and sometimes difficult challenges.

A-FAN helps producers of all sizes and types of livestock. A-FAN does not discriminate against anyone. Our requirement is that the producer be environmentally responsible and take into account local concerns when expanding or siting a livestock operation. Since June of this year alone, I have worked personally with more than 50 producers to plan or evaluate opportunities in livestock production. These have ranged from a father-son operation with 60 cow-calf pairs who wanted options to increase their profitability, to a feedlot wishing to expand from 5,000 to 10,000 head of cattle.

We don’t deny there have been situations in the past where poor decisions by farmers have led to conflict with neighbors and communities. Right or wrong, the poor decisions of a few have, and continue to, cast a shadow over the many Nebraska farmers who are doing the right things. Our goal is to make sure those days are at an end. Our rural communities and state can simply no longer afford it.

While other states have watched livestock production thrive, Nebraska has witnessed a steady decline in both the number of producers and the number of animals. The loss not only means fewer local market opportunities for Nebraska-grown feed grains, but the slow elimination of associated businesses and jobs that keep rural communities healthy. Ethanol production has also been a tremendous boost to rural Nebraska, but it only works if we have livestock to consume the ethanol by-product. Nebraska’s rural communities need agriculture and livestock, just like agriculture and livestock need rural communities. Both can co-exist. And with some effort on both ends they can thrive.

Protecting the quality of life in rural Nebraska is not about turning back the clock 60 years as Mr. Knotwell and other critics of A-FAN would have you believe. It is about positioning farmers, and the communities in which they live, for continued success while maintaining the fundamental values and attributes treasured by those who live there.

A-FAN was established to help farmers make good decisions and in the process build rural communities through agriculture using promotion, education and more importantly, communication. We are about finding solutions to help grow and unite rural communities, unlike others who offer no answers and whose actions ultimately divide them. While inaccurate in many of his accusations, Mr. Knotwell was correct in one vein: There is a clear choice for Nebraska.

Roger Berry, of Aurora, is the Field Director for A-FAN, a group that helps Nebraska farmers and ranchers protect and preserve the quality of life in rural communities through the development of responsible livestock production.