Reps. Fortenberry and Osborne Fly In To Recognize L&L Farms Leadership in Conservation
Second Stop on First District Ag Fly-Around Praises Spirit of Conservation

BEATRICE, NE - Congressmen Jeff Fortenberry and Tom Osborne, both members of the House Agriculture Committee, continued a day of agriculture and federal farm policy discussions around the first congressional district today with a visit to L & L Farms north of Beatrice this morning. The First District Ag Fly-Around, focusing on growing Nebraskas agricultural opportunities, began this morning in Lincoln and will continue with stops in Norfolk and South Sioux City.

There are three exciting opportunities emerging for Nebraskas next generation of farmers entrepreneurship, ag-based energy, and conservation, Fortenberry said. Farmers natural instinct is to protect and properly care for the land they own. This intuitive sense of stewardship should be recognized by farm policies that reward farmers for practicing good conservation measures.

The Congressmen stopped in for a Conservation Security Program (CSP) contract signing ceremony at L & L Farms. Owned and operated by Lawrence Gronewold, his wife Shirley, and their son Larry, L & L Farms covers an area of around 1,700 acres of irrigated and dryland cropland in Gage Country, Nebraska.

As stewards of the land from which they derive their livelihood, farmers lead the way in maintaining and enhancing their natural resources, Fortenberry said. We need to continue to explore innovative partnerships such as CSP that allow creative preservation and good management of agricultural lands.

The farm utilizes federal and state conservation farm programs for nutrient and pest management, no-till farming, and irrigation management. In addition to his practices on his own farm, Lawrence also actively promotes conservation through the Lower Big Blue Natural Resources District, of which he has been a board member for the past six years.

Agriculture Committee colleagues Fortenberry and Osborne teamed up for Tuesdays First District Ag Fly-Around in order to explore new ways to grow opportunities in Nebraska Agriculture.

Departing from Lincoln after an early-morning event at the Food Processing Center at UNL, the Congressmens itinerary included CSP contract signing in Beatrice; a tour and ag forum at Northeast Community Colleges Agriculture Complex in Norfolk; and a visit to Cardinal Farms, a Hydroponic Tomato facility in Dakota City.

Our strong commodities tradition is also giving rise to new opportunities, Fortenberry said. Our stops today highlight the value of training and shared insights, entrepreneurial diversification, and the spirit of conservation that only comes from a farmers close dependence on the land.

This day gives Congressman Osborne and I a chance to celebrate the values that will keep our rural communities vibrant, Fortenberry said. Our family farms possess the resources to keep our agricultural economy strong, and it is our job in government to give them the opportunities they need to prosper and grow.

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