The Nebraska Unicameral Legislature has directed the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) to develop a Livestock Friendly County program to recognize counties that support Nebraska's livestock industry. NDA uses the Livestock Friendly County program to assist counties and agriculture producers promote Nebraska livestock. Livestock is Nebraska's largest agriculture industry and the largest single consumer of Nebraska feed grains.

What is the Livestock Friendly County program?

• The Nebraska Livestock Friendly County program is a voluntary program that recognizes counties that actively support the livestock industry. NDA partners with counties in the program to encourage development of the livestock industry in the county.

• Counties must apply to NDA to be designated as a Livestock Friendly County. Application materials are available from NDA, and any county may apply.

• The county board is required to hold a public hearing and pass a resolution asking NDA to designate the county as a Livestock Friendly County. Local producer and community groups can work together to ask the board to submit a Livestock Friendly County application to NDA. Activities and information collected to present to the county board may also be included in the application to NDA to support the county designation as a Livestock Friendly County.

• Counties that are accepted by NDA may include the Livestock Friendly County designation in materials promoting the county. The information gathered as part of the application process will also be a valuable resource for local producers and others interested in supporting the county.

• Each county is different. There are a wide variety of activities and regulations adopted by Nebraska counties that support the livestock industry. NDA will look at all of the things county government and groups in the county are doing to support livestock. Local agriculture producer groups might survey their members to determine the jobs, tax base, and sales generated by livestock in the county. The county or local agriculture producers could sponsor programs to inform people who consider moving to rural areas of the sounds, smells, and activities they will encounter in rural areas.

• If the county is zoned, NDA will evaluate county zoning regulations that apply to livestock operations. The Livestock Friendly County regulations include examples of things counties can do to be considered livestock friendly, but a county can apply even if they do not fit any of the examples given.

• Nebraska's agriculture economy depends on livestock. Livestock is Nebraska's largest agriculture industry with nearly 65% of all agriculture receipts originating from livestock sales. Livestock processing is the largest single employment class in Nebraska and provides many jobs in rural communities.

• Livestock is the largest user of grain in Nebraska. Over one-third of the grain produced in Nebraska is fed to Nebraska livestock. The cattle feeding industry is crucial to competitiveness in the production of ethanol through its use of the distillers grains co-product that is produced during the ethanol production process.

• Applying for and being designated as a Livestock Friendly County will help non-agriculture residents understand the economic importance of livestock to the county.