Gov. Heineman, NDA Announce Wayne County Now Certified as Livestock Friendly

(Lincoln, NE) Gov. Dave Heineman and Agriculture Director Greg Ibach announced the official designation of Wayne County as the sixth Livestock Friendly County in Nebraska under a state program coordinated by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA).

Wayne County joins Morrill, Hitchcock, Webster, Keith, and Dawes Counties, which have been certified as Livestock Friendly.

“In seeking this designation, Wayne County officials have shown their strong commitment to rural economic development and agriculture,” Gov. Heineman said. “The Livestock Friendly program recognizes the positive economic impact our livestock industry has on communities across our state. Our livestock producers represent approximately 65 percent of agricultural receipts in Nebraska, so we know the important impact of this industry on the ability of Nebraska’s economy to grow. The Livestock Friendly designation is a sign that counties are ready to pursue new opportunities in agribusiness.”

NDA Director Greg Ibach joined the Governor in presenting the Livestock Friendly designation to County Commission Chairman Robert Nissen. The county also will receive road signs bearing the program logo to display along highways.

Ibach said, “In an area as diverse as northeast Nebraska, a strong livestock industry has a significant role as a marketplace for local grain production, contributing to the local economy through equipment and supply purchases and contracted professional services.”

To apply for a livestock friendly designation, a county must hold a public hearing, secure a declaration acknowledging the importance of livestock to the well-being of the county, submit a narrative that describes how the county meets the intent of the Livestock Friendly County program, and provide copies of the documents and regulations associated with site-selection criteria for livestock operations in a given county, if applicable.

Additional information about the Livestock Friendly County program is available by contacting the NDA at 800-422-6692 or by visiting the NDA Web site at http://www.agr.ne.gov and clicking the Livestock Friendly County box.

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