LINCOLN, NE – U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins joined Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, Congressman Adrian Smith, and NDA Director Sherry Vinton for a statewide agricultural tour that included key stops at Cargill Bioscience in Blair, Wholestone Farms in Fremont, and the Ohnoutka Family Farm in Valparaiso. During the visit, Secretary Rollins made two major policy announcements impacting agriculture and public nutrition.
At Wholestone Farms, Secretary Rollins approved Nebraska’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) waiver to exclude soda and energy drinks from eligible purchases, making Nebraska the first state in the nation to implement such a measure, effective January 1, 2026. The waiver aligns with the USDA’s goal of promoting healthier food choices for families in need and marks what Rollins described as “a historic step to Make America Healthy Again.”
Later in the day, at the Ohnoutka Family Farm, Rollins unveiled the USDA’s new Farmers First initiative—a 10-point strategy designed to support small family farms, streamline USDA programs, enhance credit access, reduce regulatory burdens, improve labor and disaster resources, and encourage farm succession. The announcement was made alongside a roundtable discussion with Nebraska producers and local FFA youth, addressing topics from agricultural education and water quality to tariffs and grant access.
Governor Pillen praised the initiative, stating, “Our family-owned farms and ranches are the backbone of Nebraska. I’m glad the USDA is putting them at the forefront with Farmers First, and I’m thrilled this announcement came from one of our very own farms.”
The tour underscored Nebraska’s role as a national leader in agriculture and innovation, celebrating the state’s producers across crop, livestock, and biofuels sectors.
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