Thursday, June 18, 2026: Stanton, Madison, and Johnson Counties
Thursday, June 25, 2026: Cuming County
250 Years of American Agriculture
America has always been rooted in agriculture. George Washington didn’t want to be known as our first president. He wanted to be known as our first farmer. Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and other Founding Fathers were steeped in agriculture. The U.S. Capitol was designed as a testament to our farming heritage. There are columns throughout the building designed as cornstalks. As we celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday, we must continue our support for agriculture.
2026 has been a challenging year for our farmers and ranchers. Droughts, historic wildfires, and high input costs have caused hardships. We now have confirmed cases of New World Screwworm in Texas and New Mexico. These cases call for renewed efforts to support our farmers and ranchers.
I am working with the USDA to combat New World Screwworm. I sent Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins a letter. This letter encouraged the USDA to expedite efforts to fight New World Screwworm. We eradicate this parasite with sterile flies. Currently, USDA is dispersing 8 million of these flies a week to affected areas. USDA also invested $750 million in a sterile fly facility at Moore Air Force Base in Edinburg, Texas. When this facility is fully operational, 300 million sterile flies will be produced each week.
We also need to continue our collaboration with Panama and Mexico. Currently, the only facility in North America to produce sterile flies is in Panama. Mexico is set to have a sterile fly production facility come online later this summer. USDA supported both facilities. These efforts are in addition to the animal biosecurity and parasite mitigation programs made possible by the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. We eradicated New World Screwworm in the 1960s. Together, we will eliminate this parasite again.
When the wildfires broke out earlier this year, I toured burned pastures with Secretary Rollins and Governor Pillen to assess the damages. We also brought Undersecretary of Agriculture Richard Fordyce to Nebraska. We listened to farmers and ranchers to learn how we can best assist their recovery efforts. A top concern was the need for greater flexibility — not red tape — during rebuilding. The USDA listened. The agency loosened requirements for replacing fence posts damaged in the fires.
There’s a variety of ways that we can help our farmers and ranchers rebuild. I worked with the Trump Administration to open up grazing access at the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge. Past administrations have not freed up this grazing land. This week, I also introduced the Fencing Eligibility for New Conservation Equipment (FENCE) Act. The legislation would allow virtual fencing to be an option under the Emergency Conservation Program. The FENCE Act builds on the flexibility farmers and ranchers are asking for.
The South Fork Fire is a reminder that efforts to combat devastating fires must carry on. I’m grateful for the quick response of our brave law enforcement and local authorities. Governor Pillen has also taken action to help fight these fires. I will continue to make sure our state has the resources needed to recover and rebuild.
Agriculture is the heart and soul of what we do in Nebraska. As we celebrate 250 years of our great nation, we must continue to support our farmers and ranchers.
My team and I are here to serve you. Contact us anytime by phone at 202-224-4224. You can also view my website at https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/contact.
