Planting season is upon us with some crops already in the ground, but Nebraska farmers say there is a cloud of uncertainty overhead.
“I think farmers are a little nervous. We’re going to have to continue to see where it is, where everything is, and we’re going to be paying very close attention as to everything that happens. Whether we’re talking about this economic program, the weather-related disaster assistance, the conversation on taxes which will be heating up, or trade and tariffs as well,” said Jordan Dux, Senior Director of National Affairs with the Nebraska Farm Bureau.
Dux says the $10 billion in economic assistance announced by USDA last week will be helpful but other groups say it is just a band-aid.
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