Uniting Nebraska Rural and Urban Communities Around Regeneration
Background
In 2015, the Village of Nickerson, Nebraska was told that a large company would be moving into the area, but residents were not told much more. Soon, locals found out that the company was Costco, and that Costco was proposing to develop the largest poultry processing facility in U.S. history.
The proposed project would also be the first time a retail giant owned the processing sector with former Pilgrim’s Pride reps now operating under a new and more local name of Lincoln Premium Poultry (LPP). The lack of notice and available information troubled the locals, and ultimately the Village of Nickerson voted against the proposed project.
Soon after the neighboring city, Fremont, became the official site of the massive facility. Over 500 production barns would need to be built, forever changing our rural communities and further putting at risk our long tradition of independent family farming.
Rural Nebraskans Unite Over Growing Concerns
A coalition, led by Nebraska Communities United, was established to educate Nebraskans about the risks associated with extreme vertical integration in the food production industry. These groups immediately started educating farmers about issues with poultry grower contracts, and those early grower educational activities increased awareness around poultry industry concerns.
As Lincoln Premium Poultry recruited growers in the surrounding counties, more citizens became concerned about the impacts the chicken barns (formally classified as concentrated animal feeding operations - CAFOs) would have on their health and resources.
The formation and engagement of these groups have grown the local opposition against extreme vertical integration into the thousands. This has started a new conversation about opportunities in agriculture that respect and protect our communities and produce greater access to highly nutritious foods, all while being a part of a cultural solution that regenerates our land and water.
It’s Bigger Than Costco
Nebraska is under an industrial assault. Our abundance of water and nutritious soils have made Nebraska a target for industrial agriculture development and expansion. As has happened in Iowa, some of the largest hog feeders in the world are now currently eyeing placement of mega-hog confinement systems in our area. In fact, just recently, Cactus Feeders from Amarillo, TX, who also has operations in Georgia, South Carolina, and Kansas, announced they would be looking to locate 40 more hog confinements in Eastern Nebraska/Western Iowa.
Mission Statement
NCU is a 501-c3 dedicated to protecting water, land and air resources, economic well-being, and a high rural quality of life free from multinational corporate acquisition and factory farming intrusion. NCU supports regenerative methods of agriculture that allow more independent farms and ranches to be profitable, as well as ecologically responsible.
Communities United
We want to express our gratitude to our members and partner organizations who share our vision of a regenerative future, and who all together truly make up Nebraska Communities United.
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