Nebraska Farm Bureau Leadership Academy 2016 class members used examples from their own lives and businesses to explain how vital the Trans-Pacific Partnership is during a national affairs visit to Washington, D.C., in early September.

HIGH PRIORITY: According to analysis conducted by AFBF, TPP would increase annual net farm income by $4.4 billion and increase U.S. ag exports by $5.3 billion per year. Nebraska stands to make major annual gains from TPP, with a $378.5 million increase in ag cash receipts and a $229.2 million boost to ag exports, according to AFBF. (Copyright Sean Gallup, Getty Images)

"International trade remains critical to Nebraska, particularly with the recent downturn in the agricultural economy. Prices for agricultural commodities have fallen significantly over the past two years, and recent USDA projections of more than 30% reduction in net farm income, as compared to 2013, only highlight the need to find new markets for Nebraska agricultural products. The passage of TPP is a key ingredient to help boost Nebraska's agricultural economy," said Jordan Dux, director of national affairs.

Leadership Academy members shared their concerns about the current dangerous combination of high operating costs and higher debt loads with Nebraska's congressional delegation. Those on the trip stressed the drastic reduction on net farm income and the substantial pressure it is putting on their family farms and ranches, and how trade will increase their ability to handle such a downturn.

Passage of TPP continues to be a Farm Bureau priority. According to analysis conducted by the American Farm Bureau (AFBF), TPP will increase annual net farm income by $4.4 billion and increase U.S. agricultural exports by $5.3 billion per year. Nebraska also stands to make significant annual gains from TPP with a $378.5 million increase in ag cash receipts and a $229.2 million boost to ag exports.

"If the U.S. fails to enact TPP, our trade situation won't even maintain its current level; rather, it will actually lead to declining net exports and Nebraska farmers will lose market share in important Asian export markets," Dux said.

Another issue front and center during the trip was the increased cost of health insurance. Soaring health insurance premiums have thwarted the ability of many small business owners to provide, and their employees to obtain, health coverage. From 2010 to 2015, premiums for small firms increased 25%, from an average monthly family premium of $1,104 to $1,385.

"Farmers and ranchers are trapped in a broken health insurance marketplace with few options and high insurance costs. They need market-based reform that lowers costs and increases choices for private health insurance. Health insurance reform is essential, but it must also be workable, affordable, sustainable and balanced against the overall cost of doing business," Dux said.

Besides visiting with Nebraska's congressional delegation, the Nebraska Farm Bureau Leadership Academy met with officials from the Embassy of Australia, the Environmental Defense Fund, the Progressive Policy Institute, and USDA's office for New and Beginning Farmer and Rancher Programs.

Those attending were:
• Bryce Doeschot, Lancaster County
• Darrel Entz, Custer County
• Branson Essink, Otoe County
• Chelsey Girard, Polk County
• Robert Hartman, Chase County
• Erin Norman, Dawes County
• Joe Sateren, Cuming County
• Rebecca Schwarz,  Phelps/Gosper County

Source: Nebraska Farm Bureau