A fifth-generation Nebraska farmer believes it is critical for Congress to restore National Weather Service staffing, preserve the Renewable Energy Tax Credits and other conservation grants.Solar panels power 65% of Graham Christensen and his brother’s farm near Oakland.”Everything right now is getting some power from the solar most likely that’s running on the farm,” Christensen said.It’s thanks to a 20 kilowatt solar array and a 30% federal tax credit that allowed them afford it several years ago. “Our bills before this would have been anywhere from $400 to $700 a month,” Christensen said.”Now we’re seeing bills that are typically under 100 bucks,” Christensen said.He’d like to see other farmers be able to take advantage of the credits.”The tax credits put us in a place to be able to do that and make our business a little bit more competitive. And we’re always looking for those edges in Nebraska with the high property taxes,” Christensen said. That’s got the attention from conservative groups and a representative from U.S. Representative Don Bacon’s office who were touring Christensen’s farm Thursday.”Seeing firsthand tax credits at work, energy investments at work, that’s incredible to see,” said Brian Martinez, from the American Conservation Coalition.They are joining congressional leaders like Bacon to try and spare the 30% energy tax credit from the chopping block.He said the credits can help farmers and rural communities.”These are the president’s voters. We’re here in rural Nebraska, where the president won big,” Martinez said.Christensen is also heavily invested in regenerative agriculture and precision farming.Relying on weather data and underground probes.”We know precisely when to turn on the water, therefore not over using water,” Christensen said.That’s why he also supports efforts by Nebraska’s congressional delegation to keep conservation programs in the Federal Farm Bill as well as restore National Weather Service balloon launches.”When we start taking away. You know some of the routes of balloons, and you have bigger areas that are not being covered,” Christensen said. He said those weather patterns are important.”So we can just better understand how to farm better in a potentially more volatile climate,” Christensen said.He said all of these tools are critical to helping family farmers stay on the farm.”We’ll be able to get a leg up as a small or mid-sized business, so that we have a chance to be competitive and allow our farm to be able to be passed to the next generation without debt,” Christensen said.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
A fifth-generation Nebraska farmer believes it is critical for Congress to restore National Weather Service staffing, preserve the Renewable Energy Tax Credits and other conservation grants.
Solar panels power 65% of Graham Christensen and his brother’s farm near Oakland.
“Everything right now is getting some power from the solar most likely that’s running on the farm,” Christensen said.
It’s thanks to a 20 kilowatt solar array and a 30% federal tax credit that allowed them afford it several years ago.
“Our bills before this would have been anywhere from $400 to $700 a month,” Christensen said.
“Now we’re seeing bills that are typically under 100 bucks,” Christensen said.
He’d like to see other farmers be able to take advantage of the credits.
“The tax credits put us in a place to be able to do that and make our business a little bit more competitive. And we’re always looking for those edges in Nebraska with the high property taxes,” Christensen said.
That’s got the attention from conservative groups and a representative from U.S. Representative Don Bacon’s office who were touring Christensen’s farm Thursday.
“Seeing firsthand tax credits at work, energy investments at work, that’s incredible to see,” said Brian Martinez, from the American Conservation Coalition.
They are joining congressional leaders like Bacon to try and spare the 30% energy tax credit from the chopping block.
He said the credits can help farmers and rural communities.
“These are the president’s voters. We’re here in rural Nebraska, where the president won big,” Martinez said.
Christensen is also heavily invested in regenerative agriculture and precision farming.
Relying on weather data and underground probes.
“We know precisely when to turn on the water, therefore not over using water,” Christensen said.
That’s why he also supports efforts by Nebraska’s congressional delegation to keep conservation programs in the Federal Farm Bill as well as restore National Weather Service balloon launches.
“When we start taking away. You know some of the routes of balloons, and you have bigger areas that are not being covered,” Christensen said.
He said those weather patterns are important.
“So we can just better understand how to farm better in a potentially more volatile climate,” Christensen said.
He said all of these tools are critical to helping family farmers stay on the farm.
“We’ll be able to get a leg up as a small or mid-sized business, so that we have a chance to be competitive and allow our farm to be able to be passed to the next generation without debt,” Christensen said.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |