Interest has been high among prospective poultry growers for a potential poultry plant in Fremont, Nebraska, as a series of informational meetings attracted about 200 people.
Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU), Organization for Competitive Markets, Farm Aid, Nebraska Communities United and GC Resolve co-sponsored a series of public meetings in the Nebraska communities of Wahoo, West Point, Columbus and Arlington, where attendees could learn more about specific details to be aware of when considering entering contracts to raise poultry. The topic is one of great interest as a plant, to be operated by Lincoln Premium Poultry, has been proposed in the Fremont area. The poultry processed at the plant would be sold at Costco stores.
Longtime poultry contract grower Mike Weaver, who is also the president of the Poultry Growers Association of the Virginias, spoke to attendees about identifying contract problem areas to be improved or avoided. Also speaking at the meetings was Lynn Hayes, senior attorney and program director of the Farmers Legal Action Group. Hayes has many years of experience in working with poultry producers and issues related to their contracts.
NeFU President John Hansen told KTIC he was pleased with the interest shown at the meetings and the type of questions that were asked and answered.
“It is essential that contract producers understand all the risks and obligations that go with poultry production so those issues are properly addressed in the binding contracts they will be asked to sign,” said Hansen. “Our goal was to help farmers gather more information so they could know more about what goes with poultry production issues and poultry contracts.”
