Nebraska Governor Applauds USDA for Dry Bean Purchase

June 20, 2009 -- (Lincoln, Neb.) -- Today Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman offered thanks to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for assistance given to Nebraska dry bean producers. The Governor applauded the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for completing a purchase this week of great northern beans.

Gov. Heineman contacted Vilsack in March requesting assistance for Nebraska’s dry bean industry. The state’s dry bean processors were having difficulty finding domestic or foreign markets for the contracted supply of 2008 great northern beans due to the global economic downturn and other factors. The Governor requested USDA consider using funding known as Section 32 funds to purchase the beans and help align supply and demand in the marketplace.

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“This purchase is a great start toward opening up the marketplace for our dry bean industry,” Gov. Heineman said. “We appreciate USDA’s response to our request.”

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Food Purchase Report published yesterday indicates USDA has purchased 26 million pounds of great northern beans for the child nutrition and other domestic food assistance programs. The estimated cost of the purchase is $12.7 million. USDA announced in May its intention to purchase $25 million of dry beans.

According to USDA, AMS only purchases products of 100 percent U.S. origin. Nebraska’s dry bean industry produced 85 percent of the 2008 U.S. great northern bean crop.

Mark Thompson with New Alliance Bean and Grain in Alliance said USDA’s actions this week are appreciated.

“It should help open up additional marketing opportunities,” Thompson said. “The sales also might introduce great northern beans into markets that haven’t been exposed to the product before, and that’s positive for our industry.”

Gov. Heineman coordinated with Nebraska’s Congressional Delegation in making the request to USDA for assistance.

Source: Nebraska Governor