Keeping Rural Nebraska Strong: Growing Agriculture and Our Local Economies

By Jon Capps, Candidate for Nebraska Legislature – District 38

In Clay, Nuckolls, Webster, Franklin, Harlan, Phelps, Furnas, and Red Willow counties, agriculture isn’t just part of the economy — it is the economy. From family farms and cattle operations to seed dealers, mechanics, grain elevators, and local diners, nearly every job in our district is connected to ag in some way.

That’s why we can’t afford to let Nebraska’s number 1 industry get buried under red tape, foreign competition, or government policies that don’t understand how rural communities work.

I’ve spent over 30 years solving problems in the private sector, including in agriculture, and I know this: if you want rural economies to thrive, you have to remove barriers, open markets, and let our producers do what they do best — feed the world.

Here’s how I’ll fight for our ag economy in the Legislature:

1. Stop Foreign Ownership of Nebraska Farmland Our land is our heritage. I’ll work to block foreign governments and corporations from buying up Nebraska farmland. That’s about protecting our sovereignty, our food supply, and our future.
   

2. Cut the Red Tape From environmental rules that don’t fit Nebraska’s reality to overlapping state and federal requirements, farmers and ranchers are drowning in paperwork. We need commonsense, Nebraska-based regulations — not one-size-fits-all mandates.
   

3. Expand Market Access for Producers We should be building infrastructure and trade opportunities that help our farmers and ranchers get Nebraska products to market — both here at home and across the globe.
   

4. Support Value-Added Agriculture From ethanol and biodiesel to locally processed beef, value-added ag keeps more dollars in our communities and creates good-paying jobs right here in District 38.
   

If you send me to Lincoln, I won’t just be another voice in the room — I’ll be an advocate who understands that the health of our farms and ranches is directly tied to the health of our main streets, schools, and small businesses.

When agriculture wins, Nebraska wins. Let’s make sure both are thriving for generations to come.