US Senate candidates Kerrey, Fischer offer ideas on relief for producers in …

OMAHA, Neb. — The wildfires in north-central Nebraska have prompted the state’s candidates for U.S. Senate to weigh in on proposals that could help Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers suffering not only from the fires, but record drought.

Both Democrat Bob Kerrey and Republican candidate Deb Fischer have toured the wildfire areas and called on Congress to pass the federal farm bill, which includes disaster assistance for wildfires and drought.

But they have different ideas about other ways to help. Kerrey wants to speed up the process of offering low-interest loans to producers affected by drought and to expand the crop insurance program to include grazing land.

Fischer wants to waive conservation program obligations during severe drought and temporarily suspend weight and length requirements on vehicles transporting feed and livestock to disaster areas.

(Story distributed by The Associated Press)

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