May 4, 2009 – Today, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson praised the announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on its purchase of up to $25 million of dry beans, 85 percent of which come from Nebraska.
 
“The Great Northern bean industry is vital to Nebraska and its farmers,” said Senator Nelson. “The purchase of these beans will allow bean farmers to plant this year’s crop and continue to provide their quality product to the world. I applaud this decision by the USDA.”
 
Many Western Nebraska Great Northern bean farmers have been unable to sell their 2008 Great Northern bean crop and face significant difficulties in obtaining operating capital for the 2009 season for a number of reasons. These include: domestic competition for land last year due to high prices for corn and other crops due to speculation and high oil prices, subsequently pricing bean farmers out of the market, while internationally there have been problems within some of the traditional markets for these beans, like Iraq and Cuba.
 
Nebraska produces 85 percent of the nation's Great Northern bean crop and the requested assistance under the USDA's Section 32 program will help preserve this important industry. The beans will also provide healthy lunches for thousands of students nationwide through school lunch and other assistance programs
 
Nebraska’s Dry Edible Bean growers not only feed the world, but also contribute greatly to the U.S. economy while doing so. Half of the product is exported to foreign markets such as Mexico, the United Kingdom, Haiti, Dominican Republic, France, Greece, Northern Africa, Canada, Cuba and Iraq.
 
“Nebraska is the number one producer of Great Northern Beans in the United States,” said Nelson. “The USDA says Nebraska accounts for the majority of the U.S. Great Northern crop which means if you’re eating baked beans in Boston, Senate Bean Soup in Washington, a cassoulet in Paris, a vegetarian stew in San Francisco, or White Bean Chili in Dallas, and they’re made with Great Northern Beans, chances are they were grown in Nebraska.”
 
It is estimated that the Nebraska produced 2008 Great Northern bean crop totals 62,000 metric tons.  There are an estimated 1,500 farmers in western Nebraska who produce the beans for various purposes.
 
In March, Nelson sent a letter to USDA with Senator Mike Johanns and Congressman Smith and has been urging the agency to expedite the purchase of the beans from Nebraska famers. 

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