KIMBALL – Phil Erdman, a familiar face on the western Nebraska political scene, dropped by Kimball's Event Center on Feb. 10.
Erdman used to be our state senator. Now he is the State Director of Agriculture on the staff of Nebraska's junior Senator in the U. S. Congress, Mike Johanns. Johanns is a former governor of Nebraska and served in George W. Bush's cabinet as Secretary of Agriculture.
Erdman is handling his new duties from Lincoln and announced that his home in Bayard is for sale. He grew up on a dairy farm there and has a degree in agriculture from the University of Nebraska.
Erdman told the assembled group of 60 Kimball area citizens that the 2008 Farm bill is still only half implemented, that Nebraska has serious water issues, needs economic development and is well situated to take part in renewable energy development.
Erdman said, "Most importantly, I will take your thoughts back to Senator Johanns."
He said Johanns serves on the Senate's Agriculture Committee as well as assignments to the Banking, Commerce, Veterans and Indian Affairs Committees.
Erdman told how Johanns is in favor of repealing the death tax and in developing new markets for agricultural products.
Northern Beans grown in Nebraska were specifically mentioned with Iraq being a potential purchaser. Johanns is also working on increasing the sale of Nebraska beef to Japan.
Erdman said about 20 cents of every food dollar spent gets back to the farmer.
He told of research being done in the area of dry land sugar beets and told of the advantages of sweet sorghum as an ethanol source.
Erdman said that right now ethanol is more expensive than gasoline but ethanol technology is improving at a rapid pace. Iowa is the leading producer of ethanol and the new Secretary of Agriculture is the former governor of Iowa.
In answer to questions from the group, Erdman said that Johanns is in favor of nuclear energy and all the forms of renewable energy. And in favor of developing crude oil reserves in ANWR.Erdman said, "We have to deal with the issue of exploding populations around the world with food grown on a shrinking amount of farmland."
He said the American farmer feeds 30 Americans and 120 other people scattered around the world.
Erdman reported that Johanns voted against the Stimulus Package in the Senate because Johanns believes it is too costly.
How do we change the way Washington does business?
Erdman told the audience that we have to ask our representatives to do the right thing.The best way to communicate with Washington? Erdman said all means are good. Phone, e-mail, mail and fax.
He said right now Senator Johanns' office is a double wide trailer sitting in the courtyard of the Russell Senate Office Building.
Erdman's visit to Kimball was hosted by the local Farm Bureau organization and the Kimball-banner County Chamber of Commerce.
Beverly Atkins of the Farm Bureau group introduced Erdman to start the evening.
