A Nebraska lawmaker is pushing a state bill that could sustain rural economic growth.
The agriculture committee held its first hearing of the year to discuss the 2012 farm bill.
US Senator Ben Nelson stressed the importance of each program in the bill for helping sustain economic development in rural areas.
The USDA rural development program helped raise 189 million dollars in 2011.
Nelson says the programs are helping supporting rural America.
"These programs go beyond the development of Nebraska renewable fuels industry and help keep our comities livable and spur job creation," Nelson said.
Hearings begin this week on the bill which is updated every five years.
