Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy on Friday announced the official designation of Deuel County as Nebraska’s newest Livestock Friendly County.

There are now 12 counties certified as Livestock Friendly in the state. Deuel County joins Adams, Box Butte, Dawes, Garden, Hitchcock, Keith, Lincoln, Morrill, Sheridan, Wayne, and Webster Counties as being designated as Livestock Friendly.

“Deuel County officials have demonstrated their commitment to rural economic development and agriculture,” Lt. Governor Sheehy said. “The Livestock Friendly program recognizes the positive economic impact the livestock industry has on communities across our state. Our livestock producers represent 57 percent of agricultural receipts in Nebraska, so we know the important impact of this industry on the ability of Nebraska’s economy to grow. The Livestock Friendly designation is a sign that counties are ready to pursue new opportunities in agribusiness.”

Lt. Governor Sheehy and Nebraska Department of Agriculture Assistant Director Ginger Langemeier presented the Livestock Friendly designation to Commissioner Clint Bailey the Chairman of the Deuel County Commission. The county will also receive road signs bearing the program logo to display along highways. The program is coordinated by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.

To apply for a livestock friendly designation, a county must hold a public hearing, secure a declaration acknowledging the importance of livestock to the well-being of the county, submit a narrative that describes how the county meets the intent of the Livestock Friendly County program, and provide copies of the documents and regulations associated with site-selection criteria for livestock operations in a given county, as applicable.

Additional information about the Livestock Friendly County program is available by contacting NDA toll free at 800‑422-6692, or by visiting the NDA web site at www.agr.ne.gov and clicking the Livestock Friendly County button.