A Conversation With Congressman Mike Flood

Center-pivot irrigation in Nebraska.

Mike Flood was elected in a June special election to represent Nebraska’s First Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. A Nebraska native, businessman, and former state senator and speaker of the Nebraska Legislature, Congressman Flood has long familiarity with the importance of irrigated agriculture for Nebraska’s economy. In this interview, Irrigation Leader speaks with the new congressman about his views on agriculture in the state and how he will support Nebraska farmers and his other constituents in Washington.

Irrigation Leader: Please tell us about yourself and your background.

Congressman Mike Flood: I’m from Norfolk, Nebraska. I started as a radio broadcaster when I was 15 years old. I went to college to study journalism and then attended law school. I started my first station when I was 24 and built it into a business with 15 radio stations and 7 television stations across Nebraska. In 2005, I was elected state senator, and I became the speaker of the Nebraska Legislature at age 31. I served for 6 years, then went back home and continued to run my business. I was reelected to the legislature in 2020. In June 2022, I was elected in a special election to represent Nebraska’s first congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Irrigation Leader: Tell us more about your radio stations. Did you have a particular format?

Congressman Mike Flood: I started in country radio, and when I was in South Bend, Indiana, for my undergraduate studies, I worked on the radio there and really honed my craft. I wanted to recreate what I learned in South Bend and bring it back in Norfolk, so in 2000, I started a country radio station, which also broadcast news and agricultural information, since I am in a rural area. I added a rock station in 2008. In 2012, I started buying other stations and developed News Channel Nebraska, a 24-hour television, radio, and digital news channel that offers weather reports every 10 minutes and lots of information from all corners of the state.

Congressman Mike Flood: I truly have an appreciation for the value that the Ogallala aquifer and irrigation provide to agriculture in Nebraska. It’s a game changer. In my opinion, Nebraska has been at the forefront of protecting this unbelievable asset with the creation of natural resources districts. Nebraska has been ground zero for the development of irrigation, so it’s hard not to appreciate all the value that it provides Nebraska farmers.

Irrigation Leader: As you know, Nebraska is where centerpivot irrigation began. Richard Reinke was the first man to develop electric-drive pivots, and the pivot industry in Nebraska has been on the cutting edge ever since. Would you talk about the pivot industry and its importance to the state and the world?

Congressman Mike Flood: The extensive use of center-pivot technology, particularly low-pressure systems, puts Nebraska at the forefront of efficient water resource management. Developing countries rely on technology that started in Nebraska. I have several friends who work for irrigation companies, and they meet foreign leaders to talk about what their companies can do to create jobs and build the economies of developing nations. A lot of us probably take the importance of the irrigation industry to Nebraska for granted because it’s been there for three generations. We shouldn’t take it for granted. Instead, we should build upon what we’ve already got and double down on the research and technology needed to ensure that Nebraska maintains its preeminence as one of the world’s foremost irrigation leaders.

Irrigation Leader: What are what are your top priorities for Nebraska’s irrigating farmers?

Congressman Mike Flood: There is a push for Congress to remove the step up in basis in the federal estate tax code. I think doing so would be a mistake, because that provision is what allows the next generation to take over the family farm. I’m going to fight hard to keep the step up in basis. I think it’s an essential provision for protecting family farms in Nebraska.

I’m supportive of the crop insurance program, which is also not something we should take for granted. Of all the programs offered by the federal government, that is the one I hear about most. Many producers have told me that it works, and they want it to be maintained. Farmers take on a large amount of risk, and the one thing nobody can control is the weather. I’m going to be a strong advocate for that program. I also want to see Nebraska beef, Nebraska pork, and our other agricultural products marketed around the world. I want new markets to be developed for products that we produce right here in Nebraska. Irrigation Leader: As a Nebraskan and as an attorney, what are your thoughts on state water law primacy, especially regarding groundwater?

Congressman Mike Flood: I believe that it’s the right state policy. How and who should regulate it has been litigated five ways to Sunday. I think the fact that the state of Nebraska does regulate our water is one of the many reasons we have preserved the Ogallala aquifer all these years. From time to time, other entities have made compelling arguments in favor of deviating from that approach, but I believe it would be a step backward when it comes to our ability to manage our groundwater. I do believe that the state should ultimately own and regulate water.

The U.S. Capitol.

Irrigation Leader: What can you tell us about your plans for your time in Congress?

Congressman Mike Flood: I am going to listen as much as I’m going to talk. I think that farmers and ranchers need someone who listens to what they want instead of coming in with all the answers. That means spending time with people, getting to know people, forming relationships, and being a fierce advocate for people who are creating so much value in our economy. IL

Mike Flood represents Nebraska’s first congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. He can be contacted at mike@mikefloodfornebraska.com.