HEBRON, NE — Gov. Pete Ricketts is spreading his message of growing Nebraska through growing agriculture.

Ricketts toured three southeast Nebraska agriculture businesses Wednesday as part of National Ag Week. He visited LandMark Implement’s new 53,000 square foot facility in Hebron and said the new operation shows what it means to grow ag in the state.

“That’s how we continue to feed a growing world," Ricketts said. "That’s one of the trends in agriculture. American agriculture is about investing and doing more to feed this growing world.”

Ricketts signed a document proclaiming it National Ag Week in Nebraska. He said the industry is successful because it’s working to produce more with less. He used the LandMark Implement facility as an example.

“It’s housing some of the most high-tech, newest implements that are coming out of factories," Ricketts said. "(They) are going to help our farmers and ranchers be more efficient.”

Ricketts has a three-pronged approach to growing ag. He told workers his office is aiming to promote value-added ag, promote the state around the world and offer additional property tax relief.

He says finding new markets is one of the challenges facing the industry.

“We address that through our international trade missions, so that’s a key thing," Ricketts said. "That helps keep commodity prices up and that’s a big deal to our farmers and ranchers, that consistency.”

The facility isn’t totally finished yet but should be complete in the coming months. It will house about 30 employees.

Ricketts also visited Diller Locker Company in Diller and Cornhusker Beef in Johnson.