LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Democratic Party is targeting GOP U.S. Senate hopeful Deb Fischer in a new television ad that portrays her family’s grazing leases on federal land as a welfare handout. 

Democratic Party Chairman-elect Vince Powers on Monday unveiled a new statewide television ad that accuses Fischer of benefiting from a deal that less than 1 percent of Nebraska ranchers receive.

Fischer, of Valentine, has faced criticism for her family’s participation in the program. The ranching corporation pays $4,700 to graze the cattle for seven months, about $110,000 less than the market rate for private land in Cherry County.

Republicans say the accusation distorts the true cost of grazing the land, which includes federal grazing permits, fencing requirements and other regulations. Public grazing also lowers the federal government’s land-maintenance costs.