LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – The Humane Society of the United States and the Nebraska Farmers Union have announced a partnership on farm-animal issues that is drawing criticism from some farm groups. The partnership, called the Nebraska Agriculture Council of the Humane Society of the United States, is intended as a way to find middle ground – and hopefully persuade the Humane Society from going to the ballot with a measure restricting cruelty to farm animals. In other states, the Humane Society has backed public votes to outlaw gestation crates for pregnant sows, cages for laying hens and other standard agricultural practices. The partnership comes weeks after the Nebraska Cattlemen, Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation and other agricultural groups unveiled efforts to lobby against such restrictions.