.jpg)
This past week, the Agriculture Committee heard two bills at a public hearing: LB1187 and LB1258.
Both bills propose changes to the state’s livestock branding law. The Nebraska Livestock Brand Act requires cattle owners in the western two-thirds of the state to comply with mandatory brand inspections. These inspections are overseen by the Nebraska Brand Committee and are meant to safeguard against cattle theft.
Last year, the Agriculture Committee held an interim hearing to examine the Livestock Brand Act and the role and mission of the Brand Committee. At this hearing, the Agriculture Committee learned that the Brand Committee has a declining cash fund balance.
The closure of the Tyson Beef Plant in Lexington earlier this year is anticipated to substantially reduce inspection fee revenues, requiring additional drawdown on the agency’s cash fund and may potentially exhaust the fund in the near future.
My bill LB1187 would change certain inspection fees charged under the Livestock Brand Act. Today, the Brand Committee is authorized by law to collect an inspection fee not to exceed $1.10 per head and charge for actual mileage of the inspector to travel to an inspection location. LB1187 would increase the maximum per head inspection fee from $1.10 to $1.50 and authorize the Brand Committee to collect a uniform travel surcharge of no greater than $30 per stop.
LB1258 by Senator Hansen seeks to eliminate mandatory brand inspections in favor of a statewide voluntary system. Specifically, the bill would abolish the Brand Committee as a standalone agency.
In its place, the divisions of Brand Registration, Brand Inspection, and Livestock Theft Investigation would be created within the Department of Agriculture and take over carrying out some of the duties of the Brand Committee. The bill would also eliminate the provisions of the Livestock Brand Act that provide for mandatory brand inspection upon certain movements and transfers of ownership of cattle. Instead, the Department of Agriculture would provide for voluntary brand inspection as proof of ownership upon request for a fee.
The public hearing on LB1187 and LB1258 was well attended and resulted in lengthy discussion by both the supporters and the opponents. The Brand Committee, Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska, Nebraska Cattlemen, and other farm advocacy organizations expressed support for more brand inspection fee authority to ensure the Brand Committee remains solvent and opposed the adoption of a statewide voluntary brand system.
Meanwhile, the Nebraska Beef Producers, an organization consisting of a number of livestock feeders in the state, expressed opposition to expanding fee authority for mandatory brand inspection and argued that LB1258 represents a way to modernize brand inspection and treat all cattlemen the same across the state.
Thursday, February 19 marked the deadline for senators and committees to designate their priority bills this year. Senator Dorn prioritized my bill LB1187 to address brand inspection fees. LB1258 by Senator Hansen was not prioritized, meaning this bill is unlikely to be debated this year unless efforts are made to amend this legislation into another bill on the floor. I invite you to let me know your thoughts or concerns. My Capitol office telephone number is (402) 471-2801 while my email is [email protected]. My mailing address is: Senator Barry DeKay, District #40, P.O. Box 94604, State Capitol, Lincoln, NE 68509.
