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Nebraska Cattlemen preparing for legislative debate over brand inspection law

The president-elect of the Nebraska Cattlemen says he expects the state’s brand law to be front and center in the next legislative session.

Craig Uden says the legislation could make changes to the Nebraska Brand Act, which includes the cost of inspections for different types of operations. “Who’s paying different levels? Who gets the most benefit? We absolutely have been right down the middle and to try to make sure we maintain brand inspection in our area.”

But, he tells Brownfield, there is an opportunity to modernize proof of ownership. “Take for example the dairy industry, they do a lot of EID work and technology with ear tags as far as movement. I think we have to look at health papers as a way to track these cattle especially with the diseases that arise.”

The Nebraska Brand Act and Nebraska Brand Committee regulate part of the state’s cattle industry by investigating cattle theft and verifying ownership through branding when cattle are bought, sold or moved in or beyond the inspection area, which covers the western two-thirds of the state. Last year, State Senator Theresa Ibach introduced a bill that would have changed the inspection fees for feedlots within the brand inspection area, but lawmakers did not take action on the legislation.

Craig Uden: