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Legislative hearing examines renaming fertilizer law, new fees and repeal of poultry checkoff fund amid industry objections

Nebraska Legislature Agriculture Committee · January 27, 2026

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Summary

LB948 would rename the fertilizer act to include 'beneficial substances,' add a $50 product registration fee and raise inspection/licensing fees; it would also repeal the Poultry and Egg Resources Act, a move industry witnesses warned could eliminate producer-funded youth and education programs supported by the PED fund.

Rick Leonard opened LB948, which would rename the Nebraska Fertilizer and Soil Conditioners Act to the Nebraska Commercial Fertilizer and Beneficial Substances Act, add a $50 product registration fee, increase minimum inspection and licensing fees and permit related cash funds to be used for other plant-health programs. The bill also proposes repeal of the Poultry and Egg Resources Act and transfers any remaining funds to the Agricultural Products Marketing Cash Fund.

Director Sherry Vinton, testifying for the Department of Agriculture, said LB948 modernizes regulatory language to address biostimulant products and other beneficial substances, aligns with national plant-food definitions and adds a product-registration fee to cover label reviews. She said the department will continue inspections and animal-health services and that repeal of the poultry act would not affect USDA indemnity benefits or NPIP audits.

Dr. Julie Kelly, veterinarian for Michael Foods, testified on behalf of Nebraska Poultry Industries and opposed the repeal of the Poultry and Egg Development (PED) fund. Kelly said PED is producer-paid and producer-managed, funds youth-education programs (egg-curriculum, UNL embryology, FFA/4-H), scholarships and research; she warned that eliminating the statutory checkoff could prevent capture of out-of-state first-purchaser funds and harm industry education and marketing programs.

Committee members asked whether poultry producers could affiliate with regional organizations instead of the state program and whether the industry could access transferred funds for education; witnesses said alternatives had been explored but concerns remained about representation and continuity. No vote was recorded at this hearing.

The committee will consider testimony and any amendments before taking further action.