Nebraska Passes Agricultural Data Privacy Bill

New law gives farmers and ranchers control over their data and security protections.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 4:06pm

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A serene painting of a solitary tractor in a Nebraska cornfield, the machine's form and shadows rendered in muted earth tones and warm, dramatic lighting, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation around the role of technology in modern agriculture.Nebraska's new agricultural data privacy law aims to empower farmers and ranchers in the digital age.North Platte Today

Nebraska has passed a new law, LB 525, that establishes clear protections for agricultural data. The legislation, supported by the Nebraska Farm Bureau, requires companies to get written consent from farmers and ranchers before accessing or using their data, and prohibits the sale of raw data without the producer's permission. The bill also includes consumer protections related to artificial intelligence.

Why it matters

As agriculture becomes increasingly data-driven, this new law ensures that Nebraska farmers and ranchers maintain control and ownership over the valuable data generated by their operations. It also adds important safeguards around data privacy and security.

The details

LB 525 requires any company seeking to access or use agricultural data to first enter into a written consent agreement with the producer. It establishes that producers are the sole owners of data tied to their operations, including agronomic, climate, weather, land, livestock, and management data, as long as it is not publicly available or aggregated. The bill also prohibits the sale of a producer's raw data by anyone other than the producer and requires companies that handle such data to maintain strong security practices.

  • LB 525 was passed by the Nebraska legislature on April 12, 2026.

The players

Mike Jacobsen

A state senator from North Platte who introduced the agricultural data privacy bill.

Nebraska Farm Bureau

An agricultural advocacy organization that supported the passage of LB 525.

Bruce Rieker

The senior director of state legislative affairs for the Nebraska Farm Bureau.

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What they’re saying

“As agriculture becomes increasingly data-driven, Nebraska must establish clear expectations for how agricultural data is collected,owned, controlled, shared, and protected.”

— Bruce Rieker, Senior Director of State Legislative Affairs, Nebraska Farm Bureau

“We appreciate Senator Jacobsen and all stakeholders who worked to move this proposal forward. This is an important step,and we recognize that agricultural data policy will continue to evolve as technology advances.”

— Bruce Rieker, Senior Director of State Legislative Affairs, Nebraska Farm Bureau

What’s next

The bill now heads to the governor's desk for signature.

The takeaway

This new law in Nebraska represents an important step in protecting the privacy and security of agricultural data as technology continues to transform the farming industry. By giving farmers and ranchers control over their own data, the state is helping ensure they can embrace innovation while maintaining ownership over their valuable information.