By Scout Nelson
Agricultural technology continues to play a larger role in modern farming and ranching. As producers use advanced equipment, software, and digital tools, large amounts of valuable information are created every day.
This information helps farmers and ranchers make important decisions about crops, livestock, land management, and business operations. To address growing concerns about data ownership and privacy, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts has introduced the Agricultural Data Privacy Act.
The proposed legislation focuses on protecting the rights of agricultural producers by recognizing them as the sole owners of the data generated through their farming and ranching activities. The bill seeks to establish clear national standards that protect agricultural data while giving producers greater control over how their information is used.
Supporters of the legislation believe farmers and ranchers should have full ownership of information that originates from their farms, equipment, land, and operations. The proposal also aims to prevent companies from using, sharing, or selling agricultural data without obtaining written permission from the producer.
“Excellent agriculture requires excellent knowledge,” said Senator Ricketts. “Farmers and ranchers who work a lifetime to build their knowledge should own it. It is only fair that we protect their data and intellectual property. This bill would do just that.”
The Agricultural Data Privacy Act includes several key protections designed to strengthen producer rights. Under the proposal, agricultural producers remain the sole owners of agricultural data generated from their farms, land, devices, or equipment. The legislation also requires written consent before companies can use or sell producer data.
Another important feature of the bill is its broad coverage of agricultural information. Data privacy protections apply across several categories, including agronomic data, climate and weather data, land information, livestock records, management data, and sustainability information. This approach helps ensure that different types of farm-related information receive the same level of protection.
The proposal also protects producers' ability to access and use their own data in the future. Maintaining access can help farmers and ranchers continue using valuable information to improve productivity, efficiency, and decision-making over time.
Agricultural organizations have expressed support for the legislation. The Nebraska Corn Growers Association and the Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation have endorsed the bill and highlighted the increasing importance of data within modern agriculture.
“This is a meaningful step forward for Nebraska farmers. As agriculture continues to adopt new technologies, data has become an essential part of how farmers make decisions and keep our operations running efficiently. This legislation provides clarity and puts common-sense protections in place to ensure farmers maintain ownership and control of their data,” said NeCGA President Michael Dibbern, a farmer from Cairo.
Industry groups note that technology continues to transform agriculture. Precision farming tools, digital mapping systems, weather monitoring technology, and equipment sensors generate valuable information that help producers increase productivity and improve management practices. As data becomes more important, many producers seek stronger protections to ensure that ownership remains with those who create it.
“Nebraska Farm Bureau has been a longtime supporter and leader in pushing policy that protects the massive quantity of data modern farms and ranches produce. The protection of this data is vital both economically and from a national security level. We thank Nebraska Senator Pete Ricketts for bringing this conversation to the federal level and we look forward to working with him as this legislation moves forward,” said Mark McHargue, President, Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation.
The federal proposal builds on efforts already taking place at the state level. In April 2026, Pillen signed LB 525, known as the Agricultural Data Privacy Act, into law. Nebraska became the first state in the nation to establish these specific data privacy protections for agricultural producers. The Nebraska law identifies agricultural data as a proprietary business asset connected to farms, land, devices, and equipment.
Since Nebraska adopted its law, Iowa, Colorado, and Missouri have introduced comparable legislation focused on producer ownership of agricultural data. These developments demonstrate growing interest in creating stronger data protections throughout the agricultural sector.
As the use of digital technology increases across agriculture, discussions about data ownership, privacy, and security continue to gain importance. The proposed legislation seeks to ensure that farmers and ranchers maintain control over the information they generate while benefiting from technological innovation. If enacted, the bill would establish a first-of-its-kind national framework designed specifically to protect agricultural data and support producer rights across the United States.
Photo Credit: istock-dusanpetkovic
Categories: Nebraska, Government & Policy