LINCOLN — Continued turmoil over switching the way cattle are branded and identified translated Tuesday, April 12 into the rare rejection of an appointment by Gov. Pete Ricketts.

The Nebraska Legislature voted 35-0 in agreement with a committee recommendation to reject the confirmation of Terry Cone to another term on the Nebraska Brand Committee.

In addition to overseeing the identification of cattle and investigating lost or stolen cattle, State brand inspectors ensure the identification of livestock at feedlots and sale barns.

Chair of the Legislature's Agricultural Committee, State Sen. Steve Halloran, told the body Tuesday there had been a "deterioration of trust" with the Brand Committee. This apparently worsened after the committee chose to close to the public a meeting to discuss the implementation of "e-inspection."

Electronic identification and inspection of cattle was a newly implemented alternative to the traditional brands that are required in the western two-thirds of the state.

Halloran's comments come after Cone was among board members who voted to close a recent subcommittee meeting, counter to the "transparency" the committee had pledged to the Legislature.

“It is not a pleasant task,” Halloran told legislators Tuesday, in asking them to reject the confirmation of Cone, who has a long history of civic involvement and cattle feeding in the Burwell and Ord areas.

For the full article click HERE