Nebraska Administrative Code Topic - GRAIN SORGHUM BOARD
Here’s an overview of Nebraska Administrative Code, Title 18, Chapter 1 – Grain Sorghum Development, Utilization & Marketing Board (commonly called the Grain Sorghum Board rules), current through May 7, 2025:
📘 Chapter 1 – Board Rules (§18‑1‑001 to §18‑1‑005)
§ 18‑1‑001: Administration
Establishes general board operations, including form, annotation, and effective date for the rules (law.cornell.edu).
§ 18‑1‑002: Appointment to the Board
Candidates must file petitions signed by ≥ 50 resident grain sorghum growers in their district.
A public notice must be published ≥ 60 days before term expiration.
Petitions filed no later than six weeks before term ends; board forwards qualified candidate list to the Governor ≥ 3 weeks before vacancy (regulations.justia.com).
§ 18‑1‑003: Effective Date
Specifies when these rules became effective (aligned with the chapter’s adoption date) .
§ 18‑1‑004: Form
Details required formats for filings—e.g., candidacy petitions for district and at‑large appointments (regulations.justia.com).
§ 18‑1‑005: Annotation
Provides citation to the underlying statutory authority (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 2‑4001 to 2‑4020, plus § 84‑1408 to 84‑1414) (regulations.justia.com).
☑️ Statutory Framework – Grain Sorghum Resources Act (§2‑4001 to §2‑4020)
These rules implement the Grain Sorghum Resources Act, which:
Authorizes the Board to levy a checkoff fee (up to $0.01 per cwt) on sorghum sales or deliveries in Nebraska (§2‑4012) (nda.nebraska.gov).
Establishes Board powers and composition (grower representation across 4 districts plus at‑large seats), term lengths, vacancies, appointment process, meeting frequency, and member duties (§2‑4004 to §2‑4011) (nda.nebraska.gov).
Outlines fee collection and remittance protocols: purchasers must deduct, record, and remit fees quarterly (§2‑4016) (nda.nebraska.gov).
Creates the Grain Sorghum Development, Utilization & Marketing Fund and invests surplus under state law (§2‑4018, §2‑4021) (nda.nebraska.gov).
Limits fund use to promotion, research, education, marketing programs, and prohibits candidate/lobbying expenditures beyond specified thresholds (§2‑4011) .
Penalizes violations as Class III misdemeanors (§2‑4020) (nda.nebraska.gov).
🤝 Board Operations & Purpose
According to state reports, the Board:
Operates with seven members: six appointed (Governor) and one elected by the Board (nebraskalegislature.gov).
Meets at least quarterly and reimburses members for necessary expenses (nebraskalegislature.gov).
Administers checks and funds for market development, research (including ethanol, food, animal feed), education (consumer, producer), and federal advocacy — often partnering with the University of Nebraska and the United Sorghum Checkoff Program (nebraskalegislature.gov).
Maintains digital outreach, demonstration plots, seminars, and pet-food research; in recent years, allocated $15–25% of national checkoff pass‑back funds (~$47 M USDA Climate Smart grant in 2023) (nebraskalegislature.gov).
🔍 Summary
Nebraska’s Grain Sorghum Board rules (Title 18, Ch 1) set out:
Eligibility and petition process for board membership (≥ 50 grower signatures, public notice, Governor review).
Rule forms and effective dates.
Statutory support detailing board composition, powers, fee collection, fund management, and restrictions on expenditures.
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