Ricketts introduces new bill aimed at protecting agricultural producers’ data

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Sen. Pete Ricketts announced a bill called the Agricultural Data Privacy Act.

The bill would prohibit companies from selling or using agricultural producers’ data without written consent. The bill also states that agriculture producers are the sole owners of the data they produce.

“Excellent agriculture requires excellent knowledge,” Ricketts said. “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.”

According to Ricketts, the Agricultural Data Privacy Act would establish national standards for producers’ privacy rights.

Dan Osborn, independent Senate candidate running against Ricketts, told Channel 8 that Ricketts should have passed the farm bill instead.

“Pete Ricketts decided to run a bill two days before he left Washington because he knows damn well it won’t get passed,” Osborn said. “He’s in the pocket of the corporations who are taking advantage of Nebraskans. At the same time, he’s running sham bills so his Epstein allied donors can continue to spread lies in ads. Nebraskans are smarter than that. If Pocket Pete really wanted to do something to help farmers, he should’ve passed the farm bill. This is what ineffectual leadership looks like and exactly why we need a change in Washington.”