At the Quarterly Committee meeting of the Nebraska Brand Inspection Committee on June 11, 2024, it was decided to increase the brand inspection price per head from $0.85 to $1.00. This comes after a ruling by the Nebraska Legislature at a 2021 session where the reduction was imposed in order to deplete the Brand Committee’s cash reserves. Efficiencies gained from the electronic brand inspection program and other advancements are to blame for the rise in cash reserves over time. Those efficiencies helped offset surges in hard costs including wage increases to stay competitive in the job market and federal mileage reimbursement costs. However, by the end of the 2024 fiscal year it was determined that the reserves would return back to an acceptable amount according to the Committee; preset to be between 20%-40% of the annual operating budget. The increase to $1.00 will start October 1, 2024 on all inspections performed.