The enforcement guy said we did, because our licenses were "restricted".  Since the plates were restricted, NE did not have to recognize them as legal plates in NE.

Since the tractor was, however, legally plated in its state of origin, all we had to do-------from the enforcement guy's perspective----------was to buy a "trip permit", which allowed our Iowa legal truck to run on NE highways.

We were ok on the interstate......according to Federal law.......but once we left the interstate, and got onto NE highways...........we were toast.  (This is per the Iowa DOT when I called them------in other words, they said that they knew we were ok while on interstates, since they knew the "farm plates" were ok on interstate------but they were ot sure of NE law, and once we left the interstate, we would be at mercy of NE law.)

The enforcement guys position did not smell right, since we have made numerous trips into surrounding states, including NE, and such has never been a problem.  (IL is a little different-------IL DOT told me to carry in each truck a statement signed by the County that issued the IA plates that such are farm plates, and THEN IL would grant reciprocity, ie recognize the unit as they would an IL farm unit, allowing us the same weights, etc etc.)

That prompted the calls to both IA and NE DOTs.

IA was helpful, but not conclusive........they effectively said that they were not aware that there was an issue, but call this NE number................

The NE Highway Patrol DOT enforcement division out of Lincoln was most helpful, and put the scale house enforcement guy on the right track.

Result---------IA farm-plated vehicles do not need anything different to travel in NE, with respect to the licensing element.   With respect to Fed DOT requirements------including fuel permits--------those still stand.