When the Idaho Legislature considers enacting measures that would impact the state’s agriculture industry, lawmakers deal with issues that affect the state’s arguably most economically significant industry—one that generates literally millions of dollars in revenue each year and employs tens of thousands.
Gem State legislators generally are given high marks by ranchers and farmers for how they address matters that directly affect those who produce everything from dairy and beef cattle to Idaho’s famous potatoes and numerous other commodities. Many Idaho senators and representatives themselves operate livestock operations, farms and businesses, making them sympathetic to challenges facing producers.
As the Legislature begins its 2018 session, only a few ag-related bills appear to be under consideration. On Wednesday, Jan. 24, the Idaho Senate passed a bill 34-1 to amend an existing law that provides for inmate labor in the production, harvesting and processing of agricultural products.
Cameron Mulrony, executive vice president of the 1,000-member Idaho Cattle Association, is especially keen on predator control legislation that enhances protecting livestock herds from carnivorous wolves, bears and coyotes. Private property rights also are a top concern.
“Here at the onset I have not seen anything that feels like a big controversial piece of legislation in any way,” Mulrony told WLJ. “One thing I’m keeping my eye on is wolf depredation set to sunset in 2019. … Livestock producers need the ability to control predators detrimental to our business.”
Two farm-related bills coming out of the chutes early include one that would extend Idaho’s wolf depredation board indefinitely, and another that would require all high school students in the state to complete at least two agricultural education classes before graduating.
The wolf depredation control board’s statutory authority to exist is scheduled to end after this year. A proposal to continue it already has been introduced but would cut its annual state funding from $400,000 to $200,000. Cattle and sheep raisers, plus hunting groups, kick in $110,000 to help fund the board. Mulrony supports its efforts to control the growing problem of wolves preying on livestock throughout the state.
“I think in general the state of Idaho is friendly to the livestock industry,” he said, noting dairy and livestock are the top two sectors of the state’s economy. He pointed out the two are closely aligned because dairy cows often eventually become beef cows.
Mulrony has been in Idaho for about a year, moving from Oregon where he said the regulatory environment is more stringent at the state level and where only recently have wolves been acknowledged as a problem. Idaho has kept ahead of the pack in that regard, but wolf kills of livestock have spiked this past year in Idaho.
Grizzly bears also pose a threat to livestock in eastern Idaho, especially in the Greater Yellowstone area, but have not been as predatory as wolves. Idaho also has been effectively preventing the spread of brucellosis from park bison to private cattle herds, Mulrony said.
“I would stress the continued success of the Idaho cattle industry is dependent on not only our producers, but the atmosphere here in Idaho and open space.”
Chanel Tewalt, chief operating officer at the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), told WLJ that among three ag-related bills backed by her department this year is one that pertains to deleting an imported meat labeling code no longer enforced by the state, but superseded by federal law. Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter’s office has approved that the bills proceed.
Another bill supported by the ISDA is legislation requiring legal entities closely associated to dairies to have their own environmental management plans for handling cattle manure as the dairies are mandated to use.
Typically, the ISDA works with the governor’s office to discuss ag-related bills before they move through the legislative process via respective committees. “Anyone can propose agency legislation for the coming year,” Tewalt said, noting other agencies such as the Idaho Department of Water Resources also propose measures that can affect ranch and farm operations.
The ISDA has gone some years without initiating any legislation while legislators, special interests and others might float proposals for consideration that would have a bearing on farmers and ranchers.
“Agriculture continues to be the bedrock of Idaho’s economy,” Tewalt said, pegging 20 percent of all sales in the state to ag-related operations. “The percentage of sales generated by agriculture are greater than any other factor.”
Whether people live in Boise or Idaho Falls, the farm and ranch industry triggers a ripple effect throughout the entire state and touches everything from car dealerships to insurance firms to health care in all corners, she emphasized.
“At any given time, 150 to 180 commodities are being produced,” Tewalt said, stressing the diversity of Idaho’s agriculture industry and noting that agriculture, beverage and food processing account for $16 billion in revenue.
Dairy products are Idaho’s number one commodity, followed by beef cattle and then potatoes. Dairy receipts alone account for nearly a third of the state’s entire agriculture revenue. Idaho ranks behind only California and Wisconsin in dairy production with the Magic Valley in the Twin Falls region being the epicenter for the 520 dairies scattered throughout the state.
“Almost across the board commodity prices have been down,” Tewalt said, citing livestock and onion operations especially struggling during 2017.
The importance of international trade for Idaho’s ag sectors cannot be emphasized enough, she said, noting about 20 percent of the state’s farm commodities exceeding $2 billion in value are exported. “We produce far more food in the state than we can consume domestically.” — Mark Mendiola, WLJ correspondent
