Department of Lands 1

Somewhere laying around in its coffers of unbridled genius, some politicians have proposed that Idaho's Department of Lands ought to think seriously about buying agricultural and timber property with money that they made by selling some of its commercial and residential properties. Apparently the thinking is that agricultural land has great upside potential with a 4.5% rate of return. If timber could produce 3.5%, that too would be considered a good investment. Word has it that Idaho agricultural leaders are a little skittish about this prospect. I know an agricultural leader By the name of Wyatt Prescott who's had of the Idaho Cattle Association: "Are you wary, leery, apprehensive? Sparks, that's a tough one. As you noticed, I did not have a quote in there. I tried calling them back a couple times and couldn't get through. But to be honest with you, I don't know what I wanted to say. You look at it and there is a bit of irony there that Department of Lands is in the hot seat for owning storage units and commercial buildings because they are competing with private parties. I don't see how owning farmland is much different."