Legislature 2022
The Legislature and Idaho Agriculture 2022
Recently Idaho Governor Brad Little gave his State of the State address to the Idaho Legislature. Projects like new water infrastructure in the Bellevue Triangle, improving the irrigation system in the Clover area of the Magic Valley, and updating the New York Canal in the Treasure Valley.
Representative Clark Kauffman, Chairman of the House Agricultural Affairs Committee: “This is a lot of one time money, and we’re going to spend it one time projects, things that don’t have an ongoing need, so that’s the caution we have to have is one time money on one time projects, but it’s enough money that we can actually get something done,” said Kauffman.
Representative Kauffman gave a presentation on January 12th for the Food Producers of Idaho.
“We do that every year so that the people here at Food Producers, which are all ag people, mostly all ag or have a connection to ag, kind of know what’s coming with the upcoming session, if there’s any bill’s that they need to specifically be aware of or if they want to ask questions or bring bills…. You know just make a connection with the food producers of Idaho,” Said Kauffman.
Senator Van Burtenshaw, Chairman of the Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee also spoke with the Food Producers, and said he needs their help to let him know what kinds of legislation can help with the needs of Idaho agriculture.
“It’s hard for us to look at a business and say we need to change this in your business. We need them to come to us so that we can help them as their legislative arm,” said Burtenshaw.
Burtenshaw also has ideas for projects he’d like to see funded in this year’s budget.
“Well, I’d like to see more recharge. We’re putting about 500,000 acre feet in the ground every year, it’s not quite enough. It sustains our aquifer but if we have a dry year our aquifer level falls. So, it’s sustainable but we need more of that, I’d like to see that happen,” said Burtshaw. “In the Mackay Reservoir, that dam it was built in 1949 it looks like it was put together with railroad ties and gravel, it needs to be replaced. That’s a $10 million project. That will help ag and industry.”
“It’s the foundation of our economy,” said Kauffman. “There’s a lot of different moving parts and parts of the economy in Idaho but agriculture is the base. The ancillary things that come from agriculture, and production agriculture is far reaching across the state,” said Kauffman.
