04/03/07 Legislative wrap

So how did agriculture interests fare this year with the Idaho legislature? Not bad says one veteran lawmaker. Darrell Bolz, a former University of Idaho extension specialist who represents Canyon County, says agriculture had one bright spot, funding to eradicate noxious weeds like Eurasian Water milfoil. Governor Butch Otter sought six million dollars in one time spending. BOLZ "And we basically changed that to be four million dollars one time over a two year period plus one million ongoing." Bolz says part of the logic behind that move was the fact that the state gets 1.6 million dollars in federal funding for weed eradication but 900 thousand is earmarked for BLM and there's talk that money may dry up. The legislature also allocated ten million dollars toward a dairy research center in the Magic Valley. Bolz says on a personal note he was disappointed that nothing was done about elk farm legislation. BOLZ "In order to continue on with what we're doing that had to occur. There may be possibly an initiative now to do away with the domestic elf farms in Idaho and I think you know how do you tell somebody that they can't do what they want on their farm as long as it's not hurting someone else." Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott