IFBF: Ag Community Needs To Make Voice Heard During Legislative Session

The Idaho Legislative Session is underway, and the Farm Bureau said it’s important farmers statewide stay plugged into what’s happening in Boise.  Idaho Farm Bureau Federation’s Dex Lake said despite demographic changes across the state in recent years, most lawmakers still understand the important role agriculture plays in Idaho’s economy.  But do lawmakers respect Idaho Ag?  That is a different question.

“And by respect, I don't mean it in the same way as appreciation. I mean it in the understanding the intricacies of Idaho Ag," Lake said.  "I think a great example of not understanding intricacies was when Mike Bloomberg said in his presidential debate when he was running in the primary a few years ago that, ‘you know, all it takes to be a farmer is just to throw some seed in the ground and have the sunshine’.  Of course, we know that's not the case.” 

Looking at the session as a whole, Lake says some of the biggest topics that will impact the farming community focus on: 

• Changing how depredations are reported
• Addressing questions when it comes to pesticide warning labels
• Taxes
• The state’s involvement in Utah State University’s new veterinarian school 

Lake said regardless of the issue, the Ag industry will only be as strong as the people speaking on its behalf.  And he noted that’s not limited to the Farm Bureau or different commodity groups across Idaho.

“I'm referring to the individual out there in the state that you know is impacted by these decisions that legislators make.  And if they don't hear from people out there, who are listening and who this can impact, the legislators aren't going to assume that there's an issue or that something needs to be addressed," Lake said.  "So yeah, Farm Bureau can speak as loud until we're blue in the face, but until our members and just those in the general Ag community speak up in favor of those of those bills or those issues facing Idaho agriculture, we aren't as effective until they make their voices heard.”

The 2025 Idaho Legislative session is scheduled to run until March 21st.

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