Committee sends House Bill 173 on Alfalfa and Clover Seed Commission to the floor

The Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee voted to send House Bill 173 to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation after testimony from commission officials and growers on the bill's changes to the Idaho Alfalfa and Clover Seed Commission.

The bill revises the commission's membership and raises the statutory ceiling on the commodity assessment that funds the commission's research, promotion and education work, proponents told the committee.

Senator Brian Blaylock introduced House Bill 173 and described the commission as the statutory vehicle the state uses to support and oversee specialty commodity industries under Title 22 of Idaho Code. "These commissions are tasked by the state with the responsibility, such as quality control, research, and promotion of their industries," Blaylock said.

Rick Waitley, administrator of the Idaho Alfalfa Clover Seed Commission and executive director of the Idaho Alfalfa Clover Seed Growers Association, told the committee why the bill is needed. He said the commission's name was changed quickly in a prior session to include clover so the state could participate in a bankruptcy case involving a Nevada company that had purchased seed across several states. Waitley also described steps the commission has taken to support the Parma Research and Extension (R&E) Center, including a commitment of $5,000 per year for five years to help sustain research capacity there.

Waitley said the bill would reduce the commission's appointed membership from six to five while adding a University of Idaho representative (most likely an entomologist) to the commission to give the industry a technical voice on pest management and pollinator issues. "These entomologists are key in defining products and helping support the products that we already have to keep them in the system," Dave Reynolds, a grower testifying in support, said.

Growers who testified said the commission and national grower organizations are necessary to secure minor-use pesticide labels and represent the industry before federal agencies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Alfalfa seed is viewed as a minor use crop because there's not enough acres for a large company to chase the label for a small crop," Reynolds said. Paul Raserschak, who farms south of Nampa, said acreage and growers in Idaho have declined and the commission helps finance research and minor-use requests.

On the assessment change, the committee heard clarifications that the bill raises the statutory ceiling (the maximum assessment the commission may impose) rather than immediately increasing the assessment on producers. Waitley explained the commission must file a report with the director of the Idaho Department of Agriculture demonstrating the need for any assessment within the new cap; the director surveys growers as part of that review. The commission currently submits annual financial reports to legislative chairs and the department, but many smaller commodity commissions are not subject to a Yellow Book audit unless they reach a statutory threshold.

Senator Van Orden moved to send House Bill 173 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; Senator Taylor seconded. The committee approved the motion by voice vote.

The bill will proceed to the full Senate for further consideration. If signed into law, commission leaders indicated the new ceiling would allow the commission to set its assessment in a future year; a sponsor noted the law would not retroactively change assessments already set for the current growing season.