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Idaho Bean Commission asks panel to print RS31817 to raise checkoff assessment
Summary
The Idaho Bean Commission asked the Senate Agriculture Committee to print RS31817 to raise the commodity checkoff from 12¢ to 16¢ per hundredweight (with an option to increase to 24¢ later) to fund research and market development.
The Senate Agriculture Committee voted to print RS31817 after hearing testimony from Andy Wolf Wybie, executive director of the Idaho Bean Commission, who asked the committee to authorize an increase in the commission’s producer assessment.
"We as the Idaho Bean Commission have not requested an assessment increase since 1992," Andy Wolf Wybie said. She told the committee inflation and rising costs have eroded the commission’s purchasing power and that the commission does not receive general fund dollars; it is funded by a checkoff assessment when beans enter the first channel of trade.
Under the request the current assessment of 12¢ per hundredweight, split 8¢ from growers and 4¢ from bean dealers/warehouses, would be increased 4¢ so both sides pay 8¢ (raising the total to 16¢). The commission’s board voted unanimously to authorize the initial increase and to permit a future increase to 24¢ per hundredweight if needed, again split evenly between growers and dealers. Wybie said the commission plans to use additional funds for trade development, renewed entomology research at the Parma Research Center, and seed testing to address overseas seed-acceptance issues.
Senator Blaylock deferred to Wybie to present the request; Senator Blaylock then moved to print RS31817 and Senator Van Orden seconded the motion. The committee voted to print the request. No general-fund appropriation was requested in committee testimony, and Wybie emphasized that the commission is self-funded.
RS31817 will be printed for formal consideration in the legislative process.
