House Agricultural Affairs Committee approves rule rewrite for Idaho Oilseed Commission

The House Agricultural Affairs Committee approved a recommendation to the full committee to adopt docket number 43-0101-2401, a chapter rewrite of the administrative rules governing the Idaho Oilseed Commission, during a committee meeting. The motion passed by voice vote.

The rewrite removes duplicative language across the chapter and deletes a refund-application provision the presenter said conflicts with Idaho Code. LaRoche Phillips, administrator of the Idaho Oilseed Commission, told the committee the change is intended to align the administrative rule with Idaho Code Title 22, Chapter 47 and the statutes addressing the commission’s referendum and refund/escrow account.

Phillips said the commission held two negotiated rulemaking sessions in 2024 and circulated the proposed changes to stakeholders. He summarized the legal basis cited in the packet: Idaho Code sections 22-4717 (refund account) and 22-4718 (referendum), and an affidavit in the packet from former commission chairman Doug Scoville stating a referendum was held and passed. Representative Ehlers questioned the timing of the affidavit, noting, “this affidavit looks like it was signed in 2007,” and Phillips responded, “I was hired by the oil seed commission 2 years ago, October of 2022,” saying the commission reviewed the matter recently and ran it through DFM multiple times.

The committee then heard a presentation on the commission’s role, budget and activities. Phillips described the commission’s statutory authority under the Oilseed Research and Development Act (1996), a producer assessment that he said is set at 10 cents per 100-weight on oilseeds sold or contracted through commercial channels, and the commission’s three statutory purposes: research, education and publicity. He gave crop and program details: reported acres in Idaho of approximately 93,652 for canola, about 8,200 for mustard, roughly 17,000 for safflower, and smaller acreages for flax and camelina; and an operating budget of about $175,000.

Phillips said the commission has funded plant-breeding and applied research through a contract with the University of Idaho, and serves as a pass-through for a Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) administered by the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) for oriental (culinary) mustard research. He said the commission also contracts with private researchers, citing Crop Matters LLC and collaborators at Utah State University for safflower trials, and named Dr. Jared Spackman at the University of Idaho as a project lead on irrigated culinary mustard research.

On processing and marketing, Phillips described that Idaho canola destined for crushing must be transported to a crushing facility in Warden, Washington, operated by Viterra, and identified Mountain States Oilseed in American Falls as a buyer and distributor for mustard and safflower in southeast Idaho. He summarized market end uses, including safflower sold for bird and small-animal feed and mustard varieties used both as condiments and as a biofumigant ahead of potato crops.

Committee members raised questions about the 2007 affidavit, the history of administration of the commission, and the decision to remove the refund provision from the administrative rules. Phillips said the commission’s board members and stakeholders were consulted and that the commission held open meetings to solicit comment before bringing the docket forward.

Votes at a glance - Approval of minutes for Jan. 16, 2025: Moved by Representative Shirts; voice vote, passed. - Docket 43-0101-2401 (IDAPA rule rewrite governing the Idaho Oilseed Commission): Moved by Representative Cunningham; voice vote, approved by the committee.

The committee returned the gavel to the chair after the vote and Phillips completed a presentation on the commission’s research and marketing activities. The meeting adjourned after concluding the docket and presentation.