Senate agricultural committee adopts package of Idaho State Department of Agriculture rule updates, including pesticide and chemigation changes

The Idaho Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee approved a package of rule updates at a public meeting, adopting changes presented by the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) that revise licensing, monitoring and incorporation-by-reference standards across several agency programs.

ISDA Director Chanel Tewall told the committee the department used a zero‑based review (ZBR) approach to remove duplicative language and open rules for substantive comment. "The ZBR process is only as good as an agency chooses to make it," Tewall said, explaining the department aims to use the review to clarify requirements for producers and regulated businesses.

Why it matters: The rules affect how pesticides and chemigation systems are licensed and managed, how groundwater pesticide detections are monitored and reported, how produce safety is administered under federal standards, and how registrations and labeling for feeds and fertilizers are enforced. ISDA officials said the package streamlines state requirements, updates referenced national standards and implements a statutory change that separates chemigation licensing from federal licensing categories.

Key changes and agency explanations

- Pesticide and chemigation licensing: Brian Slabaugh, administrator of ISDA's Division of Agricultural Resources, told the committee the pending rule separates chemigation licenses from federal licensing categories to comply with House Bill 549 (2024). The change creates a standalone chemigation applicator license and offers multiple ways to qualify — exam, department‑approved training, or on‑site demonstration of competency. Slabaugh said the department is using University of Idaho training modules and is developing additional training and on‑site assessment options.

- Groundwater monitoring and pesticide management plans: Slabaugh…