Committee advances bill to expand Alfalfa and Clover Seed Commission and raise assessment ceiling

The Agricultural Committee voted to send House Bill 173 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation after hearing testimony from commission leaders and growers.

House Bill 173 makes updates to the Idaho Alfalfa and Clover Seed Commission, including expanding board representation and adjusting the assessment fee ceiling, Senator Blaylock said in introducing the bill. "House Bill 173 makes updates to the Idaho Alfalfa and Clover Seed Commission, an entity that established to support and promote this specific sector through research marketing and industry oversight," Blaylock said.

The bill would add a University of Idaho representative to the commission and increase the statutory ceiling on the grower assessment (the maximum the commission may set). Rick Waitley, administrator of the Idaho Alfalfa Clover Seed Commission and executive director of the Idaho Alfalfa Clover Seed Growers Association, told the committee the ceiling increase is intended to give the commission financial flexibility without forcing frequent code changes. "That does not mean that we're gonna jump the assessment," Waitley said, explaining the bill raises only the ceiling; the commission would still set any actual assessment later.

Waitley described a recent industry disruption tied to the bankruptcy of a Nevada company, Agrobio Tech (ABT), and said an ability to include clover under the commission’s authority had been important to participate in bankruptcy proceedings and national industry work. "In February, we had a very unfortunate situation of an organization out of Nevada called ABT, Agrobio Tech, that went into bankruptcy," Waitley said. He also described the commission's role supporting research at the Parma Research and Extension (R&E) Center and said the commission previously contributed $5,000 annually for five years to help secure an entomologist positioned where seed is grown.

Growers who testified described the commission’s role in securing pesticide labels and promoting minor-crop protections at federal agencies. Paul Raserschak, who farms south of Nampa, said alfalfa seed producers need organized representation for work with EPA and other federal programs: "The alfalfa seed is really important for us and being able to help finance and work with the University to help get chemicals labeled that we need for the minor crop use that alfalfa is, is very important." Dave Reynolds, another grower, told the committee individual farmers cannot effectively press EPA on label needs and credited commissions with enabling industry-level advocacy.

Committee members asked for clarifications about the assessment change. Senator Cole asked whether the bill immediately raises assessments; Waitley and other witnesses confirmed it raises the statutory ceiling only and does not itself change the assessment rate. Waitley said commissions file annual reports on expenditures for education, promotion and research with legislative chairs and the Department of Agriculture; smaller commissions are not subject to a yellow-book audit threshold unless they meet that threshold.

Senator Van Orden made the motion to send HB173 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; Senator Taylor seconded. The committee approved the motion by voice vote; no opposition was recorded.

The bill now moves to the next stage of the legislative process with the committee recommendation recorded.