Message from the EVP

A time to look forward

An overview of the upcoming legislative session in Idaho.

BY CAMERON MULRONY ICA Executive Vice President

The Idaho Cattle Association focuses on policy both in our state and at the national level. We work as an affiliate of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Public Lands Council to affect national policy. Here in Idaho our association is the only representative of the industry, representing all aspects of our industry and we focus our time and personnel here in Boise during the session.

As Idaho’s demographic changes, the state will evolve into something that is different than what we see today.

As we move toward the start of the legislative session, I felt it was important to give a high-level look at the 2023 legislature. Idaho’s House of Representatives is made up of 70 individuals, two from each of the 35 legislative districts in our state. Re-districting played an effect on our upcoming legislature. It will look drastically different than the 2022 legislature with 31, 1st term legislators taking their place in the state house. Two of those legislators, one of which includes Past ICA President Jerald Raymond, have served in the past but are listed as first term as they were not in this past session. Nearly 42% (29) of our representatives in the Idaho House will be experiencing their firsts in this legislature.

If we look to the Idaho Senate, we will see 19 senators with a 1st term designation. Each legislative district has but one senator to legislate on behalf of their constituency, so of our 35 Senate seats 19 are listed as first term senators. However, of the 19, nine of them do have past legislative service either serving in the house or senate in historical sessions. Still nearly 30% of Idaho’s Senate will be seeing the halls of the state house as a legislator for the first time.

The grand total, including those that have served past terms adds 50, so of the 105 seats, fifty will hold a first term legislator. How will this impact our industry and our state? Well, we are soon to find out. Idaho’s 2023 session began January 9th.

Now the statistics are basic information about this upcoming session. We do know the cast will be different than the past session and that shows through the numbers, but what we do not know for sure is how each member will cast their votes. An effective and good legislature will represent their constituency. Therefore, I challenge each of you, to reach out to your legislators this session and remind them that agriculture and the cattle industry are important to Idaho and you as one of their constituents.

Moving forward, I’ll state that agriculture is the lifeblood of America and it is the key to the success that Idaho has had throughout history, but that is a story I have told in the past. However, let’s take a quick look at the Idaho Agriculture committees in the upcoming session. These legislators will be the “clearing house” for agriculture policy in the upcoming session.

The House committee shapes up with 14 legislators, eleven Republican and three Democrat members. The house committee will be chaired by Kevin Andrus who is a 3rd term legislator from District 35 and is listed as a Rancher/Horse trainer. The vice chair will be past ICA President Jerald Raymond who will be serving District 31 and although he is listed as a 1st term legislator, he did serve in previous legislative sessions. Of the 14 legislators on this committee five list their career to be in agriculture.

This group in particular is one that we need to keep informed on how potential legislation will affect you and your operation as well as the entire agricultural sector of our state.

House Agriculture Affairs Committee

Chair Kevin Andrus (Dist. 35) Vice Chair Jerald Raymond (Dist. 31) Judy Boyle (Dist. 9) David M. Cannon (Dist. 30) Lori McCann (Dist. 6) Jeff Ehlers (Dist. 21) Jacyn Gallagher (Dist. 9) Dan Garner (Dist. 28) Jack Nelsen (Dist.26) Douglas T. Pickett (Dist. 27) Mark Sauter (Dist. 1) Chris Mathias (Dist. 19) Colin Nash (Dist. 16) Nate Roberts (Dist. 29)

In the west wing of the state house, the agriculture committee will consist of 9 members, however, none of these legislators are listed as working in agriculture on the legislative web pages. Linda Wright-Hartgen, a first term senator who served in the house of representatives in the past session, will chair the committee. Wright-Hartgen, although listed officially as a retired trial court administrator, has owned and operated farm and ranch operations and has been a positive representative for our industry in my experiences. She will serve the committee along with Vice Chairman Tammy Nichols who serves her first term in the senate as well. Senator Nichols previously served in Idaho’s house of representatives. Nichols has been a small business owner and serves District 10 in her position.

As Idaho’s demographic changes, the state will evolve into something that is different than what we see today. What that future looks like is up to us and our influence and our votes. The upcoming session is an opportunity for

Senate Agriculture Affairs Committee

Chair Linda Wright Hartgen (Dist. 25) Vice Chair Tammy Nichols (Dist. 10) Daniel D. Foreman (Dist. 6) Phil Hart (Dist. 2) Geoff Schroeder (Dist. 8) Cindy J. Carlson (Dist. 7) Glenneda Zuiderveld (Dist. 24) Carrie Semmelroth (Dist. 17) Ron C. Taylor (Dist. 26)

all of us, whether we have a familiar face to call in the state house, a future friend of our industry, or an unknown sitting in the seats of our districts, we need to be involved, and although that is our role here at the Idaho Cattle Association, it builds momentum for our industry and our influence if our leaders hear from a volume of us as we work to maintain our strength of agriculture and specifically the cattle industry here in Idaho.

Happy New Year!!!!

NUTRITION SYSTEMS

DISCOVER YOUR MISSING MINERALS & REQUEST A CONSULTATION: 800.426.3572 WWW.PERFORMIXNUTRITION.COM

Discover how the right supplements increase cattle health.

Stress Support Avoid shrinkage and maintain a healthy immune system even under stressful conditions such as weaning.

Complete Vitamin and Trace Minerals •Healthy calf growth •Stronger immune response •Supports skin, coat, and bone health

34 Se

Trace Mineral: Selenium Benefits •Respiratory health •Immunity functions •Musculoskeletal structure •Cardiac health Microbial Digestion Support Rumen health enhancing ingredients promote fiber digestion so cattle can perform better on low-quality forages.

29 Cu

Trace Mineral: Copper Benefits

•Supports reproductive wellness •Boosts fertility rates by promoting consistent cycling

Crude Protein •Muscle & bone growth •Maintains weight •Critical for gestation •Supports lactaction health

Forage Boost Give your forage a boost with supplements designed to replace deficient minerals, vitamins and protein content.

Learn more at performixnutrition.com or join the conversation at /performixnutrition

Better nutrition for better profits. Discover the difference.

DRY MINERAL • LIQUID SUPPLEMENT • PROTEIN MINERAL BOXES • FEEDLOT SUPPLEMENTS