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The Line Rider is the official publication of the Idaho Cattle Association. It is published 10 times each year, in January, February, March, April/May, June, July/August, September, October, November and December.
What can we do differently?
Looking for ways to improve
Happy New Year! Hopefully the holidays were filled with good times, family, and friends. I would expect 2024 was as kind to your operation as it was to ours. For us, the grass was not the best, but the cows came home in good condition and bred up. The feedlot health was average and the grade sheets did well this year. My kids are healthy and my wife is busy with her new business endeavor. As I reflect on how our operation did this year and the growth our family has seen, I wonder what we should do differently. There are always things that could
There are always things that could have been handled better, or done at a different time of year.
have been handled better, or done at a different time of year. The goals were accomplished nonetheless. Going into this year, we are already planning what we need to do to make 2025 operate efficiently so we can handle the unforeseen problems that come daily with cattle.
We are gearing up for our next legislative session. The Board of Directors, with the help of staff, will put together our top priorities across the state that affect the cattle industry. As I reflect on the year that the Idaho Cattle Association had in 2024, of course, there are things that we could have done differently. However, it is hard to pinpoint what exactly we could have changed. We were 100% successful on our po -
BY SPENCER BLACK ICA President
sitions during the 2024 legislative session. The Western Martingale was launched and became a success. This platform allows the ICA staff to get feedback or opinions on issues that come up. It also allows the producer to make comments directly to the government agency or legislator. The legislators that are advocates for the industry were grateful for this new tool. Membership grew tremendously this year. In the 6 years that I have been involved with the ICA, I have not seen membership growth like we did last year. The Heifer-of-the-Year program was brought back. We had very strong candidates but there was one individual that stood out. What an incredible experience, to see a young producer’s dreams come true and have a heifer donated to get them started.
I have served with many upstanding individuals on this board. As we bring in the new year, we lose board members that have timed out, or that want to serve in other areas. I am excited for the new ones to come on board and excited to serve with the ones going into their second or third year. The cattle industry in Idaho is well represented with this board of directors. The staff is not just timely with what they are asked to do, but they are pleasant as they assist members and the general public’s questions.
All of these successes are being listed this year, but they did not all happen in one year. Our success is because, as an association, we continually ask, “what could we do better? What could we do differently?” I’m humbled that I get to work and serve with such fine individuals. As we go forward, don’t be afraid to let me know what I could do differently as your ICA President. Because if it matters to you, it matters to me.
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Success takes a team
Prioritizing industry as we enter a new legislative session
It’s a new year, bringing a new Idaho Legislature, new congressional members, and a new Administration in Washington, D.C. What does this mean for the Idaho cattle industry?
While the answer to that question is still a big unknown, there are both bright spots and concerns for our industry. The coming months will give us some insight into the legislature here in Idaho and their willingness to listen to the industry and vote in alignment with their constituents. If you look across Idaho, cattle and calves are commodities that are statistically significant
I am encouraged that, when given the opportunity, we will be able to score and achieve wins for the Idaho cattle industry.
in each county’s data. As voters across the state cast their decisions for the legislators who will represent them this spring, many of the items that influenced us were not the items that have direct impact on the cattle business. Though these items have an impact on our lives and our votes, they may not directly affect the cattle industry. This is why it is important to articulate our needs, and cast votes on the items that do impact our industry directly.
The decision makers in Washington often act without the input of industry. I am pleased to report that, in the case of the Idaho delegation, they are engaged in and often reach out for input from our industry. They even seek to inquire about the potential impact on some items that
BY CAMERON MULRONY ICA Executive Vice President
may seem fringe to our industry. We should not take this for granted.
I am hopeful that the change in administration will once again give us an opportunity to influence our nation’s leaders for the good of Idaho and the West as a whole. The first time the Trump team was in office, there was more willingness to listen than what we experienced at the appointed levels of the previous administration. There will still be challenges in this administration for our industry, but, with any luck, our ability to communicate our concerns and feel heard in Washington will be greater than in the past. I am cautiously optimistic for our industry and our ability to move the needle on impactful items in the coming sessions.
That being said, I am a strong believer that defense wins championships! If the other team doesn’t score, you cannot lose—this is not debatable. Now, it could end in a tie, but a loss is never an option. A strong defense, however, should have your offense poised to win, and we will continue to execute our offense while playing solid defense. I am encouraged that, when given the opportunity, we will be able to score and achieve wins for the Idaho cattle industry.
One final point: success takes a team. Our success is thanks to the collective effort of our association’s membership, staff, leadership, national partners at NCBA, and those in Idaho who understand our positions and work with our federal agencies to promote the Idaho way and support the needs of the West.
Teams create success, and we have a good one here. Please participate through The Western Martingale (www.westernmartingale.com), read our executive updates, and, if you feel inclined, reach out to our staff or leadership as we navigate the upcoming year.
2025 priority issues
ICA areas of focus for the
new year
Time has continued to march doggedly on, and we are on the precipice of yet another new year. If you are like me, you may sense some excitement in the air as we look forward to significant changes in 2025. While many of us may be planning for some personal improvement and growth, we are also looking to the transformation of federal laws and policies as we institute a new presidential administration and Congress. As this occurs, ICA is working to position Idaho’s cattle industry to be the voice of reason in bringing about needed improvements to both our business environment and the landscape to which we are proud to call home. In order to do so, ICA recently finalized our annual list of priority issues.
Setting our annual priorities allows ICA to focus on the areas that have the greatest potential to affect Idaho’s cattle industry.
The process of setting our annual priorities allows ICA to focus its resources on the areas that have the greatest potential to affect Idaho’s cattle industry and on those issues that we can have the greatest effect on. The process starts with our members who have the opportunity to submit, review, discuss, and set our policy, in the form of resolutions, at our annual meetings. From there, ICA Committee Chairmen identify the key issues, and associated resolutions, from their respective committees. Rankings are then assigned to each issue after thorough review
BY KAREN WILLIAMS ICA Natural Resources Policy Director
by the ICA Executive Committee. In turn, the recommended priority rankings are submitted to the ICA Board of Directors for their approval. These top issues are ranked in priority order of 1, 2, and 3. A ranking of number one is considered a top priority for ICA staff and leadership and we will do all that we can to accomplish the needs of that issue. These issues are those that are the most urgent and most timely. The number two and three rankings follow sequentially in order of the amount of staff time and emphasis ICA will place on those issues.
The finalized priority list is listed below with a brief explanation of our key issues. Please feel free to contact any ICA staff, board member, or committee leader at any time if you have questions about our efforts on any of these, or other issues.
TOP PRIORITIES (RANKING #1)
(Presented alphabetically according to ICA Committee/Council)
• Idaho Brand Department (Cattle Health) –will continue to support Idaho’s brand laws and the Idaho Brand Department. For the past two years, ICA has been involved in a working group that has been charged with reviewing the operation of the Brand Department and finding ways to ensure it is both efficient and financially stable. During the 2025 legislative session, the Brand Department will bring executive legislation to increase the brand fee cap for cattle inspections from $1.25 to $1.50. The proposed legislation will also enable the Idaho Brand Board to adjust fees annually at their first quarter meeting of the year without requiring approval from the legislature. As the primary stakeholder on this issue, ICA will need to be engaged as it moves through the legislature. Mean-
while, ICA will continue discussions with the department as they review their management and consider efficiencies to allow them to continue operating on a tightening budget.
• Impacts from Avian Influenza (Cattle Health) - The presence of avian flu in dairy herds in Idaho last year exhibited some flaws in the system of notification and response which presented the risk of uncertainty and market disruption for our industry. It also had the potential to limit the ability to move cattle as needed. The presence of this disease has displayed that we are not adequately prepared for a large-scale outbreak. ICA will need to work to ensure that there is more adequate national preparedness in the case of a large-scale outbreak. We will also continue to work to ensure that the presence of this disease in Idaho does not create unnecessary market or management disruptions.
• Brucellosis (Cattle Health) – In late 2024, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced that Brucella will be removed from its list of Biological Select Agents and Toxins. This action will remove the regulatory barriers to advance research on vaccines and diagnostics and improve efforts to control the disease in animal populations. It is also likely to trigger the release of a draft rule from APHIS which will change and relax requirements related to brucellosis vaccinations and tracing within the state of Idaho. This will require the state of Idaho to make adjustments to its brucellosis program, including the possibility of moving away from a statewide mandate to a more geographically focused program. If these changes come, ICA will need to determine how to respond regarding the new program requirements, whatever they might be and be in the driver’s seat regarding how we want to regulate brucellosis vaccination management and treatment in the state.
• Wildfires & Fuels Management (Federal & State Lands Committee) – Unfortunately for many Idaho producers across the state, 2024 proved to be an extremely flammable year, literally, as thousands of acres across the state burned. Failed federal land management policies bear a large share of the blame for the growing threat of catastrophic wildfires across the West. Improving those policies will be a top priority for our association as we begin discussions with the new leadership at the Departments of Interior and Agriculture. Reducing fuel loads on our rangelands and in our forests is critical and barriers that prevent flexible and nimble management should be removed. ICA will continue to be a leader on this issue in encouraging the use of prescriptive grazing, fuel breaks, fuel load removal, and other methods to better control and prevent wildfires. We will also seek for more effective and efficient management of how the agencies fight wildfire.
• Changes to Federal Lands Grazing Permit Management - (Federal & State Lands Committee) - The protection of grazing rights on federal lands remains an ever-present issue for ICA. With the incoming Trump administration, we will seek for needed updates and improvements to the regulations which oversee the management of federal grazing permits. Primarily, we will work towards revision of the Bureau of Land Management’s grazing regulations, a process which was started during President Trump’s first term but, unfortunately, the clock ran out on getting them completed prior to the end of his term. Resuming this effort and seeing it through to the finish line, and a faster rate, will be a top priority issue for us with the new Department of Interior leadership. We will also seek to review the Forest Service’s grazing handbook to pursue course corrections for issues the inhibit sound grazing management. In general, we will pursue any avenue that will allow more flexibility in grazing management and site-specific decision making.
• Producer Data Privacy (Private Lands & Environment Committee) - Information related to the location, health, movement of livestock can now be recorded in an electronic platform. As technology available to our industry adapts and becomes more widely available, it is important that any production data collected remains private and the property of the producer and not subject to public information requests. ICA will work to develop state legislation which will protect information collected through state programs by providing a records request exemption for data collected through any technological device, be it livestock collars or electronic identification tags other emerging technologies.
• Sage Grouse (Wildlife Committee) – As we have done for the past several years, ICA will need to remain heavily involved in this issue. As BLM’s sage grouse planning efforts have ricocheted back and forth from administration to administration, we continue to be in limbo regarding the management of sage grouse habitat on BLM land. In November, the Biden administration released their final revision to the BLM’s sage grouse land use plans. Those plans have some improvements over the existing 2015 plan, but there remain some strong concerns. ICA will need to be heavily involved in this issue in providing comments and in engaging with the state, agency leadership, and our partners and in working with the Trump administration to improve the regulatory environment related to this species and to continue explaining the benefits of grazing to sage grouse. We continue to maintain that grazing provides a net benefit to the species and sufficient regulatory mechanisms are already in place to manage grazing within sage
grouse habitat. Additional regulatory burden related to grazing is not only unnecessary but would prove harmful to our industry and the species.
• Predator Management (Wildlife Committee) - The effects of wolf and grizzly predation are not adequately mitigated in the state. Only a fraction of livestock losses can be confirmed and other negative impacts on livestock production are not adequately accounted for. The continued listing of the grizzly bear as an endangered species continues to present challenges to adequately managing the species in the presence of livestock. A bill was passed during the 2024 legislature which will help provide some compensation for predator-related damages, but challenges remain. ICA will continue to search for ways to help ranchers protect their livestock from depredation. We have engaged in discussions with agencies and stakeholders to consider possible solutions to frustrations related to predator management and will continue to work toward solutions that will limit the impacts of predator depredations on livestock, or at least ensure they are adequately recorded and accounted for. We will also consider the implementation of additional tools such as a potential appeals board for investigative determinations. Coordination with New Presidential Administration (All Committees) - With the pending inauguration of Donald Trump as President of the United States, much work lays ahead in promoting our industry and bringing our key issues to administration officials so that solutions and corrections can be made to federal laws and regulations that are problematic for our industry. ICA efforts to establish working relationships with those who are placed in positions of authority must be at the forefront of our efforts in 2025, particularly within the Departments of Interior and Agriculture.
• Public Outreach Through Education (All Committees) – New to our priority list this year, the ICA Board has deemed it of utmost importance for ICA to be in front of the public presenting accurate information related to our industry. As the population of Idaho expands and our citizenship gets further removed from agriculture, we must redouble our efforts to share the importance of a stable cattle industry in Idaho, both to our economy and our environment. ICA staff and leadership will pursue new and innovative ways to share our stories with the public whether that be through podcasts, social media, or unique partnerships.
• Grass Futurity (All Committees) – 2025 will mark the 13th annual ICA Grass Futurity contest. This fun and competitive event has grown into the primary fundraising source for ICA which also provides significant contributions to our Po-
litical Action Committee and our Legal Fund. Because of this, combined with the staff and leadership time required to make it happen, this has become a top priority for our association.
• Membership (All Committees) - Membership is the lifeblood of ICA and will always be a top priority for our association. Without sustaining and increasing our membership, it will be difficult to give adequate attention to these top issues facing our industry.
SECOND PRIORITY RANKINGS
• Cooperation Between Pacific Northwest Feeder Groups (Feeder Council) - Cooperation between feeders in our regional area will be instrumental in our efforts at protecting the cattle industry moving forward. With the variety of threats and challenges facing our industry, as evidenced by our top priority issues, combined with a decreased cattle supply and increased feeding and slaughter capacity in the Pacific Northwest, it will be more important than ever that our association is working with our partners in surrounding states to seek solutions and bridge challenges.
• University of Idaho Agriculture and Natural Resources Programs (Several committees contain related resolutions) - Several ongoing activities keep our relationship with the University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) and College of Natural Resources (CNR) a priority. We will need to continue to pursue equitable returns from CALS for our industry. We will weigh in as the University undertakes its search for a new CALS dean in 2025. With the landmark $40 million grant awarded to CALS to incentivize “climate smart agriculture,” ICA should provide direction on the use of these funds as they relate to the cattle industry. Additionally, the Rangeland Center has the potential to provide great assistance to Idaho ranchers who graze on rangelands but could benefit from our direction to make it a useful tool for our industry. As a foundational supporter of Rock Creek Ranch, ICA will need to continue to support and encourage the University of Idaho’s involvement in the development and management of the ranch to operate a premier, one-of-a-kind rangeland, wildlife, and livestock research facility that pursues priority research important to the cattle industry. Further, the new Meat Science and Innovation Center is under development and merits the support of ICA.
• Electronic Identification & Traceability (Cattle Health Committee) - In November, the 2024 Cattle Traceability Rule went into effect. As part of this rule, APHIS is now requiring
that approved ear tags be both visually and electronically readable to count as official identification for interstate movement of covered cattle. The rule applies to sexually intact cattle at or over the age of 18 months; all female dairy cattle of any age; male dairy cattle born after March 11, 2013; and all cattle used for rodeo, showing, or exhibitions. Cattle tagged with a metal tag or a plastic, non-RFID official identification tag prior to that date will be grandfathered in. There is a lot of misinformation circulating about the requirements of this new rule and ICA will continue to educate our members regarding this. We will also need to work to ensure that the rule does not create a market disruption or place unreasonable requirements on either cost or production practices for any segment of our industry. We will also need to safeguard that there is confidentiality in the data.
• BLM Conservation and Landscape Health Rule (Federal & State Lands) – In 2024, the BLM finalized their Conservation and Landscape Health rule (also called “Public Lands Rule”) which contained concerning new language, most significant being the elevation of conservation as a use of BLM lands that could limit multiple use by trumping all other uses. The rule also called for increased designations of Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs). There was significant pushback on the rule, not only from our industry, but other users of public lands and key elected officials. In 2025 ICA will need to explore avenues with the new presidential administration to prevent implementation of the concerning elements of the rule. We will also continue to support the Public Lands Council in their efforts to litigate against this rule.
• Renewable Energy Development (Federal & State Lands) – Renewable energy project development has been prioritized by the Biden administration, which has created an influx of development proposals on Idaho’s state and federal lands, including the BLM’s recently approved Lava Ridge Wind Energy project. These projects, and the associated infrastructure development, have the potential to displace livestock grazing in the short term and have the potential for long term consequences limiting grazing on the land on which the development occurs. Meanwhile, the state Land Board has adopted a new policy addressing renewable energy development and we are seeing an increase in interest on energy projects on state land. If emphasis on renewable energy development on public lands continues with the next administration, ICA will need to actively participate in the public processes regarding energy development to assert our priorities regarding multiple use, the economic and conservation value of continued livestock grazing, and no net loss of grazing AUMs.
• Federal Grazing Permit Litigation (Federal & State Lands Committee) – The protection of grazing rights on federal lands remains an ever-present issue for ICA. At times, when the land management agencies propose decisions that could have repercussions across the west for permittees, we engage in litigation, in cooperation with the affected permittees. We remain involved in litigation seeking protection of continued grazing on federal lands including the Owyhee 68 permits and the BECO permits. This is another issue that we will seek to make headway on with the new administration in clearing up the problems that led to this litigation.
• Rangeland Improvement Program (Federal & State
Lands Committee) – During the 2023 Idaho legislature, the Rangeland Improvement Program was established in Idaho code to be used to coordinate across land ownership types to facilitate range improvement projects and provide for continued grazing use of Idaho’s lands. The fund should enable the state and permittees to better leverage available government dollars and private grants to pursue beneficial conservation and range management projects. As the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) drafts its rules and takes the lead for the implementation of this program, ICA will need to remain heavily involved to get this new program off the ground and running.
• Trade (Marketing Committee) - Trade issues are likely to receive increased public attention as a result of President Trump’s positions on international trade and tariffs. Our industry has much at stake in these discussions with impacts to trade of both live cattle and beef. The ability to get our product to foreign trading partners provides a lot of opportunities for American beef producers. ICA will engage in NCBA’s trade-related efforts and policy actions at the national level to best position our industry and influence policy makers.
• Climate Change Regulations (Private Lands & Environment Committee) - Due to pressure from politicians and environmentalist organizations, climate change has become one of the most discussed environmental issues of our day. It appears as a consideration in various federal documents related to grazing, species, and agricultural practices and has become part of the national dialogue, often placing unjust emphasis and blame on cattle. We hope that this focus will wane in the coming year, but ICA must remain vigilant on this issue to both explain the benefits of a stable cattle industry in promoting land conservation and to protect against unjustifiable laws, policies, and regulations that place unnecessary burdens on cattle producers.
• Land Conversion to Non-Agricultural Uses (Private Lands & Environment Committee) – Idaho is growing in population at the fastest rate in the nation. This is not welcome news but is something that we must plan and prepare for as a state and an industry. We must work toward the implementation of laws and policies in Idaho that better promote and protect continued agricultural use and open spaces. At the same time, we must guard against government land acquisition that takes land out of production, along with private enterprise purchasing of land with the intent of removing agriculture. We also want to help our members be aware of the various opportunities for keeping ag land in production and will continue to provide information and education regarding those opportunities, including conservation easements.
• Water Rights (Private Lands & Environment Committee) – The general protection of water rights is also an increasing concern with a growing population. Several factors currently in play lead water to be a hot topic in Idaho agriculture. As the agreement regarding groundwater use and curtailment is implemented, ICA will continue to stand by its policy which supports the allocation of water rights based on the Idaho constitution. Another ongoing specific issue relates to the protection of stockwater rights. In recent years, the Idaho legislature has codified the Joyce Livestock Supreme Court decision to make it available to permittees across the state of Idaho to file for stock water rights on federal lands, to authorize IDWR to engage in forfeiture proceedings, and to allow permittees to claim to be an agent of the federal government to avoid forfeiture process. Consequently, the BLM and Forest Service issued agent agreements for permittees to sign. Then, in June 2022, the federal government filed an additional suit that contends that the state’s forfeiture procedure violates the U.S. Constitution’s supremacy clause and seeks to nullify Idaho’s stockwater laws. This past fall, the judge ruled in the industry’s and the state’s favor on the two main statutes that were at the heart of the case. It is yet to be determined if the federal government will appeal. ICA must continue facilitate discussion between state leadership and the federal agencies to ensure that the right to water livestock on federal land and to develop water improvements is protected.
• Idaho Fish & Game Department (Wildlife Committee) – It is important for ICA to foster goodwill between our industry, IDFG, and sportsmen. ICA will need to continue to focus on maintaining a good working relationship with IDFG to effectively address our concerns. Pervasive issues such as respect for private land, elk depredation, wolf management, and landowner appreciation & assistance under-
score this need. We will also continue discussions with IDFG to encourage them to recognize and utilize the importance of continued grazing to manage land the department owns.
• Endangered Species Issues (Wildlife Committee) –Implementation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) continues to be a concern for our industry. Efforts to update and amend the act have repeatedly fallen short in Congress and meanwhile, the act continues to grow by regulation which typically results in undue burden on our industry—these efforts will be revisited with the new administration and Congress. For this coming year, there are several endangered species in Idaho that impact cattle producers. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has just proposed the listing of the monarch butterfly and Suckley’s cuckoo bumble bee, both of which are found in Idaho. Critical habitat for slickspot peppergrass was designated in southern Idaho this summer. We continue to seek for the delisting of grizzly bears—the species has surpassed recovery goals and flexibility in management of depredating bears is greatly needed. Other listed, candidate, and petitioned species, such as pinion jay, could result in further regulation of our industry. ICA will stay on top of these issues to engage with the managing agencies to prevent unnecessary limitations on land management and livestock production practices.
THIRD PRIORITY RANKINGS
• Recreation (Federal & State Lands) – As Idaho’s population expands, demand for outdoor recreational opportunities exponentially increases. The increase in recreation has disrupted land management on public and private lands, has adversely affected ranching operations, and has created many challenges which are further compounded by a lack of enforcement and education. In 2025, ICA will need to continue working on this to develop collaborative solutions with other land users and recreational groups. We’ll also work with the state task force which manages the Outdoor Recreation Fund to work toward more meaningful, focused management of recreation.
• Open Range, Trespass, and Fencing Issues (Federal & State Lands Committee) – ICA will staunchly resist any efforts to weaken Idaho’s open range law while acknowledging the need to ensure livestock owners are appropriately managing their animals within the law. State legislation was approved during the 2024 session which revised provisions surrounding stray/estray livestock and ICA will need to monitor its implementation. There are also discussions regarding the best way for producers to retrieve trespassing livestock.
ICA will likely also need to continue to engage ranchers in discussions with landowners and new Idaho residents who have concerns about open range.
• Cattle Market (Marketing Committee) - Disruptions to the cattle market by outside economic forces in the past have highlighted the need for clear policy on market influences and price discovery. While it is important to be aware of and monitor market competition, ICA does not believe that government intervention is the means to positively affect competition. ICA will need to remain engaged in the conversation to ensure that our current policy opposing artificial intervention measures in the marketplace is upheld.
• Clean Water Act/WOTUS - (Private Lands & Environment Committee) – In 2011, EPA issued new regulations for “waters of the United States.” The regulations, known as WOTUS, had the potential to increase federal jurisdiction of water and greatly impact private property rights. In 2019, following years of litigation, the WOTUS rule was repealed. In 2020, WOTUS was replaced with the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) which, overall was beneficial to the cattle industry compared to the 2011 rule. At the end of 2022, EPA issued their final rule to rescind the NWPR, replacing it with yet another new definition for “Waters of the United States.” The new regulatory definition attempts to reinstate the pre-2015 status quo and poses significant regulatory risk to cattle producers and landowners across the United States. In May 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously against EPA in favor of the Sackett family in Sackett v. EPA. This case, supported by our industry, challenged the “significant nexus” test. If the case had not been successful, cattle producers would have had to retain costly legal services to determine if water features on their property are federally jurisdictional. To conform with the Supreme Court ruling, in August 2023 the Biden administration issued a final rule amending their earlier definition of “waters of the United States” and removed the significant nexus test from consideration when identifying tributaries and other waters as federally protected. ICA will continue to work with NCBA to fight against the remaining concerning elements of the rule.
As always, please feel free to contact ICA staff or leadership if you have any questions about our efforts on any of these issues. Rest assured that we are doing our best to work on your behalf every day in protecting your ability to raise livestock and pursue your livelihood. These priorities help keep us focused in doing so. Here’s to a prosperous new year for Idaho cattle producers!
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Munns Flying M Ranch receives Leopold Conservation Award
The Leopold Conservation Award celebrates individuals who embody visionary conservationist Aldo Leopold’s “land ethic,” a belief that it is a landowner’s responsibility to prioritize the integrity, stability, and beauty of the larger ecological community. This year, Idaho Cattle Association members Tim and Laurie Munns of Munns Flying M Ranch have been honored with the 2024 Utah Leopold Conservation Award for their outstanding commitment to conservation practices and improving the land.
Tim and Laurie Munns are an excellent example of how conservation practices can benefit a ranch, and vice versa.
Tim and Laurie Munns have been farming and ranching in Hansel Valley, Utah, for the past 45 years. Just like Aldo Leopold himself, they are dedicated to the health and productivity of the environment. To reach their operation’s full potential, the Munnses have put in much work over the years, and invested in many improvement projects around the ranch. They also strategically utilize several cost-share programs to help achieve some of the projects, including Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Grazing Improvement Program (GIP), and Conservation Easements through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), as well as Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs, both the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program.
“Conservation is everybody’s business,” says
BY MONTANA MacCONNELL ICA Member Programs & Services Manager
Tim Munns. “When it comes to government conservation programs, use the opportunity that is provided to improve your ranch, the soil health, the ecosystem, and wildlife habitat.”
Through EQIP, the Munnses have made significant improvements to their ranch’s infrastructure. This program allowed them to enhance irrigation pipelines, build new fence, and address brush control and weed management. The improvements have made their operation more efficient and productive, while sustaining the land’s health as well.
The Grazing Improvement Program (GIP) has allowed the Munnses to finesse their grazing practices. The addition of cross-fencing, water lines, and troughs in their mountain pastures has allowed them to implement a robust rotational grazing system.
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to improve water quality, control soil erosion, enhance wildlife habitat, and contribute to overall environmental
health and sustainability. Enrollment in this program helps the Munnses capitalize on their farmland and its continued health.
About a decade ago, the Munnses began applying for a conservation easement on one of their Idaho pastures. This program, facilitated by the NRCS, ensures that the land remains protected from development while continuing to be used for sustainable agricultural purposes. The easement echoes the Munnses’ commitment to preserving the land for future generations. However, the Munnses didn’t stop there—instead,
they used the easement as an opportunity for more growth and ranch expansion. “The money we got from the easement, we put right back into buying dirt,” says Tim.
The success of the Munnses’ conservation efforts is evident in the increased numbers of species that now inhabit their landscape. Populations of pronghorn, elk, mule deer, sage grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, and Hungarian partridge have boomed in the decades since the Munns purchased the ranch. In addition to improving biodiversity, the Munnses’ conservation practices have also enhanced soil health, water quality, and the overall productivity of the land. They are an active demonstration that if you take care of the land, it will take care of you.
Tim and Laurie Munns are an excellent example of how conservation practices can benefit a ranch, and vice versa. When it comes to the process of applying for programs with the government, Laurie offers this advice: “Have the patience, jump through the hoops, and see where it all shakes out.”
The Munnses are a great model of how conservation and ranching go hand in hand, and their receipt of the Utah Leopold Conservation Award is well-deserved.
If this article piques your interest in conservation programs, contact your local NRCS office today, or email montana@idahocattle.org for more information on what programs may apply to your operation.
Sire: Sitz Resilient
Connealy Black Granite
Sire:
BY MORGAN LUTGEN
Rooted in
New ICA President brings a legacy of tradition and innovation
Spencer Black’s journey to becoming the new president of the Idaho Cattle Association has been anything but a straight path—but perhaps that’s exactly how it was meant to unfold. You see, Spencer’s journey wasn’t just about a career; it was about a calling. A calling shaped by his deep roots in ranching, a journey enriched by diverse experiences in agriculture, and a commitment to the land that runs as deep as the soil beneath his feet. COVER STORY
SPENCER BLACK WILL LEAD THE ICA IN 2025 AS THE NEW PRESIDENT.
In 2016, Spencer returned to the family ranch near Almo, nestled at the base of the Albion Mountains in eastern Cassia County. Though his career had taken him through the worlds of ag sales, barley breeding, and custom farming, the pull of home was too strong to resist. For Spencer, the call wasn’t just to continue a family tradition—it was about shaping the future of Idaho’s cattle industry from the ground up. The ranching world had always been his heart’s home, even as his hands worked in various sectors of agriculture.
Understanding the value that Spencer places on the input from those who went before him is just not something that’s easy to put into words. While family operations can prove to be tricky in many rights, Spencer is quick to tell you that he is not one to turn down advice- or face the family adversity head on. He has a clear recollection of witnessing the difficulty surrounding a time frame after his grandfather stepped down from fostering the family business and it is safe to say that memory has forever shaped his approach and attitude around operations. Today, with Spencer at the helm, his dad in the foreground, and his 84-year-old uncle, Jay, phasing out, the operation looks a little different- but not by much. Spencer is quick to recognize how the support of these 2 figures, among others, has positioned him for success. Life’s experience has taught him that there’s always time to be made for listening to a recollection and taking ‘advice’ from those who went before him- the value of blending young and old ideas has shown itself time and again.
Still, Spencer has always been one to carve his own path and follow the beat of his own drum. His leadership style reflects his personality. Never one to shun a fight, if necessary, much of his success in his life, both professionally and personally can be attributed to the fearlessness with which he approaches any challenge in front of him. He lives with a sort of cautious recklessness. His favorite quote comes from the great Mario Andretti: “If everything seems under control, you’re just not going fast enough.”
Spencer learned early on that ranching isn’t just about
cattle; it’s about understanding the land, the market, and the complexities that come with the ever-changing tides of the industry. Growing up working alongside his father, Ken, and his uncle, Spencer absorbed the values of hard work, adaptability, and pride in doing things right. The Black family has always been known for their ability to evolve with the times, without forgetting the roots that made their operation successful.
And that’s where Spencer found his strength. He took his diverse experiences—those years working in barley breeding, ag sales, and custom farming—and combined them with his deep understanding of ranching to become a powerful voice for the cattle industry. His time as Feeder Council Chair within the Idaho Cattle Association gave him the perfect foundation for his new role, and his reputation as a thoughtful,
THE BLACKS ARE PROUD OF THEIR FEEDING OPERATION, WHERE THEY ARE ABLE TO FINISH THEIR OWN CALVES.
ONE OF THE BEST PARTS OF THE RANCHING LIFESTYLE, FOR SPENCER, IS GETTING TO SHARE IT WITH HIS FAMILY.
strategic leader quickly earned him respect across the state. The intricate dance of navigating family transition, paired with a learning curve of management knowledge in the midst of fickle cattle markets, quickly catapulted him onto the radar for further leadership.
Today, as the freshly installed President of the Idaho Cattle Association, Spencer is now tasked with representing Idaho’s cattle producers on a much larger stage. With firsthand knowledge of the challenges ranchers face—whether it’s fluctuating cattle prices, land management, or public lands grazing—Spencer is well-equipped to tackle the issues that matter most. He knows that in order for ranchers to succeed, they must remain adaptable—embracing new technology, refining practices, and navigating the complexities of federal and state land use regulations.
But Spencer also understands that progress doesn’t mean abandoning tradition. Much like his father, who always took pride in doing things the right way, Spencer believes in balancing innovation with respect for the past. Whether it’s improving cattle feeding practices or advocating for policies that support ranchers, Spencer’s leadership is grounded in integrity, hard work, and a commitment to quality. Present day he, along with his wife, Britney, who owns and operates a flourishing flower shop with her mother in Burley, Spencer, Britney, and their daughter, Saylor, age 9, and sons, Leo, age 5, and Calvin, age 3, are notable fixtures in their tight-knit community. And in this new year, Spencer is poised and ready to lead the Idaho Cattle Association (ICA) in the mission of ‘promoting, protecting and preserving the beef industry of the state.
During the term of his presidency, his focus is keenly on bridging agriculture industry gaps – with a passion geared toward continuing the sorely needed consumer education around beef. Spencer’s belief in strengthening policy to protect the future of the industry, as well as the necessary efforts to continue strategic deregulation fuel him in plotting a course that leads to a desired end point of “leaving it better than he found it”.
As ICA president, Spencer is dedicated to the work required to ensure Idaho’s cattle producers have a voice in the discussions shaping the future of the industry. He’s not just working to address today’s challenges; he’s looking toward tomorrow—ensuring that Idaho’s ranching heritage continues to thrive for generations to come, fighting to press forward toward regulatory burden relief, amongst other challenges. Under his leadership, the ICA is poised to stand strong in the face of change, advocating for policies that support ranchers while preserving the values that have made Idaho’s cattle industry one of the best in the nation. Welcome, Spencer and here’s to a successful 2025!
Editor’s Note: thanks to special contributor Paul Marchant.
2025 ICA Board of Directors
SPENCER BLACK
PRESIDENT Almo
VAL CARTER
PRESIDENT-ELECT Pingree
ARNOLD CALLISON
VICE PRESIDENT Blackfoot
JERRY WROTEN
PAST-PRESIDENT Wilder
LOGAN PETERS
FEEDER COUNCIL CHAIR Boise
CHASE LANTING
PUREBRED COUNCIL CHAIR Twin Falls
ROSCOE LAKE
COW-CALF COUNCIL CHAIR Blackfoot
TAY BRACKETT
CATTLEWOMEN
COUNCIL CHAIR Filer
SCOTT BUNDERSON
TREASURER Nampa
Sale Manager: Matt Macfarlane (916) 803-3113 (cell) m3cattlemarketing@gmail.com www.m3cattlemarketing.com
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Beef Checkoff: Uniting Beef and Dairy Industries for Shared Success
Ensuring a sustainable market for all cattle.
The beef checkoff plays a vital role in promoting confidence in beef products and production, benefiting all segments of the beef industry -- including cattle supplied by dairy producers. Through its efforts, the Checkoff drives consumer demand for beef, ensuring profitability across the supply chain. Dairy producers play an integral role in this system, contributing significantly to the beef supply through cull cows and the growing practice of beef-on-dairy crossbreeding.
As of January 1, 2023, there were 2.50 million head of cattle and calves in Idaho valued at approximately $1.75 billion. In addition, there are approximately 700,000 dairy cows in Idaho. By supporting the beef checkoff, both beef and dairy producers ensure a collaborative approach that strengthens market opportunities and reinforces the interconnectedness of the two industries, which is significant in Idaho.
Hank Hafliger, a dairy producer from Filer, Idaho, and board member of the Idaho Beef Council (IBC) as well as the Idaho Dairymen’s Association underscores the vital connection between dairy and beef markets. “I will admit that until I was appointed to the Idaho Beef Council Board of Directors as one of the two dairy representatives, I had not given much consideration to the significant contributions the beef check-
off makes in marketing dairy-beef and improving our bottom lines,” he said.
Idaho’s dairy industry contributes significantly to the beef supply, which directly impacts dairy operations’ bottom lines. According to a spokesperson with CS Beef in Kuna, Idaho, about 40% of their total volume comes from dairy cattle, and of those, 50% are utilized in the trim stream for ground beef and other processed products. This demonstrates the critical role that the dairy industry plays in the broader beef supply chain.
The growing trend of “beef on dairy” is also transforming the industry by adding value to beef-cross calves raised on dairy farms, creating a new revenue stream for producers.
PROMOTING DEMAND FOR BEEF AND DAIRY BEEF
Consumer campaigns funded by the checkoff emphasize beef’s quality, versatility, and nutritional value, ensuring products derived from dairy cattle remain competitive in the marketplace.
Since July 1, 2024, promotional efforts by the IBC have reached over 350,000 consumers with engaging social media content and attracted nearly 1,000 visitors to its recipe page at
www.IDBeef.org/recipes. The Council also conducts training sessions for retail meat managers and chefs, equipping them with the knowledge to better promote beef products to consumers. These initiatives are just a few examples of how beef checkoff contributes to a strong market demand for beef, ensuring dairy producers benefit from competitive prices for their cattle.
ENSURING QUALITY FOR MARKET SUCCESS
The beef checkoff also funds programs like Beef Quality Assurance (BQA), providing training for beef and dairy producers with scientifically backed management practices that are up to date with the highest standards. This training is free for producers, and those who participate learn the latest in best practices in animal handling and health. When better quality cows leave the farm or ranch and reach the marketplace, the producer, packer and consumer all benefit. When better quality beef reaches the supermarket, consumers are more confident in the beef they buy, leading to an increase in beef demand.
A SHARED INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE
The connection between Idaho’s dairy and beef industries is undeniable, and the beef checkoff plays a vital role
in ensuring a robust and sustainable market for all cattle that enter the beef production supply chain. The Idaho Beef Council remains committed to keeping beef—whether it originates on the ranch, or on the dairy—on consumers’ tables. The success of these efforts relies on the continued support of producers across the state. To learn more, visit www.IDBeef.org.
DUTCH FLAT ANGUS AND
THE BEEF CHECKOFF PROMOTES BEEF CONSUMPTION IN IDAHO, INCLUDING PRODUCTS WITH BEEF-ON-DAIRY ORIGIN.
What’s So Cool About Frozen Beef?
The science of freezing meat.
BY PHIL BASS
Associate Professor — Meat Science
Animal,
Veterinary and Food Sciences
University of Idaho
I’d venture to guess that many of the folks reading this in our beloved Line Rider have a home freezer full of beef standing by to delight our friends and nourish our families. Those who live and work in the beef ranching community have long enjoyed the fruits of our labor and probably never thought about the bigger picture of what’s happening when we freeze the beef we are putting up for later use. Most beef consumed by our final customers in grocery stores and restaurants is never frozen; is this a good thing, or a bad thing, or just a thing? Considering freezing of beef—and other meat for that matter—has been going on for quite some time in our polite contemporary society, so I thought it may be time to address this common and effective means of modern-day preservation.
Prior to the advent of reliable and affordable refrigeration, meats would have been salted, smoked, dried, or a combination of the three. These steps would help with maintaining safety and nutrient content of what would otherwise be considered a product that is highly susceptible to spoilage. However, as technology came along, home and commercial refrigeration and freezers have made it so that we can preserve meat in a more “natural” and unprocessed manner.
The refrigerator is a must-have appliance in every household for maintaining short-term freshness of food, but when we have more than we can eat in a relatively short period of time, then we need to look towards freezing to put a sort of “time-out” on our meat cuts. For many consumers that have the benefit of buying beef at a grocery store one or two pieces at a time, refrigeration makes sense as the steaks and roasts will be (or should be) eaten relatively quickly. However, what about
that whole steer that was sent to the butcher and now lines the entire truck bed in neatly packaged cuts? How do we make sure we can maintain our quality and still be able to store those items for a longer duration? That’s where freezing comes in. Freezing beef cuts at home, and on a commercial level, has been done for nearly a century, yet it doesn’t always have as great of an association with quality as fresh, never-frozen, beef.
AGING CURVE COMPARING FROZEN AND FRESH BEEF STRIPLOIN STEAKS. LOWER NUMBERS OF WARNERBRAZLER SHEAR FORCE (WBSF) INDICATE BETTER TENDERNESS. (SHANKS ET AL., JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE, 80:2122)
However, there’s great evidence to the use of the freezing process to indeed preserve quality, and at times even enhance the eating experience. Yet, like all things, how this is accomplished is always important and will impact just exact ly how that final product will perform.
From a scientific perspective, freezing beef has been demonstrated to actually improve tenderness. WHAT? Yep, that’s right. Meat is mostly made of water (approxi mately 70-75%). When water freezes it expands. Also, when water freezes it creates tiny crystals. Both the expansion and crystallization of water in the muscle cells will damage the muscle structure at the microscopic level. This damage actually helps with making meat more tender (Figure 1), which is how frozen meat can actually have a positive effect on eating experience. Recent research at the University of Idaho looking at different freezing methods for commercial beef merchandising has confirmed that freezing is indeed a mechanism of improved tenderness. What also happens as a result of this water expansion and cell disruption is that when meat is thawed you do see a lot of what is called “purge”. Purge is often referred to as blood in a package. It’s not blood. Blood is removed at the beginning of the slaughter process. What is seen in the package is the muscle protein known as “myoglobin,” which is the pigment that makes beef red in color. Purge is myoglobin and water that came out of some of the cells as a result of the freezing pro cess. Purge may be a little unsightly, and possibly messy, but is not at all a big problem from a quality standpoint. In the commercial world freezing is a great way for com panies purchasing meat (e.g., grocery stores, restaurants) to extend shelf-life and make better buys during cycles when
there may be an abundance of certain cuts. Moreover, our export market, which is an integral part of the beef commodity chain, utilizes freezing regularly as many of our international customers live thousands of miles away from where our high-quality beef is produced. Freezing buys us more time to get that product to them while maintaining quality and safety.
Keys to freezing meat:
1. Get it frozen quickly. Meat freezes at 28°, best to use a freezer that can be set at 0° or lower.
2. Keep it frozen until ready for use. Once thawed, beef can change colors quickly. Still safe to eat, but doesn’t look great if being cut for steak presentation.
3. Maintain tight packaging. Vacuum packaging is best.
4. Thaw at refrigeration temperatures (< 40°). This requires planning but will be the best for the quality and safety of the product.
5. Use it within a year. Although safety isn’t a problem if constantly frozen, even at freezer temperatures, meat can begin to change in flavor and quality over time.
The meat science team at the University of Idaho is always at your service and at the service of our meat processing folks. If you have any questions about beef freezing, storage, quality, safety, or anything else for that matter,
Keeping Idaho farms safe and productive since 1968. Our employee owners are dedicated to ensuring you get the best tires and auto service.
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FIGURE 1. BEEF TENDERNESS
Winter Coloring Contest
Entries received by February 10, 2025 will be voted on for a chance to win in age category. Choose your version to color! Must be mailed to the ICA office at PO Box 15397, Boise, ID 83709.
Name:
Category (circle one): Kid (12 & under) or Adult
Winter Coloring Contest
Entries received by February 10, 2025 will be voted on for a chance to win in age category. Choose your version to color! Must be mailed to the ICA office at PO Box 15397, Boise, ID 83709.
Name:
Category (circle one): Kid (12 & under) or Adult
The election’s impact on the cattle industry What to expect from national change in leadership
Election Day 2024 was a historic moment in American politics. Donald Trump once again defied pundits by carrying every swing state in play, handily giving him a victory in the Electoral College, and becoming the first Republican in two decades to win the popular vote for President. Additionally, the 45th and 47th President will become only the second in U.S. history to serve two nonconsecutive terms in office—the first being Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th. Congressional races were equally as monumen -
With a GOP trifecta led by a Trump White House, in some ways 2025 looks to kick off much the same way 2017 did.
tal, with Republicans successfully flipping the U.S. Senate and overcoming incredible fundraising challenges to defend their thin majority in the House of Representatives.
Washington, a sleepy town from August to November during election years, has roared back to life as Republicans begin charting their agenda for rapid deployment in January. With a GOP trifecta led by a Trump White House, in some ways 2025 looks to kick off much the same way 2017 did. But much has changed over the intervening eight years, from a pandemic to geopolitical instability, and domestic political realignment to inflationary pressures. Things are moving at breakneck speed, and the situation is immensely fluid. Amidst this
BY TANNER BEYMER NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs
flurry of activity, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is closely monitoring conversations in Washington.
President-Elect Trump has moved quickly to name nominees to his Cabinet, naming D.C. veteran Brooke Rollins to lead the Department of Agriculture, former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum to head the Department of the Interior, and former Congressman Lee Zeldin to administer the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Each of these individuals were welcomed by agriculture and will be instrumental in providing regulatory relief and furthering the President’s agenda.
More concerning, however, was the nomination of Robert Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the Food and Drug Administration and Center for Veterinary Medicine. Formerly a frontrunner to lead President Obama’s EPA, Kennedy has been involved with groups like the Waterkeeper Alliance and the Natural Resources Defense Council for decades, highly litigious organizations with radical positions on environmentalism. Additionally, his well-known views on vaccines and pharmaceutical technology call into question how he would administer the federal agency charged with approving important animal health products.
In Congress, the new Republican sweep also means (on a positive note) that Senators John Boozman, Mike Lee, and Shelley Capito will take the gavels of the Agriculture, Energy and Natural Resources, and Environment and Public Works Committees, respectively. In the House, Reps. Glenn “GT” Thompson and Bruce Westerman will hold onto their roles at the helm of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committees.
These changes and continuations at the Committee leadership level will be positive for agriculture, especially in light of all Congress has to tackle next year.
Following the swearing in of the 119th Congress and the counting of the Electoral College votes, Members will need to immediately consider another increase to the federal debt ceiling. Recall the last debt ceiling package which passed in the summer of 2023 extended the U.S.’s borrowing authority through the end of January 2025. After this fiasco, Congress will likely move on to tackle tax reform, border security, and several other legislative priorities for the President—all of which will likely come in one legislative vehicle under budget reconciliation. This bizarre process, which can only be used on rare occasions, allows Congress to circumvent the usual 60-vote threshold in the Senate. Such a package will likely be met with fierce opposition from Democrats, and will require unified Republican floor votes to accomplish. It remains to be seen if the disunity which has plagued House Republicans the last two years will be remedied by then. Once this is done, Congress will need to address annual bills such as appropriations and defense authorizations, as well as tackle the 2023 (no, 2024— wait, 2025) Farm Bill. It will certainly be a busy first 100 days.
While there is much to look forward to in the days to come, it is important to note that Joe Biden is still the President until noon on January 20th, 2025, and his Administration will continue to roll out regulations and rules up until this time. NCBA will remain engaged on those issues of highest priority to the cattle industry and, with our partners like the Idaho Cattle Association, we will make sure your voice is heard in our nation’s capital.
Tanner Beymer, an Idaho native, serves as Executive Director of Government Affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Follow the latest information at ncba.org.
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Update from the Director
Important developments in Idaho’s agricultural landscape
SNAKE RIVER QUAGGA MUSSELS
The detection of quagga mussels in the Snake River was distressing news to not only our agency but to stakeholders across the region. That’s because of the destruction this species could cause to Idaho’s water and way of life. However, we also know that in agriculture, the most successful pest management strategies are not one and done. They need to be successive and strategic.
In 2023, we completed the largest treatment of its kind in the country and focused on three operational segments of the Mid-Snake. Sampling results have indicated that the chelated copper treatment was effective in significantly reducing the mussel population.
This year, we committed every resource available to combat the threat again, which included a multi-faceted treatment plan. Our treatment plan called for holding the 1ppm application rate of the same chelated copper product for a total of 200 consecutive hours.
In addition to the aggressive application of the chelated copper, we are planning a second treatment to target quagga mussels in still water and deep pool sections of the river. The second treatment allows us to maximize efforts in the complex river system with the ultimate goal of complete eradication.
Government is not known for its speed on important projects. In other states where quagga or zebra mussels were detected, states spent six to 18 months planning smaller treatments. That’s not the case for Idaho, because we plan and practice for emergencies. In just two weeks we planned the largest, most comprehensive treatment ever attempted in North America. This ongoing response reflects Idaho’s dedication to eliminating quagga mussels and protecting our waters.
BY CHANEL TEWALT ISDA Director
HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA
In March, ISDA was notified by industry partners of an unknown disease affecting dairy cattle in Texas. At the time, no one knew what the disease was, but we heard that dairy production dropped by about 20% after cattle got sick. It was a concerning time as details about mortality and recovery were limited.
Eventually, USDA would confirm that the disease was Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in dairy cattle.
From the outset, Idaho set the curve by being the first to consult with our livestock industry partners, especially the Idaho Cattle Association, and take action. Among all the states and USDA, Idaho was the first to implement movement restrictions for affected states. Idaho dairies were also the first in the country to observe quarantine measures – well before anything was put in place at a federal level. We did all this with common sense, ensuring Idaho dairies the ability to move milk and culls while limiting movement of HPAI affected cattle.
Throughout the outbreak, more than 30 cases have been confirmed in our state, making Idaho one of 16 affected states. Idaho’s response to the nationwide outbreak highlights how we address significant regulatory issues, setting a strong example for other state and federal agencies.
After ten months, ISDA’s goals remain the same now as they were in the beginning of the outbreak. 1) Safeguard animal health by limiting the spread of the virus among lactating cattle, and 2) Work with producers to limit on-farm production losses and maintain business continuity.
In December, USDA issued a nationwide mandate for H5N1 testing on all dairies. We are working through what this will look like in Idaho
but remain committed to communicating frequently and openly with industry. We also will continue to collaborate with processing plants and producers so sample collection is done efficiently and in a way that does not interfere with normal business practices. ISDA continues to monitor the evolution of H5N1 across the state and will provide support to all producers affected by the spread of the virus.
ELECTRONIC IDENTIFICATION
USDA published the final Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) Rule pertaining to the identification of cattle and bison. Despite being limited in the federal process, it is important to ISDA that Idahoans have a chance to provide feedback and ask questions. Our State Veterinarian, Dr. Scott Leibsle, has spoken directly with many producers over the last year. If you have questions or concerns, please call ISDA. More often than not, folks are able to gain a little comfort in understanding that several of these requirements have been in place for years (and just the tags are changing) or that some items will not apply to the bulk of their operation.
Changes in USDA’s new rule include clarifying approved official identification devices and recordkeeping requirements, as well as updating definitions. First and foremost, to be considered official identification (ID) all ear tags applied on or after November 5, 2024 , must be both visually and electronically readable for use in cattle and bison travelling interstate. The groups of cattle required to have official ID has NOT changed from the previous rule and are as follows:
• Beef Cattle: Sexually intact cattle and bison 18 months of age or older;
• Dairy Cattle: All dairy cattle, regardless of age or sex (including dairy crossbreds);
• Exhibition Cattle: All cattle and bison of any age used for rodeo, exhibition, or recreational events.
EXEMPTIONS:
• Cattle that do NOT cross state lines;
• Beef-breed animals less than 18 months of age;
• Slaughter cattle transported across state lines, directly to an approved slaughter facility.
CLARIFICATIONS:
• Beef/dairy crossbred cattle of any age fall under the definition of dairy cattle and MUST have official ID for interstate movement, despite the intended use for beef. Any dairy genetics crossbred with beef will require official ID when crossing state lines;
• Cattle with existing metal/NUES tags applied prior to November 5, 2024 , will be recognized as official ID for the life of the animal, as long as the tag remains intact.
RECORD KEEPING:
• Official ID of all dairy cattle, regardless of sex, must be individually recorded on the CVI. This includes dairy steers .
• Official ID devices applied by accredited veterinarians must be recorded in a readily accessible database.
• The rule does not mandate which system veterinarians must use but does require accurate and complete record submission. The Idaho Livestock Trace Program (ILTP) meets all rule record keeping requirements.
USDA has said they will continue to supply a limited amount of electronic identification (EID) tags to each state as long as funding remains available. The state maintains a supply of both white and orange (OCV/Bangs) EID tags available at no-cost to veterinarians and producers. We encourage producers to contact the ISDA office at 208.332.8540 to place a tag order or if you have further questions.
TOP NOTCH
A New Year and New Opportunities
Advancing public lands priorities in 2025 and beyond.
ABY KAITLYNN GLOVER PLC Executive Director
nother year is upon us! Each new year holds the promise of new opportunities and renewed vigor for the good things to come. This holds true for the Public Lands Council too, particularly when the beginning of a new year coincides with the seating of a new Congress and the inauguration of a new president.
This month, almost 80 new Members of Congress will take the oath of office to represent diverse constituencies who weighed in last November. This process kicks off a formal education campaign, during which PLC will be working with these new members and their staffs to build relationships, and educate on the value of grazing and the need for sound land management. It is crucial to develop, or continue to build, these relationships early in the Congress to make the most of the next two years.
At the same time, PLC continues to deploy our transition priorities with the incoming Trump Administration. As a result of the November election, we are operating in an environment where both chambers of Congress and the White House are all controlled by a Republican or Republican majority, which provides a unique opportunity
to advance priorities. It’s important to remember, however, that the midterm elections will almost certainly change the Congressional dynamics, so the next two years are crucial in achieving some of the biggest legislative and regulatory priorities.
These priorities exist in three primary spaces: regulations from the Biden administration that need to be stopped, rescinded, or revised; regulatory priorities on which the Trump administration should take proactive steps to pursue; and key legislative needs to provide regulatory certainty and protections for livestock producers.
In the first days of the Trump administration, PLC is focused on mitigating the harm caused by the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) pursuit of expanding solar installations across the West through the Western Solar Plan, rolling back the illegal BLM Public Lands rule, and bringing some common sense to the countless Endangered Species Act actions from the past four years. Let’s also not forget the Biological Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental Health (BIDEH) rule that the Service has effectively paused—this should also be discontinued under the incoming administration. While this isn’t an exhaustive list, there are countless proposals that need to go in the “bad idea” pile while the Trump administration focuses on proactive policy for the future.
The livestock industry and pub -
lic lands grazing permittees have a unique opportunity over the next few years to make meaningful changes to wild horse and burro management, how the Forest Service manages forests (and the inevitable fires that result from their mismanagement), and even the way the Forest Service and BLM manage their grazing regulations. PLC has urged the agency to resume work on amending BLM grazing regulations and will continue investing resources in working with USDA Wildlife Services to ensure producers who experience depredation from USFWS’s continued efforts to expand predator populations across the West.
Congress’ role in the next two years is crucial. The 118th Congress was the most grazing-friendly Congress we have seen in years but we need that momentum to continue, between the progress made on the Ranching Without Red Tape Act and the Outcome Flexibility Grazing Management Program Act. We also saw significant investments in Farm Bill drafts that recognized the need to do more targeted grazing for fuels reduction, and efforts to bolster the protections for grazing permits and grazing preference. In the new Congress, PLC will continue securing legislative wins that protect a long, strong future for federal lands grazing.
Congress will also have to grapple with rewriting the National Environmental Policy Act. Several recent court
cases, as well as the end to Chevron deference, are going to require Congress to give clear direction to federal agencies on how and when NEPA should be conducted. PLC remains committed to a NEPA process that is quick, targeted, and defensible in court. Since NEPA underpins everything we do as livestock producers, our work with Congress will include things like time limits, temporal limits, and a clear test for when NEPA is necessary.
It goes without saying that even this year, we will continue to spend a great deal of time litigating some of our key priorities. While rolling back the BLM’s Public Lands rule will likely need to be done through regulation, PLC continues to lead the coalition challenging the legality of the rule in court. We believe a Trump administration will be more likely to defend themselves against radical, litigious environmental activists, but we
will continue to defend BLM’s grazing and land health data in the DC Circuit Court, as well. Our litigation strategy on gray wolves in the lower-48 continues too, in pursuit of a meaningful resolution to the issue.
I hope you all feel well-rested after the holidays, because work begins in earnest now. While many of PLC’s priorities tend to be viewed more positively during a Republican administration, getting it right and getting it done quickly are perennial challenges within a federal bureaucracy. It will take our time, attention, and investment to ensure we emerge from this next administration with lasting progress. I am confident we can do it – we will do it—and I am looking forward to doing it together.
Wishing you, your families, and your operations a happy, healthy, and profitable new year. I look forward to working with you in 2025!
New and renewed ICA members
MaCade Bingham
Blaine Briggs
Jeff Brown
Doug & Janice Burgess
Lynn, Logan, Porter, Seth &
Riley Burtenshaw
Rance Butler
Woodrow W. Butler Family
Trust
Hans Carstensen
Colter Carter
Val & Heather Carter
Valene & John Cauhorn
Marg Chipman
Wayne Clark
Ag Proud
Preston Cutler
Eric Davis
Joe Dobson
Troy Edwards
Idaho AgCredit
Lyle & Donna Fuller
Greg Garatea
Cody & Diana Graning
Tom Hennessey
Ted & Leslie Hoffman
Dawn Holmes
Dana Homer
Allison Hubler
Kenna Hughes
Ryan Hunt
Mark & Becky Ipsen
Steve Ireland
Justin & Jessie Jarvis
Dallan Johnson
Wyatt & Whitney Jolley
Hall and Hall Ranch Brokers
Kunafin “The Insectary”
Vernon Kershner
John Kinder
Knipe Land Company Inc.
Robert & Rhea
Susi Larrocea-Phillips
Angela Lierman
Jim and Jan Little
Brian Loosli
Scales Unlimited Inc.
Michael Miller
Kathryn Mink
Jim Minor
Tom & Ann Moedl
Dean Mosman
Dangerous Edge Ranch
Tom Ottley
Dennis Peters
Walter Riley
Jack & Ava Rubelt
Martin, Mark & Mike Sabala
Schroeder Law
Mike Sharp
DuWayne & Colleen Skaar
Wyatt Small
Meranda Small
Ann Lorraine Smith
Steve & Lori Sutton
Allen & Kim Thompson
Matt and Jayme Thompson
Jay & Eleen Wiley
Eric & Tori Wittman
Bert & Liz Wood
D & B Supply Corporate Office
CS Beef Packers
Wittman Farms Inc.
Phillips Brothers Cattle Company
Bettis Livestock LLC
Idaho Angus Association
Dennis Boehlke
9351 Lake Shore Drive Dennis: Nampa ID 83686 (208) 989-1612 2 miles west of Hwy. 45
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Bryan & Charly Anderson 208-280-1964 Jae Anderson
Hang’n A Cattle Company
Alan and Leslie Alexander
(509) 727-9151 - Alan(509) 432-4802 - William PASCO, WA
Bulls and Females available Private Treaty
Email : william@hangnacattle.com hangna@owt.com
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Our experienced sales team is ready to solve your real estate needs. Ready to buy or sell? Call today!
‘Western’ \weh-strn\ : Situated in the West. Also a term indicative of a certain type of lifestyle or livelihood.
‘Martingale’ \maar-tuhn-gayl\ : A martingale is traditionally used as an equestrian tool that helps to direct or influence control of an animal’s head; this tool can also be used to reduce speed.
In 2024, you spoke and Idaho legislators listened! 100% OF ICA’S POSITIONS WERE SUCCESSFUL IN THE 2024 SESSION. Are you ready to support Idaho’s beef industry in 2025?
For nearly 80 years, our family has been developing a program that can build success not only for this generation, but for generations to come. Many of our customers are third generation ranchers that have used Shaw genetics in each generation. We are eternally grateful for the support we have received, and we take that responsibility, humility, and pride into every decision we make.
There are many issues facing the rancher today that we aim to alleviate the concern over genetics, reproduction, and carcass merit of your cowherd. We want our bulls to work for your program for generations. We have watched the success of our customers this summer and are both confident and thankful our genetics are working for your customers as well. For more information about our program, go to ShawCattle.com or give us a call. We’d love to have you at the ranch at any time.
