Idaho Department of Agriculture

The meeting included a review of the budget report, nursery renewal statistics, and updates on plant industries rulemaking and invasive species management. The committee discussed and approved several mid-term and final reports related to horticulture projects. Additionally, the committee evaluated and approved multiple grant requests, including those for insect resilience, speaker sponsorship for the Idaho Horticulture Expo, and plant-based initiatives.

The meeting discussed changes to the organic food products rules, including updating the incorporated by reference to the most current version, striking unnecessary definitions, adding a definition for gross organic sales, removing figures and adding language that they are available on the ISDA website, striking Rule 201, simplifying certification fees, adding Rule 300.04 for private label services and export and transaction certifications, and updating the Graduated Gross Sales Fee Schedule.

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) held negotiated rulemaking meetings to discuss and review rules related to the Governor's Zero-Based Regulation Executive Order and new legislation. Key discussion points included updating CFR citations, removing 'hybrids' as being designated as deleterious exotic, requiring permittees to be AZA accredited if they want to propagate DE animals, and removing proposed methods of sterilization as an acceptable practice. The meetings also covered increasing the period of validity for temporary exhibitors, requiring transfers of DE animals to be approved by the Department, and removing certain animals from the DE list. Further discussion involved requirements for Felidae and primate facilities to be AZA accredited, and exemptions for certain primate species from the DE rule.

The meeting covered topics such as recertification credit amounts, category-specific credits, and consistency with neighboring states on issuing credits. Discussions also included the 30-day submission rule for seminars, language of the rule, and the definition of exceptional circumstances. Categories were discussed, including consolidating categories and subcategories. The meeting also addressed a proposed cheating prohibition, exam fees, apprentice and dealer licenses references, and spill requirements. Additionally, the group discussed being grandfathered into new categories, record keeping requirements, and language changes.

The meetings focused on discussions and potential edits to the rules governing Trichomoniasis. Key topics included the possibility of eliminating trich cultures, concerns about veterinarian availability in North Idaho, and supply issues with testing materials. There was also discussion regarding exempting bison from testing, the use of electronic test forms, and the distribution of Trich Tags. Additional points covered the removal of grazing requirements for testing, the addition of color rotation in the identification section, and the process for handling infected herds.