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October 30, 2015 CapitalPress.com 9 Idaho Subscribe to our weekly Idaho email newsletter at CapitalPress.com/newsletters Idaho leader suggests new recharge funding method By JOHN O’CONNELL Simulated benefit of ESPA recharge plan * Capital Press Idaho Department of Water Resources data suggests implementation of a recent settlement between the Surface Water Coalition and junior groundwater users should allow the region’s water storage levels to recover. 10 BOISE — New data by the Idaho Department of Water Resources shows implemen- tation of a settlement between the Surface Water Coalition and junior groundwater users should also provide relief for the state’s other major water calls. However, Idaho House Speaker Scott Bedke, R-Oak- ley, warned his colleagues that fi nding a new, stable source of state funding for managed aquifer recharge could be in- tegral in the settlement’s suc- cess. The coalition’s seven se- nior surface-water users fi led a water call in 2005 alleging ju- nior groundwater pumping has depleted Snake River reach gains from American Falls Reservoir to Milner Dam. The 8 6 4 2 0 -2 -4 Well Index, 1981-2014 After reduction and recharge plan Well Index target (average, 1991-2001) -6 -8 -10 1981 1990 2000 2010 2014 2020 2026 *After 240,000 acre-feet of consumptive use reduction and 250,000 acre-feet of recharge. The Well Index represents an integration of water level data from several wells mutually agreed upon by both parties. Source: Idaho Dept. of Water Resources parties began working on a set- tlement when it became clear in May that the groundwater users would fall short of meet- Capital Press graphic ing mitigation obligations un- der the existing methodology order governing the call. As a condition of the settle- ment, the well users agreed to reduce consumptive use into the future by 240,000 acre- feet — or roughly 11 percent per user. The parties have also agreed to support the state in its commitment to recharge the aquifer with 250,000 acre- feet of surface water per year, intentionally injected through wells, unlined canals or spill areas. By 2026, the department’s groundwater model estimates the settlement will lead to 200 to 250 cubic feet per second of additional water fl ow in the Snake River near Swan Falls. For the fi rst time, the state failed to meet minimum fl ows near Swan Falls this season under an agreement with Idaho Power, falling short by about 40 cfs for several days, IDWR Planning Bureau Manager Bri- an Patton said. The settlement would also eventually lead to 25 cfs of increased fl ows into Billings- ley Creek, which supplies the Rangen Inc. trout farm and other parties that have made water calls. Groundwater users recently built a pipeline deliv- ering 7 cfs of spring water to mitigate for Rangen’s short- fall. “Although the term sheet was focused on the Surface Water Coalition delivery call, the implementation of those practices will have positive ef- fects on all of the hot spots,” said IDWR Deputy Director Mat Weaver. Patton said recharge will also be a key component of reversing aquifer declines that have averaged 214,000 acre- feet per year. Patton said the state’s plan is to hit 200,000 acre-feet of recharge by 2019 and to reach the full 250,000 acre-feet by 2025, but it will cost $30 million to build the infrastructure, and up to $3 million will be needed annu- ally for operations and main- tenance. The state has allocated $5.5 million per year in cig- arette tax revenue toward aquifer stabilization, but ciga- rette taxes have declined from nearly $48 million in fi scal year 2007 to about $36 mil- lion in FY 2014. Bedke also intimated there may also be additional demands forthcom- ing on cigarette tax funds. “I think it’s high time we take some steps to shift this to a dedicated funding source in the general fund and take it off of the cigarette funds. That was a Band-Aid we put in,” Bedke said. “If we’re serious about this, and I think we are, it’s time to address that issue here within the funding struc- ture.” USDA report reduces Ag advocate will not seek re-election ag revenue record By SEAN ELLIS Capital Press Capital Press MOSCOW, Idaho — Ida- ho set an agricultural revenue record in 2014, but not by the wide margin that University of Idaho economists previously estimated, according to new agency reports. On Oct. 26, USDA’s Na- tional Agricultural Statistics Service estimated the value of the state’s agricultural produc- tion at $8.8 billion, representing an 8 percent increase above ad- justed 2013 estimates, That re- port followed the agency’s late August estimate placing cash receipts from Idaho agriculture at $8.66 billion. Both estimates fell well short of UI’s report, issued late last December, estimating the state’s 2014 farm gate receipts at a whopping $9.7 billion. The UI and USDA esti- mates have never been so far apart, said UI area agricultural economist Ben Eborn. “My guess is (USDA will) eventually revise their num- bers up closer to what ours is. I don’t believe we’re that far off of what actually happened,” said Eborn, who’s uncertain about the possible cause of the discrepancy. UI agricultural economist Garth Taylor said the university makes its forecast in December to give a more timely economic picture to the state Legislature, which would otherwise have to wait several months for their fi rst numbers from USDA. Regardless of what hap- pened in 2014, Taylor expects no production records will be set in 2015 or 2016. “In my estimation, we’re going back into that longterm grind of mediocre prices for agriculture,” Taylor said. “The bloom is off the ethanol market, and our export demand is way off.” According to USDA’s Oct. 26 report, milk was Idaho’s top commodity in 2014, with pro- duction value increasing more than 24 percent from $2.579 bil- lion to $3.2 billion. Rick Naerebout, director of operations with Idaho Dairy- man’s Association, said 2014 brought record prices, above $22 per hundredweight, com- bined with record production. Naerebout said prices have fall- en to slightly below production costs this season — between $15 and $16 per hundredweight — as the strong market led to production increases. The high value of the U.S. dollar and eco- nomic woes in China have also hurt U.S. milk exports, he said. Simplot, universities to develop GMO spud for Asia By JOHN O’CONNELL Capital Press BOISE — J.R. Simplot Co., in cooperation with two Mid- west universities, is developing a new line of genetically mod- ifi ed potato varieties intended to help fi ght hunger in Bangla- desh and Indonesia. The U.S. Agency for In- ternational Development announced Oct. 26 that it’s awarded a $5.8 million grant to Michigan State University to partner with University of Min- nesota and Simplot in develop- ing biotech Asian spud varieties with genes introduced to resist late blight. Simplot has taken a lead in commercializing biotech spuds. The Idaho-based compa- ny’s growers recently harvested their fi rst commercial crop of Innate potatoes, engineered to be less susceptible to bruising and black spots and to fry with lower levels of acrylamide, a chemical investigated as a pos- sible carcinogen formed during baking or frying. The initial Innate spuds will be sold in the fresh market. The second Innate gen- eration, which possesses the original traits plus resistance to common U.S. late blight strains and lower sugars, has already been deregulated by USDA and is awaiting review by FDA and EPA. Simplot spokesman Doug Cole said potatoes are a food staple in Bangladesh and Indo- nesia, but in such hot, humid cli- mates, growers must spray for blight daily and still experience sharp yield losses. In addition to helping the countries improve their food security with fewer WILDER, Idaho — Rep. Gayle Batt remembers that as a high school sophomore she wrote a paper that said her goal was to “bridge the gap between the farmer and the rancher and the government that over-reg- ulates them.” As her time in the Idaho Legislature nears an end, the Wilder Republican says she hopes she has helped accom- plish that. “Hopefully, I was able to serve those folks in that ca- pacity in the legislature,” said Batt, who has announced she will not seek re-election after the 2016 legislative session. Batt said she appreciates “the support that I’ve received from the agricultural commu- nity and the opportunity to represent them. They are do- ing a great job — they truly are stewards of the land and the environment — and I con- sider it a privilege that I got to be a voice for them.” Caldwell farmer Matt Dors- ey said Batt’s farming knowl- edge and close involvement with the industry made her an important voice for farmers and ranchers when it came to legislation that impacted them. “It’s going to be dang hard if not impossible to fi nd some- one with her dedication, mor- al character and knowledge about agriculture to replace her,” he said. “She gets ag.” chemical inputs, Cole said the USAID grant research should further Simplot’s efforts to de- velop third-generation Innate lines for U.S. production with even stronger blight resistance. Sean Ellis/Capital Press Rep. Gayle Batt, R-Wilder, stands in front of her family’s farm Oct. 6 as corn is harvested. Batt, who has been involved in several important bills involving farming, has announced she will not seek re-election. Batt, who grew up on her family farm, received a bach- elor’s degree in agricultural business management from Oregon State University and serves on the House Agricul- tural Affairs Committee. She worked closely with several farm groups and was named a “Friend of the Idaho Grain Producers Association” and received Idaho Food Pro- ducers’ Ag All-Star Award every year she served in the legislature. Batt was appointed by Gov. Butch Otter to serve the re- mainder of the late Pat Taka- sugi’s term in Idaho’s House of Representatives. She was re-elected twice and her cur- rent term expires in November 2016. During her time in the leg- islature, Batt led an effort that convinced the Idaho Depart- ment of Environmental Quali- ty to change its rules to ensure farmers and ranchers cannot be fi ned for creating dust. She also successfully worked with crop dusters to pass legislation ensuring they are alerted to the presence of wind towers and helped get a bill passed that gives farmers a greater say on how money from Idaho’s commodity and seed indemnity funds is spent. She helped broker an agreement solving a dispute between Pioneer Irrigation District and the city of Cald- well over the use of eminent domain, preventing the need for legislation. She also said she has no apologies for being the House sponsor of the Agricultural Security Act, which made it illegal to secretly fi lm farming operations but was recently overturned by a district court judge. BUYING 6” and UP Alder and Maple Saw Logs, Standing Timber www.cascadehardwood.com Here’s what Ag teachers say about our NIE Program. “Students use the Capital Press for research on Ag current events and FFA speaking competitions. We use the articles as part of the implementation of reading/writing strategies in Ag classes.” - Ryan Maiden, Grandview High School Grandview, WA “By researching current events, students stay updated on what is happening in the agriculture industry in our region, across the nation and around the world! Thank you for promoting life-long learning!” - Brook Vander Veen, Echo High School Echo, OR Educating the next generation is very important to Capital Press. All of us here wish to extend a sincere “Thank You!” to all the valued sponsors who have contributed to our NIE program. It’s your continued support that will help educate the next generation on the importance of agriculture. Cultivating young minds. www.capitalpress.com 1-800-882-6789 Help educate the next generation about the business you that feeds the world - AGRICULTURE! Thank for your Yes I can help Capital Press’ NEWSPAPER IN EDUCATION program by sponsoring an ag classroom for $150. This provides 6 classroom copies. 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