United Action for Idaho Blogs

Protecting private farm & ranch land

Mar 6

Written by: Jim Hansen
Thursday, March 06, 2008

There are many families that have worked their land raising crops, cattle or trees for generations. They want to preserve the land but know that if they are approached by a developer to sell, they may be left with no economic option. Recognizing this delemna, an impressive coalition of groups came up with House Bill 467 which will allow them to apply for a tax credit that protects the land in perpetuity. This unlikely coalition included the Idaho Cattle Association, Idaho Farm Bureau, Idaho Forest Owners Association; Idaho Sportsmen's Caucus, Idaho Woolgrowers Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife and The Nature Conservancy. These groups are often at odds on public land issues but recognized that without better options, more private farm, ranch and forest land will be lost to development and local taxpayers will bear greater burdens created by sprawl.

It is so frustrating to see all this work slashed to pieces by a group of ten legislators on the House Revenue & Taxation Committee. Even though HB 467 is a market-oriented tool to let landowners decide how to protect their land and even though Idaho’s landscape is what Idaho has marketed to the world as a key reason to move here. Ten legislators voted to have the bill amended with what amounts to killer amendments. The ten are Representatives Lenore Barrett & JoAnn Wood (Rigby, Salmon & Challis areas), Mike Moyle (Eagle), Robert Schaefer (Nampa), Del Raybould (Rexburg area), Ken Roberts (McCall, Grangeville & Orofino areas), Jim Clark & Phil Hart (Hayden area), Dick Harwood (St. Maries & Wallace areas), Scot Bedke (Burley area). The House has not yet considered the amendments which is a clear sign that the destruction of the bill was the intent.

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4 comments so far...

Re: Protecting private farm & ranch land

I would much rather our tax revenue be used to compensate private land owners to keep their lands more natural than to pay more tax in the future to subsidize development. The less developed the land, the better is our water supply. Also, the less developed the land, the better is our mental health; developments increase our collective blood pressure and stress.
HB 467 increases the freedom of landowners to do what they choose with their private property. Isn't that part of the public "mantra" of late?

By Bill Brudenell on Monday, March 10, 2008

Re: Protecting private farm & ranch land

Good comments, Bill. If farm owners have an option to protect their farm, developers have less leverage over them to limit their economic options.

By Jim Hansen on Monday, March 10, 2008

Re: Protecting private farm & ranch land

Not that JoAn Wood or Lenore Hardy Barrett understand this bill. These are my legislators. This and other issues are just too much for those two. They are legislating like a logger or a miner, from 50 years ago would legislate.

The problem with this bill is the provision for how the land could be converted back to whatever the owner then wants, years later. Lenore and JoAn are not aware of that complexity. They don't like the bill because it stops mining and logging.

I am whining just like everybody else. And I am not running for office. I am part of the problem. When you or I run for Senator or for Representative, maybe we will have democracy.

By Calvin Leman on Saturday, March 15, 2008

Re: Protecting private farm & ranch land

As a long-time resident of the Boise area, and a recent supporter of our local farmer through what's known as "community supported agriculture" or CSA I believe that we have the opportunity to lend aid to the rancher and farmer alike. While I am not running for positions in office - we mustn't forget the words of Margaret Mead: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens CAN change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

www.localharvest.org is a great place to start.

By Sustainable in Boise on Thursday, May 29, 2008

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