Jared Stewart — The committee continued with Mr. Stewart for the next item.
Jared Stewart — Introduced the organic food products rule docket.
Jared Stewart — Presented background on the organic program and its rulebook location.
Jared Stewart — Explained that the organic program is voluntary, participant-funded, and subject to negotiated rulemaking.
Jared Stewart — Finished the organic food products presentation and stood for questions.
Mr. Stewart — The presenter is thanked and invited to answer questions.
Brian Slabaw — Brian Slabaw was introduced and then began his testimony as the division administrator for the Idaho State Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Resources Division, presenting the pesticide and chemigation docket. He identified himself and started explaining the program, including that it was established in 1976 and outlining its regulatory background and scope.
Farm Bureau of Idaho — The speaker notes that the five-year license term and related rulemaking options were discussed with the Farm Bureau of Idaho, indicating the organization was consulted as a stakeholder during the development of the proposal.
Idaho Potato Commission — The Idaho Potato Commission is referenced as a stakeholder consulted during rulemaking discussions, specifically in connection with the option of a five-year license term.
Mr. Slaybaw — The witness is being questioned about the fee change.
Mr. Slaybaw — Explained that the agency is not trying to increase the fee and that the amount was averaged over the five-year period.
Mr. Slaybaw — Explains that Idaho Code distinguishes between private applicators and professional applicators, and that private applicators may have unsupervised application authority.
Ron Taylor — Representative Nelson raises general concerns about drone application supervision, especially how licensing and oversight would work on farms where many people already hold pesticide applicator licenses. The witness responds to his initial question and follow-up, and the discussion continues with additional clarification about whether the industry supports the proposal and what the drone application requirements would be.
Mr. Slaybop / Mr. Slaybaw — The witness is being addressed regarding drone application rules.
Mr. Slaybock / Mr. Slaybaw — Responded that the rule seeks a two-to-one ratio for restricted-use pesticide applications while allowing more flexibility for general-use pesticides.
Mr. Slaibau / Mr. Slaybaw — The witness is addressed again in follow-up questioning.
Julie VanOrden — Representative Julie VanOrden asks about the regulation, raises concern that it could push small farmers out of the market, and then receives reassurance that drone spraying may actually be a more affordable option for small farms.
Camille Blaylock — Camille Blaylock is recognized during a procedural segment, makes a motion to approve the docket, is thanked for her motion, is acknowledged again when her light is on, and then moves to approve the minutes from January 22, 2026. The discussion remains focused on her motions and related parliamentary procedure.
Jared Stewart — Presented the weights and measures rule and described the program's inspection work and staffing.
Jared Stewart — Explained staffing levels, inspection volume, rejection rates, and rechecks for weights and measures devices.
Jared Stewart — Compared current inspection workload to 1979 and described consumer complaint investigations and calibration testing.
Jared Stewart — Explained calibration testing, certification of standards, and the rulemaking process for the docket.
Jared Stewart — Described negotiated rulemaking, citation updates, removal of duplicative language, and clarification edits.
Jared Stewart — Confirmed that rejected devices cannot return to service until they pass a retest.
Jared Stewart — Explained that rechecks occur when users request the agency to return after repairs or corrections.
Jared Stewart — Confirmed the reinspection process for rejected scales returning to service.
Christy Zito — The vice chair is about to chair the rules portion of the meeting.
Mr. Jared Seward — Jared Seward from the Idaho Department of Agriculture is introduced as the presenter.
Jared Stewart — Jared Stewart introduces himself and begins presenting on the stone fruit rules docket.
Jared Stewart — Jared Stewart resumes presentation on the next docket.
Jared Stewart — Introduced himself as administrator of the Ag Inspections Division at the Idaho State Department of Agriculture and presented the weights and measures docket.