An ag plane banks above potato field in Southern Idaho.
Last Friday, Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed a bill expanding the definition of “Agricultural Operations” under the state’s Right to Farm Act (RFA) to include the ingress and egress of agricultural aircraft to agricultural lands or treatment areas into law. The change will take effect on July 1.
The Idaho Agricultural Aviation Association encountered little to no resistance in its quest to get aerial applicators’ transit to and from application sites officially designated as an agricultural operation in the Idaho Code’s definitions related to the Right to Farm. The Idaho House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 606 on Feb. 25. The State Senate also passed HB 606 by a unanimous vote on March 14. By the end of the week, Gov. Little officially codified the expanded definition of “Agricultural Operations” under the RFA.
The RFA protects agricultural activities conducted on farmland in urbanizing areas from being subjected to nuisance lawsuits. An increase in complaints from urban transplants prompted the Idaho AAA to seek to amend the RFA to include the ingress and egress of aircraft in agricultural areas in the right to farm territory. “Agricultural aircraft must be able to travel to and from agricultural lands and treatment areas to perform their vital functions. With a growing agricultural/urban interface in Idaho, it is important to recognize and protect the ability for agricultural aircraft to access agricultural lands,” stated key members of the Idaho legislature.
Getting the RFA amended to recognize that agricultural operations for ag pilots extend from takeoff to landing and not just when they are at an application site is a tremendous win for the Idaho AAA. It also comes on the heels of another lobbying victory for the state association after the enactment of legislation exempting ag aircraft and related parts from state sales tax. Kudos to the Idaho AAA for advancing this vital state legislative work!
See last month’s board meeting article under state reports for more background information.
