Idaho Sens. Crapo, Risch tout state-specific programs passed in Farm Bill

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Idaho’s two U.S. Senators say Gem State agricultural producers will have streamlined access to growing foreign markets thanks to the Senate’s passage of the Farm Bill.

The measure backed by Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch also includes provisions that provide resources to collaborative forest management, and support for Idaho’s timber industry. Farm Bill provisions of significance to Idaho include the bipartisan Timber Innovation Act, which helps accelerate research and development, and ultimately construction of wood buildings by focusing on finding innovative ways to use wood in the construction of buildings above 85 feet in height, or roughly, seven or more stories. Most wood buildings In the U.S. do not exceed three to four stories in height.

Another provision benefiting Idaho is a 10-year reauthorization of the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program, which moves more of the decision-making on the use of public lands back to states and local collaborative groups, and encourages large-scale science-based forest restoration for both environmental and economic sustainability in areas 50,000 acres or larger in size.

The Farm Bill also bolsters the Foreign Market Development Program, which has helped thousands of small and medium-sized family farms in Idaho and elsewhere reach more foreign markets.

The bill also expands the Good Neighbor Authority, which has proven successful in increasing the pace and scale of forest restoration across Idaho since it was enacted in the 2014 Farm Bill. GNA will permit Idaho’s counties and Native tribes to enter into contracts for the purpose of managing and completing needed maintenance in national forests.

The Farm Bill now goes to the House, where it expected to pass. (Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo)

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