The Idaho Legislature created the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) in 1919 to assist and regulate the state's fast-growing agricultural industry. The primary purposes for establishment were to protect Idaho's crops and livestock from the introduction and spread of pests and transmittable diseases, to help provide the industry with a system for the orderly marketing of agricultural commodities, and to protect consumers from contaminated products or fraudulent marketing practices. These purposes still drive the department today.

The department derives its statutory authority from multiple sections of the Idaho Code. Section 22-101 creates the Department of Agriculture and the position of director. Section 22-102 provides that the director “shall organize the department into such divisions and other administrative sub-units as may be necessary in order to efficiently administer the department,” and section 22-103 lists specific directorial duties. Title 22 also contains the authority for the Plant Industries Division, the Agricultural Resources Division, and the department’s Marketing Bureau. The primary authority for the Animal Industries Division lies within Title 25 and Title 37, while the Agricultural Inspections Division, which includes the Bureaus of Weights and Measures and Bonded Warehouse, derives authority from Titles 69 and 71.

In 1997, the Idaho Soil Conservation Commission was realigned to reside within the Department of Agriculture. While maintaining a level of independence, the commission and department work cooperatively to coordinate complimentary programs and responsibilities, especially in the areas of agriculture and related natural resources. The commission’s authority is derived from Title 22, Chapter 27. Five commodity commissions - the Idaho Alfalfa and Clover Seed Commission, Idaho Honey Advertising Commission, Idaho Hop Commission, Idaho Mint Commission and Idaho Sheep Commission - are also technically housed within the ISDA, although each entity maintains its autonomy. The department works closely with all other agriculture commodity commissions. The Idaho Food Quality Assurance Laboratory (IFQAL) was assigned by the Idaho Legislature to the Department of Agriculture on July 1, 2005. The department works cooperatively with the Idaho Food Quality Assurance Institute under its authority in Title 67, Chapter 83 to administrator the day-to-day operations of the laboratory.

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture has a current budget of approximately $41 million. Only 26 percent of the budget comes from the state general fund. The vast majority of the department’s funding comes from various types of fees assessed directly to the segment of industry being regulated or receiving services. Federal sources also assist the department with the funding of certain programs. The department is currently staffed with approximately 320 full-time employees. The Bureau of Shipping Point Inspection and other units of the department also hire hundreds of seasonal employees each year with as many as 325 being on-board at any one time in 2005.

This year, the Legislature approved $4 million to help eradicate Eurasian Watermilfoil. This noxious weed is infesting Idaho’s waterways, endangering swimmers and destroying fish populations. A small fragment of watermilfoil the size of a postage stamp can break off and form a new infestation. This summer, ISDA Director Pat Takasugi signed off on the first distribution of money for watermilfoil eradication. So far, the news from those eradication efforts has been positive. The department is a proud participant in this newest program to protect the state’s waterways. Also this year, the department confronted a major threat to the state’s potato industry – the discovery of Potato Cyst Nematode in eastern Idaho. The department’s quick response to this pest has been widely praised.

The agriculture industry in Idaho is changing, and the Idaho State Department of Agriculture is changing, too. The department of the 21 st century recognizes that agriculture has a broad constituency that includes not only the industry, but the consumers of agriculture products and farm and ranch neighbors. The department stands ready to meet each new challenge – and each new opportunity – head on.

A Mission, A Vision, A Philosophy

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) has adopted the following mission, vision and philosophy to help direct the agency’s regulatory, promotional, and policy-making activities toward a common goal:

Mission

Serving consumers and agriculture by safeguarding the public, plants, animals and the environment through education and regulation.

Vision

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture has an ever-important place in one of the state’s largest industry sectors. We recognize that Idaho’s economic well-being is forever tied to the health of its farming and ranching. We also recognize that new opportunities exist that will redefine the future of agriculture in Idaho. As agriculture changes, ensuring efficient and superior service delivery will continue to be the department’s foremost priority.

The director and his administrative staff believe that fostering an atmosphere of mutual respect, which encourages personal and professional development through education and training, is crucial to departmental success. Personnel strive to work cooperatively at all levels, utilizing appropriate technologies and tools to support creative, responsive and accurate decisions. Above all, ISDA employees pledge to optimize the value of those funds entrusted to them, and to dedicate all of their resources to working towards the optimal benefit of all Idahoans.

Operating Philosophy

ISDA employees strive to maintain logical, harmonious and proactive working relationships with producers, processors and consumers to ensure the public safe food, alternative fuel and a domestic fiber supply, while simultaneously safeguarding the environment. Department members are a team of professionals dedicated to effective performance and are unwavering in their promotion of a positive future for Idaho agriculture. ISDA leadership seeks to promote a creative and highly motivated workplace that emphasizes personal and professional growth, while at the same time allowing individuals and agency policies to remain open to meet new challenges and seek new opportunities. Department personnel are committed to serving in a responsive, fair and ethical manner.

ISDA Goals

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture strives to be the model for government agencies, providing a careful balance of education, regulation and promotion of the agriculture industry in the state. ISDA will:

• Offer superior protection to the public and the agriculture industry by focusing resources on animal and plant disease control and prevention.
• Devote department resources to address public concerns regarding animal care, and water and air quality.
• Continue to educate the agriculture industry about environmental stewardship and statutory obligations.
• Work with the agriculture industry to identify Best Management Practice and provide engineering, work and farm safety, and other technical support.
• Provide the public with timely and accurate information on regulatory and monitoring activities.
• Support full implementation of a record management program.
• Work closely with the public, agriculture industry and other government agencies to identify emerging issues.
• Promote Idaho agriculture products through trade shows, trade missions, in-store promotions, cooking shows, publications and other events.
• Increase the identity, awareness and consumption of products grown and processed in Idaho through the Idaho Preferred® label.
• Increase exports through the management of Idaho trade offices in Mexico, Taiwan, Korea, China, and Japan while working to identify and remove trade barriers that prohibit or limit export of Idaho products.
• Continue to ensure the accuracy and reliability of scales and devices that are used by consumers and producers.
• Encourage employee innovation, creativity and forward-thinking.
• Continue to examine the department’s organizational and operational framework to find efficiencies.

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