| STATE ISSUES
-Animal Torture and Cruelty Amendments
-Trespass and Dedication of Public Right of Way Amendments
-Nuisance Liability for Agriculture Revisions
-Agritourism
-Partial Forfeiture of Water Right Exemption for Public Water Suppliers
-Instream Flow Rights for Fisheries
-Water Right Application for Electrical Co-Op
-Surface Right / Mineral Right Interaction on BLM Land
Continued emphasis on the following issues:
Change in Control of Congress – With the change in control of both houses of Congress, the agricultural committee will have to wait and see how a change in philosophy and priority will affect agricultural programs. There will be new committee chairmen for agriculture which can have an impact on priorities and programs. Already, the funding for several agriculture programs in the state is on hold until one of many appropriations bills is approved.
Grazing Rights Issues – Grazing rights on public lands, approved under the Taylor Grazing Act, have become a divisive issue especially in Southern Utah were public land is hotly debated with farmers and ranchers, outdoors enthusiasts, environmental groups, and local and federal government officials. With so little private land available in Utah, grazing on public land is crucial to maintaining a livestock industry in Utah. While making up a smaller portion of the workforce in Utah, agriculture remains the major employer for rural Utah. Grazing on public lands also serves a public benefit for preserving open space, allowing ranching base property to remain economically viable. How legal battles are decided will have a major impact on agriculture. Beyond grazing, public land issues related to access, and private vs. public roads, remains hotly debated.
Related to grazing rights, private property issues will be debated relating to trespass laws and fencing ordinances, with several court cases currently being heard on the issue.
Water and land use – Living in the 2nd driest state in the country brings its shares of challenges. Having to ward off the driest state in the country that is trying to divert ground water is an added challenge. The potential Las Vegas Pipeline that could divert ground water in Utah’s West Desert, potentially harming agricultural producers in that area, and serving as a dangerous precedent for water policy in the future. Competition for water rights and the ability to use water for livestock and crop production will always be critical to agriculture’s future.
Additionally, as the population grows along the Wasatch Front, it places an added burden to develop culinary water—with organizations wanting to convert agricultural water over for residential use. Furthermore, as prime agricultural land is purchased for development, farmers and ranchers are moved onto less productive land, potentially adding another cost on to farmers who are currently only receiving 22 cents of every dollar spent on agricultural and food products. The rest goes to expenses beyond the farm gate.
2007 Farm Bill – One of the first main issues for the new Congress to consider will be the 2007 Farm Bill. Farm Bureau would like an extension of the current Farm Bill, while others want changes made to it. Without a decision in the Doha Round of World Trade negotiations, it is difficult for agricultural producers to make critical decisions for their operations. This is why many are pushing for an extension of the Farm Bill until a new World Trade Agreement is reached and an agreement to reduce tariffs on agricultural products is agreed to. Currently, the average world tariff on agricultural products is 62%, with many nations exceeding 100%, whereas the average U.S. tariff is 12%. Additional factors include the EU spending in excess of 75% of the world’s expenditures on domestic export subsidies, putting U.S. farmers at a market disadvantage.
Sensitive Species – The manner in which both animal and plant species are designated for federal protection creates ongoing concerns. The adverse impacts of endangered or protected designation on multiple-use status can be severe for agriculture, when it comes to grazing, water rights and access. The recent critical habitat designation for 6,300 acres for the Holmgren milkvetch and the Shivwitz milkvetch wildflowers in Washington County has some wondering the method and procedures for designating such land in the future. So much of Utah’s landscape is already designated as public land, placing a premium on private land. The potential of an encroaching wolf population in Utah will also raise questions as wolves continue to expand their territory.
Eminent Domain
- water rights
- private property rights
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