Friday, October 18, 2024
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Sauter gets things done for our farms, ranches

| October 18, 2024 1:00 AM

Mark Sauter’s record of getting things done for North Idaho needs to continue. In 2024 he voted for six Idaho agriculture-related bills that were signed into law. He co-sponsored legislation creating a depredation fund to cover livestock losses from wolves or grizzlies, both predators inhabit Boundary County.  

Mark’s representation and common-sense policymaking benefit his ag constituents, important in these trying times. Prices for many commodities including locally produced barley, wheat, alfalfa, timothy, and canola are low while input costs remain stubbornly high. The resulting farm financial pressures are very real for many of the 1,100-plus farms and ranches run by 2,100-plus producers in Boundary and Bonner counties.   

Today farming/ranching or food production is a complex business. It is directly impacted by policy direction affecting inputs, environment, water, the community, and markets. Mark has steadily worked on complex issues for Idaho, farmers and ranchers. He’s built legislative alliances needed to continue making progress. We need to send Mark Sauter back to Boise to keep working on taxation, health care, fire district funding, EMS funding and ag policy that impact us all here daily.


JEFF HOOD

Bonners Ferry