Ag Industry Happy with 2014 Idaho Legislature

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho's farmers, ranchers and producers say they're happy with the outcome of the 2014 Legislature. The Capitol Press reports a lot of things went right for the agricultural industry during the 74-day session, where numerous industry-boosting bills found a foothold. That included the Agriculture Security Act, a dairy-backed bill that punishes those who film agricultural operations, and is designed to protect farmers from spying activists. Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter signed the bill into law despite protestations from opponents who say it hinders free speech and will allow animal abusers to go unpunished. Lawmakers also approved a bill to use inmates as field workers during fruit-picking season, and approved $620,000 in funding for a wolf control board aimed at killing off some of the predators that plague Idaho's ranchers.