Agriculture and Land Use

• Idaho Department of Labor Agricultural Services
• Internal Revenue Service – Agriculture Tax Center
• Internal Revenue Service – Foreign Agricultural Workers
• U.S. Department of Labor Farm Labor Contractor Registration

Idaho Department of Agriculture

The Department of Agriculture oversees Idaho’s agricultural and livestock industries and ag-related businesses, including:

• farming, ranching
• livestock operations, including bison and cervidae (elk, deer)
• small animal imports, including dogs, cats and other pets
• avian species, including poultry, waterfowl, wildlife, and game birds
• egg distributors
• nurseries (plants), landscapers and florists
• hemp growers/producers
• commodity dealers, seed buyers, produce warehouses/storage facilities
• dairies
• feed lots/large scale animal containment – cattle, swine, poultry (CAFO)
• livestock auctions and sales
• fish farms (aquaculture)
• commercial bee keepers
• pesticide/herbicide applicators
• organic farming and produce
• organic fertilizer manufacturers
• farmer’s markets, fruit stands and other seasonal food-related activities. See Establishing a Farmers Market in Idaho
• specialty foods programs: Starting a Craft Food Business in Idaho
• Idaho Commercial Kitchens and Copackers guide

The Department also manages programs to control noxious weeds and invasive insects and monitors Idaho’s Agricultural Water Quality Program, as well as the following programs:

• Plant Pathology Laboratory – Disease testing of seeds, plants, and plant products
• Chemigation – The addition of chemicals (fertilizers or pesticides) to irrigation water
• Market Development: Domestic and international marketing assistance
• Organic Certification: Crops, livestock and handlers/processors
• Financial Resources: For agricultural businesses

Bureau of Weights and Measures:  Oversees the following: 

• Inspection and certification of weighing and metering devices, including scales and fuel pumps
• Inspection of packaged products to ensure net contents meet labeled weight, volume or count
• Monitors the octane labeling of fuel products
• Maintains a metrology calibration laboratory
• Registers weighmasters and individuals who repair or maintain weighing and metering devices

Idaho and U.S. Departments of Labor

Agricultural Workers – Employers of temporary foreign agricultural workers must be certified through the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Program to bring workers into the U.S.

Farm Labor Contractors – The Department of Labor licenses Farm Labor Contractors who represent domestic migrant and seasonal farm laborers. See Idaho Department of Labor Farmworker Services for details.

Idaho Department of Lands

Manages state lands and activities occurring on them, including:

• Mining and minerals exploration
• Rock hounding, gemstone hunting, recreational gold mining, dredging and panning
• Mineral leases
• Burn permits
• Range land fire protection
• Oil and Gas Conservation Commission – exploration and development
• Oil and Gas Leasing
• Grazing, Farming, Conservation Leasing
• Timber sales; forest management
• Commercial leasing and energy resource leasing for wind energy turbines, geothermal production, solar panels, military and commercial communications sites, commercial recreation, industrial facilities
• Firewood cutting permits
• Forestry and fire grants – available to state and local agencies, tribes, non-profits and educational institutions
• Navigable waterways, lake protection and riverbed mineral lease management
• Cottage site/residential leasing