Farmers drive tractors to protest Governor’s water curtailment
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Hundreds of farmers and their tractors lined the streets of Idaho Falls on Tuesday morning.
They were there to meet Governor Brad Little to ask one question, "Does he plan on keeping the water on in eastern Idaho?"asked Karl Taylor, a potato farmer. "It’s doable. We want to cooperate, so we need our politicians, we need the governor and we need everyone to pull together. Because it’s a very doable situation and we want to make sure he understand how important it is and that is why we are here." he continued.
The tractors lined up along Lindsay Boulevard, starting at Falls Fertilizer and drove to the Westbank Convention Center along River Parkway.
The tractors parked outside the center where Governor Little spoke during the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber luncheon. Following his speech, the governor took questions including Taylor's.
"I'll be happy if there's a certainty by November 10th (that) farmers will know what the water situation is going to be for next year. For the food processor that has to buy their potatoes, for the ag equipment dealer that has to sell them the equipment, for the banker that has to finance them and there is some certainty as soon and not wait for the late date," Gov. Little said.
Bingham County farmer Brian Murdock doesn't think the Governor is doing enough to quell the curtailment fears of East Idaho farmers.
"No. We aren't, you know, with an October 1st deadline. We have till now, until the end of October and middle of November, in which we need to be harvesting our crops. And so we are not quelled that by any stretch that there's something going on," Murdock said.
On May 30th, the Idaho Department of Water Resources issued a water curtailment order for water districts in Eastern Idaho.
The water department said water models showed the aquifer water lever were not sufficient to supply enough water for water right owners in the Magic Valley.
In June, an agreement was made with the southern water districts to end the curtailment.
The governor is hoping a new long-term agreement will be made this fall.
