AGRICULTURAL PROTECTION AREA

Commission Members

Todd Ballard Term Expires 12/31/2026

Landen Walker Term Expires 12/31/2027

J.D. Messner Term Expires 12/31/2028

Lori Satterwhite-Turner Term Expires 12/31/2028

Amber Lafayette Term Expires 12/31/2008

The Agricultural Protection Area Commission are volunteers who are appointed to advise the Board of County Commissioners on matters regarding agricultural protection area proposals. The APA Commission has been established, in accordance with Twin Falls County Code Title 8 Chapter 6-K and Idaho Code 67-9704.

67-9702. LEGISLATIVE INTENT ~ (Agricultural Protection Area Act)

(1) It is hereby declared by the legislature of the state of Idaho that:

(a) Working farms, ranches, and forests provide important benefits to all Idahoans by sustaining: Idaho’s economy; food and fiber production; the cultural heritage of local communities; habitat for wildlife; intact watersheds for clean water; and opportunities to hunt, fish, and enjoy the outdoors with landowner permission;

(b) Working farms, ranches, and forests and the benefits they provide to Idahoans are being lost to rapid population growth, conversion to development, and other uses in recent decades;

(c) Many of Idaho’s rural working landowners are deeply committed to maintaining agricultural and forestry traditions and to serving as stewards of natural resources and wildlife; and

(d) Idaho deeply respects the property rights of individual landowners and seeks to minimize the government’s control over a landowner’s decisions regarding the use of his property.

(2) It is hereby declared as the purpose of this chapter to provide an opportunity to protect and enhance the economic and cultural benefits that working lands provide to Idahoans by promoting proactive planning tools for working landowners and governing bodies to maintain and enhance the economic value of working lands without impacting the property of those that elect not to participate in this opportunity.

T.F. County Title 8 Chapter 6 Article K

The purpose of this chapter is to provide for a voluntary process through which agricultural and timber producers of Twin Falls County may make application to commit lands actively devoted to agriculture for future agricultural use. An Agricultural Protection Area (“APA”) designation aims to protect productive farmland, rangeland, and forest land; encourage best farming practices; support the local agricultural economy; and provide for long-term planning stability. (Ord. 290, 8-13-2025)

APA Board members are actively employed by or supporting production agriculture in the county, which members may include representatives from the local soil and water conservation district board of supervisors, the local cattlemen’s association board, the county farm bureau board, an irrigation district or water users association board, or a grower/commodity association or commission board.

Idaho House Bill HO608 was passed in 2024 and became law July 1st, 2024. (See Idaho Title 67-9701)

Other Community Resources

The Magic Valley Land Trust
Land Conservation Assistance Network

~ FAQ ~

What is the difference between the Agricultural Protection Area Act and an Agricultural Conservation Easement?