Spring 2010 - Volume 10, Issue 2

Spring 2010 Volume 10, Issue 2

Farrier Specializes in Difficult Horses – pg. 4

N. Idaho Family Lives Off the Grid – pg 5

Food Prices Up Slightly -

Marketbasket Survey

– pg. 14

The Ag Agenda

Horror Flicks Can’t Hold a Candle to Greenhouse Gas Regulations

We’re all familiar with the typical B-rate horror flick where you just know the young starlet will stumble on a broken tree branch while being chased by the bad guy. Although you see it coming and know her demise is inevitable, you still want to smash your knuckle into the silver screen to halt the hideous phantom.

By Bob Stallman

President American Farm Bureau Federation

Unlike the movies, a very real disaster

could be heading toward farm and ranch families. Unless something is done to stop the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gases, agriculture could face some pretty dire consequences. But unlike the helpless girl who stumbles and falls, farmers and ranchers are fighting back.

Nightmare in the Country Last year, EPA set out to regulate emissions from both mobile sources, such as cars and trucks, and stationary sources, See STALLMAN, page 6

The President’s Desk “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

Legislators Emphasize States Rights

By Frank Priestley President Idaho Farm Bureau Federation

Preceding is the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, a part of the Bill of Rights adopted by our nation’s forefathers in 1791. The Idaho Legislature would like Congress to take note of these important words.

Legislators expressed frustration with

Congress and attempted to drive the point home recently by adopting numerous pieces of legislation warning Congress to clean its own house and butt out of state matters.

We applaud the Idaho Legislature for emphasizing several concerns about a federal health care plan, balancing the federal budget, opposition to changes to the Clean Water Act, opposition to Cap and Trade legislation and others. We hope Congress takes note, but history isn’t on our side. Only twice in the last 55 years has the U.S. Supreme Court See PRIESTLEY, page 6

Inside Farm Bureau

What Have We Learned in 2,065 Years?

By Rick Keller CEO Idaho Farm Bureau Federation

2

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

Marcus Tullius Cicero was a great Roman orator, statesman and philosopher that believed very strongly in a republican form of government being responsive to the people. He was a great Roman constitutionalist who commanded the support and confidence of the people. After Julius Caesar destroyed the republic and became a dictator, he tried to recruit Cicero into his inner circle of

influence. Due to Cicero’s love for the republic, Cicero declined. Cicero’s popularity was such that when Brutus did his infamous deed and stabbed Julius Caesar, Brutus raised his voice calling upon Cicero to restore the republic.

Mark Antony became the next Roman emperor and he did not deliver upon his promise to restore the republic. Antony was challenged by the great orations of Cicero and eventually, Antony ordered Cicero’s execution. Cicero was beheaded and his hands were amputated See KELLER, page 7

Contents

Volume 10, Issue 2 IFBF OFFICERS President . ................................. Frank Priestley, Franklin Vice President ..................................Mark Trupp, Driggs Executive Vice President .............................. Rick Keller

Features

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Bryan Searle ............................................................Shelley Scott Bird .......................................................... Pocatello Chris Dalley ....................................................... Blackfoot Dean Schwendiman ........................................... Newdale Danny Ferguson ........................................................Rigby Scott Steele ..................................................... Idaho Falls Gerald Marchant .................................................. Oakley Rick Pearson ................................................... Hagerman Mike Garner.............................................................. Declo Curt Krantz ............................................................ Parma Mike McEvoy..................................................... Middleton Tracy Walton ....................................................... Emmett Marjorie French .............................................. Princeton Bob Callihan . ...................................................... Potlatch Louis Kins ........................................................... Kootenai Carol Guthrie ......................................................... Inkom Austin Tubbs . .......................................................... Malad

Farrier Specializes in Difficult Horses

IDAHO FARM BUREAU QUARTERLY USPS #022-899, is published quarterly by the IDAHO FARM BUREAU FEDERATION, 275 Tierra Vista Drive, Pocatello, ID 83201.

Page 14

Page 4 North Idaho family lives off the grid

Page 5

STAFF Dir. of Admin. Services ....................... Nancy Shiozawa Dir. of Member Services ................................... Ray Poe Dir. of Commodities ............................ Gary Fuhriman Commodity Assistant ................................. Peggy Pratt Membership Assistant .............................. Peggy Moore Market Information Assistant ................ Dixie Ashton Dist. I Regional Manager ........................ Kendall Keller Dist. II Regional Manager .................... Dennis Brower Dist. III Regional Manager .................. Charles Garner Dist. IV Regional Manager ................... Russ Hendricks Dist.V Regional Manager ...................... Bob Smathers Dir. of Governmental Affairs ....................... Kent Lauer Asst. Dir. of Governmental Affairs ... Dennis Tanikuni Range/Livestock Specialist..........................Wally Butler Director of Public Relations ............. John Thompson Video Services Manager ............................ Steve Ritter Broadcast Services Manager .................... Jake Putnam Office Manager, Boise ............................ Shawna Yasuda Member Services Manager ........................ Joel Benson Printed by: Owyhee Publishing, Homedale, ID

Marketbasket Survey

Page 10 Alternative crop evaluated for fuel potential

Page 11

Page 17 Supreme Court race critical for Idaho agriculture

Focus on Agriculture

Alternative Power Grants Available

Page 20 Gardening column

Page 25

DEPARTMENTS

POSTMASTER send changes of address to: IDAHO FARM BUREAU QUARTERLY P.O. Box 4848, Pocatello, ID 83205-4848.

Periodicals postage paid at Pocatello, ID and additional mailing offices.

Subscription: $4 a year included in Farm Bureau dues.

MAGAZINE CONTACTS: Idaho Farm Bureau Federation EDITOR (208) 239-4292 • ADS (208) 239-4279 E-MAIL: dashton@idahofb.org www.idahofb.org

Cover: Shoeing horses takes a steady hand, a lot of patience and know-how. Johnnie Martin of Emmett demonstrated some of the techniques recently at a horse rescue operation near Emmett.

The Ag Agenda: Bob Stallman............................................................. 2 The President’s Desk: Frank Priestley.............................................. 2 Inside Farm Bureau: Rick Keller......................................................... 2 County Happenings............................................................................ 23 Word Search........................................................................................ 24 Insurance Matters............................................................................... 28 Farm Facts............................................................................................. 40 Classifieds ............................................................................................ 42

Photo by Steve Ritter Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

3

Farrier Specializes in Difficult Horses

By Jake Putnam EMMETT - Springtime is a busy season for farriers. Some days Johnnie Martin of Emmett travels up to 300-miles shoeing horses from Boise to Riggins.

can get by a lot of horses that people have problems with,” he said. “I know how to be quiet, go around them, get the job done, make things simple non stressful and that’s the way it has to be.”

“I think I have an advantage because I grew up around horses and I train horses as well,” he said. “I’m not just a horseshoer, I relate with horses. I know how they are going to react. I know when they are going to throw a fit and where I need to be if that happens. But I usually get a long pretty well with them.”

With all the moisture this spring one of the things Martin says to look out for is thrush.

Thrush is a degenerative condition of the hoof that develops when too much mud and bacteria sets into the sole of the hoof.

Martin says a moist environment; unhygienic stable conditions and bad hoof-care contribute to thrush, with symptoms like a foul smelling, black discharge in the frog and a soft and crumbly bottom of the hoof.

In advanced stages, the condition causes

Martin says skittish horses are his specialty. The 20-something farrier has a calmness that he brings to work each day. “I 4

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

lameness.

Martin says he’s pretty much working sunup to sun down, seven days a week this spring. “Average for me is four to five head a day,” he said. “There are a few days there above average. I have a client in Riggins and he has a bunch of pack horses and the most I’ve done from daylight to dark is 18 head. That’s a day of work. I go all over the Treasure Valley; Eagle, McCall, Riggins, Horseshoe Bend, Emmett, Sweet and Donnelly. It’s a pretty big loop.”

Martin says these days his arms are sore and he’s tired but it’s work that he loves, and when you love your work, time flies and the miles don’t seem quite so long.

Making a Living Off the Grid North Idaho Family is self sustaining Photos Courtesy of Christine Dick and Renee E. D’Aoust.

By John Thompson BONNER COUNTY – No mortgage, no credit card, no power bill no debt. They grow their own food, collect rainwater and generate their own power.

Back in the forest about five miles east of Clark Fork, Timothy and Christine Dick, and their three children are living their dream with almost no dependence on the outside world. They’re not isolated intentionally, nor do they go without the same modern conveniences of most American families. What separates their lifestyle from most conventional families is they don’t have a stack of monthly bills on the kitchen counter and can get by just fine without a grocery store, a bank, or a utility company.

As many as 30 other families in the vicinity are living off the grid using similar creative methods of generating power, producing food and shelter, and conserving their natural resources. The Dick’s have been living this self-sustaining lifestyle since 1995.

“There is a feeling of satisfaction that comes with it,” said Christine. “Between producing our own food, power, water and heat, it’s a lot of time but the way we see it is you are either going to be working to make money to buy all those things, or you can work for yourself.”

The couple operates a small business called Huckleberry Tent and Breakfast www. The Dick family lives a self-sustaining lifestyle near Clark Fork Idaho. huckleberrytentandbreakfast.com in years, but Christine wasn’t happy living in have cost thousands of dollars to run the the summer and Tim drives a school bus. town. They found 10 acres near Clark Fork power line so they started looking at other Christine grew up in Spokane and Tim was and began to develop the property. One of options. They built a shop and then sold raised on a dryland wheat farm about 30 the first problems they encountered was their home in Lewiston and built a house miles south of Spokane. After they were the property was nearly two miles away See LIVING OFF THE GRID p. 8 married they lived in Lewiston for a few from the nearest power hook up. It would Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

5

Stallman

Continued from page 2

such as buildings and factories. According to the timeline announced by EPA, regulations could go into effect as early as next year, and these requirements could have unfortunate consequences for farmers and ranchers.

While EPA says it does not intend to regulate small emissions sources right away, farmers and ranchers run the risk of being caught by what an individual state has set as an amount of emissions per source (Montana’s is 15 tons). And even though EPA’s proposed rule contends it will begin regulating sources that emit more than 25,000 tons of greenhouse gases, the plain language in the Clean Air Act states that sources of 100 tons to 250 tons are subject to regulation.

These new EPA greenhouse gas requirements could lead to widespread costs for the economy and will put a strain on federal and state budgets that are not equipped to handle issuing the number of permits that will be required.

For farmers and ranchers thinking of expanding or renovating their operations, they will have to think twice. By regulating carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, livestock and other agricultural producers will be spending their days trying to obtain costly and time-consuming permits as conditions to continue farming. For those sources now subject to the law, construction permits can run into tens of thousands of dollars.

regulations. There are also two companion measures in the House: one by Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) and Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), and one by Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas).

Farmer’s Revenge

If Congress does not approve these resolutions, EPA will forge ahead and farmers will be forced to grapple with a scope of regulation we have never before faced in our history, all while trying to cope with requirements that are economically burdensome and environmentally questionable. That’s fact, not fiction.

The good news is we have a date certain and know what we are up against. Yes, we see the monster lurking behind the tree.

It’s now up to Congress to knuckle-up to stop it from happening.

Farmers and ranchers must contact their congressional members and let them know the impact these costly regulations will have on their operations and the economy in general.

Farm Bureau strongly backs a Senate resolution by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (RAlaska) and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), to disapprove of EPA’s greenhouse gas

Unlike the girl in the horror flick, falling down is not an option for agriculture. We must band together to escape the scary regulator’s grasp.

agree with legislators and acknowledge the need for health care reform, but we don’t see justification for a federal takeover.

Access to Justice Act. This Act provides reimbursement of attorney fees to successful plaintiffs in lawsuits against the federal government. Environmental groups have exploited the Act by suing federal agencies over procedural issues and collecting taxpayer dollars to pay their attorneys. Environmental groups including the Western Watersheds Project have used EAJA to suck millions out of federal coffers to pay for frivolous lawsuits. In addition, when southwest Idaho cattle ranchers Tim Lowry and Paul Nettleton successfully sued the BLM to keep their state water rights, incurring more than a million dollars in legal fees, they found out EAJA did not apply to them.

PrIEstley

Continued from page 2

validated a portion of federal law for violating the 10th Amendment. However, the message is pertinent nonetheless.

Idaho fired a shot across the federal bow gaining national media attention by passing the Health Freedom Act, a bill that allows Idahoans the freedom to choose health care services and insurance without penalty or threat of penalty from the federal government. It also sets the stage for a legal dispute by requiring Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden to defend the State against laws that violate the policy. Wasden’s task seems daunting. Idaho has joined with a handful of other states in challenging the health care mandate.

However, considering Idaho’s comparatively small population, lack of clout at the federal level, and history of getting steamrolled by federal agencies, we agree that it’s imperative to reiterate our concerns about state sovereignty. We 6

Another important resolution sent from Idaho to Washington, D.C., recognizes the scope and power defined by the 10th Amendment providing that the federal government was created to be an agent of the states. In the resolution, Idaho urges Congress to balance the federal budget, to prevent unfunded mandates, prohibit government from taking ownership of private sector enterprise and provide for the presence of “God” in the public domain.

Idaho legislators passed another measure calling for limiting the interstate commerce clause. The federal government has abused this constitutional clause to wrest authority from states.

In another message to Congress unrelated to the 10th Amendment, Idaho calls on the federal government to fix the Equal

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

Gov. Otter and Idaho legislators took a lot of criticism from all corners over the past few months. But in the end, they balanced the state budget, didn’t raise taxes and stood up for state’s rights. In our book that’s a job well done.

KELLER

Continued from page 2

“The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt.

People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.” nailed to the walls of Rome to warn other opposition writers of similar fates.

Cicero’s writings were preserved. They had a great influence upon our Founding Fathers. John Adams said of Cicero, “As all the ages of the world have not produced a greater statesman and philosopher united than Cicero, his authority should have great weight.” It was from Cicero we owe much of our republican government.

The U.S. Constitution places the power to govern our country in the hands of elected representatives. But this power is temporarily returned to us, the people, at regular intervals - each Election Day. Our Constitution discusses the election process at least nine times, and its authors set the electoral responsibility squarely on the shoulders of each citizen. Our Founding Fathers clearly intended that we should accept this responsibility without hesitation and dutifully exercise it by electing suitable representatives and officers.

What values should an elected representative have today that Cicero would support? His words are clear. “The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.”

Let us use our united voice as a people to throw the rascals out of elected office that fail to meet this standard. The arrogance of elected officials who fail to listen to the will of the people and refuse to balance the budget should be rewarded with a defeat in our polling booths. We must be active in the campaigns of those who actually support these ideals, not just hypocritically publicly plead their virtues at election time. We just can’t throw the bums out. We must replace them with those who have the character and integrity espoused by Cicero.

We thank Cicero for our republican form of government, but on Election Day, we are a democracy. Let our voices be heard and counted. Vote in the Primary elections on Tuesday, May 25.

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

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Living off the Grid Continued from page 5

Timothy Dick and his family have lived off the grid for the past 15 years.

on the property. Since then they paid off the loan for the 10-acres and purchased an additional 42 acres. They never had a mortgage on the house.

“At first all we had were three 50-watt panels which were enough to run a little RV refrigerator, a ham radio and a little dc fan for our composting toilet,” said Christine.

“But the nice thing with solar is you can keep adding to the system as you need more power.”

Their initial investment for power, complete with the three solar panels an inverter and four batteries was under $2,000. Since then they have increased their solar power system to 500 watts and they are getting ready to double it again.

“If you want all the conveniences of a modern home you need a lot of money up front, but if you want you can get by on much less,” she said.

For anyone considering living off the grid, Tim recommends taking a careful look at 8

your current power consumption. Many homes use up lots of power to run appliances or to make heat. There are also a lot of appliances that draw power when in standby mode or when switched off. This is referred to as phantom load and includes television sets with remote controls, clocks, VCR and DVD players, computers, power adapters and microwave ovens.

There are many energy efficient appliance options to choose from but they are generally more expensive than the refrigerators, ovens, washers and dryers found in most homes. What you have to do is decide whether to buy a more expensive energy efficient appliance, or upgrade your solar capability until it works with the less expensive mainstream appliances, Christine said. Most appliances that produce heat like ovens, clothes dryers and space heaters draw too much initial load to work on solar power, Tim said. Propane is the preferred alternative for those appliances. Microwave ovens work fine. They draw 800

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

to 1,000 watts of power but aren’t typically turned on for long periods.

One of the important things they have learned about generating their own power is to buy American-made products. Tim said a lot of the equipment is manufactured in China and it doesn’t come with the level of customer support as they have gotten from local companies.

“There is a freedom in knowing that we aren’t tied in with everybody else,” said Tim. “When the power goes out we never know about it unless we are watching TV. That’s a liberating feeling. I grew up on a farm and after I earned my electronics degree I was ready to move to suburbia. But my wife wanted to move back to the land and in hindsight, I’m glad I followed her.”

The Dicks heat their home with a wood stove and gather all of their firewood from the dead and dying trees on their property.

They also have a small saw mill they use to make lumber for buildings and other

projects that support their farm and bed and breakfast business. They use a gasoline-powered generator to run power tools and as needed in the winter when the sun doesn’t provide enough power on cloudy days.

They don’t have a wind turbine because the trees around their property are too tall, which blocks the breeze. Tim is considering putting up a tall tower with a turbine in the future. One of their neighbors has a small hydro turbine in a stream. Small hydro is one of the most desirable green power generating methods because it’s a constant provider as long as there is enough water.

Their drinking water is hauled from a nearby spring. For washing clothes and bathing they harvest rainwater from the roofs of their home and barns. The buildings have metal roofs and the water is funneled down through rain gutters into underground cisterns. They have four, 1,200 gallon cisterns on their property. The water is pumped into the house using a 12-volt RV pump. They use a propane-powered water heater. With 25 to 30 inches or more of rainfall each year the system is adequate, Christine said.

They only collect rainwater during months with an r in them. Christine said there is too much pollen and dust in the rainwater during the summer months.

For food they have a large garden and root cellar for storage. They raise rabbits, broiler chickens and hens, goats, turkeys, sheep, ducks and pigs for sustenance. They have two Great Pyrenees dogs for livestock protection. Christine said they are about 90 percent self sufficient in producing their own food. Several web postings give good reviews of the fresh food provided to their bed and breakfast clients. Guests stay in large canvas tents built on wood platforms.

They offer queen-sized beds and a wood stove in each tent. There is also an outside fire pit and outhouse at each site and there’s lots to do nearby for those interested in outdoor pursuits like hiking, mountain biking, fishing and wildlife watching. Many of their guests are on their way either to or from Glacier National Park.

“People tell us the way we live looks like a

The Dick residence, an off the grid home near Clark Fork Idaho.

One of the campsites at the Huckleberry Tent and Breakfast.

lot of work, but it’s really not,” said Christine. “We just have a system set up and we make it part of our natural day. I have gained a lot of control over my time and that’s been great for raising our children.”

The three most common types of solar electric systems are grid-intertied, grid intertied with battery backup and off-grid or stand alone. A system like the Dick fam-

ily uses starts with an array of photovoltaic panels which is connected to a DC disconnect, a charge controller, a battery bank, a system meter, a main DC disconnect, an inverter and an AC breaker panel. The system is backed up with a gasoline, propane or diesel generator. For a complete explanation on the other types of solar electric systems go to http://homepower.com/ basics/solar/.

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

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Focus on Agriculture The Image of Farmers

By Stewart Truelsen When Chicago lost to Brazil in its bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, many residents were disappointed. Now, the city has suffered another disappointment with the removal of a 25-foot tall sculpture of two farmers from a small plaza along the city’s Magnificent Mile.

“I hate that it is gone,” said one person to the Chicago Tribune. The three-dimensional sculpture by J. Seward Johnson Jr. spent a year on loan to the city and attracted many passers-by. It was named “God Bless America,” but almost everyone recognized it as a version of Grant Wood’s famed painting, “American Gothic,” which coincidentally hangs in Chicago’s Art Institute.

What is it about “American Gothic” that has so captivated people over the years? Could it be the couple’s stoic expression, which seems reassuring in hard times? Maybe it is their obvious self-reliance that we envy.

the world. Sure, it would have been nice if Wood had painted the man and woman with smiles on their faces, but there wasn’t much to smile about then. Crop and livestock prices were plunging as Wood finished his work and the Great Depression gripped the nation. Besides, Mona Lisa’s famous smile had already been painted.

The American Farm Bureau Federation and other agricultural organizations have worked hard to update the image of the American farmer and paint a portrait of “American Gothic” along with the red barn, modern agriculture, its importance to our moldboard plow, milking stool, and trac- economy, and the environmental benefits tors like International Harvester’s Farmall we derive from it. But it is difficult to series, are icons of American agriculture. overcome nostalgia.

Like Wood’s painting, the red Farmall tracNo doubt there were people who missed the plow horse as mechanization transformed farming a century ago, and there are similar feelings today as agriculture is transformed by science, technology and global markets. These feelings are understandable, but they provide fertile ground for critics of production agriculture.

Yet, some things haven’t changed. The vast majority of farms today are still familyowned and operated, and the traits we’ve admired in farmers and ranchers—on canvas or in real life—are still evident; the values they hold dear are the same. In this way, American agriculture is drawing on the best of the past to meet the challenges of the future.

Wood did not intend to paint a classic portrait of an American farm couple; certainly not one that would have such lasting effect. His sister posed as the woman in the 1930 painting and a local dentist was handed a hayfork and enlisted to be her farther or husband or brother (depending on the story you hear).

Farmers weren’t quite sure what to make of the painting. Some thought Wood was mocking small town life, as Sinclair Lewis had done earlier when he wrote the novel Main Street.

Like it or not, the picture is one of the most-recognized paintings in 10

tors also date back to 1930. In some ways, the American public’s appreciation for and understanding of farming never really left that era.

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

American Gothic by Grant Wood.

Photo courtesy of Mark Heard via Flickr.

Stewart Truelsen is a regular contributor to the Focus on Agriculture series and is author of a new book marking the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 90th anniversary, Forward Farm Bureau.

For the first time ever, the U.S. Air Force has flown one of its jets powered by a biofuel blend. The flight took place at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida with an A-10 Thunderbolt II — an aircraft affectionately known as the Warthog — burning a combination of a fuel derived from camelina oil with conventional jet fuel.

Alternative Crop Shows Promise for Western Farmers

By Jake Putnam

sky above.

The U.S. Air Force recently announced the successful flight of an A-10 Thunderbolt using a biofuel blend of camelina, an oilseed crop mixed with conventional jet fuel. The Air Force plans to test blend on additional aircraft produced the over the next couple of years.

BOZEMAN - With a tight economy, and razor thin profit margins, western farmers are looking for new ways to make money.

They may have to look no further than the

“Hands down, camelina better than the other oil seed crops”

The Pentagon is looking for ways

to become more energy independent and is looking at energy alternatives. Under the Air Force’s current energy plan, the goal is to acquire 50 percent of the domestic aviation fuel from an alternative blend by 2016.

“Our goal is to reduce demand, increase supply and change the culture and mindset of our fuel consumption,” said Terry Yonkers, Undersecretary of the Air Force.

See CAMELINA p. 12

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

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CAMELINA

Continued from page 11

The Air Force is the largest government user of jet fuel consuming 2.4 billion gallons of jet fuel per year. The A-10 test flight went well with “no problems whatsoever” according to the pilot.

Botanists classify camelina as a weed but farmers have cultivated it as an oilseed crop for centuries. Biofuel companies are promoting the crop as the next big thing in biofuel and have supplied the Air Force and airlines for test runs.

The biofuel companies may soon have company; Shell Oil Company wants to test the oilseed and position itself in the lucrative jet fuel business. Shell researchers see the weed as a promising, renewable biofuel capable of boosting corporate profits.

Why is this crop so attractive to western farmers? Camelina is an oilseed crop that’s demonstrated better drought tolerance and greater freezing tolerance than canola. It grows well in dry climates not to mention the fact that camelina is resistant to flea beetles, a major economic pest of canola. It’s also an excellent choice for grain crop rotation.

Alice Pilgeram, research professor at Montana State University says that her research on oilseed crops showed camelina to be one of the best oilseed sources available.

“Hands down, camelina produced better than the other oil seed crops,” she said. “The driving force behind commercial production is bio-diesel industry. The bio-diesel industry is in a world of hurt because they need to produce cost competitive fuel. What I like about camelina is that this is an oilseed and once you crush the oil out of it, what you have left is camelina meal. Camelina meal is equivalent to corn meal. The meal is 42 percent protein. It contains about 10 percent oil and it’s probably one of the richest sources of omega 3 that we have.”

Pilgeram adds that the meal is an excellent alternative to corn for all livestock and great for chicken feed because eggs are enriched with omega 3. The FDA also recently approved camelina meal as a component of livestock feed rations, and tests have shown measurable increases in omega 3 in meat and dairy content.

The Institute for Biobased Products at Montana State University is studying the new biodiesel feedstock that’s cheaper to harvest and cuts down on farmer input costs, according to researcher Duane Johnson. Johnson told Biodiesel Magazine about camelina, similar to the mustard plant and commonly grown in northern Europe. The institute began researching camelina’s potential as a biodiesel feedstock while trying to figure out how to lower the cost of producing the renewable fuel.

to present. He estimated the cost to make biodiesel from common feedstocks such as canola, mustard, sunflower and safflower is currently $2.35 to $2.65 per gallon, meaning it would retail at approximately $3 per gallon. Using camelina, Johnson said biodiesel would cost $1 to $1.25 per gallon.

“About 75 percent of biodiesel production cost was in farmgrown raw materials,” Johnson said. “We started looking at camelina as a crop cheaper to grow and it’s looking very good in terms of being a low-cost replacement.” A market research and advisory firm is predicting that camelina will be the feedstock for a billion gallons of biofuels a year by the year 2025.

There are high hopes for the new cash crop, in a report just released called “Camelina Aviation Biofuels Market Opportunity and Renewable Energy Strategy Report,” researchers say the crop will produce biofuels for the aviation and biodiesel sectors that could account for 25,000 new jobs, more than $5.5 billion in new revenues and $3.5 billion in new agricultural income for U.S. and Canadian farmers in the next decade.

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In its third year of research, Johnson has some impressive numbers 12

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

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Marketbasket Survey Retail Staple Food Prices Increase Slightly in First Quarter WASHINGTON, D.C., - Retail food prices at the supermarket showed a modest increase during the first quarter of 2010, according to the latest American Farm Bureau Federation Marketbasket Survey.

The informal survey shows the total cost of 16 food items that can be used to prepare a meal was $45.54, up $2.64 or 6 percent higher compared to the fourth quarter of 2009. The total average price for the 16 items dropped by $1.87 or about 4 percent less compared to one year ago. Of the 16 items surveyed, 14 increased and two decreased in average price compared to the prior quarter.

Shredded cheddar cheese, deli ham, apples, vegetable oil, bacon, boneless chicken breasts and eggs increased the most in dollar value from quarter-toquarter.

Shredded cheddar cheese increased 62 cents to $4.26 per pound; sliced deli ham increased 48 cents to $4.83 per pound; apples increased 25 cents to $1.50 per pound; vegetable oil increased 23 cents to $2.74; bacon and boneless chicken breasts increased 22 cents to $3.22 and $2.93 per pound, respectively; and eggs increased 19 cents to $1.74 per dozen.

“Improved demand for milk and dairy products here at home and from export markets was the driving factor behind higher retail prices found by our volunteer shoppers during the first quarter of the year,” said AFBF Economist John Anderson. “Higher retail prices for some meats were due to reduced supplies,” Anderson said.

Other items that increased in price quarter-to-quarter were flour, up 16 cents to $2.26 for a 5-pound bag; whole milk, up 11 cents to $3.15 per gallon; bagged salad, up 10 cents to $2.67 for a 1-pound bag; sirloin tip roast, up 9 cents to $3.69 per pound; Russet potatoes, up 8 cents to $2.26 for a five-pound bag; orange juice, up 5 cents for a half-gallon to $2.98; and toasted oat cereal, up 2 cents to $2.97 for a 9-ounce box.

14

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

Compared to a year ago, eggs increased 16 percent; apples increased 11 percent and toasted oat cereal increased 2 percent.

Two foods declined slightly in price compared to the prior quarter: white bread, down 11 cents to $1.71 for a 20-oz. loaf; and ground chuck, down 6 cents to $2.63 per pound.

Several items from the meat case decreased in price compared to one year ago: chicken breasts (down 13 percent), ground chuck ( d o w n 10.5 percent) and sirloin tip roast (down 7.5 percent).

The year-to-year direction of the marketbasket survey tracks with the federal government’s Consumer Price Index (www.bls.gov/cpi) report for food at home. As retail grocery prices have increased gradually over time, the share of the average food dollar that America’s farm and ranch families receive has dropped.

“From about the mid-1970s, farmers received about one-third of consumer retail food expenditures for food eaten at home and away from home, on average. Since then, that figure has decreased steadily and is now just 19 percent, according to Agriculture Department statistics,” Anderson said.

Using the “food at home and away from home” percentage across-the-board, the farmer’s share of this quarter’s $45.54 marketbasket would be $8.65.

AFBF, the nation’s largest general farm organization, has been conducting the informal quarterly marketbasket survey of retail food price trends since 1989. The mix of foods in the marketbasket was updated during the first quarter of 2008.

According to USDA, Americans spend just under 10 percent of their disposable annual income on food, the lowest average of any country in the world. A total of 73 shoppers in 30 states participated in the latest survey, conducted in early March.

Tracking Milk & Eggs - Page 24

Motorists are asked to keep an eye out for tractors and other heavy equipment on the roads this spring. Farmers are getting back into the fields and that means farm equipment and more trucks will be sharing the rural roads and highways throughout Idaho. Photo by Steve Ritter

Caution: Farm Equipment Back on the Roads

By Jake Putnam BOISE - The headlines each spring are disturbing and frequent: Car hits combine, motorist injured.

“There’s just more congestion on the county roads,” said Canyon County Farm Bureau Board member Sid Freeman. “We’re seeing more impatient people taking risks; some don’t realize how long it takes machinery to get from one field to the next.

They end up putting themselves and others at risk by making bad decisions on the road.”

Canyon County and Ada County Farm Bureaus each year produce public service announcements for the Treasure Valley airwaves that urge motorists to look out for farm machinery on country roads. But it’s an important message for everyone who lives in Idaho and shares the roads.

Ada County’s rural accidents are becoming more commonplace and that concerns Ada County Farm Bureau President Don Sonke. “We think this is a good idea

and thought it was a project we’d like to get involved with,” said Sonke. Freeman added that there were several near fatal accidents the past few summers in Canyon County that could have been prevented with farm equipment awareness.

“Every year we see the near misses in the headlines. It boils down to the fact that one fatal accident is too many,” said Freeman.

“It’s just a matter of time before someone gets killed and that’s unacceptable.”

Sonke says that developers in Ada County are chopping up subdivisions bringing more high speed traffic to county roads and that means more accidents. “Drivers don’t expect to see farm equipment anymore because they’re miles from the city limit, they simply don’t know what to do.” he said.

Freeman adds that farmers are using bigger equipment, a recent change farm trends, “It’s to save money, fewer passes through a field, that burns less diesel and takes less time, it comes back to staying profitable

and staying on the farm. “Unfortunately we take up a lot more roadway that we used to and drivers aren’t used to that,” he said.

Some farmers have been seen in Canyon County using pilot cars when moving equipment at night to prevent accidents because as the rural population grows, speed limits and traffic increases while patience wears thin.

The two county Farm Bureaus started production on the Public Service Announcements in early April. It will play on local television in April and May. Ada and Canyon County Farm Bureaus say thePSA’scenteronbasicruralsafetytips: Left-turn collision defensive driving tips: Is it really turning? Don’t assume a farm vehicle that pulls to the right side of the road is going to turn right, or is letting you pass. Check the operator’s hand signals. - Is there a turn signal?

A flashing light on a tractor that sudSee FARM EQUIPMENT p. 21

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

15

Court Ruling Allows Roundup-Ready Beet Planting

By Jake Putnam SAN FRANCISCO —Sugarbeet farmers across the nation planted their crop of RoundupReady beets this year, after a key ruling in California Federal Court in March. The season was in serious doubt until an 11th hour court ruling allowed the use of the herbicide-resistant biotech crop for this crop year.

Idaho’s sugarbeet acreage this year will increase an estimated 3 percent to 169,000, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service. Last year, Idaho farmers planted 164,000 acres which adds up to more than 5.5 million pounds of beets depending on yield, according to the Idaho Beet Growers Association in Boise.

Over 95 percent of the sugarbeets planted in Idaho are from Roundup-Ready seed.

Judge Jeffrey White of Nothern California’s U.S. District Court ruled against a temporary injunction filed by organic farmers and environmental food safety groups. The groups wanted an injunction until a new, more involved environmental impact statement could be completed by the USDA. White’s ruling allowed farmers to plant; at least for the 2010 season.

“We were pleased with the preliminary injunction,” said Mark Duffin, executive director of the Idaho Sugarbeet Growers Association. “There’s been strong demand for acres this year. I haven’t seen a final contracting number yet, but we should even be up a little bit over last year.”

16

Back on March 5, Judge White held a hearing to decide if preliminary injunctive relief was appropriate, pending completion of the case later this summer. “This ruling provides clarity for Roundup Ready sugarbeets in 2010,” said Steve Welker, Monsanto Company’s sugarbeet business manager.

Farmers have planted Roundup Ready sugarbeets for the past four years. Welker stressed that in the next phase of this case, Monsanto will demonstrate that a broad permanent injunction is not appropriate.

Beet producer Mike Garner of Raft River thinks growers ultimately will prevail. “We have a real good case,” he said.

“95 percent of the industry has switched to Roundup. Had the injunction been successful it would have been catastrophic.

Sugar prices would skyrocket.

I don’t think anyone is comfortable with that, nor wants it.”

More than 95-percent of the nation’s sugarbeet production comes from genetically modified seed and had the injunction been successful there wouldn’t have been enough conventional seed for a full crop this year.

The ban could have impacted half the nation’s sugar supply with an economic loss of more than $1.5 billion.

Despite the ruling, Judge White did warn farmers about GMO seed. “The parties should not assume that the court’s decision to deny a preliminary injunction is indicative of its views on a permanent injunction,” he wrote.

The Idaho Sugarbeet Grow-

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

ers Association says they’re taking heed.

“We’ll have the hearing in July on the remedy phase, but now all I can say is that case preparations are underway. Judge White clearly said what his concerns were. We will have to address those concerns in the hearing,” said Duffin.

White added that until the U.S. D.A completed its courtordered re-evaluation of the beets’ environmental effects, Judge White suggested that companies and growers “take all efforts, A Federal Court ruling has allowed production going forward, to use of genetically modified sugarbeets to be planted conventional seed.” and refined for food production this year.

However, a judge is still considering whether a

The United States more broad environmental impact statement is Department of Agri- needed to determine whether the crop could be cross-pollinating and damaging to other culture did conduct crops. Photo by Steve Ritter environmental assessments of genetiment and make their operations cally engineered beets in 2005. more efficient and productive.

They concluded there was no Alternative technologies resignificant impact, so a more quire more applications of pesinvolved environmental impact ticides, with greater impacts statement was not needed. on the environment and lower productivity on farms.

But Judge White thinks pollen from the genetically engi- More than 1 million acres of neered crops could spread to Roundup Ready sugarbeets conventional crops eliminating were planted in 10 U.S. states a “farmer’s choice to grow non- and two Canadian provinces. genetically engineered crops or In North America last year, ala consumer’s choice to eat non- most all sugarbeet acreage was genetically engineered food.” safely planted with Roundup That alone calls for a broad en- Ready seed. Idaho is the secvironmental impact statement. ond leading producer of beet sugar following Minnesota.

Sugarbeet growers say that Wyoming and Montana farmRoundup Ready sugarbeets ers also produce sugarbeets. reduce impacts on the environ-

Got Wind? Find Out if Alternative Power Works for You Article and photo courtesy of Intermountain Wind and Solar Would you like to harvest a new crop for less than 50 percent of production costs and dodge power rate hikes in the process? It’s not a new idea - farmers and ranchers have used windmills to harvest the “wind crop” since the 1850s. Now government incentives and technology improvements make the old crop new again, and much more affordable. But wind power isn’t for everybody, so read on.

New medium-sized 5 to 50 kW turbines are designed to produce electricity for not just the ranch house but also the center pivot, the gas station and many other rural businesses. Utility companies now allow landowners and businesses to produce their own wind or solar power and turn the electric meter backward.

The federal renewable energy investment tax credit (ITC) allows small businesses to get a tax credit for 30 percent of the value of a renewable energy system. And for this year only, federal stimulus dollars can pay this 30 percent back as cash, so you don’t have to wait until next year. Eligible recipients include small businesses (as defined by the Small Business Administration) in rural areas, agriculture producers who earn 50 percent of their income from agriculture, as well as private landowners or tenants in rural areas.

The USDA’s Renewable Energy for America Program (REAP) can play a big role in funding these projects. Typically, USDA funds work in a grant-and-loan guarantee combination, with the ideal project including a 25 percent grant, up to 50 percent loan guarantee, and 25 percent other. Idaho gives an additional 100 percent state tax depreciation, stretchable over four years. Combined with electric bill savings and the 30 percent federal incentive, this adds up to an attractive financial model for rural and ag businesses.

Some say the grant application is too daunting; Intermountain Wind & Solar overcomes this obstacle with a staff grant writer.

If your set up uses a lot of electricity (e.g. center pivot, warehousing, dairy processing, gas station pumping, milling, manufacturing, car lot lighting, large home cooling, etc.) you’ll experience the most significant costoffsetting benefits of renewable energy. Wind power, however, is not for everyone.

Don’t pursue wind power if your wind resources aren’t strong enough to produce a decent Return on Investment (ROI). Review existing wind data to make sure your resources are in the top 70 percent. Wind strength isn’t as important as the number of windy days per year. Choose the right turbine for the job.

If you’re not in a good wind area, you are likely in a good solar area and you can still get REAP grants.

You can plan on three things - death, taxes and electric rate hikes. The fuel for wind and solar power is always free.

If you’ve got good wind, the “new” wind crop can make your operation more financially sustainable.

The folks at Intermountain Wind and Solar are hosting an open house at Hollister Elementary School at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 11th. If you can’t attend and want a noobligation wind assessment of your property, call 801298-5255 or send an email to info@imwindandsolar. com.

A Utah consulting company is sponsoring a meeting in Hollister on May 11. They will provide information on how to find out if wind and solar power will work for small businesses as well as how to apply for grants.

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Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

17

A New UI Extension Program: Idaho Master Forest Stewards

By Renée E. D’Aoust and Chris Schnepf For several years, University of Idaho Extension planned to start an educational training and volunteer program to benefit and serve Idaho’s multifaceted forestland owners. Family forest owners manage 2.3 million acres of Idaho’s forests, and northern Idaho has the most productive family forests in the Rocky Mountains. With partial grant support from the Idaho Department of Lands, University of Idaho Extension’s program has become a welcome reality: Idaho Master Forest Stewards (IMFS).

flyer for the Idaho Master Forest Stewards clarifies that Idaho Master Forest Stewards “function as University of Idaho Extension volunteers, similar to master gardeners and 4-H leaders”—both successful and popular programs.

ing, and outreach. Idaho Master Forest Stewards provide educational assistance which helps a forest owner articulate his or her forest management values, that forest owner also clarifies his or her land-management goals and implementation.

Mike Wolcott, of Inland Forest Management, is a member of the Association of Consulting Foresters, and says that “the Idaho Master Forest Steward program has the potential to be a valuable source of assistance for family forest owners in Idaho.”

Sister Carol Ann Wassmuth, the forest manager at the Monastery of St. Gertrude, is a graduate of the first-year program. Sister Carol Ann asks, “Why did I make the commitment to participate in the IMFS program? Three reasons: I want to continue learning all I can about good forest management. I want a structured way to share that information with other landowners. I thoroughly enjoy belonging to a group who share my enthusiasm for good forest management.”

To build a course and volunteer program specific to the needs of Idaho forests and forest owners, UI Extension convened a planning group of fifteen forest owners, which met throughout 2008. A training course was outlined, requiring a combination of existing UI Extension forestry programs (such as a six-week forestry short course) and new educational activities just for Idaho Master Forest Stewards. In 2009, 19 forest owners completed the pilot Idaho Master Forest Stewards program.

Idaho’s forestry community is increasingly focused on the family forestland owner. For example, more than forty percent of forest land in Bonner County is privately owned; as local budgets are stretched, the need for an Idaho Master Forest Steward program seems more prescient than ever. With fire, insects and disease, invasive species, and other factors all threatening the benefits forests provide and the health of the forest itself, many owners already seek education about forest management and issues.

Oregon and a handful of other states across the U.S. have implemented similar programs that have proven beneficial. The

The Idaho Master Forest Steward program provides an additional means to respond to the growing need for education, network-

18

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

After completion of educational activities required by the program, which includes four day-long sessions from May to September in different Idaho locations to expose participants to a variety of Idaho forest types, a field assessment for Idaho Master Forest Steward certification is given in coordination with foresters from the Idaho Department of Lands. The assessment is an educational experience, providing an opportunity for further questions

George Redinger, right takes his field assessment to become and Idaho Master Forest Steward. In the photograph are Idaho Department of Lands Foresters Tom Johnson, left, and Bill Love, center.

through a learning environment. Its first iteration proved a unique opportunity for forest owners to enjoy valuable group time with state foresters.

After educational programs, field work that also involves shadowing a forestry professional’s activities, and assessments by trained foresters, Idaho Master Stewards are asked to contribute. Specifically, in return for the education provided, following certification, Idaho Master Forest Stewards are asked to volunteer 70 hours over a period of two years. The program flyer suggests that “a variety of volunteer service activities are possible, including outreach to forest owners, helping with forest owner associations, and teaching youth about forests.” An Idaho Forest Steward might answer general questions at the county fair, direct neighbors to the proper organizations or resources, and also give outreach educational programs across the age spectrum.

With state budgets stretched during tough

economic times, these trained volunteers provide needed assistance both to landowners and to state foresters. The network created by the program strengthens communication across agencies and also within communities. The Idaho Master Forest Steward flyer clarifies that forest stewards “work with University of Idaho Extension faculty and staff from the Idaho Department of Lands and other agencies to help guide their efforts to more effectively meet the needs of family forest owners.” Furthermore, within such volunteer programs, the expansion of resources and knowledge can hardly be quantified but is a real benefit.

2009 Master Forest Steward graduates are serving in a variety of venues. For example, this spring Idaho Master Forest Stewards will be teaching new forest owners about tree planting and forest understory plant identification at a forest owner’s field day in June. They will also be teaching kids at the annual “Spirit Lake Elementary Walk

in the Woods.”

The Idaho Master Forest Stewards program is now training its second class of volunteers. Over the coming years, Idaho Master Forest Stewards will continue to interact with each other and to gather as a learning community. They will also continue to work together with UI Extension to more effectively reach more Idaho family forest owners. If you are interested in signing up for the program next year, contact Chris Schnepf at 208-446-1680.

As Sister Carol Ann says, “We all want our Idaho forest lands to be healthy, sustainable, and productive. Through Idaho Master Forest Stewards, I can help make that dream become a reality.”

Renée E. D’Aoust was trained as part of the 2009 charter group of Idaho Master Forest Stewards and is an Idaho Master Forest Steward. She also served on the planning committee. Chris Schnepf is a University of Idaho Extension Forester.

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

19

Supreme Court Race-Heats up

By Jake Putnam BOISE - The 2010 elections could be most critical for Idaho voters in terms of turning the economy around and curbing agency spending. But the primary election May 25th looms large because it will decide a critical seat on the Idaho Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court race between sitting Justice Roger Burdick and District Court Judge John Bradbury; who presides over courts in Clearwater, Lewis, and Idaho counties, centers on issues that can strike a chord with Idaho voters: reform and water.

Many voters won’t realize that when they cast a vote in pri20

mary election May 25, that vote will decide the Supreme Court race. That’s because there’s just two filings for the nonpartisan seat on the Court, combined that with an obscure Idaho election law, and you have a keeper election in a run-off primary.

And it gets better: just a handful of voters will seat the next Idaho Supreme Court Justice.

“The whole matter of judges running in the current system is a curious thing because they don’t talk a lot about substance,” said longtime Idaho political reporter Randy Stapilus. “You can get them to talk about the structure of the courts, whether judges should be appointed or elected, things like that. But

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

they don’t like talking about the substance of what they work with. You can only read that through their decisions and those can be subtle and misleading. It’s difficult for voters to make up their minds.”

Judge John Bradbury decided to seek office because he thinks Idaho’s court system should be the peoples’ first choice for a fair and affordable resolution of their disputes.

Bradbury says “choosing judges based on who they know instead of what they know has created an isolated court that’s out of touch with the real life and every day struggles of the people who live throughout the state.” Judge Bradbury says

he would bring a balanced and common sense approach to a court.

Opponent Roger Burdick says he’ll run on the Supreme Court’s record of justice. “I tell them, if you’re a judge, I’ll bet a week doesn’t go by where you make a decision that you don’t personally agree with, but it’s the law,” he said. “Those are the tough calls, but if early in your career, you start calling them by the rule of law, rather than your personal feeling, then it becomes ingrained in you and that’s what I’ve done.”

Bradbury made an impressive run in 2008 winning support of many newspapers around the state because of a reform agen-

da, while Burdick has bedrock support from Idaho water users, most notably farmers. “That may simply grow out of his experience with water,� said Stapilus. “That wouldn’t be a big surprise in that sense because of his time with the Snake River Basin Adjudication. He certainly has good background on water issues and those only come up to the Supreme Court from time to time. We had one quite recently with the Bedke case and that does give him the ability to say ‘I have expertise in this area,’ and he does.

This is Burdick’s first statewide campaign for office. He was appointed to serve initially. Bradbury is road tested after a tough loss to Justice Joel Horton two years ago. Adding to the intrigue of this race is Bradbury’s dispute with the

Idaho Judicial Council regarding lack of residency in Idaho County. The Council contends that judges have to live where they work.

Bradbury made headlines and won support of many North Idaho voters when he sued the council and members of the Supreme Court over the residency issue. Burdick’s been low-key on the issue while political insiders say that Bradbury’s candidacy stems from perceived sour grapes, something he strongly denies. In a newspaper interview, Burdick stressed that the court was simply following laws created by the legislature. “It’s our hope that the legislature will continue to set those rules,� Burdick said. “They set the rule that says there must be magistrate in every county and there are a lot of very rural

counties that now have magistrates. They set it that way for good reason.� “The case is a subtle thing because Bradbury maintains that he did have residency where he needed to have it,� added Stapilus. “The Supreme Court said ‘you’re not living there enough,’ but I think the details of the case aren’t going to interest a lot of people around the state.�

Farmer Don Hale serves on the water advisory group, Committee of Nine. He says farmers and water users across the Snake River Plain don’t care much about residency rules for judges; they’re backing Burdick because of water expertise. “You got to have someone who is impartial knows what he’s doing, he’s fair and even

minded as anyone we have ever seen,� said Hale. “He has an understanding of water law, and Idaho’s positions on water law. More importantly, we have a number of cases that will go through the court as we finish up this adjudication that will go to the Supreme Court, so we need someone with water experience there.�

Yet Bradbury continues to win grassroots support because of his reform platform. “The court system is the only institution that stands between the power of government and the rights of individual citizens,� said Bradbury.� It’s essential that the courts be fair and affordable. I know the reforms needed to make Idaho’s court system more accountable to the people of Idaho.�

FARM EQUIPMENT

Continued from page 15

Get Ready for Spring!

denly stops flashing is a turn signal. Slow down when you see this signal. Where could it turn? Check the left side of the road for gates, driveways, or any place a farm vehicle might turn.

Rear-end collision defensive driving tips: Be alert. Always watch for farm vehicles on rural roads, especially at planting and harvest. Slow down immediately. As soon as you see a slow-moving vehicle, start to apply brakes like you would when approaching a stoplight. Keep your distance. Stay a safe distance behind farm vehicles. Most farm equipment is not designed to travel at speeds greater than 25 miles an hour.

Even when towed behind a truck, equipment such as sprayers and fuel tanks often travels less than 25 miles per hour.

Passing collision defensive driving tips: Be patient. Don’t assume the farmer can move aside to let you pass. Shoulders may be soft, wet, or steep, which can cause the farm vehicle to tip, or they may not be able to support a heavy farm vehicle. -Make sure you’re clear. When passing, make sure you can see the farm vehicle in your rear-view mirror before you get back in your lane.

-Enjoy the drive. Even if you have to slow down to 20 miles an hour and follow a tractor for two miles, it takes only six minutes of your time, about the same as waiting for two stoplights.

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Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

21

We have just

one thing to say to Everyone who submitted comments to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management for Monsanto’s Blackfoot Bridge Mine

Thank you.

Environmental Impact Statement played a valuable role. We look forward to working with the BLM to review all comments – whether they make a statement of support or point out an area of concern – to ensure the Blackfoot Bridge Mine in southeast Idaho meets our goal of becoming one of the world’s most environmentally advanced mines.

All of the employees of Monsanto in Idaho – your friends, neighbors and associates – are grateful that you cared enough to take time to participate in this important process.

22

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

The Idaho Farm Bureau established the Ag Ambassadors program three years ago. There are five couples selected each year by the state directors to go to Washington DC and meet with Idaho’s Congressional Delegation. The purpose is to educate the Ag Ambassadors on the working effectively with elected officials.

In March the group met with Congressman Mike Simpson, Senator Mike Crapo, Congressman Walt Minnick and Senator Jim Risch.

They discussed Congressional oversight of EPA’s endangerment findings; immigration reform; fixing the estate tax issue; and the devastating effects of the proposed Obama health care legislation on farmers and ranchers.

Pictured left to right are Cody & Britney Chandler of Weiser, Richard & Julaine Blaser of Rexburg, Ann & Tom Moedl of Preston, Garth & Jewelee Steed of Malta and Joshua & Jennifer Jones of Troy.

The Twin Falls County Farm Bureau Ag Baby was born March 20 to parents Jose and Silvia Marez. He was named Eduardo and weighed in at eight pounds and 13 ounces with an overall length of 21 and three-fourths inches. The Twin Falls County FB Women’s Leadership Committee presented a gift basket to the newborn and his parents.

Farm Bureau Couple win 2010 Idaho Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year Award Steve and Janet Funk of Kootenai County recently received the 2010 Idaho Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year Award from the American Tree Farm Association. They farm several hundred acres of trees in the Wolf Lodge area just east of Coeur d’Alene.

The American Tree Farm System, founded in 1941 promotes sustainable management of forests on 26 million acres of privately owned forest land comprised of 80,000 forest owners. This is a voluntary program and the Intermountain Forestry Association sponsors this program. The American Forest Foundation sets the standards for the American Tree Farm System that forest owners look to for sustainable forest management.

The primary purpose of the American Forest Foundation is outreach and education. Steve and Janet Funk manage their tree operation in

accordance with the standards set by the American Forest Foundation. In addition, they have also done a lot of educational activities on their farm to help other forest owners learn sustainable management practices. It is their hard work and dedication to managing their own farm and educating others in sustainable forest practices that has landed them this prestigious award.

Pictured left to right are family members David Funk, Janelle and Jeff Sells, Steve and Janet Funk, presenter Steve Bloedel and Steve and Kathleen Funk with grandson Garret kneeling in front.

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

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ANNUAL ENGLISH BACKYARD FLOATING BEER FLOWER BOTANICAL FORMAL For the first quarter of 2010, shoppers reported the average BULB FRUIT price for a half-gallon of regular whole milk was $2.00, up 1 CACTUS GREENHOUSE cent from the prior quarter. The average price for one gallon of regular whole milk was $3.15, up 14HANGING cents. Comparing per-quart COMMUNAL prices, the retail price for whole milk sold in gallon containers CONTAINER HERB was about 25 percent lower compared to half-gallon containers, COTTAGE JAPANESE a typical volume discount long employed by retailers.

DESERT LANDSCAPED The average price for a half-gallon of rBST-free milk was $3.62, up 54 cents from the last quarter, more than 50 percent higher than the reported retail price for a half-gallon of regular milk ($2).

ANNUAL BACKYARD BEER BOTANICAL BULB CACTUS COMMUNAL CONTAINER COTTAGE DESERT ENGLISH FLOATING FLOWER FORMAL FRUIT GREENHOUSE HANGING HERB JAPANESE LANDSCAPED PATIO PERENNIAL ROCK ROSE SHADE SPECIALTY TERRACE VEGETABLE VICTORY WATER

ANSWERS ON PAGE 36

PATIO PERENNIAL ROCK ROSE Compared to a year ago (first quarter of 2009), the retail price SHADE for regular milk in gallon containers was unchanged while SPECIALTY regular milk in half-gallon containers decreased 8 percent. The average retail price for rBST-free milk increased about 13 perTERRACE cent in a year’s time. The average retail price for organic milk VEGETABLE in half-gallon containers dropped about 1 percent in the first VICTORY quarter of 2010 compared to the prior year.

WATER For the first quarter of 2010, the average price for one dozen regular eggs was $1.74. The average price for “cage-free” eggs was $2.91 per dozen, about 70 percent more per dozen than regular eggs. Compared to a year ago (first quarter of 2009), regular eggs increased 16 percent while “cage-free” eggs were unchanged.

Marketbasket:Tracking Milk and Egg Trends

The average price for a half-gallon of organic milk was $3.66, up 9 cents compared to the fourth quarter of 2009 quarter – about 80 percent higher than the reported retail price for a halfgallon of regular milk ($2).

24

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

How to Make a Moon Garden

How to Make a Moon Garden Photos and Story by Renee E. D’Aoust A beautiful white iris marks the spot where the full moon first struck the pasture on the night of my mother’s sixty-seventh birthday. She had stayed up late, walking the pasture, and when the light shone through the grand firs, an idea formed: a moon garden.

sky murky and one only sees a faint outline. There were a few volcanic rocks we had picked up on our travels, and these were also transported to the site. We arranged the garden with dark rocks on the shady side of the garden and light rocks on the other side.

As a family, we have always woken each other up on fullmoon nights, in any season, to go outside and to watch the moonlight as it brightens the entire pasture. We discussed how a small grouping of whitecolored plants might properly reflect the qualities of the moon: reflection, renewal, rejuvenation.

The ground we had chosen was particularly rocky, an old riverbed, and only grass, sedum, and Russian olive could be planted directly in the ground.

From a branch of the Russian olive, we hung a handmade dream catcher that was given to us by a friend. A small rubber cattle trough filled with dirt was used for the more delicate plants. We planted a “moon lily” that was special ordered from Dutch Bulbs. The moon lily petals make moonlight look luminescent, as the streaming rays reflect off of the petals.

The moon garden became a project for the whole family.

We began having long conversations and realized that the shape of the garden needed an outline. So we gathered old riverbed rocks from around the property and moved them into a semi-circle. We have collected lots of white rocks over the years, and quartz picked up here and there, so we took these out to the garden. There were many smooth, worn light grey rocks available in our creek that look similar to the moon on nights when forest fires have made the

Inside the trough, we planted white cosmos, but these did not come up the second year. The evening primrose also did not survive the winter, so we did not plant it again. But we transplanted scented white rocket from a hodgepodge patch, and it has flourished. Surrounding the trough, we planted two different kinds of grasses, making

This moon garden marks where the first rays of the full moon land on D’Aoust family’s property in North Idaho. They got the idea for a moon garden from the family’s collective interest in how to capture and appreciate the gentle light of a full moon.

See MOON GARDEN p.29 Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

25

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Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

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Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

27

Insurance Matters Mike Myers ­­— Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. of Idaho

Farm Bureau Offers Financial Services Idaho Farm Bureau Financial Services (IDFBFS) offers a variety of affordable financial products and services you’ll love from a Farm Bureau company you trust.

HISTORY IDFBFS can trace its history back to 1961 when it was founded as a way for the Farm Bureau insurance company to finance insurance premiums. After its success financing premiums, it moved into motor vehicle loans and later added home equity loans and loans for RVs, ATVs, boats, motorcycles, and manufactured homes. IDFBFS also offers investments in the form of IDFBFS stock and subordinate debenture notes.* IDFBFS now serves over 3,100 customers, has almost $48 million under management, and operates offices in three Idaho locations: Pocatello, Boise, and Caldwell.

You don’t have to go an IDFBFS office to take advantage of its financial products, though. Rod Eggleston, Vice President of IDFBFS says that one of the company’s goals is to “make all of the financial services and products our customers may need available through their agent. Essentially, wherever there’s an agent, you have access to our products.”

KNOWLEDGEABLE STAFF IDFBFS takes pride in its knowledgeable staff. “You can call any office or agent and they will take care of you,” Eggleston says.

The four managers at IDFBFS (Rod Eggleston, Vice President of IDFBFS, Brett Fuhriman, Assistant Manager, Scott Loveland, Boise Manager, and Gary Kildow, Caldwell Manager) have 53 years of experience at IDFBFS between them.

COMPETITIVE LOANS One of the company’s most popular prod-

28

ucts is its loans. IDFBFS loans, according to Eggleston, are “extremely competitive” with bank and credit union loans because IDFBFS does not require many of the fees like documentation, closing, and, generally speaking, loan origin fees, that these lending institutions require. IDFBFS also allows customers to borrow against their IDFBFS stock or debenture notes. The interest rate on these loans is 2% above the current rate of return on the debenture note or stock certificate used as collateral. IDFBFS primarily writes secured (titled) loans, but a partnership with Farm Bureau Bank allows Farm Bureau members to borrow for farm equipment and operating loans up to $50,000. “You can finance almost anything through the combined efforts of IDFBFS and Farm Bureau Bank,” Eggleston says.

A CUSTOMER FOCUS Eggleston says that when it comes to lending money, one of the goals of IDFBFS “is not to get people into debt, but get them out.” IDFBFS customers seem to appreciate this approach to lending. Brett Fuhriman, IDFBFS Assistant Manager, says that many of their customers are long-term customers, and that “we have many thirdgeneration customers whose families have a long history with us.” Eggleston adds that their customers realize they may be able to get a cheaper loan elsewhere, but “they like the great service and quick turnaround time they receive from us.” IDFBFS loan applications can be found at the Pocatello, Boise, and Caldwell offices, at any of the 150 Farm Bureau Insurance agents’ offices around the state, or at the company’s website, idfbfs.com. All loans are approved locally in Idaho at an IDFBFS office.

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

For a limited time, IDFBFS is having a “sale,” offering reduced rates on all new loans and many other loan products.

LOAN “SALE” For a limited time, IDFBFS is having a “sale,” offering reduced rates on all new loans and many other loan products. “We will also look at rewriting existing loans at the reduced rates if additional funds are borrowed,” Eggleston says.

IDFBFS INVESTMENTS IDFBFS offers two forms of investments.

The first is IDFBFS stock. IDFBFS stock is reviewed quarterly and has, historically, gone up every quarter. “It’s been a great

investment for members who bought it,” Eggleston says. “It’s had a steady growth rate, and has never gone down since I started with the company in 1992.” The stock’s growth rate in 2009 was 6%. Rod attributes the steady growth of the stock to the quality of loans the company makes and the company’s conservative investments.

Moon garden Continued from page 25

Since 1980, the stock has undergone three 5-to-1 splits which have helped make the stock more affordable. At the current stock price—estimated at $6.55 at the time of this article’s writing— and a minimum purchase requirement of 25 shares, you can invest in IDFBFS for as little as $163.75.

The second type of investment IDFBFS offers is subordinate debentures notes. For debentures, the customer selects the amount and term of the note and IDFBFS arrives at a rate and yield that is typically higher that CDs. Besides higher returns, debentures have other benefits. “When it matures the first time it becomes liquid, Eggleston says, “and you can cash it in anytime in the future with no penalty. You can also withdraw interest from the debentures at any time.”

Low interest rate loans, high return investments, and personalized customer service from 150 Farm Bureau agents across Idaho, all backed by the strength and stability of the Farm Bureau name.

These are just a few of the things you can expect from Idaho Farm Bureau Financial Services. *Please read the Idaho Farm Bureau Financial Services Prospectus carefully before making any investments.

To purchase Idaho Farm Bureau Financial Services products you must be an Idaho resident.

Past growth rates do not indicate future return

The petals of a moon lily, special ordered from Dutch bulbs, make moonlight look luminescent, as the streaming rays reflect off of the petals.

sure to pick grass for our growing zone and grass that does not spread. We used a low-growing, rock-covering sedum, called “Stonecrop Moon Glow,” both inside and outside the cattle trough. A “Full Moon Coreopsis” limps along from year to year and is not yet fully functioning. There are plans to include white columbines.

Then there is a bush anomaly, which we transplanted from some where at some time. None of our forestry or garden friends have been able to identify the big broad leaves and white dusty flowers. It seems that it must be a domestic shrub from previous owners of the property, so as a result we refer to it as “Aunt Ada’s Heirloom.”

With his Wood-Mizer, a neighbor sawed a perfectly curved cedar log in half, and my father made a bench out of it in the curved shape of a half moon. Now we sit and contemplate the many phases of the moon. As a small touch, a wood burned sign adds a label to the grouping.

In the past, we have planted lots of creative groupings that eventually become clumps of disoriented plants, so we really wanted to plan the moon garden to last. We strove for simplicity. Then my brother’s sons placed a plastic moon man figurine under the dream catcher, and we suspect that this has made all the difference. Three years later, the moon garden is thriving.

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

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Collegiate FB President Receives Outstanding Senior Award Alex Vigil was one of two seniors at the University of Idaho to receive the prestigious Guy and Grace Wicks Outstanding Senior Award at the UI Awards Banquet.

Alex has been an exemplary student and has been involved in numerous leadership activities during his high school and college years. Alex was the Collegiate Farm Bureau President this academic year and was President of the Delta Tau Chapter of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity in 2008 and 2009.

Alex’s involvement in Farm Bureau started in January of 2009 when he won the state collegiate discussion meet. He went on from there to compete in the National Collegiate Discussion meet in Sacramento 30

where he made it to the sweet 16 round of that competition. He was elected the UI Collegiate Farm Bureau President in May of 2009.

Alex has had several other leadership roles during his stay at the University of Idaho.

He was also Treasurer of the Delta Tau Chapter of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity in the fall of 2008 where he managed a $100,000 budget for the fraternity. While attending Butte College in northern California, he was Secretary of the Butte College Agriculture Ambassadors in 2007 and 2008 and in high school he was President of the McArthur FFA Chapter, May 2005 to May 2006. He was also a member of the California Parliamentary Procedure FFA

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

Team for his high school and they were California State Champions in 2003 and 2006. He was also outstanding Vice President Chair in the 2006 Parliamentary Procedure state contest.

Alex has many honors. He is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Multicultural Scholars Program, Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society of Agriculture, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. He was on the Butte College Deans List January 2007 to May 2008, the National Deans List 2007, and the University of Idaho College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Deans list January, 2009 to Present.

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

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AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION NEWS AFBF Supports GREEN Jobs Act WASHINGTON, D.C.,–The American Farm Bureau Federation supports the Grow Renewable Energy from Ethanol Naturally (GREEN) Jobs Act of 2010 (S. 3231). The legislation, recently introduced by Sens.

Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), would bring the nation one step closer to energy independence.

The bill would extend the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit and the Small Ethanol Producers Tax Credit for five years through 2015. These two provisions are set to expire at the end of 2010. In addition, the bill extends the Cellulosic Ethanol Production Tax Credit for three years, through 2015, and the secondary tariff on ethanol that offsets the benefit received by imported ethanol.

“Clean, renewable, domestic energy will help America achieve long-term economic growth, create a cleaner environment and shield our economy from unreliable foreign energy sources,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “American farmers and ranchers are playing a bigger role in supplying our nation with the energy it needs through the production of agricultural-based, renewable energy resources. Tax incentives play a key role in the development and production of renewable energy.”

Farm Bureau supports the extension and expansion of existing renewable energy tax incentives and supports new incentives to expand the production of cellulosic fuels, 32

cellulosic generated power and the production of biogas.

New and expanded incentives that encourage a more diverse feedstock base for cellulosic fuels are needed to reduce price competition for crops that can serve as energy sources and as food and feed.

“The successful development of our nation’s ethanol industry stands as a testament to the effectiveness of tax incentives for renewable energy,” continued Stallman. The industry, which was launched with the aid of tax incentives during the 1980s, now has the capacity to produce more than 10 billion gallons of fuel. Tax incentives also have proven valuable in promoting the production of biodiesel made from oilseed crops and animal fats.

Unfortunately, says AFBF, existing renewable energy tax incentives are temporary with varying expiration dates. Longterm extensions are needed to boost renewable technologies and support development of the market infrastructure necessary to make these technologies more competitive. In addition, the long-term extension of renewable energy credits will ensure industry stability and attract the capital necessary to realize the benefits of longterm planning.

S. 3231 is companion bill to H.R. 4940, the Renewable Fuels Reinvestment Act, introduced earlier this year by Reps.

Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.) and John Shimkus (R-Ill.).

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

Make Sure Rural America Counts

By Dal Grooms Like school pictures that show how students change and mature from year from year, the U.S. Census Bureau has been documenting the look of America for more than 200 years.

Since 1790, the U.S. has taken a population snapshot, called the decennial census, every 10 years. In the early years, U.S. Marshals rode on horseback gathering information to create a picture of this country.

Initially, the information was used to determine state representation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Census numbers are still gathered for that purpose and many others. When all the numbers are processed, data will be used to determine if roads will be built or repaired in your neighborhood. Businesses will make decisions about providing goods to your area, or perhaps even opening a plant because of the workforce available. Governments will census information to decide how tax dollars and services are distributed. And political boundaries for state and federal representation will be determined by the population numbers.

These decisions are important to all Americans. In 2010, they are especially critical to rural Americans. Our time is here again to be noticed in the Census yearbook.

For more than 100 years, we’ve seen declines in rural populations as cities grew and grew.

And some city officials suc-

cessfully leveraged that trend to persuade the Census Bureau to take targeted counts between the scheduled 10-year dates.

Those counts showed many city populations had grown even more than expected, which helped increase the flow of tax dollars.

Now is the time for rural Americans to make sure they stand up and get counted. Anecdotal evidence from the past three years indicates there might be a shift under way that shows rural areas have stabilized in population and some have even grown.

In the 2007 Census of Ag, we saw more new farms and younger farmers returning to the countryside. That indicates young families are coming back to rural areas, and with them, the promise of a growing population.

Recent economic strains across the country may also have led to some population gains in rural areas. Urban relatives hit early and hard by unemployment in high cost-of-living areas have recognized expenses often are more reasonable in rural areas. Many have discovered that supportive rural communities and local bankers are among the first to stand behind local business start-ups, providing opportunities for those who want to pursue the sense of autonomy that rests only in working for yourself.

If you haven’t turned your Census form in, census workers will be visiting you soon. Give them the 10 minutes needed to answer the 10 census questions.

What you tell them is confiden-

AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION NEWS tial. However, the essence of that information will shape the picture of America for years to come.

Dal Grooms, a new contributor to Focus on Agriculture, is a native of the Midwest, where she writes about rural and agricultural issues.

AFBF Calls on Congress to Nullify EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Scheme WASHINGTON, D.C., – Now is the time for Congress to nullify greenhouse gas permit requirements that were announced recently by the Environmental Protection Agency. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, efforts under way in Congress and legal challenges undertaken by state governments are offering corrective paths to undo a very real disaster headed toward farm and ranch families.

“We believe the EPA’s greenhouse gas requirements will lead to costly and ineffective regulations on America’s farmers and ranchers,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “We vehemently oppose regulating carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act because we believe it will require livestock producers and other agricultural operations to obtain costly and time-consuming permits as conditions to continue farming.”

Stallman said Farm Bureau strongly backs a Senate resolution to disapprove of EPA’s greenhouse gas regulations under the Clean Air Act by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)

and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), and a companion measure in the House introduced by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) and Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.). Stallman also welcomed legal challenges from many state government officials who have stepped forward to express their valid objection.

According to Stallman, the Agriculture Department warned in 2008 that if greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural operations are regulated under the Clean Air Act, numerous farms that currently are not subject to a costly and time-consuming permitting process would, for the first time, become covered entities.

“We are concerned that the EPA decision announced Monday leads us down a direct path that fulfills USDA’s prediction.

If Congress does not follow the lead of Sens. Murkowski, Lincoln and Reps. Peterson and Skelton, farmers will fall within the scope of regulation and struggle to cope with ineffective greenhouse gas regulations that are not economically sustainable. We urge Congress to take action before the regulations take effect next January.”

Ag Groups Unify in Call for Immediate Estate Tax Reform WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Farm Bureau Federation has joined with other agricultural groups in a unified call for permanent and meaningful

estate tax relief for America’s farm and ranch families.

In a letter to Senate leaders, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), AFBF and 27 other organizations stated that inaction on fixing the looming estate tax challenge would be disastrous for agriculture.

“American agriculture is traditionally a family-owned enterprise, and estate taxes can take a severe toll on family members who wish to carry on the farm and ranch tradition,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “Portions of farm and ranch resources frequently have to be sold to pay for the resulting estate tax, and if something is not done soon, the bite of those taxes in 2011 will be even more severe.”

If Congress does not act beginning in 2011, the law will call for a $1 million exemption and top rate of 55 percent. The negative impact on farm and ranch families will be significant and will cause many viable agricultural operations to disappear.

“We support permanently raising the exemption to no less than $5 million per person and reducing the top rate to no more than 35 percent,” the organizations stated.

“It is also imperative that the exemption be indexed to inflation, provide for spousal transfers and include the stepped-up basis.

“Family farmers and ranchers are not only the caretakers of our nation’s rural lands but they are small businesses too,” the groups stated. “The 2011 change to the estate tax law does a disservice to agriculture because we are a land-based capital-intensive

industry with few options for paying estate taxes when they come due. The current state of our economy, coupled with the uncertain nature of estate tax liabilities make it difficult for family-owned farms and ranches to make sound business decisions.”

The groups urged Congress to immediately pass permanent estate tax reform, which they stated “provides the greatest relief and certainty for agriculture” and helps “strengthen the business climate for family farmers, ranchers and growers while ensuring agricultural businesses are passed to future generations.”

In addition to AFBF, the letter was signed by: American Farmland Trust; American Mushroom Institute; American Sheep Industry Association; American Soybean Association; American Sugar Alliance; Farm Credit Council; National Association of Wheat Growers; National Cattlemen’s Beef Association; National Corn Growers Association; National Cotton Council; National Council of Farmer Cooperatives; National Farmers Union; National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry; National Milk Producer Federation; National Pork Producers Council; National Potato Council; National Turkey Federation; Northwest Dairy Association; Public Lands Council; Southeast Dairy Farmers Association; Southeast Milk Inc.; United Egg Producers; United Fresh Produce Association; United Producers; U.S. Apple Association; U.S.A. Rice Federation; Western Growers Association; and Western United Dairymen.

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

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Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

Idaho Farm Bureau Essay Contest

Second place is awarded to Kailee Fonnesbeck, a student at Jefferson Elementary in Rigby with her essay entitled “I am Part Editor’s Note: The following essay is the overall winner of this of the Voice of Idaho Agriculture!” She received $100 in prize money. Third place goes to 5th grader Wyatt Towner of Park year’s IFBF Essay Contest, sponsored by the IFBF Women’s Leadership Committee. First, second and third place winners School in Weiser for his “What is that smell?” essay on onions received cash prizes. and fruit. He received $75 in prize money.

Idaho’s Agriculture – A Way of Life

Honorable Mentions -

District 3 winner – Christian Hanchey, Sawtooth ElemenBy Brinn Peck tary, Twin Falls County. $50 prize In my family, Idaho’s agriculture is a way of life. My dad has been on a farm his whole life. So now I work with him and he teaches me District 5 winner – Lucas Wemhoff, Prairie Middle School, the things he learned from his dad. On our farm we produce hay and Idaho County. $50 prize wheat.

Some thoughts from entries received in the contest

I have been influenced by many things from being raised on a farm. ......

My parents moved from Utah to Idaho 11 years ago because my dad So remember when you are enjoying your summer barbeques wanted to farm for a living and my parents wanted to raise their kids to thank the farmers for your hamburgers and hot dogs you are on a farm. enjoying the milk you are drinking. Cameron Wright, Malad I have spent lots of time with my dad on the farm, starting when I was Elementary. two years old. After the snow has all melted and winter is over, we are People cannot live without food and nearly all their food comes ready to get to work. In March, we fertilize all our fields so that the from crops and animals raised on farms. Esmeralda Rangel, crops will grow. We also begin spring planting. In May, it is time to Aberdeen Elementary. water all the crops so we spend lots of time making sure the pivots and wheel lines are running smoothly. Then in June when all the hay has If there are no farms, there isn’t food to eat or jobs and the chair grown, my dad cuts it, rakes it so it can dry, and then bales it into big just keeps going. Kailee Fonnesbeck, Jefferson Elementary. bales. It’s a lot of work and my dad has to do it all two more times!

If farmers and ranchers keep selling their farms and ranches to Most of the hay goes to dairy cows in Preston and California. Then developers, we will have to look elsewhere for our food. Tara the dairy cows produce milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream. My fa- Chamberlain, Challis Elementary. vorite part of the summer is when my dad harvests wheat. I always Since a lot of Idaho is sage brush, and has no value, it has been try to go with him when he cuts wheat because every time the comturned into farmland, where it is possible, through irrigation. bine gets full of wheat and we go to the semi truck to dump it out, I Andrew Swapp, Kershaw Intermediate School. get a handful of wheat to eat. After he has put the grain in the big bins, he sells it to General Mills. So my dad helps make some of the To me, Idaho’s the most beautiful state of the American West, so from wheat to potatoes, from combines to livestock, that’s cereals you eat every day.

Idaho. Austin Brown, Kershaw Intermediate School.

I love going with my dad whenever I can. I like to ride in the back of his dump trucks, jump in big piles of grain and run through sprinklers Farmers work very hard to give us things such as clothing and or under the pivots. I’ve learned that farming isn’t easy; it’s a lot of good, and they hardly get anything out of it. Mikeal Cotant, work. One good thing about farming is that you get to talk more, be- Challis Elementary. cause when you’re riding in a tractor all day, there’s nothing to do but Sometimes when I drive from Weiser to Fruitland, there is a talk. So farming has brought my dad and I closer. smell. It is a strong and eye watering smell. Wyatt Towner, Agriculture has influenced my life in many ways. It has influenced Park School. where we live and where I am being raised. It influences the decisions People have forgotten where their food comes from because we make every day. It influences the time of year we can go on a fammost people don’t get food from the farm anymore. Most peoily vacation. It influences the things I learn about like pivots, tractors, ple buy their food from the store now. Christian Hanchey, hay and grain. I have liked being raised on a farm; it’s actually pretty Sawtooth Elementary. fun. That is why Idaho’s agriculture has become my family’s way of I think it is important for everyone to know that Idaho’s farming life. affects the whole world. Lucas Wemhoff, Summit Academy.

Brinn Peck is the daughter of Kevin & Alecia Peck and a student in Mr. Erickson’s 5th grade class at Mountain View Elementary, Ban- Good nutrition makes a healthy cow. A healthy cow makes nock County. Placing first in the statewide contest, Brinn receives a good milk. Good milk, butter, cheese and meat make for happy people! Ellie Watson, Summit Academy cash prizes totaling $125.

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

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Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

ANNUAL BACKYARD BEER BOTANICAL BULB CACTUS COMMUNAL CONTAINER COTTAGE DESERT ENGLISH FLOATING FLOWER FORMAL FRUIT

GREENHOUSE HANGING HERB JAPANESE LANDSCAPED PATIO PERENNIAL ROCK ROSE SHADE SPECIALTY TERRACE VEGETABLE VICTORY WATER

Idaho Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee Art Contest Winners The contest is for students in grades six through eight. Mediums allowed are water color, color pencil, ink, pastels and oils.

State Winner: Jase Roberts, Weiser Middle School

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

37

District 1: Elaina Bailey, Harold B. Lee Middle School, Dayton

District 2: Ivon Navarrete, Challis Elementary School

38

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

District 3: Riley Rigby, Raft River Elementary School

District 5: O’Melodi Whiteman, Grangeville Elementary / Middle School

District 4: Chance Hilt: Weiser Middle School

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

39

Farm Facts

40

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

41

Classifieds

Free Classified ads online for Farm Bureau members. www.idahofbclassifieds.com Animals

Miscellaneous

Polled Hereford Bulls from high-ranking herd Carcass performance - A.I. sired.

Semen & trich Tested Jerome, Id 208308-4083

Retired Surveyor - Used surveying, drafting and office equipment for sale.

Total station, drafting table, map files, etc. Soda Springs, Id 208-540-1664

Farm Equipment

Flag poles by Old Sarge. Custom made from 2” galvanized poles. Any length, 16-30 ft. Check us out. Wilford Green, 2618 N. Inkom Rd. Inkom, Id 208775-3490

Tractor - 1950 Case 3 Point live PTO. No front loader. Runs great. $2,200.

Priest River, ID. 208-290-5399 1947 John Deere A. Paint look bad, but ran well 10 yrs ago when owner died. Has plow, blade and sickle mower.

Make offer. Rupert, Id. 208-436-9985 1969 TimberJack Skidder. 33A - 20,000 lb. winch. Resealed - 0 hrs. Detroit Power/Allison, 2 new tires with chains and serv books. Runs excellent. $5,000 firm. Call Al anytime. 208-689-9625 Balewagons: New Holland self-propelled or pull-type models. Also interested in buying balewagons. Will consider any model. Call Jim Wilhite at 208-8802889 anytime.

Hay

150 ton. 1 ton bales. 1st crop alfalfa, some 2nd crop, and meadow grass hay.

Montpelier, Id. Hay ground for lease and Pasture for rent. Check out the real estate section. 208-847-2748 Help Wanted

Kohler elect. generator w/Ford 4 cycl. gas/propane engine. Thule cartop carrier w/rack - 15 cu.ft. - 4-6 snowboards. Stnls. steel distiller, 5 gals/24 hrs. Men’s size 11 and women’s size 9 cross country boots, skis, poles.

Idaho Falls, Id Make offer. 208-3513629 Female roommate needed. Bring your horse. Room and barn in Star between Caldwell and Boise. $300/mo includes utilities. 208-286-9821 or 208-2834145 Pam

Real Estate/Acreage Nice 2 bedroom, 2 bath, office, and attached double garage in Senior Community. Pond in backyard. St. George, Ut $190,000. 208-734-3170 Beautiful river front property on the St. Joe River. 8 miles from St. Maries, Id. Electricity, concrete pad, boat up to.

208-819-4282 or 698-1353

Appraisal Career Opportunity - Earn $60,000/yr part time. Farm Equipment and Livestock appraisal training and certification. Agricultural background required. Classroom or Home Study courses available. (800) 488-7570 www.amagappraisers.com

Owyhee County/Murphy - 1,200 Acre Farm $1,800/Acre, Nearly 1,000 acres of water rights, 5 wells, excellent soil, approx. 1,600 sq.ft. remodeled farm house, large potato shed, large shop w/bathroom, 3-phase power, 6 pivots and much more! Contact Veronique 208-371-0238

Household

Hay ground for lease - 110 acres, hand-line and sub-irrigated. Pasture for rent - 35 acres good sub-irrigated grass, good creek. Montpelier, ID. 208847-2748

Antique restored oak furniture. Desks, Lawyer bookcases, Hoosiers, Chairs & tables, Buffets, China cabinet, Franciscan Desert Rose dishes, & Head vases. Burley, Id. 208-678-2036

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Approx. 67 acres on Hwy 11, Clearwater co., 5 mi. so. of Pierce. Pasture &

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Spring 2010

timber, fenced & xfenced adjacent to Potlatch lands. 2,200 sq. ft 3br, 2 1/2 ba. + loft, shop & barn. 2 developed springs, 3 phase power. 208-435-4129 Cafe and Bar for sale-turnkey. Teton Valley Idaho. Includes business, building & real estate, and liquor license. Recently reduce to $497,500. contact for details 208-351-4317 20 acres in Silver Creek in Blaine County. Beautiful location, views of valley all around. Pasture land, or crops. Nice ranch or small farm. Call for more info. 208-788-5160

Recreational Equipment Sailboat. Very nice swing keel. 6 HP 4 stroke Johnson w/15 hrs. New trailer $5,800. McCall 208-634-5827 ‘85 Wellcraft flying bridge, 29’ twin Mercruiser inboard engines, upper and lower helm, gps, vhf, toilet, galley, fish equipped. Triple axle trailer, low hours. Stored indoors always. American falls $34,400. 208-226-5131

Vehicles and Accessories Set of 4 chrome wheels and rims. Like new (used 6 months). Came off 1998 Honda Civic LX. Asking $900 (new $1500). Will consider offers. Call (208) 466-2242 and leave your phone # 1906 Maxwell Runabout, 2 cyl., 10 hp.

Restored and rebuilt by Gary Taylor and Verl Bird. Sugar City, ID. 208356-6739 1923 Buick, 55 Sport touring car.

Original Marrion body, Spanish grain leather seats and dash. It is a maintained car, not a restored one.

Sugar City, ID 208-356-6739 1987 Buick LaSabre for sale or trade. $600. 6 cylinder. Has some new parts.

Needs work. Buhl, ID 208-543-9218 1997 Toyota 4 Runner. All but 4 years in Arizona. Loaded: Leather, all

power, sunroof, sunning boards, CD, tow package, tinted windows, 2wd. Looks and runs great. Well maintained and only 147,000 miles. Priest River, ID $5,500. 208-290-4012 4 each - 20x9 5-4.5/4.75 Milanni type 554 chrome rims and 255/40R-20 101 Proxes S/T all seasons blackwall. Like new. Paid $2100, sell for $1,400. Priest River, ID. 208-290-4012 Aluminum Pick-up Topper by Leer.

Fits ‘84 Chevy, eight-foot bed. 74 ½” wide and 98” long, approximately 6’x8’. With racks, sliding front window, lockable rear door. Very good condition, kept undercover much of its life. $300.

Victor, ID. 208-354-2585

Wanted Want to buy 1940-1950’s Farmall M Tractor. 208-226-1055 Buying U.S. gold coins, proof and mint sets, silver dollars, rolls and bags. PCGS/NGC certified coins, estates, accumulations, large collections, investment portfolios, bullion, platinum.

Will travel, all transactions confidential.

Please call 208-859-7168 Wanted - Older, mid 1990’s to early 2000 - ¾ ton pickup preferably a diesel, extended cab with towing

package. Well maintained. Reasonably priced. 208-543-2867 Old cars - Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Chevy. Whole cars or parts. Jerome, Id. 208-539-5197 Paying cash for German & Japanese war relics/souvenirs! Pistols, rifles, swords, daggers, flags, scopes, optical equipment, uniforms, helmets, machine guns (ATF rules apply) medals, flags, etc. 549-3841 (evenings) or 208-4059338.

Old License Plates Wanted: Also key chain license plates, old signs, light fixtures. Will pay cash. Please email, call or write. Gary Peterson, 130 E Pecan, Genesee, Id 83832. gearlep@ gmail.com. 208-285-1258

DEADLINE DATES: ADS MUST BE RECEIVED BY JULY 20 FOR NEXT ISSUE OF THE QUARTERLY

FREE CLASSIFIEDS Non commercial classified ads are free to Idaho Farm Bureau members.

Must include membership number for free ad. Forty (40) words maximum.

Non-member cost- 50 cents per word. You may advertise your own crops, livestock, used machinery, household items, vehicles, etc. Ads will not be accepted by phone. Ads run one time only and must be re-submitted in each subsequent issue. We reserve the right to refuse to run any ad. Please type or print clearly. Proof-read your ad.

Mail ad copy to: P.O. Box 4848, Pocatello, ID 83205-4848 or email Dixie at DASHTON@IDAHOFB.ORG Name: __________________________________________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________________________________________ City / State / Zip: __________________________________________________________________ Phone: _____________________________________ Membership No. ___________________ Ad Copy: ________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________

nd then hits you.

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You mean I’ve had Farm Bureau discount benefits this entire time?

RENTAL CARS Hertz Enterprise Avis

APPLIANCES Sears Commercial HEALTH INSURANCE Blue Cross

DODGE VEHICLE $500 REBATE Ram Nitro Journey Charger Dakota Durango Caliber Avenger Grand Caravan

HEARING SUMMER FUN Clear Value - Siemens Lagoon BULK FUEL s American Hearing Benefits Roaring Springs CBC Silverwood COMPUTERS Wahooz Family Fun Zone AUTO TIRES Dell San Diego Zoo Commercial Tire LS Sea World EYE CARE Cub River Guest Ranch MEDICATION Coast-to-Coast Hansen Guest Ranch The Canadian Pharmacy Qualsight - “LASIK” Grand Targhee (Summer) New Benefits Pharmacy Hell’s Canyon Adventures OFFICE SUPPLIES Teton Springs Resort (Winter) CELL PHONE Office Depot T-Mobile n WINTER SKIING n LIFEFLIGHT Pebble Creek SHUTTLE a EIRMC Bogus Basin TRANSPORT