Summer 2011 Volume 11, Issue 3 by Matrix Digital Media Inc

Summer 2011 Volume 11, Issue 3

Century Farms: Preserving Agriculture’s Heritage – pg. 4

Cowboy Up Adventure Day – pg. 8

IFBF Develops New Program for Idaho Students – pg. 12

The Ag Agenda

Fire up Your Grill, it’s Summertime By Bob Stallman

President American Farm Bureau Federation

Summer is one of my favorite times of the year. For me, it is Mother Nature’s way of telling us to pull in the reins and calm our pace. Humorist James Dent summed it up perfectly when he said, “A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing and the lawn mower is broken.” In essence, it’s time to slow down and enjoy our blessings.

sures in my family, the outdoors, the heat, coming from Texas, the hotter the summer the better, and of course, the food. It’s a time to savor all that the season has to offer.

For me, summer is a time to take plea-

See STALLMAN, page 24

A long-term, comprehensive solution that clears the $14 trillion federal deficit and balances the nation’s budget is the most pressing issue facing our government today.

to be a long, painful process for everyone and we encourage Idaho residents to lend their voices and opinions to the discussion. Contact your congressmen and senators and be mindful of the fact that finding the solution to this problem will tell the difference between politicians to whom getting re-elected is the highest priority, and those with the courage to do the right thing – no matter the consequences.

Bring on the ‘que In my mind, nothing says summer more than a backyard barbeque. There’s nothing better than fresh corn-on-the-cob, potato salad and a juicy steak or chop. Barbecuing is a means of bringing together family and friends, as well as an

The President’s Desk

A Time for Statesmen to Take Action By Frank Priestley President Idaho Farm Bureau Federation

This seeming monumental task will be accomplished when statesmen rise above the partisan fray, put party politics aside and do the right thing for this country’s future. Statesmen will find a way to put this country back on track toward financial solvency. But it’s going

When you look at the largest current contributors to our nation’s debt-load there See PRIESTLEY, page 25

Inside Farm Bureau A small parcel of private property in North Idaho owned by Chantell and Michael Sackett, has gained national notoriety. The Sacketts have discovered how lonely and costly it is to stand against the Environmental Protection Agency’s heavy handedness and endless resources in legal restraint.

Sackett v EPA By Rick Keller CEO Idaho Farm Bureau Federation

In 2007, after securing a building per2

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / Summer 2011

mit from Bonner County, the Sacketts removed some trees and began backfilling their property in preparation to build their dream home near the shores of beautiful Priest Lake. The Sacketts obtained the necessary permits, including water and sewer hook ups. The Sacketts made a reasonable decision. Their dream home was neighbored by other homes on similar property. As the excavation began, the Sacketts were blindsided by an edict from the EPA coming in and issuing a compliance order See KELLER, page 25

Contents

Volume 11, Issue 3 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

North Idaho century farm

Gardening in buckets saves water, stops weeds

Page 4

Page 20

Cowboy Up Adventure Day reinforces summer reading program

Page 8

Farm Facts

Trailing of the Sheep among top ten fall festivals worldwide

STAFF Dir. of Admin. Services ....................... Nancy Shiozawa Dir. of Member Services ................................... Ray Poe Dir. of Commodities ............................ Dennis Brower Commodity Assistant ................................. Peggy Pratt Membership Assistant .............................. Peggy Moore Info and Member Services Assistant ... Dixie Ashton Dist. I Regional Manager .......................... Justin Patten Dist. II Regional Manager ....................... Kendall Keller 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 ................... Julie Christoffersen Member Services Manager ........................ Joel Benson Printed by: Owyhee Publishing, Homedale, ID

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

Page 29

Moving Agriculture to the Classroom – IFBF develops new program for Idaho students

Page 12

IFBF market listings – find a farmer near you

Marketbasket Survey: Grocery prices increase slightly

Page 27

Page 14

Page 30 Battered 9-11 Flag Restored at the Idaho Statehouse

Page 32

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: Jennifer Benton of Nampa watches the judge while leading Holy Cow, her Angus steer, around the show ring at the Canyon County fair in Caldwell.

The Ag Agenda: Bob Stallman............................................................. 2 The President’s Desk: Frank Priestley.............................................. 2 Inside Farm Bureau: Rick Keller......................................................... 2 Insurance Matters............................................................................... 19 Word Search........................................................................................ 23 Classifieds ............................................................................................ 42

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

A stationary thrashing machine operating on a farm near Kendrick owned by the Blair family. This photo, and the others provided for this article are believed to have been taken sometime between 1920 and 1935. Photos Courtesy of Robert Blair

New Interactive Site Focuses on Century Farms By Jake Putnam Robert Blair of Kendrick lives on an American monument of sorts. Blair and his family live on a 1,500 acre century farm. Blair is a big supporter of a new American Farm Bureau Federation website that recognizes the disappearing family farm and celebrates the contribution of family farms to the heritage of the nation. The new site can be found at http://www.agricultureslastingheritage.org/ “This new website keeps the dream alive,” said Blair. AFBF’s Curtis Miller said it’s important to recognize farms and farm families that have stood the test of time. 4

“We wanted to somehow feature the long lasting heritage of America’s farms and ranches; to put a face to the farmer. There’s just something about a century farm, a family that has been in their business for over a hundred years that speaks to the importance of family, local communities and sustainability,” Miller said. To be eligible for Century Farm designation a farm has to have been in continuous operation by the same family for more than 100 years. Appropriately named “Agriculture’s Lasting Heritage,” this website tells the story of American farm and ranch families who have shaped the history of our nation. Blair’s farm started back in 1903 in the high

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

country of the Palouse near Kendrick. His great, great grandfather Fred Reil bought land overlooking the beautiful Clearwater River between Lewiston and Orofino and lovingly farmed the land his entire life. When he passed away, the farm was split up by family members. Daughter Marga married John Blair and they took over from Rheinhard in 1972. Robert returned to the farm in 1993 with wife Rhonda and sons Dillon and Logan, who will one day continue the farm tradition. “Century farms are important part of the American story,” Blair said. “There was pride back then, pride of hard work, family and community. My family lived on this farm with dreams and vision of a better life. They got up with the sun, and went to

Henry and Anna Reil stand in a bean field on their farm near Kendrick. They are the niece and nephew of the farm’s founder, Fred Reil, who started farming on the Palouse in 1903.

bed at sunset, they lived and worked hard. These Century farms are nothing more than farms of the American dream.” Blair’s great aunt passed away recently. She lived on the farm for 96 years and was a living legacy. “She was 96 and you take a look back to the year she was born, that’s when the Wright brothers made their first flights and here I am flying a UAV drone aircraft above our farm, taking infrared

photos to keep an eye on the crops. To think that this same ground was farmed with horses, I shake my head in wonder,” Blair said. Blair has a treasure trove of early photographs that paint dramatic pictures of hard working ancestors on the same ground his family now works. “Everyone worked, there were no free rides and neighboring farms not only competed against us but

helped us get the harvest in.” “Someone would have a thrashing machine,” said Blair. “You’d have a binder. You’d go through and swath your wheat cutting it down then put it in bundles. Someone would come through with a wagon and they’d pitchfork the grain up to the wagon and then horses would take the grain wagon to the stationary thrashing See CENTURY FARMS p. 7

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

Henry Reil plowing on the Palouse.

The Clearwater River Canyon, roughly 25 miles east of Lewiston, circa 1930. 6

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

Anna Reil working in a bean field.

CENTURY FARMS Continued from page 7 machine. Without doubt, the most labor intensive time of the year was harvest and each farm needed the hands to get the crops in and it was hard, manual labor.”

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Blair says the women also worked sun-up to sun-down. They cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner; in fact they cooked all day. Blair adds that getting all that grain to market wasn’t easy. “We used to have tram lines running from the tops of the hills up here that transported grain to town. It was very labor intensive and dangerous work,” he said. “Incredibly the look of a typical Palouse harvest stayed the same until the early 70’s.” Blair says now days a single person today can do the work of 20 men. “We have tractors that drive themselves, air conditioning, air ride seats; we use satellites in the sky to position ourselves when we plant. All of this just in my aunt’s lifetime, she saw so much on this farm,” he added. Blair notes that visitors to the century farms site will learn how agriculture played a significant role in the development of our nation. “Thomas Jefferson envisioned a rural and agrarian society and having that agrarian component serve as the backbone of this brand new nation, sadly we are losing that. It won’t be long with this redistricting that we will lose the rural nature of our legislature, and with it, our rural roots. Agriculture is the foundation of manufacturing and commerce. “Hopefully this new website will educate this next generation.” That’s a sentiment seconded by American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman. “Farms and ranches that have been in the same family, and supporting family members and local communities for generations stand as testament to the true sustainable character of American agriculture today,” Stallman said. “Farmers and ranchers, by nature, are always committed to leaving the land in better condition for the next generation. We are proud to help raise awareness of that through this new website.” Users will find an immediate connection with the farmers who operate century farms, as they watch the story unfold through video profiles of a variety of farms. “We have a great overview of century farms. The century farms finder is an interactive map, where all you need to do is click on your state and it takes it directly to the organization or the entity that keeps track of the century farms in your state,” said Miller.

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The profile section has both written profiles and video profiles that will expand as more farms are added to the site. “Finally the last section of the website is the American history and agriculture page. It’s actually an interactive timeline, about what’s going on in agriculture, going back to the 1800s to today. Three separate grade specific subject matter-focused activities and lessons go along with this historical timeline,” added Miller. Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

Children from the Blackfoot Public Library Summer Reading Program learn about the tools of the cowboy trade.

Cowboy Up Adventure Day Reinforces Summer Reading Program Photos and article by John Thompson BLACKFOOT – Ever wondered what it’s like to work on a cattle ranch? To be outside all day in any kind of weather, riding, roping, branding, fixing fences or helping sick calves get well? About 400 children from the Blackfoot area learned all about cattle ranching during the Blackfoot Public Library Cowboy Up Adventure Day in mid-July. The Dalley family, of Pingree, took a day off from their ranch to teach the group of four to eight year-olds all about the tools and practices cowboys and cowgirls use to care for livestock and how those animals are raised to provide beef and a long list of other products critical to our lives. Many of us may not realize that insulin is a 8

cattle byproduct. Asphalt, cosmetics chewing gum, luggage, shoes, paint, soap, hydraulic brake fluid, medicine that promotes healing of burns and wounds, medicine to treat arthritis and allergies and much more all contain cattle byproducts. Why do cowboys rope cattle? What is a brand for? Why do chaps have fringe on them? What’s a snaffle bit? What are chinks? All of these questions, and many more were answered as part of the unique learning experience. For example, when teaching kids why ranchers use ropes and brands, rather than just saying a brand is a mark that shows ownership and a rope is a catching tool, rancher Chris Dalley asks all the kids to shout “Hey black calf, come over here!” Two black calves, listlessly switch their

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

tails in a nearby pen, clueless to the fact that they are being enthusiastically beckoned by a dozen eight-year-olds. “Holler it again,” says Dalley. The children comply but still to no avail. This is the point when what’s known as “the teaching moment,” presents itself and Dalley explains why ropes and brands are important tools of his trade. “I am the only rancher in Idaho or Nevada who can put this brand on the right shoulder of a calf,” says Dalley as he shows the children one of his branding irons. “Are we branding the calves to be mean to them?” he asks. “No, it’s in case they run away and show up in someone’s yard, then we know who owns it.” Standing in front of a table filled with tack and various other tools of the cowboy

Pingree rancher Chris Dalley teaches a youngster how to rope.

Sara Erb teaches children about the many byproducts of the cattle industry.

trade, Idaho Farm Bureau Regional Manager Justin Patten explains why chaps have fringe – to allow rain to run off the side rather than fill up your boot. He asks the children what happens when they get sick. They respond with “We go to a doctor,” he responds with “And I bet every one of you have had shots, right?” Next he showed the children a syringe and transitioned to cowboys checking their herds, and finding a sick animal. “Sometimes a cowboy will be out riding and he won’t have a pen for a sick calf, so he will rope it, throw it, and give it a shot to make it feel better,” he said. “Shots kind of hurt at first, but then the medicine works and helps them feel better, just like you.” He showed the children a snaffle bit with a roller that keeps the horse from biting down on the side of the steel bit. “This is just a fancy toy for a horse, that’s all,” he said. He showed them other medicines and

Justin Patten discusses tack and how cowboys use horses to take care of cattle herds during a mid-July event held for students of the Blackfoot Public Library Summer Reading Program.

saddlebags where cowboys keep the medicine; he showed them a shoefly and how it works, a curry comb and brush, a saddle blanket and explained how they are all important tools for a cowboy to use.

selected a western theme for the program this summer which includes recommending books about the West, as well as a movie. Wilcox said this hands-on experience turned out to be a great teaching tool.

Brenda Wilcox, librarian for the Blackfoot Public Library heard about the Dalley family after they put on a similar event at a local elementary school. She said they were willing and enthusiastic about sharing their vocation.

“We wanted the children to have an opportunity to learn about the real West,” she said. “Most of them have a vision of what a real cowboy does and what ranching is, but it can be quite different than the real thing. “It was not easy to find such a wonderful group of people and we feel very lucky to have this extended family give these children an opportunity to learn about cattle ranching, and the history of this region.”

“We got a lot of referrals and so I called Kimmel and she immediately grabbed hold of the idea,” Wilcox said. “They were personable and open to what they could to do share their lives and how important it is to them to teach people about agriculture. They do it well.” The Blackfoot Public Library Summer Reading Program is designed to encourage children to keep reading all summer. They

Dalley’s wife Kimmel, three daughters, father, Ralph, mother, Joyce, and his sister, Sara Erb all helped arrange and teach the event. The Dalleys are active in Bingham County Farm Bureau and in the Idaho Farm Bureau on the state level. Chris is an IFBF State Board of Directors member.

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

Focus on Agriculture

Photo by Steve Ritter

Farmer Engagement Must Move Beyond Feeding the World By Mace Thornton Producing a bounty of U.S.-grown food to sell and share beyond our borders remains a matter of deep pride to America’s farmers and ranchers. A growing body of evidence suggests, however, that Americans who do not farm or ranch really don’t give a rip that America’s farmers and ranchers are striving to feed the world. In this age of engagement-based communication, it is vital that each precious minute farmers and ranchers have to connect with other American eaters is appealing and meaningful. Frankly, farmers talking about American agriculture’s ability to feed the world no longer fits that category.

about farmers, facts related to productivity and feeding the world ranked near the bottom in terms of making people feel more positive about farmers. There is additional evidence that chatter about feeding the world is simply not what consumers want to hear. To make matters worse, hard-core food activists like to hold up the feed-the-world message to ridicule today’s agriculture as disconnected. The time has come for farmers and ranchers to reframe their conversations with consumers. Keep it real. There must be a focus on issues vital to consumers, such as their desire to choose nutritious, safe food produced in a responsible manner.

The first challenge to the wisdom of feedthe-world talk came last year from the Center for Food Integrity. Influential consumers were asked to rank 17 specific issues related to our nation and food. The item ranking last in importance, by far, was the United States having enough food to feed people in developing countries.

There is no doubt; we are facing an urgent new reality related to how farmers engage with eaters. What makes it so hard to swallow is the knowledge that many farmers and ranchers consider it their professional, moral obligation to produce food for all people who need it. In fact, it borders on a divine mission.

While that result cracks open a door of skepticism, it does not stand alone. Work by the Illinois Farm Families coalition found that of a list of 10 compelling facts

Because farmers and ranchers grow up, raise their families and live where they work, each and every day, perhaps no other profession holds the same kind of endur-

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

ing and unbreakable bond between professional duty and personal identity as does farming. In that environment, discovering that a belief you treasure rings hollow to those you are dedicated to serving, cuts like a two-edged sword. But the bottom line is, when it comes to communicating with consumers, personal feelings cannot be allowed to stand in the way of having an impact. Another reason it is so hard to accept the urgent need to change the conversation is that the U.S. really is helping feed the world. We exported a heck of a lot more food and fiber than we imported in 2010, resulting in a positive agricultural trade balance of nearly $34 billion. While that fact is worthy of pride, beyond the farm gate it is likely to resonate with less appeal than an empty lunchbox. Consumers hunger for real, compelling dialogue with farmers about how they are working conscientiously to produce highquality food. Give them what they crave. Mace Thornton is the deputy director of public relations for the American Farm Bureau Federation.

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Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

Moving Ag to the Classroom:

IFBF Develops New Program for Students Article and Photos By Jake Putnam Maggie the cow gives milk on cue and no one has to clean up after her. Maggie the mockup cow is the star of the Idaho Farm Bureau’s new Moving Agriculture to Classroom (MAC) project, and she’ll soon help teach grade school kids where their milk comes from and will help tell Idaho agriculture’s story to the next generation. According to the United States Department of Agriculture just 2 percent of U.S. residents live on farms. Idaho Farm Bureau Vice President Mark Trupp says the next generation of Americans needs to learn the importance of food and where it comes from. “We’re pushing agriculture,” said Trupp. “But we’re also pushing science and hopefully growing kids’ minds with this new project.”

The Idaho Farm Bureau assembled a mobile classroom complete with Maggie, lesson plans and big books that will teach kids all about Idaho agriculture. “Inside the mobile classroom we have the dairy cow that kids can actually milk and soon they’ll understand where milk, yogurt, cheese and ice cream come from. It’s important that they learn about the dairy industry in Idaho because they’re a big part of the state’s economy,” said Trupp. The Farm Bureau is always looking for new and innovative ways to get push positive messages about agriculture. “For years we have tried to get positive stories out on agriculture through the media but found that no one tells our story better than us,” Trupp said. A shiny new trailer with catchy farm graphics serves as a mobile classroom, but also an Agriculture billboard that will trav-

el from Boundary to Bear Lake County. “With Farm Bureau on the trailer, it’s our credibility and people trust us,” Trupp said. “When parents drop off their kids at school and see the Moving Ag to the Classroom trailer in the parking lot, they will know something special is going on, and hopefully it’ll lead to an agriculture conversation too.” At the annual Summer County Presidents Meeting in McCall, county presidents got a firsthand look at Maggie; a few county Presidents even milked her. IFBF Regional Manager Kendall Keller and Trupp then presented a sample lesson plan to the group on wheat production. Wheat grinders were passed out and the presidents ground it into flour. Each group produced a bowl of flour that went into a large mixing bowl. Pancakes were then made and cooked complete with syrup and all the fixings and served to the appreciative county presidents. IFBF Regional Manager Justin Patten taught in public schools the past 11 years and helped write the lesson plans. He said it’s all about the experience. “You can show a child a photograph and it’ll leave a mark, but involve them, let them grind the wheat, eat the pancakes, it’s something they’ll never forget,” he said. Patten adds that the Moving Ag to the Classroom project will strive to bring hands on experiences and life-long impressions and that’s the ultimate goal.

IFBF Board Member Gerald Marchant from Cassia County tries his hand at milking Maggie, a life-sized Holstein reproduction that will be used to teach Idaho students about the dairy industry. Maggie is part of a new educational program that includes several individual projects designed to educate about food production. Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

Trupp said sending the mobile classroom out to rural Idaho has its challenges. “Low tech is the way to go,” said Trupp.

A page from the Giant Book of Wheat is shown to IFBF County Presidents during a recent meeting.

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Lost Rivers Farm Bureau County President David Callister, left, operates a manual wheat grinder as part of an educational demonstration designed for Idaho students who want to learn more about agriculture. Valley / Adams County President Dave Veselka is seated on the right.

“We wanted the lesson plans to be visual but we don’t want to be dependent on high tech, too many things can go wrong.” “Some schools don’t have access to DLP projectors, or PowerPoint software, so we made the ‘Big Wheat Book’ and it has the ‘wow’ factor,” said Patten. “I think we did a good job replacing high tech with low tech and if you ask me, it’s a stronger message.” The MAC project will debut at a few county fairs this summer and then be available for classroom bookings through the year. More information is available at www.idahofb.org

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Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

Marketbasket Survey

Energy Cost Run-up Drives Retail Food Prices in Second Quarter WASHINGTON, D.C.,– Retail food prices at the supermarket increased during the second quarter of 2011, 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 one or more meals was $51.17, up $2.10 or about 4 percent compared to the first quarter of 2011. Of the 16 items surveyed, 14 increased and two decreased in average price compared to the prior quarter. The total average price for the 16 items was up about 8 percent compared to one year ago. “The effects of continued raw energy cost increases are reverberating throughout the food industry and consumers are bearing the brunt of it,” said AFBF Economist John Anderson. “After food leaves the farm, costs for transportation, marketing, processing and storage come into play. As energy prices continue to run up, shoppers are feeling the pinch at the supermarket.” Sirloin tip roast, Russet potatoes, sliced deli ham and bacon increased the most in dollar value compared to the first quarter of 2011. Together, these four items accounted for most of the quarter-to-quarter increase: sirloin tip roast, up 52 cents to $4.48 per pound; Russet potatoes, up 43 cents to $3.07 for a 5-pound bag; sliced deli ham, up 35 cents to $5.26 per pound; and bacon, up 32 cents to $4.18 per pound.

a 9-ounce box; apples, up 11 cents to $1.56 per pound; orange juice, up 4 cents to $3.18 for a half-gallon; eggs, up 3 cents to $1.65 per dozen; bread, up 2 cents to $1.86 for a 20-ounce loaf; bagged salad, up 1 cent to $2.67 per pound; and flour, up 1 cent to $2.52 for a 5-pound bag. Two items decreased in average retail price between the quarters: boneless chicken breasts, down 23 cents to $3.09 per pound; and shredded cheese, down 7 cents to $4.56 per pound. Most items showing an increase in retail price from quarter-to-quarter also showed year-to-year increases. Compared to one year ago, Russet potatoes increased 22 percent; bacon rose 18 percent; ground chuck was up 14 percent; and sirloin tip roast was 9 percent higher. “Further retail price increases are likely to be the new normal as we move through 2011, especially for meats. It takes time for farmers to increase the size of their herds to in order to meet higher demand,” Anderson explained.

“Strong consumer demand for meats and dairy products continues to influence retail prices,” said Anderson. “Consumer demand for meats and dairy products began to recover in 2009, continued through 2010 and is still a factor as we move into the middle of 2011.”

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.

Other items that increased in price compared to the first quarter were ground chuck, up 19 cents to $3.29 per pound; whole milk, up 16 cents to $3.62 per gallon; vegetable oil, up 13 cents to $3.01 for a 32-ounce bottle; toasted oat cereal, up 12 cents to $3.17 for

“In 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 about 16 percent, according to the Agriculture De-

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

partment’s revised Food Dollar Series,” Anderson said. USDA’s new Food Dollar Series may be found online at http://www.ers.usda. gov/Data/FoodDollar/app/. Using the “food at home and away from home” percentage across-the-board, the farmer’s share of this quarter’s $51.17 marketbasket would be $8.19. 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 72 shoppers in 30 states participated in the latest survey, conducted in May. Tracking Milk & Eggs - Page 38

Dyed Diesel: For Off-Road Use only IFBF Supporters of a bill that would, for all practical purposes, get rid of untaxed dyed diesel fuel in Idaho have threatened to renew their push for the legislation in 2012. The bill was pulled during the 2011 session of the Idaho Legislature after the Idaho Farm Bureau and others expressed opposition. The bill would have required farmers and others who use off-road diesel to pay taxes on the fuel up front and then file for a tax rebate. Farm Bureau strongly objected to the bill, saying it would create unnecessary burdens for legitimate users of dyed fuel who should not have to seek a rebate of a tax that they don’t owe in the first place. Dyed fuel is not taxed because it’s designated for off-road use; fuel taxes are collected to maintain roads. The sponsor of the bill said he would bring back the measure if consumption of dyed fuel increases amid higher fuel prices—a sign in his mind that people are violating the law by using dyed diesel in registered vehicles operated on the road. Those who support doing away with untaxed dyed fuel believe a tax rebate system will reduce cheating and generate more revenue for the state. They contend the state has no meaningful way to enforce the current law to stem cheating. Other states have used roadblocks, sting operations out-

side retail locations where dyed fuel is sold, tests during safety inspections or stops at ports of entry. Idaho Farm Bureau has long opposed taxing off-road fuel as well as requiring producers to pay the tax upfront and file paperwork to get a refund. After all, the federal government established the dyed fuel program and eliminated the tax rebate system precisely to reduce cheating. Farm Bureau remains skeptical that imposing the tax rebate system will result in additional state revenue or that increased usage of dyed diesel is the result of increased illegal use, especially on the part of producers. At the same time, Farm Bureau does not condone cheating and believes that enforcement, not tax rebates, is the solution. A few years ago, the Idaho Legislature set civil fines for illegal use of dyed fuel at $250 for the first violation, $500 for the second and $1,000 for the third and each subsequent violation. This is in addition to a federal criminal penalty of $1,000 or $10 per gallon, whichever is greater, plus payment of the tax. Because of the threat of legislative action and the debate surrounding taxing fuel, it’s important that Farm Bureau members understand the proper use of dyed diesel. “We are concerned that some legislators believe doing away with the dyed diesel program would be preferable to actu-

ally enforcing the current system that has worked so well for the past 20 years,” says Russ Hendricks, an Idaho Farm Bureau staff member who works on tax issues. “We want to make sure all our members understand the rules and are properly using dyed diesel so we can be prepared to defend the use of this important program next legislative session. “ Under State Tax Commission rules, it is ILLEGAL to use dyed fuel in a vehicle that’s registered or required to be registered. Dyed fuel can LEGALLY be used in an unregistered vehicle, such as a farm implement, operated off-road or when it’s incidentally on the road to move from one farm location to another. Producers can claim a fuel tax refund for clear diesel in a vehicle when it’s operated off road, whether the vehicle is registered or not. The rules for gasoline are different. You can never collect a refund for tax paid for gasoline used in a registered vehicle or a vehicle required to be registered. A refund is allowed for unlicensed motor vehicles or equipment. The State Tax Commission is willing to provide informational meetings on fuel tax issues to county farm bureau members. Interested county farm bureaus should contact the governmental affairs office in Boise.

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

Fire in Forest Ecosystems of the Inland West

Fire is a natural part of the forest and rangeland ecosystems of the Inland West. Photo by Yvonne Barkley.

By Yvonne Barkley Though a natural part of the ecosystems of the Inland West, wildfire is one of the most feared, most fought, and most controversial components of our physical environment. Our knowledge of fireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role in the Inland West come from studies of past vegetation, identification of charcoal layers in soil profiles, fire scars on trees, the even-aged character of some forests, and records of explorers and early European settlers. Up until the beginning of the last century, fire frequented the forests of the Inland West at regular intervals and was a natural component of these fire-based ecosystems. Fire varies in terms of how often it occurs (frequency), when it occurs (season), and how fiercely it burns (intensity). Combinations of these elements define an areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fire regime. Natural fire regimes are an important component of the forest and rangeland ecosystems of the West. Natu16

ral fire regimes help species that are best suited to a particular ecosystem maintain a competitive advantage over less suited species. Less competition reduces stress, which in turn reduces outbreaks of insects and disease. Fire stimulates understory vegetation, which is important to wildlife and biodiversity, and helps maintain or provide opportunities for some nichedependent species. Natural fire regimes also provide a stimulus for the reproductive cycle for many plants while preparing suitable seedbeds for new seedlings. The Inland West, with its slow rates of decay and decomposition, also depends on wildfire for recycling biomass and nutrients by redirecting carbon and nutrients back into forms usable by growing plants. Two general fire regimes are recognized. A stand maintenance fire regime consists of low to moderate intensity surface fires at short intervals (2-25 years). This type of fire regime maintains relatively uniform,

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

possibly all-aged stands of dominant tree species, and is typical of forests dominated by ponderosa pine and western larch. A stand-replacing fire regime is one that has moderate to high-intensity fires that occur at long intervals (50-500 years) and is typical of forests dominated by species such as lodgepole pine. The plant community that occupies your forest today is one that is constantly in transition, with each species responding to changes in the local environment in their own particular time and manner. Fire is one of the few disturbances that regularly kills mature plants and plays an important role in structuring plant communities and providing new openings that have the potential for vegetation change as well as having complex effects on plant survival, growth, and reproduction. Many species rely on fire to stimulate sprouting, flowering, and seed dispersal and germination.

Because natural fire regimes that are unaffected by suppression are extremely rare today, today’s fires are very different from those in the past. The introduction of exotic insects, diseases, and plants, the alteration of the characteristics and processes of traditional plant communities, and the conversion of increased acreages to agricultural and urban use have all changed the environment surrounding and influencing our forests and rangelands. When fire is suppressed for periods of time that are greater than the natural fire regime, changes in forest structure and function occur. When stand-replacing fires occur in areas that evolved

with stand maintenance fires, a number of negative effects are seen. The magnitude of rainon-snow events increases, which, in turn, increases erosion and soil-mass movements. Catastrophic fires increase the incidence of windthrow, while excessive heat transmitted to roots, cambium, and/or crowns further reduce a tree’s resistance to insect and disease problems, drought stress, and nutritional imbalances. Fire suppression increases the number of shade tolerant species (such as Douglas-fir and true firs) in a stand, which replace the more adapted and shade intolerant species such as pines and western larch.

By changing the immediate environment, these shade tolerant species begin altering traditional plant communities. Where there was once a savanna-like ponderosa pine forest, interspersed with clumps of aspen and deciduous shrubs, you now have a thick Douglas-fir/ grand fir forest. Competition for light, nutrients, and moisture increases, not only because of increased stand densities, but because shade-tolerant species tend to require and use more moisture and nutrients than the species they replaced. When shade tolerant species replace shade intolerant species you begin to see other forest health problems. Douglas-fir and grand fir are not as well adapted to drier sites as ponderosa pine, and consequently suffer physiological stress when subjected to the hot, dry

summers of the Inland West. Stressed trees are more likely to succumb to insect and disease problems, such as root rot and bark beetles. Insect outbreaks can reach epidemic proportions and spiral out of control when less adapted species provide increased food to sustain insect populations. Forest ecosystems are extremely resilient and in the Inland West are historically adapted to disturbance by fire. It’s natural. From the standpoint of a firebased ecosystem’s structure and function, fire is a good thing; there is nothing to fix. The forest will follow its own course towards a new structure. Yvonne Barkley is an associate extension forester for the University of Idaho. She can be reached at yvonnec@uidaho. edu

Idaho Farm Bureau members can save a significant amount on their medications. Take 5 minutes to get a price quote. Early European settlers wrote that they could travel for miles under towering Ponderosa pines with little in their way. This is what much of north Idaho looked like when natural fire regimes were still in place. Photo: University of Idaho Archives.

USE IDAHO FARM BUREAU CODE (IDFB) Toll-Free Phone 1.866.335.8064 www.thecanadianpharmacy.com

Overstocked stands can result in catastrophic burns that are beyond the natural range of variability. University of Idaho Extension Forestry File Photo.

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Call 1.866.335.8064 or go to www.thecanadianpharmacy.com

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Tell them you are with the Idaho Farm Bureau (code IDFB) and that you need a price quote on your medication.

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If this price is lower than what you currently pay, then The Canadian Pharmacy will help you get your prescription at the discounted price.

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

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

Save Money Shopping with Farm Bureau Member Benefits A major purchase such as household appliances or a family vacation can be a distressing hit to your pocketbook, especially during these tight economic times. Fortunately, saving money on these and other purchases may not be as difficult as it seems if you’re a Farm Bureau Insurance customer. Joel Benson, Member Benefits Manager for the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, explains how Farm Bureau Insurance customers can take advantage of discounted prices on quality name brand merchandise from local and national retailers.

count.” Besides these direct savings, the couple also received “a nice sum of cash back as a rebate from Sears Commercial.” Benson wasn’t surprised by the email. “Many Farm Bureau members who have taken the time to study their discount benefits have saved hundreds of dollars every year.” Other savings available through Farm Bureau’s discount benefits include rental car discounts, 20 percent off Choice Hotels International standard room rates, discounted movie tickets, and 10 percent off all prod-

“Farm Bureau Insurance and the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation have over 60,000 member families in Idaho. Because of our size, we have the ability to create corporate accounts with many Idaho businesses. Farm Bureau negotiates agreements with these companies that allow our members to use our corporate account number and codes. Basically, a Farm Bureau family may only be in the market to buy a handful of items, but they’ll get the financial benefits as if they are a large purchaser.”

ucts and services at Commercial Tire. To access your Farm Bureau discount, you first need to know what kind of benefit it is. “Sometimes members only need to know our corporate code or account number when making a purchase or reservation,” Benson says. “In other situations they have to show their membership card, and in a few situations they simply need to tell the company that they are a Farm Bureau member.” For more information about Farm Bureau’s discount benefits visit www.idfbins.com and click on the “Member Benefits” link in the Customer Service box. From here, click on individual benefits for more information or open a PDF with information on all benefits. You can also call Joel Benson at 208-239-4289 for more information.

What kind of financial benefits are possible with these discounts? One benefit-savvy Farm Bureau Insurance customer reported her savings in the following email to Benson: “My husband and I remodeled our kitchen, which meant new appliances. We were able to save about $700 off the list prices of our appliances through the Sears Commercial benefit from my Farm Bureau Insurance dis- You can pocket real savings with Farm Bureau Insurance’s member

“It’s important for members to know that by using our corporate account numbers and codes they will save money almost every time,” Benson says. “However, there are a few benefits where a corporate account will be the least expensive 80-90 percent of the time. When this is the case, we tell members to check the regular price and Farm Bureau’s price and then take the best deal.” If you’re looking for the best deals, take a closer look at Farm Bureau’s budget-friendly discount benefits. They can ease the pain of certain purchases and help you save money for other things you want.

discount benefits.

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

The Gardening Bucket List Article and Photos by Jake Putnam Master Gardener Heather Glass of Boise never met a bargain she didn’t like. When buckets were handed out free at a local greenhouse, she hauled them off and started a gardening method that emphasizes less to get more. “I started the bucket system six years ago because when I was at Edwards I saw all of these fivegallon pots in the ‘free’ pile so naturally I had to make use of something free,” said Glass She found that the buckets were the perfect size and available from garden stores and food distributors everywhere. They use the ingredient containers to supply restaurants, bakeries, and fast food chains. Glass says gardeners can contact these places and ask them to save their buckets adding that companies are happy to recycle the plastic and cut down their disposal costs. Glass is a meticulous gardener constantly adapting her lush hillside garden to the changing climate, soil conditions and bugs. She keeps a compost pile at the edge of the garden and puts household food waste to good use. She also keeps a supply of clean garden soil nearby that she uses to blend with the rich compost. One of her strictest rules is to use just enough water and never waste a drop. She says people don’t realize how little water is needed to maintain the perfect garden, and with buckets even 20

Heather Glass of Boise uses surplus buckets to make her garden more efficient.

less water is needed. “I thought, hey, I could cut out the bottom of the buckets, bury them, and put my plants

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

in them so the water would go only in the area of the bucket.” The idea worked perfectly and depraved weeds of water need-

ed to thrive. “It helps with weeds because when I hula hoe, I can just bang into the buckets and don’t have

Advantages of Bucket Gardening: -Perfect for urban-suburban gardeners, especially kids people with physical limitations, college students renters, any gardener wanting to cut back, downsize and save time. -There’s no digging or tilling and you can garden in the rain without getting your shoes muddy! -Container gardening is weed free! -Inexpensive to get started, only a few tools needed. to worry about hitting the plants protected by the bucket edge,” said Glass.

-Perfect for backyards that are too shady for tomatoes.

Gardeners first started using buckets on patios as a space saver for city folks but it’s evolved because it’s a much more efficient system. Glass found that the system cut down on weeding but also slashed the water bill and best of all; saved valuable time.

-Perfect for compacted, poor quality soils, contaminated soils or space restrictions.

“First of all,” she says, “I can water 90 tomato plants in 20 minutes because I have a drip line going to each bucket. It takes far less water than my hoses and I can get water deep to the roots making the plants bug resistant and much healthier.” Another advantage is that Glass can dump all of the good household compost, bone meal and different types of fertilizer right in the buckets instead of spreading expensive fertilizer where there are no plants. “It’s a nice way to contain different needed nutrients for different types of plants. Another feature with the buckets is that water only goes down into the bucket and the rest of the garden remains dry and I’m not fighting weeds all summer,” said Glass. “It’s just so much easier to hand water because I just fill the bucket with water and know that all the water is going directly to the plant instead of dribbling off somewhere else,” added Glass. Glass says that sprinklers and row irrigation are things of the past because she can use a fraction of the water and still irrigate 50 plants in just ten minutes. It’s an added benefit when the water bill comes at the first of the month. Aside from the bucket system, Glass’s gardening success comes from what she puts in the buckets to help her plants grow. I’ve found that local gardening stores like Zamzows carry products like Thrive and Therm-a-grow and they’re excellent fertilizers and both certified “organic.”

-Gardeners can place buckets anywhere and move plants to optimize sunlight/shade. For instance tomatoes grow better in the sun, while lettuce does better in the shade. -Better control over growing conditions (water, sunlight, nutrients) can lead to higher yields with less work than a conventional garden, also higher yields with less work than conventional gardens. (10 square feet can produce as much as 50 pounds of fresh produce). -Container gardens are easier to protect from the elements, insects and critters. -Container gardens get a quicker start or even a later start and can grow later into the fall. You can start a container garden today and get fresh produce in the fall. -Vertical growth saves valuable backyard space. -Container gardens save you money at the grocery store, plus you can barter with your neighbors or sell surplus produce at the farmers market.

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

Exclusively For Farm Bureau Members Members can pick up discounted tickets from one of the following Farm Bureau county offices: Boise - Nampa - Caldwell - Meridian - Coeur dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Alene - Post Falls - Idaho Falls Pocatello - Blackfoot - Mountain Home - Rexburg - Rigby - American Falls - Malad

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Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

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Stallman

Continued from page 2

excuse for us to proudly show off our finely tuned ability to cook meat over a blazing fire.

The study also shows that 71 percent of all Americans own an outdoor grill.

To me, this says that while the economy is still climbing its way back up, Americans are turning more to entertainment and For me, summer is a time to take at-home dining rather than eating pleasures in my family, the outdoors, out. And as always, America’s farmers and ranchers the heat, coming from Texas, the hotter are ready to provide all of the summer the better, and of course, the ingredients, along with the fixins. Backyard barbecues are as much a summer

the food. It’s a time to savor all that the season has to offer. tradition as cooling off in the water sprinkler, eating ice cream from a truck or cheering on your favorite baseball team. According to a national study by Weber, outdoor grilling has increased 22 percent this year.

American grown

Growing up in Texas, nothing was better than a ribeye fresh off the grill. While a whopping 96 percent of all Americans grill burgers according to Weber, I prefer a big, juicy steak any day. But as we sit down to our grilled meats

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

(whatever your preference), potato salad and watermelon this summer, we need to keep in mind that we are able to feed our families safe and wholesome food because of America’s farmers and ranchers. For example, Indiana farmer Heather Hill sells select pork products at her niche market, The Pork Shoppe. Using several hogs from her family’s pork farm, she provides local residents with farm-fresh chops and other pork cuts. And because of fruit growers like Michigan farmer Ben LaCross and his family, who grow cherries, plums and apples on their 600-acre orchard and sell them nationally, we can all enjoy America’s best summer desserts—fruit pies. Whether you find your barbeque ingredients at your grocery store or local farmers’ market, you can bet it was grown with pride by U.S. farmers. So, fire up the grill and tie on your aprons, summertime is here.

Priestley

Continued from page 2

there are four standouts; Medicare, Social Security, Defense and service on a massive $14 trillion debt. Everything else is pretty much peanuts in comparison, so any discussion that does not include all of these major components isn’t part of a solution. These four components touch every one of our lives and we will all feel the cuts when they come. However, we also need to keep in mind that the time for finger-pointing has passed. We, as voters, should not lose sight of the fact that we elected the people who did this to us. Idaho Senator Mike Crapo is one of the politicians who sees through the partisan politics and is working toward a solution. Named to President Obama’s Debt Reduction Task Force earlier this year, Crapo is also a member of the U.S. Senate Gang of Six that recently endorsed a long-term plan to cut government spending by reducing tax breaks and several other measures. Specifically, the Gang of Six plan cuts government spending by $4 trillion over ten years, cuts $1 trillion in tax breaks, caps agency budgets, curbs Social Security benefits, lowers income tax rates, and overhauls Social Security Medicare and farm subsidies. The American Farm Bureau Federation and 33 other farm groups recently sent a letter to President Barack Obama and House and Senate leaders urging action soon on a longterm, comprehensive solution to reduce the federal budget deficit.

Keller

Continued from page 2 to restore the property to its pre-disturbed state. The EPA identified the ground as wetlands and contended the Sacketts did not seek or obtain a Section 404 permit under the Clean Water Act. The Sacketts wanted to challenge the EPA’s claim that the property was wetland. They sought a hearing with the agency, but the giant agency asserted the Sacketts are not entitled to a due process to challenge the claim. The hearing was denied. The Sacketts sought appeals to the District Court of Idaho and the Ninth Circuit Court

In the letter, the farm groups stressed that last year’s $6 billion reduction in the budget baseline for agriculture, as reported by the Congressional Budget Office, makes it clear that the farm sector has and will continue to do its part to reduce the deficit. “Agriculture is prepared to take its proportionate share of the budget cuts provided everything is on the table,” the letter stated. The groups also called for the House and Senate Agriculture committees to determine how reductions would be made because lawmakers on those committees have the expertise “to best evaluate specific programs and to include any changes in the 2012 farm bill in a manner that does not disrupt long-term commitments reflected in current farm legislation.” As organizations that have a stake in agriculture and a robust rural economy, the letter urges a timely resolution to the ongoing debt ceiling negotiations. “A long-term, comprehensive solution that reduces federal deficits must be found to help ensure our Nation’s fiscal integrity and economic strength. Such an agreement will also establish budget certainty for all federal policies, including upcoming farm bill negotiations,” the letter states. Agriculture is prepared to take a proportionate share of budget cuts provided everything is on the table. Last year, agriculture absorbed a net $6 billion reduction, according to the Congressional Budget Office, making it clear we have and will do our part

of Appeals asserting they have a right to an administrative hearing with the Agency to petition their claim. Both courts ruled the Sacketts were not entitled to a due process. Sadly, the Tenth, Seventh, Sixth and Fourth Court of Appeals, plus other district court opinions have ruled the Clean Water Act does not preclude a pre-administrative review the Sacketts were seeking. The family sought additional redress and appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Just weeks ago, the U.S. Supreme Court granted that it will hear the case. The Pacific Legal Foundation is assisting

to help with spending and deficit control. Sufficient resources are needed to ensure the continued production of food, fiber, feed and fuel, which is the lifeblood of the rural economy. In this time of economic uncertainty and weather-related disasters, the farm bill provides safeguards for farmers and ranchers to consistently provide a safe and stable food supply. The farm bill also provides assistance for our nation’s most vulnerable people, helps to conserve valuable natural resources, encourages the production of renewable energy, and aids in the economic development of rural communities. Any decision to reduce agriculture spending must allow the Senate and House Agriculture Committees to determine how the reductions are made. These Committees have the expertise to best evaluate specific programs and to include any changes in the 2012 Farm Bill in a manner that does not disrupt long-term commitments reflected in current farm legislation. “Agriculture continues to lead our national economic recovery and contributes to domestic and global food security,” the letter states. “To ensure this role going forward, we need a rational long-term agreement on raising the debt ceiling that asks agriculture to only contribute reductions proportionate to its share of the federal budget. Doing so will provide the certainty needed to write a strong and effective farm bill.”

the Sacketts in their efforts. They are also joined by the National Association of Home Builders and the National Federation of Independent Businesses. All the Sacketts are seeking is that due process requires a preenforcement hearing prior to the leveling of onerous penalties and compliance orders. We support the Sacketts and their efforts. Correction: In my Spring 2011 Quarterly Editorial, “The Ten Cannots” was attributed to President Abraham Lincoln. A reader pointed out that the list is most likely attributed to Rev. William J.H. Boetcker written in 1916.

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

County Happenings 2011 Teacher of the Year Named Jayme McDonald, a second grade teacher at North Valley Academy in Gooding, was recently chosen as the Idaho Farm Bureau 2011 Teacher of the Year. McDonald will receive a scholarship for an allexpense paid trip to the National Ag in the ClassNineteen women from Idaho joined over 500 others in Baltimore for the 4th room Conference from the IFB Women’s Leadership national Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Conference focusing on ‘Changing Committee, sponsor of the award. Perceptions.’ Workshops and mini sessions gave attendees learning opportuThe scholarship program, now in its fifth year, rec- nities over the four-day meeting. Sessions were offered in farm safety, public ognizes a teacher for outstanding efforts to educate policy, ag education, rural development and communications skills just to name students about the importance of agriculture. Nomi- a few. nated by the Gooding County Farm Bureau, McDonPictured front row left to right; Peg Pratt, Nancy Asay, Jewelee Steed, Amee ald was chosen for the award because of her passion Bybee, Sherril Tillotson, Allis Chandler, Jolene Vaughn, Nancy Casperson; back and enthusiasm while integrating agriculture with row LaDean Stanley, Judi Hale, Judy Woody, Kathryn Christensen, Rhonda Barother subjects including art, science, literature, comfuss, Carol Guthrie, Wendy Miller, Doris Pearson, Shirlene Schwendiman, Stacy munity service and garden projects. Burmester, Jane Ann Ward.

The Idaho Farm Bureau Market Development Committee met recently in Twin Falls and toured Ballard Dairy near Gooding. The Ballard Dairy has expanded their operation and become a direct market artisan cheese operation. They offer several unique, award winning varieties. More information at www.ballardcheese. com 26

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

Idaho Farm Bureau employees raised $8,853 during this year’s Relay for Life event for the American Cancer Society. This is the sixth year in a row when Idaho Farm Bureau has led local fundraising efforts for this event.

Farm Facts

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

Top Farm Bureau Agents Rookie of the Month: Agent of the Month: Agency Manager of the Month: Rhett Price Schmitt Agency

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Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

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Lamb Board Provides Grant The American Lamb Board has announced a matching grant in the amount of $7,750 to support the 15th annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival.

The award is made possible by the American Lamb industry including ranchers, producers, feeders, seed stock producers and processors. The work of the American Lamb Board includes promoting the freshness, flavor, nutritional benefits and culinary versatility of American lamb. Their work is overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “Many special culinary lamb events are planned around the Trailing of the Sheep Festival,” says Dick Springs, President of the organization that organizes the Festival. “One of the highlights is the Art and Lamb Foodie Fest featuring some of our Valley’s finest chefs and restaurants,” reports Executive Director, Mary Austin Crofts. “Friday evening is filled with free lamb tastings while they last – which is sometimes

not very long,” she adds.

Festival Honors Rich and Colorful History “We are so pleased with the American Lamb Board’s continued support,” said Crofts. “We have an extraordinary celebration planned this year, and their support makes a big difference.” The 15th annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival will be held Friday October 7th through Sunday, October 9th, 2011 in the Wood River Valley. MSN Travel recently honored the Festival as one of the top ten fall festivals in the world. Every year the Trailing of the Sheep Festival celebrates the century and a half long tradition of moving sheep from mountain summer pastures south through the Wood River Valley to traditional winter grazing and lambing areas. This annual migration is Idaho living history and a weekend long festival that highlights the people, arts, cultures, and traditions of sheep ranching in Idaho and the west. This is not a reenactment, but a real slice of the American West. Culinary Events The third annual “Art and Lamb Foodie Fest” will take place in association with local restaurants and chefs on October 7th from 5:00 – 7:30 pm. Lamb tastings will be featured at several restaurants and other venues with local chefs and restaurants presenting their best lamb recipes. A lamb feast will take place on Saturday during the Folklife Fair. Six chefs will be preparing the best in lamb and Basque food to benefit the Festival. Sunday, before and after the Parade, Festival Board members are hosting an authentic lamb barbecue as a fundraiser for the Festival from 11 am until 2pm.

Dozens of the finest local restaurants feature American lamb specials all weekend long. 15th Annual Celebration

2011 marks the 15th year of the Trailing of the Sheep Festival. The three-day event includes nonstop activities in multiple venues. The weekend includes history, folk and traditional arts, a Folklife Fair and Fiber Festival with classes and workshops, music, dance, storytelling and two days of championship sheepdog trials. There is dancing, singing, music and food honoring the tradition of welcoming fathers, brothers, sons and family home from a long summer of grazing in the mountains. This Festival honors the colorful history, heritage and cultures of Idaho and the West. Honoring Women In 2011, the Trailing of the Sheep Festival is honoring women and their contributions to the development of Idaho and the West. In honor of women, the Festival is planning a full-day symposium titled “Women Writing and Living the West” that will feature six of the finest women writers in the West along with ranching women to share their remarkable and powerful stories in a setting that is sure to be an historic event. This event is sponsored in part by the Idaho Humanities Council. Baxter Black Renowned cowboy poet, Baxter Black, will be at the Festival this year sponsored in part by Simplot Land and Livestock Group and Western Stockmen’s. The New York Times calls Baxter, “probably the nation’s most successful living poet.” He is a talented entertainer and poet that can be followed nationwide through his column, National Public Radio, his own television show, through books, CDs and public appearances. See TRAILING OF THE SHEEP FESTIVAL, page 39

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

Battered 9-11 Flag Restored at the Idaho Statehouse By Jake Putnam

Trade Center.

The battered flag stretched across the Idaho Statehouse Rotunda, with silent reverence. Idaho residents patiently lined up to stitch the flag that once few above the rubble of the World Trade Center.

Firemen hung the 30-foot flag above the ruins after the attack as a symbol of hope and appreciation to the police, fellow firefighters and volunteers that dug through the rubble each day searching for survivors.

“It’s amazing having this flag in the Statehouse,” said Bonnie Butler, Governor Butch Otter’s Senior Special Assistant for Natural Resources. “It’s a huge flag and we’re proud that so many turned out in tribute.”

But the weeks at ground zero took a toll on the stars and stripes and soon the flag turned gray because of the smoke and it started to shred in the wind against the jagged ruins where it once flew. New York Firefighters lowered the flag in late October 2001 to prevent further damage and then shipped it off to storage in Pennsylvania.

When complete, The National 9/11 Flag will become a part of the permanent collection of the National September 11 Memorial Museum being built at the World 32

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

The flag was brought to Greensburg, Kansas in 2008 after a devastating tornado ripped through the town. Volunteers from a senior center there patched up the battered flag, using pieces of flags that survived the Kansas tornado. “They literally stitched together our histories,” said Jeff Parness, who heads the New York Says Thank You Foundation, a nonprofit founded after 9/11 that has spearheaded the restoration of the National 9/11 Flag. “It was destroyed in the aftermath of 9/11 in New York, then brought back to life, seven years later, by tornado survivors in a small town in Kansas –isn’t that’s what America’s all about?”

The National 9/11 Flag has become a moveable monument and serves as a living testament to the resilience and compassion of the American people. Over 160 Million Americans have experienced the National 9/11 Flag through national and local TV coverage, public displays in small town gatherings, and major cultural and sporting events. The flag has been stitched by soldiers and schoolchildren who survived the shooting at Ft. Hood, Texas, by World War II veterans on the deck of the USS Missouri in Pearl Harbor, by the family of Martin Luther King Jr., and by thousands of everyday service heroes nationwide. On President Lincoln’s Birthday, a piece of the flag that

Abraham Lincoln was laid on when he was shot at Ford’s Theater was stitched into the fabric of The National 9/11 Flag. In May 2011, The National 9/11 Flag was presented as the official flag for The Kentucky Derby.

with the flag’s rich visual history. Organizers say that the flag has deepened people’s sense of citizenship and national pride and also bolstered the spirit of volunteerism just in time for the 9/11 Anniversary in September.

Currently on a journey across America through the 10th Year Anniversary of 9/11, an honor guard presented the colors at the Idaho Statehouse. Locals were allowed to stitch the flag.

When complete, The National 9/11 Flag will become a part of the permanent collection of the National September 11 Memorial Museum being built at the World Trade Center. The flag will continue its tour of key US cities this year, and organizers hope it will be repaired in time for the 10th anniversary of the attacks in September, where it will become part of the planned 9/11 memorial at ground zero.

The goal of The National 9/11 Flag Tour is to display this historic flag at leading venues and state capitols nationwide, to empower local service heroes in all 50 states. The goal is to give citizens the privilege of stitching but also to inspire Americans

Volunteers stitch the battered 911 flag during ceremonies at the Idaho Statehouse in July. The Flag is touring the country in observance of the 10 year anniversary of 911. Photo by Steve Ritter

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

Getting Paid to Sue Taxpayers By Western Legacy Alliance In 2007 the Western Legacy Alliance was formed to provide a clearinghouse for information to counter the misinformation provided by the radical environmental movement about natural resource users across the nation to the media and the general public. What we stumbled upon left us aghast and we assume it will be of great interest to you as well. For hundreds of year’s natural resource users-miners, cattlemen, sheepmen, dairymen, sportsmen, and fishermen have provided this country with the energy, protein, fiber and raw materials to fuel the greatest economy in the world. In the last 40 years a massive movement in this country has been developing to make the use of our natural resources virtually impossible. Thus, decreasing the output and sending cost to consumers through the roof. But I am associated with none of these groups, you say, “Why would I be concerned? Read on…… Radical, so-called environmentalism, fueled by environmental litigation machines not only decrease the use of natural resources but are being subsidized with your tax dollars. The Equal Access to Justice Act was passed in Congress to allow an individual or small entity who had their rights violated by the government to sue and if successful be reimbursed for their attorneys fees. But the law has been hi-jacked by the environmental movement. By suing the government continually over perceived procedural flaws that harm their respective “memberships”, these groups are not only dictating land-use policy but getting extremely well paid to do it from government coffers. As a side note, many of these same groups who sue Bureau of Land Management, US Fish and Wildlife, EPA etc. are taking government grants in the millions of dollars, then biting the hand that fed them. 34

In Idaho, a very radical environmental group which calls themselves Western Watersheds Project has been paid $1.4 million dollars in attorney fees “reimbursement” over the past 10 years. This is only in Idaho courts and only the amounts that we have been able to find which have not been “redacted” (sealed settlements) from the public. WWP is very active in several others states as well so that number could be truly astronomical. Several other likeminded groups have made a very lucrative living from suing the government for failing to consider the effects of greenhouse gases and climate change in every decision they make. Last time we checked there were no climate change or greenhouse gas laws, but by suing EPA, getting a positive ruling from a judge they get not only the desired result-emissions rulings that will put many truckers out of business, outlawing the use of lead in fishing sinkers etc. - they get their “specialized attorney’s” fees paid many times at $650 per billable hour. So it would appear time to right the ship, correct? Through the herculean efforts of many including Karen Budd-Falen, Boone and Crockett, Farm Bureau, WLA and many others, Congress is poised to do exactly that. The Government Litigation Savings Act that was introduced by Wyo-

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

ming Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis and Wyoming Senator John Barasso and co-sponsored by the entire Idaho delegation will return the EAJA to its original intent. Safeguarding individuals, veterans and the disabled, for whom the law was intended and preclude the ATM card type use by radicals that have drained far too many dollars from our already struggling economy. If you do not agree with funding the radical environmental agenda with your tax dollars simply call your congressional delegation and encourage them to take leadership roles in the passage of this important bill. Encourage any groups that you belong to sign the supporters of GLSA letters. You can help repair a well intended law and maximize your input regarding how you want your tax dollars spent. Remember, this issue affects everyone that lives and pays taxes in the United States. Please visit our website for background material and much more regarding the EAJA at www.westernlegacyalliance. org or send us an e-mail at westernlegacyalliance@gmail.com.

AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION NEWS America’s Heartland Launches Seventh Season on Public TV America’s Heartland, the award-winning national television series celebrating American agriculture, begins its seventh season on public television and the RFD-TV cable and satellite channel starting the week of September 5. The American Farm Bureau Federation is the program’s only “legacy sponsor” that has supported the show during each of its seven seasons. In addition to AFBF, two new sponsors – Farm Credit and the United Soybean Board – have thrown their support behind the program for season seven. AFBF has supported the series since its launch in 2005, and this year its sponsorship aligns with renewed educational outreach efforts through the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. “We are proud of the fact that we have been supporters of America’s Heartland since day one, and we are especially grateful to Farm Credit and the United Soybean Board for helping us make season seven a reality,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “America’s Heartland is the only national program that shares in-depth stories of America’s farm and ranch families with a key consumer audience, and that is even more important now than it was seven seasons ago.” The show is produced by KVIE Public Television in Sacramento. “Consumers today take greater interest in where their food is coming from, as well as issues that touch on agricultural sustainability, environmental concerns and animal welfare,” said Michael Sanford, vice-president of content creation at KVIE. “We’re extremely grateful that Farm Credit, AFBF and USB are providing the essential support needed to help us share agriculture’s positive and pro-active efforts with nonfarm viewers.” The first of 22 half-hour episodes of America’s Heartland’s seventh season begins airing on more than 230 public television sta-

tions the week of September 5. While each PBS station sets its own airdate and time, RFD-TV viewers will see episode 701 at 8 p.m. (Eastern), Wednesday, Sept. 7, and again at 8:30 p.m. (Pacific), Sunday, Sept. 11 (see schedules and PBS station carriage at www.americasheartland.org and www. rfdtv.com). Season seven will take viewers all across the heartland to meet the people who play a critical role in the well-being of all our lives. In addition to long-form stories on farm families and production agriculture, America’s Heartland serves up special consumer segments like Farm to Fork, Fast Facts about Food, Off the Shelf and Harvesting Knowledge. Farm to Fork takes nationally-known chef Dave Lieberman into the heartland for cooking ideas that viewers can use at home. Fast Facts about Food delivers detailed information about nutrition. And, new for season seven, Ask a Farmer gives viewers a chance to ask questions that touch on many aspects of agriculture today. The www.americasheartland.org website also gives consumers easy connections to topics, educational resources, search functions and video offerings. To give viewers immediate access to stories and special segments, America’s Heartland has expanded its social networking outreach with updated features and information on Facebook and Twitter. Video plays an increasingly important role on the America’s Heartland YouTube Channel, currently welcoming more than 90 thousand visitors each month. Currently, America’s Heartland episodes reach close to 1 million viewers per episode, or 44 million viewers per season. The series is available on public television in 20 of the top 25 U.S. television markets. It receives in-kind production support from many prominent agriculture organizations, including the National Corn Growers Association, U.S. Grains Council, American Soybean Association, FFA, National Association of Wheat Growers and the National

Cotton Council of America. America’s Heartland is still seeking additional funding support for season seven. For more information, and to learn more about the series, contact Michael Sanford at (916) 641-3546 or msanford@kvie.org, or Series Producer Jim Finnerty at (916) 641-3516 or jfinnerty@kvie.org. Higher Energy Prices Hitting Farmers’ Bottom Line While farmers are benefiting from positive commodity prices, rising production costs remain a concern, according to economists with the American Farm Bureau Federation. “These are encouraging times for the U.S. farm economy,” said AFBF Chief Economist Bob Young. “Higher prices for corn, cotton, wheat and soybeans are helping farmers, but higher energy prices are impacting profit margins. It’s important to remember that farming is still a very capital intensive occupation and that high input costs affect the bottom line, even in good times.” AFBF economist Matt Erickson outlined the impact of high energy prices on farmers in a new white paper “Cost-ofProduction Report: the Rising Costs of Inputs.” High oil prices will drive up the cost of production of corn, soybeans, wheat, rice and cotton in 2011, according to Erickson. Higher fertilizer prices are also impacting net farm income. “The effects of higher oil prices are reducing profits to the agricultural sector,” Erickson said. “From seed to fertilizer, each commodity is projected to experience higher yearly production costs from 2010 to 2011.” USDA is forecasting 2011 total operating costs to climb 18 percent for corn, 13 percent for soybeans, 18 percent for wheat, 15 percent for rice and 9 percent for cotton, compared to last year. Erickson said a major factor impacting these higher producSee AFBF NEWS, page 40

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

2011 Idaho Farm Bureau Scholarship Winners The scholarships are provided by the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation Scholarship Fund, Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. of Idaho, and the IFBF Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Leadership Committee and Young Farmer and Rancher Committee.

Cheyenne Dunham

Jocelyn Allen

Bonner County

Fremont County

Danielle Hennefer

Eli Dery

Blaine/Camas County

Teton County

Aspen Holbrook

Austin Winegar

Caribou County

Washington County

Katelyn Blackstock

Cara Jo Pantone

Owyhee County

Gooding County

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

Tracking Milk and Egg Trends For the second quarter of 2011, shoppers reported the average price for a half-gallon of regular whole milk was $2.31, up 6 cents from the prior quarter. The average price for one gallon of regular whole milk was $3.62, up 16 cents. Comparing per-quart prices, the retail price for whole milk sold in gallon containers was about 25 percent lower compared to half-gallon containers, a typical volume discount long employed by retailers. The average price for a half-gallon of rBST-free milk was $3.18, down 5 cents from the last quarter, about 40 percent higher than the reported retail price for a half-gallon of regular milk ($2.31). The average price for a halfgallon of organic milk was $3.77, up 7cents compared to the prior quarter – about 60 percent higher than the reported retail price for a half-gallon of regular milk ($2.31).

Compared to a year ago (second quarter of 2010), the retail price for regular milk in gallon containers was up about 18 percent while regular milk in half-gallon containers rose 12 percent. The average retail price for rBST-free milk increased 6 percent compared to the prior year while organic milk was up about 3 percent. For the second quarter of 2011, the average price for one dozen regular eggs was $1.65. The average price for a dozen “cage-free” eggs was $3.20, nearly double the price of regular eggs. Compared to a year ago (second quarter of 2010), regular eggs decreased 7 percent while “cage-free” eggs increased 10 percent.

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TRAILING OF THE SHEEP FESTIVAL

Continued from page 29

The Festival weekend includes: Trailing of the Sheep Parade – 2,000 sheep parade down Main Street Ketchum, Idaho Women Writing and Living the West – An historic symposium with the west’s best women writers

Sheep shearing demonstrations Sheep wagon displays Spinning and weaving demonstrations

Sheepdog Championship trials (Sat and Sun)

Children’s activities

Felting and fiber workshops New photography workshop Peruvian musicians and dancers

Farm Bureau File Photo

Folklife Fair

Baxter Black, the world’s best cowboy poet

Gourmet cooking workshops The Wood River Valley’s Trailing of the Sheep Festival will celebrate its 15th year this fall.

Boise Highlanders, bagpipers and drummers

Oinkari Basque dancers

Wool and craft shops

For a complete schedule, see the website, www.trailingofthesheep.org

Beef Product Word Solution From Page 23 S

Adhesives

Hamburger

Bandages

Ice cream

Candies

Marshmallows

Candles

Mayonnaise

Chalk

Medicines

Charcoal

Paint

Cosmetics

Pet food

Crayons

Shoes

Deodorant

Steaks

Felt

Textiles

Fertilizer

Vitamins

Fireworks

Yogurt

Gelatin

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

AFBF NEWS

Continued from page 35

tion costs are higher energy prices and higher fertilizer prices.

Tight Supply Situation Still Driving Corn Market

“One reason fertilizer prices have increased is demand for fertilizer given the current tight supply for grain commodities, primarily corn,” Erickson said. “In the current situation of tight supplies for grain, fertilizer is a necessity as acreage production in the U.S. is at a max. Similarly, high grain prices increase the demand for fertilizer in international markets.”

The Agriculture Department forecasts higher corn stocks in its July crop report compared to its June report, but economists with the American Farm Bureau Federation stress that corn supplies are still very tight and a big crop is needed to meet strong demand and build reserves to a more comfortable level.

High diesel prices hit farmers hard at planting because farm tractors run on the fuel and it will also impact the bottom line at harvest because combines and cotton pickers also run on diesel, according to Erickson. “With diesel a byproduct of crude oil, farm diesel prices are expected to continue to increase with projections of increased crude oil prices from the Energy Information Administration,” Erickson said. AFBF’s new white paper on the cost of agricultural production can be found at: http://bit.ly/pNlp7R.

USDA’s July World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates peg corn stocks at 870 million bushels for the 2011/2012 marketing year, up 175 million bushels from the June stocks estimate. Todd Davis, AFBF crops economist, said the increase is due mostly to USDA raising its harvested corn acreage estimate to 84.9 million acres in July, up 1.7 million acres from its June forecast. “The increase in corn acreage from the June report should mean an additional 270 million bushels in corn production this year,” Davis explained. “USDA is now forecasting a corn crop of 13.47 million bushels, which we will need to meet very strong demand. Our supply situation is still very tight. In June, USDA showed a stocksto-use ratio of 5 percent, which is just 19

days of supply. USDA raised its stocks-touse ratio to 6 percent, which is still only 24 days of supply.” Davis emphasized the tight stocks situation means there is no room for any production problems this year. “Corn farmers have faced a lot of challenges this year, from late planting to floods to drought, and a lot can happen from now until harvest,” he said. “We still have a long way to go to realize a corn crop of 13.47 million bushels this year. There is a very good chance that both the production and stocks estimates will come down in USDA’s August report.” Meanwhile, Davis said drought is clearly taking its toll on the U.S. cotton crop. USDA projects that a record 30 percent of the U.S. cotton crop will be abandoned this year, due to historic drought conditions, mainly in Texas and Georgia. “Our hearts go out to Texas cotton farmers,” he said. “Texas produces 50 percent of the U.S. cotton crop and about 50 percent of the Texas cotton crop will be abandoned because of the drought. If you farm cotton in Texas without irrigation, you’re not going to have a crop to harvest this year.”

Hispanic and Women Claims Information USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack has made civil rights a top priority for the Department of Agriculture. In a recent press release Mr. Vilsack said, “We are working each day to turn the page to move into a new era for civil rights.” As part of this effort, a resolution was announced by Secretary Vilsack and Assistant Attorney General Tony West that establishes a claims process for Hispanic and women farmers who feel that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) improperly denied farm loan benefits to them between 1981 and 2000. This process gives Hispanic and women farmers who believe they suffered discrimination the 40

chance to have their claims heard. Individuals may be eligible to apply if: 1. You sought a farm loan or farm-loan servicing during that period; 2. The loan was denied, provided late, approved for a lesser amount than requested, approved with restrictive conditions, or USDA failed to provide an appropriate loan service; and 3. You believe these actions were based on your being Hispanic or your being female. Later this year a claims administrator will begin mailing claims packages to those who have requested one through the Call

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

Center or website. The claims package will have detailed information about the eligibility and claims process. If you want to register your name to receive a claims package, access the Hispanic and Women Farmer and Rancher Call Center or website: Call Center: 1-888-508-4429 Website: http://www.farmerclaims.gov For guidance, you may contact a lawyer or other legal services provider in your community. USDA cannot provide legal advice.

Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011

Classifieds

Animals

Help Wanted

ASCA registered Australian Shepherd pups. Working line since 1968. Full satisfaction guaranteed. All four colors available now. Boise, Id 208-484-9802

Earn $60,000/yr Part-Time in the livestock or equipment appraisal business. Agricultural background required. Classroom or home study courses available. 800-488-7570. www.amagappraisers.com

Chinchillas. Still have about 30 breeders for sale. Mostly blacks, charcoals and beiges. $1500 for entire herd or individual animal $50 to $80 each. Parma area. 208-764-1110 Yummy pasture fat lambs ready for delivery September through October. Blackfoot, Id. Call 208684-5352. America’s oldest breed. Morgan horse stock for sale and stallion service. Our foundation stallion is a Western Working National Champion. 208-476-7221 or www.creamridgemorgans.com

Farm Equipment Diesel 40 Caterpillar with dozer for sale. Lenore, Id. 208-476-4498 JD 4640, fresh paint, 12.4 x 46 tires 98%, 12,900 hours. $18,500. American Falls, Id. Please call 208317-7977 or 208-221-1221. 15.5 X 38 tractor tires on JD rims, no fluid, new tubes, 99% - $1250.00 pair obo. Cash Only. New Plymouth, Id. Leave Message 208-278-5713 Balewagons: New Holland selfpropelled or pull-type models. Also interested in buying balewagons. Will consider any model. Call Jim Wilhite at 208-880-2889 anytime

Miscellaneous Fresh Local-grown produce. Veggies are grown without pesticides. All kinds of vegetables and fruit plus locally baked artesian breads and more. Grown and sold at 20498 Allendale, Wilder ID 208-250-3131 Antique Wagon – one of a kind. All iron, no bed, open frame. 36” wide x 115” long plus 50” tongue. Wheel across frame to wheel 60 ½”. $300. Troy, ID 208-835-3392

Real Estate/Acreage 19.89 acres six miles N.E. of Priest River, Id. Rolling terrain, private rd., timbered, seasonal creek, power and phone, many great bldg. sites. Nature at its best, very quiet. $40K down, $49,900. Call for terms. 208-290-0034 Henry, ID. Beautiful log home. 20 acres. 2200 S.F. 10 inch logs. Two bedroom, 2 bath, loft, double garage, laundry, etc. Masonry 2 story fireplace, radiant heat, hickory floors, built-in vac., softener. No expense spared. $350,000. alpinegirl.diana@ gmail.com 970-764-4343.

Sell Your Stuff Here

Recreational Equipment Trail-lite Motor Home. 2004 model, 32 ft class C, Ford E450, 12K miles, TV, Microwave, 4000 W Gen, slideout, shower. Malad, Id. 208766-4897 2003 Cougar 5th wheel. 2 Lg slides. Island kitchen, rear hitch. 14,500. Lenore, Id. 208-924-6459 2007 Wildwood sport fifth wheel. 32 ft long, toy hauler. Bunkbeds in the back raise up to load four wheelers and motorcycles. Super clean. 5 beds-can sleep 10, fifth wheel hitch for truck, generator, outside shower, fuel station, cd player with surround sound. Asking $21,500.00 Pocatello, Id. Call Adam 208-757-9213 2008 McKenzie Bunkhouse tow behind trailer. Only used 6 times/like new/clean. Bought in 2009 off the dealer lot. Upgrade appliances top of the line-must see. $18,000.00. Blackfoot ID 208-785-2775

Vehicles Wanted 1961-1971 Dodge Crew Cab or regular cab pickup. Engine and running gear not important. Just need body for restoration project. Kimberly, Id. Craig 208423-4806 1990 International Cummins diesel powered truck. 24 ft. diamond plated flat bed, equipped with recent new Hendrickson airlift pusher axel. Asking $19,000. Rexburg, Id. 208-356-5624

FREE CLASSIFIED ADS

FOR FARM BUREAU MEMBERS

Wanted Austin Healey 1956 to 1968 100/6 Parts or entire car in any condition. I’m willing to pickup your parts or car and pay you cash. Rodney@Rcbuilders.us 208895-8875 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 208-405-9338. 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. 208-2851258 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

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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.

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Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly / SUMMER 2011