- Idaho Farm Bureau

Transcription

- Idaho Farm Bureau

June 2014 • Volume 18, Issue 4
3
Idaho Farm
Bureau Celebrates
75th Anniversary
8
Custer, Blaine
Residents Suspicious
of Monument Proposal
®
Idaho Farm Bureau
14
Jerome Farm Hosts
Area Students
It’s Time for
Some Field Work
By Bob Stallman
AFBF President
Farmers have thrown open the
doors of the machine shed, greased
up the gears and cranked up
their diesels. It’s farming season!
With Congress in session only a
few days between now and August, this also is a good time to
gear down and throttle up on
Monument Proposal Lacks
Details and Local Support
By Frank Priestley
President Idaho Farm Bureau
Federation
The Idaho Farm Bureau opposes
the creation of a Boulder-White
Cloud National Monument by presidential proclamation.
agriculture’s
policy
priorities.
forward with immigration reform.
Refueling Immigration Reform
Since then, the engine has idled a
bit, and we can’t let that happen. It’s
time to tell Congress to refuel immigration reform. Without a legal,
stable supply of labor, farmers will
continue to face labor shortages and
lost crops, and the public will face
the loss of economic activity from
agriculture and the risk that more of
See STALLMAN, page 6
In February, thousands participated in the #IFarmImmigration
campaign to bring attention to
farmers’ and ranchers’ labor challenges. That same month, more
than 600 business organizations,
including Farm Bureau, signed a
letter urging House leaders to move
Backed by environmental groups
and the Blaine County Commission, the monument would encompass 592,000 acres of federal land
in central Idaho, divided roughly
equally between an area east of the
East Fork of the Salmon River and
a region within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area.
Advocates are attempting to persuade the Obama Administration
that the area needs the protection
that a monument designation might
provide. However, their claim is
CEO Idaho Farm Bureau Federation
private property owners. When
Richard Nixon signed the law
in 1973 it didn’t seem like a big
deal. Almost everyone agreed it
was a noble cause to protect the
American bald eagle, grizzly
bear, whooping crane, alligator
and other prominent species from
harm and extinction.
The Endangered Species Act
(ESA) was never meant to apply
only to the West, although at times
it seems like that. Nor was it ever
meant to be such a nightmare for
What Congress failed to take
into account was that there were
millions of species in the world,
including thirty million species
of insects, a million and a half of
Celebrating Idaho Farm
Bureau’s 75th Anniversary
“The Endangered Species Act”
By Rick Keller
2
The Ag Agenda
Idaho Farm Bureau producer / JUNE 2014
false and details on land use restrictions that might occur under a
monument are not known. Neither
area is threatened by environmental degradation, nor is there credible evidence of such threats.
The 280,000-acre area west of the
East Fork (aka the Boulder-White
Clouds) is protected by Public
Law 92-400 that created the Sawtooth NRA in 1972. The lure of its
streams, lakes, meadows and alpine
peaks, along with healthy populaSee PRIESTLEY, page 6
fungi and tens of millions of bacteria. To some environmentalists
at least, the underlying goal of the
ESA was clearly this: “Save every
species, no matter what the cost.”
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is given the authority under the law to protect
plant and animal species. Once a
species is listed as “endangered”
or “threatened” it cannot be
hunted or harassed and its critical
habitat cannot be modified. One
See KELLER, page 7
Volume 18, Issue 4
IFBF OFFICERS
President ................................... Frank Priestley, Franklin
Vice President ...................................Mark Trupp, Driggs
Executive Vice President ............................... Rick Keller
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Bryan Searle ............................................................Shelley
Mark Harris ................................................. Soda Springs
Chris Dalley ....................................................... Blackfoot
Dean Schwendiman ........................................... Newdale
Danny Ferguson ........................................................Rigby
Scott Steele ..................................................... Idaho Falls
Gerald Marchant .................................................. Oakley
Rick Pearson ................................................... Hagerman
Rick Brune............................................................Hazelton
Curt Krantz ............................................................. Parma
Cody Chandler....................................................... Weiser
Tracy Walton ........................................................ Emmett
Marjorie French ............................................... Princeton
Alton Howell ................................................ Careywood
Tom Daniel ............................................... Bonners Ferry
Carol Guthrie ......................................................... Inkom
Luke Pearce ............................................. New Plymouth
STAFF
Dir. of Admin. Services ....................... Nancy Shiozawa
Dir. of Organization............................... Dennis Brower
Commodities & Marketing Assistant ........... Peg Pratt
Member Services Assistant ..................... Peggy Moore
Publice Relations Assistant ...................... Dixie Ashton
Dist. I Regional Manager ........................... Justin Patten
Dist. I1 Regional Manager ..............................Zak Miller
Dist. III Regional Manager .................. Charles Garner
Dist. IV Regional Manager ..........................Brody Miller
Dist. V Regional Manager ....................... Bob Smathers
Dir. of Governmental Affairs ................Russ Hendricks
Asst. Dir. of Governmental Affairs .... Dennis Tanikuni
Energy/Natural Resources ....................... Bob Geddes
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
GEM STATE PRODUCER
USPS #015-024, is published monthly
except February, May, August and November by the
IDAHO FARM BUREAU FEDERATION,
275 Tierra Vista Drive, Pocatello, ID 83201.
POSTMASTER send changes of address to:
GEM STATE PRODUCER
P.O. Box 4848, Pocatello, ID 83205-4848.
Periodicals postage paid at Pocatello, Idaho,
and additional mailing offices.
Subscription rate:
$6.00 per year included in Farm Bureau dues.
MAGAZINE CONTACTS:
Idaho Farm Bureau Federation
EDITOR (208) 239-4292 • ADS (208) 239-4279
E-MAIL: [email protected]
www.idahofb.org
Cover: The Idaho Farm Bureau Federation,
with help from the community of Murtaugh,
celebrated its 75th Anniversary on May 14.
Photo by John Thompson
Murtaugh Elementary students sang “I’m Proud to be an American” by Lee Greenwood during
a recent commemoration ceremony to recognize the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation’s 75th
Anniversary.
Idaho Farm Bureau Federation
Celebrates 75th Anniversary
By Jake Putnam
Under clear blues skies, a stone’s throw from a freshly plowed field, more than 150
people attended the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation’s 75th anniversary celebration in
Murtaugh on May 14.
The Federation got its start in this hamlet more than seven decades ago. Back then
farmers from Pocatello, Twin Falls, Lava Hot Springs and Filer met with a representative of the American Farm Bureau to form a farm-based federation that would look
after their political interests.
“This year, 2014, marks the 75th anniversary of the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation,”
said Idaho Farm Bureau President Frank Priestley. “We’re the largest general farm
organization in Idaho with active farm bureaus in 37 counties.”
During the Great Depression farmers across the nation lacked political clout. Decisions made in Washington D.C. and Boise had negative repercussions on farms. There were thousands of farms in 1939, but at that time only a handful of farmers
were organized and lobbying. Despite the fact that the farming contributed significantly to the overall economy at the time, farmers sorely lacked representation. So
the founders adopted a model being used by other states to give themselves a voice at
both the state and national level.
“Not many people know that 75 years ago this was where the state’s largest general
farm organization was formed, and we felt we had to come back,” said IFBF’s Chief
Executive Officer Rick Keller.
When President Frank Priestley took the podium he answered the question thought
by many: “Under these blue skies, why wouldn’t they meet here?” he said. “Forming
See IFBF ANNIVERSARY page 4
Idaho Farm Bureau producer / June 2014
3
IFBF ANNIVERSARY
Continued from page 3
Idaho Farm Bureau Federation officials present a check to the Murtaugh School District. The funds will be used to help build a new greenhouse at the
school.
the Idaho Farm Bureau was grass root politics in its truest form.” He added that the
Farm Bureau is the only major agriculture
organization run from the bottom up with
members setting the policy.
“There were a lot of trials and tribulations
back then,” said Priestley. “We were in the
thick of the Great Depression and farmers were barely hanging on. They needed
a safety net so they formed this federation
and later in 1947 they started an insurance
company to help protect farms from natural disasters.”
From the Farm Bureau archives in Pocatello a priceless piece of paper was reproduced for the occasion. The minutes from
that first meeting were handed out to those
attending the celebration. The notes from
that meeting still serve as the Idaho Farm
Bureau’s foundation.
“We the farmers and ranch men of Idaho
in meeting assembled in Murtaugh, Idaho,
this 15th day of September 1939, hereby
organize the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation for the purpose of affiliating with the
American Farm Bureau; to work for the
4
#
well-being of farm and ranch families,
their rights and interests whatever and
wherever they may be; to bring about and
maintain parity prices for agriculture with
Industry and Labor, and secure for agriculture a fair share of national income, to
foster, advocate and strive for an equitable,
social, educational and economic balance
between all groups in the nation…”
An audio history of the Farm Bureau was
played for the crowd followed by remarks
from Murtaugh Mayor Dee Hunsaker who
said it’s fitting that the Farm Bureau got its
start from a hard working farm community.
“Through their dedication and hard work
those founding fathers made Murtaugh
come alive with the water that is here, turning sagebrush into lush fields, enabling us
to grow all the crops we do. We not only
feed the community but the state and world
with fewer acres and yet we’re able to produce more each year,” said Hunsaker.
The Idaho Farm Bureau has more than
70,000 member families, and more than
14,000 of those families earn a majority
of their living from the land with members representing every county in the state
working together to set policy each year,
perpetually from that first meeting.
“I think one of the reasons Idaho Farm Bureau has done so well is that it’s a grassroots organization,” said Priestley. “The
direction of the organization comes from
the farm. The Farm Bureau is nothing
more than the voice of our farmers and
ranchers at the county level and I think our
members are proud of that.”
Farm Bureau members, staffers and a choir
from Murtaugh Elementary added to the
special event. Twin Falls County Farm Bureau provided refreshments for the crowd.
President Priestley and Mayor Hunsaker
unveiled a large stone monument placed
at the corner of Murtaugh’s historic City
Hall.
Local farmer Kent Mason looked on and
summed up the ceremony. ”Well, the Farm
Bureau was formed by farmers for farmers, that’s why it’s still going and it’s getting bigger every year,” he said.
LEFT: A stone was placed
at Murtaugh City Hall to
commemorate the Idaho Farm
Bureau Federation’s 75th year.
BELOW: Over 100 people attended
the event held at Murtaugh City
Hall.
5
STALLMAN
their food will come from other countries.
Clean up the Pile of Expired Tax Provisions
Some in Congress are working to renew tax policies that expired last year.
Congress has allowed the work of addressing these tax provisions to pile
up like a stack of off-season invoices.
One of the most important tax provisions
for farmers and ranchers is enhanced
small business expensing, which helps
them upgrade to more efficient and environmentally friendly equipment, purchase
livestock and build certain farm structures.
Because farmers operate on tight margins,
the ability to deduct these expenses immediately can give a farmer a way to smooth
out volatile fluctuations in farm income.
Congress also needs to extend tax credits
for renewable energy production, donations of conservation easements, food
donations to charitable groups and other tax provisions that help farmers and
ranchers be productive and profitable
while helping to achieve societal goals.
Field Scout for Regulatory Threats
fields that are wet only during rainstorms.
EPA wants to classify these areas that
shed rainfall, and features such as otherwise dry ditches, as “waters of the U.S.”
subject to federal regulation. Farm Bureau
is asking Congress to weed out that proposal, and we commend the 231 representatives and 46 senators who have signed
letters urging EPA to “Ditch the Rule.”
To keep a crop healthy, the farmer must
keep an eye out for pests and anything in
the field that doesn’t appear to be thriving.
The EPA’s “Waters of the U.S.” rule threatens to drain the vigor from routine conservation and farming activities. Landowners
would have to secure federal permits to
make ordinary changes to their cropland,
build fences or other structures, or apply
fertilizer or pesticides even in parts of
Congress has a lot of fallow ground left to
plant. “Growing conditions” in Congress
have been less than optimal. Germination
might seem slow, but we must plow ahead
with our legislators and get our farm work
done in anticipation of the harvest season
ahead.
on River is poor. The bottom land is dotted
with picturesque ranches that have coexisted with nature and been in the same families for many generations. Private property
rights are likely to be compromised if a
monument is designated.
monument overlapped the Sawtooth NRA;
5) The proposal lacks local support. Neither the Custer County Commission (85
percent of the land in question is in Custer
County), nor a majority of local residents
who spoke during a recent public hearing
believe it’s prudent to create a monument.
In addition, a rift has developed within
the environmental community because a
monument isn’t likely to provide the same
restrictions as a Boulder-White Clouds
wilderness area, which they lobbied for in
recent years but lost.
PRIESTLEY
tions of fish and wildlife, draws multitudes
in search of world-class recreational opportunities. The region has earned the reputation as a national treasure and an Idaho
crown jewel. This wouldn’t be the case if
the area were threatened as monument advocates allege.
The 312,000-acre area east of the East Fork
(aka Jerry Peak Highlands) is different in
many ways from its more famous BoulderWhite Clouds neighbor. Owing in part to
its remoteness and absence of recreationrelated destinations, the sagebrush and
rock- covered landscape receives little use
apart from a few cowhands, hunters and
ATV users. Its uses are carefully monitored and regulated by the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
Flowing between the two areas is a river
that is prime spawning habitat for anadromous fish. Wild stocks of salmon and
steelhead are struggling, but not because
water quality in the East Fork of the Salm-
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The President has the legal authority under
the Antiquities Act of 1906 to unilaterally
declare national monuments. But because
he can doesn’t mean that he should. Here
are five reasons why the Idaho Farm Bureau believes the Boulder-White Clouds
proposal makes no sense: 1) a monument
designation is not needed to safeguard the
area; 2) the establishment of a monument
by the stroke of a pen would deprive those
who live, work and recreate in the area
the opportunity to fully participate in an
important land-use decision; 3) the wellestablished equilibrium that exists among
most area users would likely be undermined; 4) consolidating the two distinct areas would surely cause confusion, conflict
and possibly litigation, particularly if the
Custer County is 96 percent federal land.
That limited tax base makes it difficult to
maintain law enforcement, fire protection
and search and rescue. Land management
throughout our state needs to move in the
other direction, away from strict federal
regulations and far-away decision making.
In our view, there is no logical reason to
invite another level of federal bureaucracy
to gain a foothold in central Idaho.
keller
Idaho, rich in fish, wildlife, and agriculture,
had one of the most-publicized battles ever
over endangered species, but the creatures
caught in the middle of the fight were not
any of the majestic ones associated with the
West, but tiny little hot springs snails.
thing the law accomplished
was giving celebrity status to
little known species of plants
and animals.
In 1978, the Farm Bureau policy stated that “the law shall
not encroach upon economic
agricultural or silvicultural
practices.” Under the law,
however, economic factors
were not considered when it
came to saving a plant or animal.
Idaho, rich in fish, wildlife,
and agriculture, had one of
the most-publicized battles
ever over endangered species,
but the creatures caught in the
middle of the fight were not
any of the majestic ones associated with the West, but tiny
little hot springs snails. “You
could easily mistake them for
pieces of grit, gravel or even
grains of sand. It’s hard to
believe something so small
could create such big problems. But some tiny snails are
posing a potentially gigantic
problem for agriculture in
Idaho,” wrote Julie Brown for
Farm Bureau News in early
1993.
USFWS planned to cut off
water rights to more than 50
farms and ranches in southwest Idaho, half of the economic activity in the area, to
avoid lowering the level of the
hot springs where the snails
were found. Farmers argued that the springs already
were being replenished after
a drought. The Wall Street
Journal said, “It sure would
be great if our laws against
say, murder and assault, were
enforced with the same zeal
as the ESA.” Even long-time
supporters of the Act in Congress found its enforcement
absurd.
the snail from the very beginning. One of the problems
with the ESA is the lack of
minimum scientific criteria
in decision-making. Species
are listed on the basis of little or no scientific evidence.
Government studies are usually done by those interested
in listing a species, and Farm
Bureau believes the results
are slanted.
Idaho Farm Bureau employee
Rayola Jacobsen led a tremendous effort in this cause.
Working as a member of the
Bruneau Snail Committee,
she led the Farm Bureau involvement which included
the Great Bruneau Snail Race
and other fund raising activities. Ultimately, the drought
ended and the controversy
waned but only after more
than $200,000 expense to
individuals, the Bruneau
Boosters, the Cattle Association and the Farm Bureau and
years of unnecessary worry
and litigation.
The battle between ESA and
private property rights continues to this day with no end
in sight.
The Bruneau Hot Springs
snail became such a cause
celebré that even Richard
Nixon mentioned it in a book
he wrote shortly before his
death in 1994. The former
president who had signed the
landmark endangered species
law in 1973 recognized that
“measures designed to protect endangered species such
as bears, wolves, and bald
eagles are now being used to
force Idaho farmers off their
land for the sake of a thumbnail-size Bruneau hot springs
snail.”
Farm Bureau and other litigants scored a first-of-itskind victory in 1994 when a
federal judge overturned the
listing of the Bruneau snail.
Judge Harold Ryan criticized
the USFWS for withholding
scientific data and having its
mind made up about listing
7
Blaine and Custer county commissioners met in early May to discuss a proposal that would utilize the Antiquities Act to create a national monument.
Blaine, Custer Officials Discuss Monument Proposal
By John Thompson
Unresolved questions about future
land management has created apprehension about a proposal to designate
a national monument that would overlap parts of both Blaine and Custer
counties in central Idaho.
Custer and Blaine county commissioners met recently to discuss a proposal brought forward by the Idaho
Conservation League and the Wilderness Society. Custer County passed a
resolution opposing a Boulder White
Clouds National Monument, while
Blaine County supports the concept.
8
Advocates are calling on President
Barack Obama to use the Antiquities
Act to create the new monument.
Residents from both counties, and
elsewhere, were given the opportunity to comment during a public hearing held May 7th in Ketchum. Those
who spoke were overwhelmingly opposed. Some said not enough details
have been released about what land
management changes might come
from creation of a monument. Many
fear that motorized recreation would
be lost, as well as grazing and other
uses. A vocal group of conservation-
ists, still lobbying for creation of a
wilderness area in the Boulder White
Clouds, are also opposed because the
designation of a monument is not restrictive enough.
Advocates presented a map at the beginning of the meeting. Initially the
proposal encompassed 570,000 acres
but was recently increased to about
592,000 acres. A sensitive area called
Malm Gulch that contains prehistoric
sequoia trees was added. The proposed monument is divided roughly
equally between an area east of the
East Fork of the Salmon River and a
region within the Sawtooth National
“States and counties frequently have viewed restrictions
Recreation Area.
Gary O’Malley, executive director of
the Sawtooth Society told commissioners his organization is concerned
about involvement from various federal agencies and overlapping management. “The action of overlaying
a monument over the SNRA should
only be taken if there is a clear and
compelling case that the monument
will provide additional protection not
currently afforded to the SNRA,” he
said. “In spite of working closely with
the advocates, we believe no such case
has been made. The SNRA is wellmanaged now.”
The Sawtooth Society, formed in
1997, is a non-profit organization
working to serve as an advocate, preserve open space, and enhance recreation opportunities in the SNRA.
A representative from the Idaho Conservation League, introduced only as
“Rob,” said some small adjustments
were made to boundaries to exclude
some private land along the Salmon
River. He said any private land located inside the monument would be
considered an “inholding” and would
not be subject to federal management.
He added that ICL and the Wilderness
Society have made agreements to accommodate the use of mountain bikes
in the proposed monument. ICL’s
website states that negotiations with
stakeholders are ongoing.
One point that was raised repeatedly
throughout the meeting is that land
use regulations are typically negotiated after designation of a monument. A
document compiled by the Congressional Research Service evaluated
how presidents have used the Antiquities Act to create monuments http://
www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41330.
pdf. Researchers found that in general, existing uses of the land that are
not precluded by proclamations and
do not conflict with the purposes of
the monument, may continue.
on federal lands in their jurisdictions as threats to economic development. They maintain that local communities are
hurt by the loss of jobs and tax revenues that result from
prohibiting/restricting future mineral exploration, timber
development or other activities.”
However, most proclamations made
since 1996 have barred new mineral
leases, mining claims, prospecting
and exploration for oil, gas and geothermal energy. Restrictions on timber harvesting, use of motorized and
mechanized off-road vehicles, hunting, fishing and grazing are common.
Typically, these land use issues are
addressed when drafting the management plan for each monument.
“States and counties frequently have
viewed restrictions on federal lands
in their jurisdictions as threats to
economic development. They maintain that local communities are hurt
by the loss of jobs and tax revenues
that result from prohibiting/restricting future mineral exploration, timber
development or other activities,” the
report states.
Blaine County Commissioner Larry
Schoen said one of their main ideas
was to focus on economic outcomes
that might be associated with the
creation of a national monument. He
invited Harry Griffith of Sun Valley
Economic Development to evaluate the economic impacts of the proposed monument. Griffith said Blaine
County businesses generate about $1
billion per year in sales, while Custer
County businesses generate about $53
million in sales.
“The relative impact for Custer County will be more significant,” Griffith
said. “For us another 100 or 1,000
visitors per year adds a little but for
you (meaning Custer County) it adds
a lot.”
Griffith added that economic impact
on Custer County is likely to be in the
range of $200,000 to $1 million per
year increase with the creation of a
new monument. He said creation of a
visitor center, or even two visitor centers would bring in several jobs.
Headwaters Economics, a non-profit
research group in Bozeman, Montana, studied 17 Western communities with national monuments nearby
and found “consistent increases in
population, employment and personal
and per-capita income in communities surrounding some of the largest
national monuments in nine Western
states.”
“The data do not prove a cause-andeffect relationship between the monuments and growth, said Ben Alexander, the firm’s associate director in an
article posted on the group’s website.
“But they do show that monuments
and economic growth are “highly
correlated.” “In no case did we find
that the creation of a national monument led to an economic downturn,”
he said.
All three Custer County commissioners could be counted as skeptical with
regard to the economic research presented. Commissioner Doyle Lamb
said Arco hasn’t prospered with the
creation of the Craters of the Moon
National Monument.
“Arco is right next to a national monument and that town’s been dying for
years,” Lamb said. “I’m not sure I see
the economic value of another monument.”
Commissioner Lin Hintze said when
he went to high school in Mackay
See MONUMENT PROPOSAL page 10
9
MONUMENT PROPOSAL
“What’s wrong with what’s being done now and how will a
national monument designation change it? Nobody in Idaho
really has a say anyway. It’s all controlled by federal agencies.”
over 50 years ago there were 100 students in the school. Today there are
fewer than 60. The number of cattle
on the range in Custer County has
also dropped by half in his lifetime,
he said.
“Being next to the largest wilderness
area in the lower 48 states has not
helped us,” Hintze said.
About 85 percent of the proposed
monument is in Custer County.
Robert Boring, who lives near Stanley, said he is not opposed to protecting public land but there are too many
unanswered questions surrounding
this proposal. “What’s wrong with
what’s being done now and how
will a national monument designation change it,” he asked. “Nobody in
Idaho really has a say anyway. It’s all
controlled by federal agencies.”
Forest and the Sawtooth National
Forest are doing a “beautiful job” of
managing the land at the present time
and although he is not opposed to additional protection of the resource, he
cannot support a “vague map without
a plan.”
Mazzotta added that she has 3,300
signatures from Idaho residents on a
petition in support of the monument
that she will send to President Obama.
That petition can be found on Facebook under Boulder-White Clouds
National Monument.
Stanley resident Charlie Thompson
said the process will cost millions
of dollars and could take up to eight
years. In addition, it could cause conflicts between the various federal
agencies that are likely to be involved.
“We could end up with multiple use
management from two agencies, wilderness study area management from
two different agencies – I don’t see
any light at the end of the tunnel and
what value does it bring? Is this about
politics or policy?”
Opponents of the monument also have
an active petition. It can be found at
www.yourboulderwhiteclouds.org. A
public hearing to discuss the monument proposal will be held at 6 p.m.
on May 29th at the Challis Event Center.
Custer County resident Campbell
Gardett said claims about the Boulder White Clouds region being “unprotected” are disingenuous and using the Antiquities Act is a mistake
with unforeseen ramifications. “From
Custer County’s standpoint, it will
wipe out a slower way of life than you
have here in Blaine County,” he said.
“There is no eminent threat to this
land so what is the rationale for using
the Antiquities Act? If we encourage
the President to sign this thing, the
consequences will be out of the control of anyone here.”
David Sundholm from Hailey, said
economic development studies don’t
typically include the value of lost
recreation. He said if a monument is
created he won’t be recreating in the
area because his preferences are either snowmobiles or motorcycles. To
Sundholm, the proposal is a land grab.
“I’m tired of being lied to by public
officials,” he said. “In my experience
anytime a large parcel of public land
goes through a change like this motorized access is lost. There is no evidence that tourism dollars will come
with this monument. If you want to
market this area, market it, but this is
the wrong thing to do.”
Ketchum resident Bruce Smith said
he is also against using the Antiquities
Act to create a monument here. He
said the SNRA, the Challis National
Dani Mazzotta an Idaho Conservation League (ICL) employee from
Ketchum said it’s important for people
who live on the East Coast to know
10
that large “in-tact” landscapes exist in
Idaho and other Western states. “Public lands are important to all Americans,” she said. “A national monument would protect this landscape for
all generations.”
Idaho has two current existing national monuments.
Craters of the Moon National Monument was created in 1924 by President
Calvin Coolidge. In 1925 visitation
reached 4,600 people. In 1956 visitation topped 100,000. The size of the
Monument increased to 5,360 acres
in 1962. In 1995 visitation reached
237,000 people and in 2000 the Monument was expanded to include all of
the Great Rift Zone, an area encompassing about 538,000 acres.
Hagerman Fossil Beds was established in 1988. It is 4,400 acres. About
3.5 million years ago it was a wet,
mostly forested flood plain, according
to the National Park Service. It’s an
important site for paleontological research and scientists are still working
there to uncover fossils. The Monument contains one of the world’s richest known deposits of horse fossils.
Here’s to bringing up the sun.
Here’s to muddy boots and grease-stained hands.
Here’s to caring for this great land.
Here’s to protecting what you live for.
We’re proud of our agricultural roots, and proud to be the insurance company so
many families rely on to protect them from the unexpected. Here’s to protecting
you, your family and your future.
www.fbfs.com
FB10 (4-14)
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Focus on Agriculture
Farmers’ Markets Grow, Adapt
to Changing Consumer Needs
By Robert Giblin
Growth in the number of farmers’
markets continued last year, and the
markets are adapting to new locations and innovative formats to meet
consumer needs.
According to the Agriculture Department, there were 8,144 farmers’
markets in 2013, an increase of 3.6
percent from 2012. The rapid growth
can be attributed to several factors,
including consumer perceptions
about superior freshness and qual12
ity; the ability to learn about farming practices; and a desire to support
local businesses and farmers. An
analysis released in 2013 by A.T. Kearney, Buying Into the Local Food
Movement, showed that consumers
trusted farmers’ markets more than
any other types of grocery venues to
deliver local food.
Growth in the number of farmers’
markets is slowing, compared with
the explosive increases of 10 percent
in 2011 and 17 percent in 2012. In
some areas, the number of farmers’
markets has reached a saturation
point. In others, there were too few
vendors to sustain the market. Yet, an increasing array of farmers’
market concepts are bringing farmers and consumers together in new
ways.
Popular in many countries with hot
climates, night-time farmers’ markets are gaining a foothold in many
large urban areas. In 2012, a “PopSee FOCUS ON AG, page 22
13
Lola Fitzgerald, foreground, recently received a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help teach children about where their food comes
from and the challenges faced by farmers and ranchers.
‘Our Food Link’ Grant Awarded to Jerome Farm
By Jake Putnam
Washington—The American
Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee recently
awarded four $700 grants to
state Farm Bureau members
from across the country. Idaho’s Lola Fitzgerald of Jerome
County was one of the recipients.
The ‘Our Food Link’ program
was established in January by
the American Farm Bureau
and is designed to teach people
about the sources of their food.
Fitzgerald has a farm near Eden
14
and each spring opens her gates
to Jerome County schools with
the goal of teaching a generation of Idaho school kids where
their food comes from.
“Our food link in Idaho is that
our food is grown on farms like
this,” said Fitzgerald. “I have
most of the producers in this
county represented and there’s
a lot of them. The food links
I’m highlighting are chicken,
beef, dairy, fish and row crops.”
Idaho ranks first in the nation
in trout farming. According to
USDA in 2011, Idaho recorded
over $38 million in sales, accounting for 50 percent of
the U.S. total. On Fitzgerald’s
farm there’s a thoughtfully
constructed trout stream using
seasonal irrigation water and
pumps that keeps fresh running
water throughout the summer.
Idaho’s dairy industry is also
represented on Fitzgerald farm
and each child gets a yogurt
treat during the open-air classroom part of the tour. Fitzgerald answered questions about
food throughout the day. Teacher Carolyn Lee praised
Fitzgerald Farm and her contribution to agriculture education.
“Lola set this up, she invited
our elementary school, she
teaches a grade at a time and
its organized because she has
all kinds of activities tailored
to each grade. The kids are involved in fishing, planting and
feeding the animals and they’re
learning where food comes
from,” said Lee.
Fitzgerald farm is the culmination of a lifelong dream for
Lola. She loves farming and
loves to teach.
“The kids need to know that if
we don’t have these farms to
produce the things we have, we
don’t have food. It is as simple
as that and I love what I’m doing,” added Fitzgerald.
“It’s a great honor that Lola’s
Farm was singled out for this
project,” said Idaho Farm Bureau President Frank Priestley.
“She has something special
going at that farm and I can’t
think of a better winner, it is
well deserved.”
The AFBF Grant-winning
programs like Fitzgerald Farm
demonstrate a strong connection between the food system
and agriculture that creatively
engages food buyers while
teaching everything about food
and agricultural products.
During the spring and fall
months of school, Fitzgerald’s
farm fills a void for educators.
Field trip budgets in some districts are tight and teachers
want to get good educational
bang for their buck according
to Carolyn Lee.
“This a rural county but most of
these kids are already removed
from the farm,” said Fitzgerald.
“When they think food, it’s fast
food and the farm is lost in the
shuffle. It feels great to show
them the ag-link and how food
familiar to them comes from
farms like this.”
“Year-round outreach through
‘Our Food Link’ is more important than ever because the
average American is now at
least three generations removed
from the farm,” explained Terry Gilbert, a Kentucky farmer
and chair of the AFBWLC. Farm and ranch families make
up less than 2 percent of the
U.S. population today.
Throughout the year, Farm
Bureau members like Lola
Fitzgerald help people of all
ages and backgrounds connect
with their sources of clothing,
food, shelter and energy in their
communities. Fitzgerald serves
on the Jerome County Farm
Bureau Women’s Leadership
Committee. They do things
like set up booths at farmers›
markets, talk to lawmakers and
even volunteer for interactive
booths at county fairs.
‘Our Food Link’ activities also
include food collection and
cash donations for the Ronald
McDonald House. Each student that visited Fitzgerald’s
farm brought a can of food and
by the end of the day they had a
sizable donation.
The launch of the program was
spearheaded in January by the
AFB Women›s Leadership
Committee, although Gilbert
noted, “All Farm Bureau members are invited and encouraged to consider participating
in ‘Our Food Link’ activities.
The flexibility of the program
makes it a great fit for anyone
looking for creative ways to
reach the non-farming public
with information about today’s
agriculture,” she said.
Workshops, train rides and fishing were all part of the program for Jerome County students.
15
FB1000
16
17
Wildfire and Wildlife:
Living in Fire-Based
Ecosystems
returned within hours or days.
Article and photos by Yvonne C. Barkley
Many people believe that all wildlife flee
before the flames of a wildfire like the
animated characters in the movie Bambi.
Contrary to this belief, during the 1988
burns in and around Yellowstone Park,
animal behavioral scientists didn’t observe
large animals fleeing the flames; instead,
most seemed completely indifferent even
to crowning fires. Bison, elk, and other ungulates grazed and rested within sight of
flames, often 100 yards or less from burning trees. Smaller mammals and most birds
that left their habitat while it was burning
An animal’s ability to survive a wildfire depends on their mobility and on the
fire’s uniformity, severity, size, and duration. Large animals die most often in very
large, active fires with wide flaming fronts,
crown fires, and thick ground smoke. For
example, most of the large animals killed
in the Yellowstone fires of 1988 died of
smoke inhalation. Animals with limited
mobility living above ground are most
vulnerable to fire caused injury and mortality. Animals that live in moist habitats,
such as amphibians, are the least likely to
be affected. Season is also important, with
burning during the nesting season being
the most damaging.
Wildfire most commonly affects wildlife
by modifying the proportions and arrangements of habitats across a landscape. Wildlife habitats are not static, but evolve in response to fires and the subsequent changes
in vegetation and structure that follow.
Immediately after a fire, food and shelter
are temporarily lost. Hidden runways and
Yellowstone Park after the 1988 wildfires.
18
burrow openings become exposed and predation increases. Particular successional
stages or structures are important to many
wildlife species when looking for a place
to hide, escape to, or reproduce in. Species will immigrate to new areas when the
food and cover they require are not available after a burn. The time it takes for a
particular species to return to an area will
depend on how much fire altered habitat
structures and food supplies. Unburned
areas adjacent to burned areas create a
mosaic, increasing wildlife choices from
a range of habitat structures and conditions. Wildlife populations can shift from
species that require cool, moist conditions,
such as warblers and wood mice, to species
that require warm, dry conditions, such as
ground squirrels and quail.
Herbivores, and species that prefer herbaceous vegetation for cover, prefer early
successional, grass/forb habitats or broadleafed seedlings that establish after a burn.
Depending on the vegetation type, burning
often increases or improves wildlife forage
from a few years to as long as 100 years.
dwelling and aquatic invertebrates generally suffer little
immediate damage, though indirect and long-term effects are
less understood or unknown.
Earthworms generally live four
to eight inches under the soil
surface where they are protected from the direct effects of
heating. Amphibians and reptiles avoid the direct effects of
wildfire by either moving away
from it or burrowing into the
soil.
Unburned areas adjacent to burned areas create a mosaic of conditions,
allowing wildlife a choice from a range of habitats.
Sometimes, the nutritional content and digestibility of plants
increases for a few years. Dead
wildlife becomes food for scavengers, including grizzly and
black bears, wolves, coyotes,
bald and golden eagles, crows,
and ravens, and fire-killed trees
provide food for millions of
insect larvae (and the animals
that feed on them) and provide
perches for raptors.
As succession continues, conifers succeed broad-leafed trees,
which become snags and add
to dead wood accumulating on
the ground. Snags and downed
logs provide important habitat
for cavity nesters, small mammals, and even large mammals like bears. Shrubs and
saplings invade openings created by downed and dead trees.
When interspersed with dense
patches of shrubs and trees in
long-unburned areas, open-
ings provide excellent food and
cover for deer and elk. By suppressing wildfire, this mosaic
of disturbance-born habitats
succeed to forests, and wildlife
species dependent on early and
mid-successional stages move
away.
Invertebrate populations tend
to decrease after a wildfire because eggs, food supplies, and/
or shelter are destroyed. Flying
insects are especially vulnerable because they are attracted
to fire by heat or smoke and are
incinerated in great numbers.
Surface insect populations,
such as grasshoppers, also tend
to decrease. Other insect populations, especially bark beetles
and woodborers, increase after a fire, as damaged or killed
trees provide large amounts of
suitable habitat. Ants also tend
to increase after fires and can
eat large amounts of seed. Soil
Wetlands are less likely to
burn, and when they do, they
burn less severely than upland
sites. Wetlands provide a refuge
from wildfires for many wildlife species and activities such
as breeding by aquatic species
may be carried out with little
interruption. Although fire in
wetland areas usually increases open water and stimulates
vegetation favored by many
aquatic and semiaquatic species, removing adjacent riparian habitat can cause problems.
Riparian vegetation shades
wetland habitats and vegetative root systems hold the soil
and prevent or decrease deposition of sediment into the water.
When riparian vegetation is
removed, water temperatures
may increase and dissolved oxygen content decreases, which
can increase fish diseases and
reduce spawning efficiency.
Fine sediment can also clog fish
gills, suffocate eggs and aquatic larvae on the bottom of the
stream, and fill in the spaces
between bottom cobbles where
fish lay eggs.
From the elk browsing in the
meadows to the trout swimming in the streams, western
wildlife has evolved and adapted to living with fire.
Yvonne Barkley is an associate extension forester for the
University of Idaho. She can be
reached at yvonnec@uidaho.
edu
Western wildlife has evolved and is adapted to living with the aftermath
of wildfires.
19
A group of Australian ranchers were given a tour of Bannock and Power counties and introduced to the owner of Lakeview Ag Russ Fehringer in early
May. Fehringer, discussed beef production in Idaho and showed the group some of his Red Angus cattle.
Australian Ranchers Visit East Idaho
By John Thompson
About 30 cattle producers from the state of
Queensland Australia visited eastern Idaho
in early May.
Coming from a sub-tropical climate, many
in the group did not expect temperatures in
the low to mid 40’s. The cattle they raise
are mainly Brahma cross with Simmental
and Charolais but they were interested in
learning more about the Angus and Hereford breeds.
A visit to Lakeview Ag near American
20
Falls was arranged for the group through
the Idaho Farm Bureau. Lakeview Ag
owner Russ Fehringer discussed trends
in the cattle business and the ins and outs
of showing cattle at large livestock shows
with the group. Fehringer has won awards
at several national shows including the
Denver Livestock Show and the Fort Worth
Stock Show. They discussed prices and
auction trends, converting weights from
metric to standard, and concluded that in
general Australian cattle fetch lower prices
in the auction ring but cost of production is
probably lower there also.
Queensland is located in the northeast corner of Australia. It is home to about four
million people. Farmers there produce bananas, pineapples, peanuts, cereal grains,
wine grapes, cattle, cotton, sugar cane and
wool. It is also a mining region producing
bauxite, coal, silver, lead, zinc, gold and
copper.
Following their visits in northern Utah and
eastern Idaho, the group stayed in Jackson
Hole, Wyoming and toured a cow/calf operation near there.
American farm bureau federation news
Retail Meat Prices: Up, Up and Away
Summer grilling season will cost meat lovers a few more dollars this year, according
to the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Wholesale meat prices climbed higher during the first quarter of the year and retail
meat prices quickly followed suit.
“Retail prices for beef and pork cuts have
steadily pushed into new record territory,”
said John Anderson, AFBF’s deputy chief
economist.
“For pork, the average retail price per
pound in March – $3.83 – was higher than
the prior four months and eclipsed the record level set last fall,” Anderson said.
“For beef, the price move in March was
more dramatic. Consumers saw the sixth
straight month of new record retail prices
for fresh beef products, at $5.40 per pound,
which is a 23-percent increase compared to
the 2010-2012 average,” he explained.
Agriculture Department.
The sharp increase in retail beef prices has
not occurred in a vacuum, Anderson noted.
Retail pork prices are currently 18 percent
higher than in 2010-2012 while chicken is
up 9 percent.
Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus or PEDv,
a serious hog disease that poses no risk to
humans or food safety, is expected to result
in a 2 percent decline in 2014 production
according to USDA, further influencing retail prices for bacon, ham, pork chops and
other products.
“Farmers and ranchers are raising smaller
numbers of hogs and cattle. This is the key
factor contributing to higher retail meat
prices, a trend that is likely to continue
through the summer and, at least for beef,
into next year,” Anderson said.
The long-term effects of searing back-toback droughts in 2011 and 2012 resulted in
less feed available for cattle, and ultimately
forced a substantial decline in cattle numbers that is now resulting in lower beef
production. Year-to-date beef production is
down by close to 5 percent according to the
The good news for consumers is that although they will pay a bit more for meats
this summer, there will be plenty of everyone’s favorites to go around.
“Meat supplies will continue to be plentiful,” said Anderson. “From burgers to
brats, steaks to chops and everything in
between, consumers will have no problem
finding their favorite meats for summer
barbeques and cook-outs,” he said.
Lower Old-Crop Soybean and
Corn Numbers Forecast
A new report from the Agriculture Department provides the first projections for the
2014-15 crop marketing year. But the more
compelling story in the World Agriculture
Supply and Demand Estimate is in the
old-crop soybean and corn stock numbers,
according to the American Farm Bureau
Federation.
Ending stocks for old-crop soybeans were
reduced by 5 million bushels to a projected
130 million bushels. This is a projected
stocks-use ratio of 3.8 percent or about a
14-day supply of soybeans available at the
end of the 2013-14 marketing year.
“If the projections are realized, we’re looking at a record-tight level of soybean ending
stocks, which is cause for some concern,”
said Todd Davis, a crops economist with
AFBF. USDA’s ending stock projection for
soybeans is slightly lower than anticipated
by industry analysts.
Tempering the likelihood of tight ending
soybean stocks is the fact that a record crop
is projected to go into the ground – 81.5
million acres – based on USDA’s prospective plantings survey. A record production
for the nation’s soybean crop, 3.635 billion
bushels, is forecast, based on record yield
of 45.2 bushels per acre.
The April report lowered 2013-14 corn
ending stocks to 1.146 billion bushels because of strong demand in the export and
ethanol markets. The 2014 corn crop is expected to come in at a record 13.935 bil-
lion bushels, slightly higher than the prior
year. Strong demand from foreign markets
coupled with continued steady use for feed
and ethanol production is expected to consume about 13.39 billion bushels by the end
of the 2014-15 marketing year.
Despite the abundant crop projections
which illustrate great production capacity,
Davis sounded a note of caution regarding
Mother Nature.
“Farmers are still out there facing the reality of unpredictable weather as they work
to get their crops in the ground, favorable
weather during the growing season and
then cooperative weather again at harvest
time,” he said. “There’s still a long way to
go before the crops are in the bin.”
21
focus on ag
Up Greenmarket” in an
empty lot in Harlem became the first night-time
farmers’ market in New
York City. In other cities,
night-time farmers’ markets allow consumers to
buy farm-fresh products
after a busy day at work.
They have become popular
gathering places for food,
socializing, entertainment
and even romance. “States
and counties frequently
have viewed restrictions on
federal lands in their jurisdictions as threats to economic development. They
maintain that local communities are hurt by the loss of
jobs and tax revenues that
result from prohibiting/
restricting future mineral
exploration, timber development or other activities,”
Farmers’ markets are also
serving both corporate and
factory workers. Smallerscale, roving markets are
set up for short periods of
time in office building lobbies and factory parking
lots, so busy, time-stressed
workers can take shop during breaks, lunch periods
and work hours.
Farmers’ markets are now
being featured, rated and
evaluated as tourist destinations, with “top 10” lists
and travel recommendations in numerous national
magazines,
newspapers
and travel sites. In 1994,
USDA began publishing
the National Directory of
Farmers’ Markets, with upto-date information about
locations, dates and hours
22
of operation, websites and
methods of payment accepted. Farmers’ markets are now
also reaching some of the
nation’s most distressed
consumers. Once criticized
for catering largely to more
lucrative consumers, farmers’ markets are now being
established in “food deserts”—areas where affordable, nutritious food is difficult to obtain. And thousands of markets
accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
benefits, formerly known
as food stamps. By providing the point-of-sale equipment needed to process
payments from the Electronic Benefits Transfer
Cards used by SNAP recipients and beneficiaries of
other programs—like the
Women, Infants and Children program—USDA is
fostering access to fresher
foods. Early studies indicate that the ability to use
EBT cards and other incentives are starting to improve healthy eating habits
of SNAP recipients.
Adapting to meet diverse
consumer needs and to
serve those who previously
lacked access to farmers’
markets is starting to pay
off, and not just for farmers. USDA estimated that farmers’ market sales exceeded
$1 billion in 2005, and
some industry experts believe sales approached $7
billion last year. In a report
issued in 2012, The Economic Impact of Farmers
Markets: A Study of 9 Markets in 3 Major U.S. Cities, Market Umbrella—a
nonprofit organization devoted to cultivating public
markets, showed that famers’ markets generate significant economic benefits
for vendors, host neighborhoods and surrounding
communities. In the studied cities, impact on vendors ranged from $52,000
to $40.5 million per market; impact on nearby businesses was $19,900 to $15.7
million; and on communities, $72,000 to $56.3 million. Along with the economic
impact, farmers’ markets
offer a rare opportunity for
agriculture and consumers to connect in-person.
It’s a chance to entice and
educate consumers about
where their food comes
from and how it is raised
or grown. Almost no other
shopping experience brings
consumers and agriculture
together to build trust by
meeting face to face.
Robert Giblin consults,
writes and speaks about
agriculture and food industry issues and trends.
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23
Grain Marketing with Clark Johnston
Consider Historical,
Seasonal Market Trends
Clark Johnston
By Clark Johnston
I still run into people who
talk about the days when the
market wouldn’t move more
than 5 to 10 cents in either
direction during the entire
year. Now if the wheat and
corn markets don’t move at
least a nickel during the day
we feel that there really isn’t
anything going on. A few
years ago I heard an elderly
gentleman say that when
he was a young man many
people learned by trial and
error. He then went on to
say that we can’t afford to
do that today.
It is important that we learn
from those that came before
us as well as history itself.
Even though the markets
have changed over the years
with more players (speculators) we still see the historical trends coming into
play year after year. When
we look at the fundamental numbers, the weather as
well as the technical indicators they tell us sometimes
more than we really want to
know or need to know.
I’m not discounting the importance of knowing the
fundamental numbers as
well as knowing how to
read some of the technical
indicators but, let’s remem24
ber to look at the historical
seasonal trends as part of
our marketing plan.
This year the Chicago July
wheat futures began a rally
towards the middle of April
and the market moved 64
cents higher by the first
week in May. The futures
then moved 64 cents lower
by the third week of May.
Futures moved right back to
where we were the middle
of April.
During this time frame we
had news of just how bad
the Hard Red Winter wheat
crop was going to be. There
were less than favorable
weather conditions with
cold temperatures as well as
a lack of moisture in some
areas. The news moved the
market higher and the news
moved the market lower. It
is safe to say that this was a
volatile time in the market.
Having said this, what
would you say if I told you
we have seen this same pattern over the past 15 years?
It would also be safe to say
that we have experienced
this type of market during
this time frame over the past
30 years. The dates aren’t
exact but, if we give or take
just a few days we can see
this seasonal trend.
If you are beating yourself
up for missing the higher
bids just a few months ago
my advice is “don’t.” Prices for your wheat may not
move back up to where we
were but, there is a good
chance that we will move
higher as we move into the
end of July and into the fall.
The corn market has recently experienced this same
movement. Back in the first
part of February the futures were showing a carry
in the market. The market
has since moved to a flat
and even a small inverse at
times. From the first week
in February through the first
week in April the December
futures moved 55 cents per
bushel higher. From April
into the third week in May
December futures moved 40
cents lower. On the 20th of
May corn futures were only
15 cents higher than the first
of February.
As with the wheat market we
also see a correction in the
futures from the first part
of May through the end of
June. Historically the corn
market has a good chance of
finding strength from July
into the end of September
before once again moving
lower into the first of October.
As with any fundamental
news or trading platform the
seasonal charts aren’t an exact science but, we shouldn’t
discount them thinking that
things are completely different now than they were
5, 10 or even 20 years ago.
History does have a way
of repeating itself and the
seasonal trends in the commodities markets are a very
good example of that.
It would be good to use this
data along with the fundamental numbers and the
technical charts when planning your marketing strategy for the months ahead.
Over the years our equipment has become bigger
and better, giving us the
capability to do a better job
in producing our crops. We
should also remember the
additional tools that are now
available for us to be able to
merchandise our crops at a
profit.
Clark Johnston is a grain
marketing specialist who
is on contract with the
Idaho Farm Bureau. He is
the owner of JC Management Company in Northern
Utah. He can be reached at
[email protected]
County Happenings
Bonner County Farm Bureau
sponsored a candidate forum on
May 7 featuring local and state
candidates for office. The event
took place at the Catholic Church
in Sandpoint with about 125
people attending. The questions
asked ranged from federal lands
to other natural resource issues
to term limits and common core.
Photo by Bob Smathers
25
Top Farm Bureau Agents
Rookie of the Month:
Garren Taylor
Palmer Agency
Agent of the Month:
Jonathan Jensen
Schmitt Agency
Agency of the Month:
Gliege Agency
26
27
Rodents Cause Liability Risk for Landowners
By Matt Brechwald
Could gophers, ground squirrels, voles or
rock chucks on your land be a liability risk
to you? The short answer is “yes.” Below is a list of cases and laws to demonstrate this. The main take away from
this is that if you have these pests and you
have neighbors you have an obligation
under law. Most of the cases cited below
involve canal companies and agricultural
land. However, they all demonstrate that
the person or entity with the gopher problem can be held financially responsible for
their failure or negligence when it comes
to controlling gophers or other burrowing
rodents.
Every state will have laws that relate to
this. Let’s look at Idaho Laws to get an
idea of what they look like:
Idaho State Code 25-2601 (translation - Title 25, Chapter 26, Section 01)
This state code is what establishes the
duty of the landowner. Basically, it states
that a landowner has a duty to control gophers and ground squirrels. As a “catch
all” it also includes the term “burrowing
rodents.” This will include voles and rock
chucks.
So, if your question is to whether or not
you have any obligation to take action as
a landowner in Idaho when these pests are
present - the answer is “yes.”
Idaho State Code 25-2606 (translation - Title 25, Chapter 26, Section 06)
This state code gives the county you live
in legal authority to enter your land to control these pests if you have been given notice and have refused to do anything.
Before you say “great, let them take care
of my gophers”, realize that the county
or state is likely to bill you for this since
they can only enter your land after a process of trying to get you to clean up the
gopher or other pest problem yourself.
Look Up. Look Around.
Be Safe.
Always keep equipment at least 10 feet away from
overhead power lines. Your safety depends on it.
idahopower.com/safety
28
What
about
civil
liability? Let me start by saying that the author is
not an attorney. However, I took the liberty of looking up some Idaho cases that
involve gophers to give you an example. Here are some very brief explanations of
these cases:
Bedke vs. Pickett Ranch & Sheep Company
In this particular lawsuit part of the cause
of the agricultural damage and one of the
reasons cited in the lawsuit was a lack of
control of gophers. In this case gophers
had chewed though a buried “poly-pipe”
that was approximately three feet deep. This caused the need for repeated repairs
over the years, ultimately to a dispute between neighbors, cropland damage and a
lawsuit.
Nampa
&
Meridian
Irrigation
District
v.
Mussell
This particular situation was caused by
See RODENTS, page 31
Farm
Bureau
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pricing). Only customers who have been active members of an eligible Farm Bureau for a minimum of 30
days will be eligible to receive a certificate. Customers can obtain certificates at www.fbverify.com/gm. Farm
Bureau and the FB logo are registered service marks of the American Farm Bureau Federation and are used
herein under license by General Motors.
29
2014 Idaho Farm Bureau Scholarship Winners
The following are the recipients of the 2014 Idaho Farm Bureau Scholarships.
The scholarships are provided by the IFBF Scholarship Fund, Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company,
State Women’s Committee and Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee.
Each will receive a $750 scholarship.
Abby
Shupe
Dillon
Blair
West Jefferson High
School
Kendrick Jr./Sr. High
School
Brian
Bagley
Zachary
Thibault
Teton High School
Jerome High School
Kate
Wood
Justin
Nesbitt
Bonners Ferry High
School
Meridian High School
Maria Delos
Angels Venegas
Bethany
Jensen
Kimberly High School
Preston High School
30
RODENTS
uncontrolled gophers repeatedly tunneling
through a canal bank, leading to seepage. What I found interesting about this case is
that the landowner grew frustrated with
seepage from the canal onto his land due
to tunneling gophers. So, he dug away the
canal bank, which the canal company had
an easement on and responsibility for.
The landowner intended to repair the bank
and stop the seepage but he did not get it
done in time for irrigation season. So, the
canal company came in and fixed the canal
- leaving him with a bill of over $100,000.
What is so interesting is that nobody controlled the gophers. Why not? If that had
been done in the first place by the canal
company or the landowner then this whole
issue could have been avoided at minimal
expense.
Brizendine
v.
Nampa
Meridian
Irrigation
District
This is another break in a canal bank. In
this case residential property was flooded
inside the City of Boise. In the lawsuit
three experts were brought in to assess the
cause of the break in the canal bank. Each
of them cited gophers as either the main
reason or a contributing cause.
Johnson v. Burley Irrigation District
This appears to be very important case regarding gophers in Idaho. It was appealed
to the Idaho Supreme Court, which means
the ruling applies everywhere in the state.
portant is the ruling which states that the
landowners were not just entitled to compensation for the damage to their crops. They were also entitled to compensation
for the damage to the land.
In this particular case from 1963 they cited
a loss in value of their land of $100/acre (in
After gophers weakened a ditch bank it
addition to crop loss) based on compaction
broke open and flooded out 10 acres of poand loss of fertility to the soil. According
tatoes, ruining the crop. The defendant in
to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Inflation
the case cited an Idaho law stating that he
Calculator that would be well over $700/
could not be held liable for “acts of God.” acre in today’s dollars.
The Supreme Court ruled that the damage
caused by gophers or other burrowing ro- Gophers are a constant issue for farmers in
dents were not considered an “act of God” Idaho. Where will you put controlling gobecause the land owner had the ability to phers on your priority list with the knowlintervene and control the problem.
edge that you could be civilly liable for the
damage they cause on your own land?
This means that a land owner cannot just throw their hands up and Matt Brechwald is a small acreage farmer
say “it wasn’t my responsibility.” and the owner of Idaho Gopher Control
in Kuna, Idaho. He speaks about gopher
Casey
v.
Nampa
&
Me- control and educates farmers and the pubridian
Irrigation
District lic as often as possible. You can contact
This case has significance for reasons oth- Matt through his website www.idahogoer than whether or not someone could be phercontrol.com, through email matt@
held liable for damage caused by gophers. idahogophercontrol.com or on the teleIn this case cropland was flooded for a dif- phone:(208) 573-0978
ferent reason than gophers. What is imIdaho Farm Bureau producer / June 2014
31
County Happenings
Kootenai-Shoshone Farm Bureau
President Joe Dobson presents
an Idaho Farm Bureau Friend of
Agriculture Award to State Senator
Steve Vick in Coeur d’Alene. Photo
by Bob Smathers
The Idaho Farm Bureau Collegiate Young Farmer and Rancher Committee recently toured Hilco Technology in Nezperce. Hilco specializes in
customizing combines for use on steep terrain. Pictured from left to right are Jeff Kaufman, Sam Emmert, Shane Stubbers, Tara Stubbers, Diana Keller,
and Gus Kreder. Photo by Bob Smathers
32
American farm bureau federation news
The Farm Bill: How it Works
The American Farm Bureau Federation has produced a new series of videos and launched a website (http://goo.
gl/ujjnny) to help farmers, landowners
and other stakeholders better understand the provisions of the 2014 farm
bill. Featured content includes videos
on key commodity program and crop
insurance provisions of the farm bill.
“We have distilled down a massive
and complex piece of legislation – the
2014 farm bill – into several ‘bite-size’
pieces, with the goal of helping farmers and managers understand how it
will affect their farms,” said John An-
derson, deputy chief economist with
AFBF.
“Now that safety net and risk management tools important in crop planning are in place, along with the new
program for dairies, the next step is
for farmers to be able to move forward with confidence in determining
the best options for their individual
farms,” Anderson said. “We created
the farm bill video series with that goal
in mind.”
The videos include a farm bill overview describing the basic provisions
of the commodity title, including a
description of the decisions related to
program participation that will need to
be made by farmers and landowners.
Four other videos go in-depth on the
Price Loss Coverage and Supplemental Coverage Option, the Agricultural
Risk Coverage Program, the Stacked
Income Protection Program for Cotton and the Dairy Margin Protection
Program.
Links to useful farm bill information
from USDA, land-grant universities,
and other organizations also is available on the website at http://goo.gl/ujjnny.
4 Reasons Ditch the Rule is Cool
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 1, 2014 – Static, cluttered websites dedicated to public policy issues litter the Internet. But
a handful of policy websites rise above the ho-hum. Below
are five reasons Farm Bureau’s new Ditch the Rule website
(ditchtherule.fb.org) is cool:
1. “Why” is front and center.
Why the Ditch the Rule campaign was launched is front and
center on the website. You’re not left guessing about why
the campaign exists or trying to find an explanation that’s
buried deep in the bowels of a clunky site that’s a nightmare
to navigate.
2. A picture really is worth 1,000 words.
3. Candid, powerful insights.
Bob Stallman, president of American Farm Bureau, pulls
no punches when it comes to explaining why all Americans should be concerned about the proposed rule. “The
rule is an end run around congressional intent and rulings
by the U.S. Supreme Court,” Stallman points out. In addition, “Congress makes the laws of the land, not EPA and the
Army Corps of Engineers.”
4. Interactivity, baby.
Reach members of Congress with your views, tweet to your
followers and send comments to federal agencies with a few
mouse clicks.
Color photos of dry ditches and seasonal streams that the
Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers intend to regulate under its proposed “waters of the
U.S.” rule vividly tell the story.
33
Changes Announced
to Fruit and Vegetable
Planting Rules
USDA’s Farm Service Agency
(FSA) has announced fruit,
vegetable and wild rice provisions that affect producers who
intend to participate in certain
programs authorized by the
Agricultural Act of 2014. “Similar to previous programs
that we’ve administered, planting fruits, vegetables or wild
rice on base acres on a farm
can result in a payment reduction for program participants,”
said Aaron Johnson, Acting
State Executive Director for
the Idaho FSA. “I would also
encourage beginning farmers,
who are unfamiliar with how
‘base’ acres or ‘payment’ acres
are determined, to contact one
of our 29 offices statewide or
stop by and speak with an FSA
representative.”
Producers who intend to participate in the Agriculture Risk
Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss
Coverage (PLC) programs are
subject to an acre-for-acre payment reduction when fruits and
nuts, vegetables or wild rice are
planted on the payment acres
of a farm. Payment reductions
do not apply to mung beans,
dry peas, lentils or chickpeas. Planting fruits, vegetables or
wild rice on acres that are not
considered payment acres will
not result in a payment reduction. Farms that are eligible
to participate in ARC/PLC but
are not enrolled for a particular year may plant unlimited
fruits, vegetables and wild rice
34
for that year but will not receive
ARC/PLC payments for that
year. Eligibility for succeeding
years is not affected.
Planting and harvesting fruits,
vegetables and wild rice on
ARC/PLC acreage is subject
to the acre-for-acre payment
reduction when those crops
are planted on either more than
15 percent of the base acres of
a farm enrolled in ARC using
the county coverage or PLC,
or more than 35 percent of the
base acres of a farm enrolled in
ARC using the individual coverage.
Fruits, vegetables and wild
rice that are planted in a double-cropping practice will not
cause a payment reduction if
the farm is in a double-cropping region as designated by
the USDA’s Commodity Credit
Corporation.
WSU announces the
name for its stellar
new apple
The newest Washington State
University apple, designated
WA 38, is one step closer to
hitting supermarkets with announcement of its brand name,
Cosmic Crisp.
The name was chosen after an
extensive process led by Carolyn Ross, associate professor in
the WSU School of Food Science.
“It was quite a process,” she
said. “I think people didn’t
realize how much names can
influence their purchasing be-
havior until they started talking
about them.”
Ross hosted several focus
groups in Washington locations including Pullman, Yakima and Seattle. Participants
were presented with a list of
potential names to discuss.
During the process a theme
emerged due to the pattern on
the rosy cheeks of the apple.
“One of the striking things
about the apple is that it’s got
lenticels, little spots that look
like starbursts,” said Ross, “so
people were interested in pursuing names related to outer
space and the cosmos.”
One of the outstanding attributes of this apple is its crisp
texture. “Crisp” also links the
WSU apple to its parent, Honeycrisp.
Cosmic Crisp apples will not
be widely available to consumers until 2019. WSU is working
with a number of Northwest
Nursery Improvement Institute-affiliated nurseries and
other producers to increase WA
38 planting stock.
Cosmic Crisp was developed
by crossing Enterprise and
Honeycrisp in 1997.
The tree is upright and spreading with moderately low vigor,
so it won’t grow rampantly or
oversized. It is precocious,
meaning it will start producing fruit at a younger age, with
spur development beginning on
2-year-old wood.
House Approves
WRRDA Conference
Report
The U.S. House of Representatives recently approved the
conference report on H.R.
3080, the Water Resources
Reform and Development Act,
on a 412 to 4 vote. H.R. 3080
passed the House by a vote of
417 to 3 last October and the
Senate’s version of WRDA, S.
601, was approved 83 to 14 last
May. House and Senate conferees reached agreement on
a final measure last week, and
now both chambers of Congress must approve the conference report in order to send it to
the president to be signed into
law.
The final conference report
contains the majority of Farm
Bureau’s priorities, including
improvements to the Harbor
Maintenance Trust Fund and
the Inland Waterways Trust
Fund.
AFBF on Tuesday urged Congress to pass the Water Resources Reform and Development Act. “Passage of the
Water Resources Reform and
Development Act is a priority
issue for the American Farm
Bureau Federation and our 6
million members who depend
on an efficient and reliable inland waterway system linked
to competitive ports,” noted
AFBF President Bob Stallman
in a news release.
Number of PEDv
Cases Continues to
Climb
Committee
Completes Markup of
Appropriation Bill
The Senate Appropriations
Subcommittee on Agriculture
passed its fiscal year 2015 agriculture appropriations bill
on Tuesday. The bill contains
$20.575 billion in discretionary
spending, which is $90 million
below the level enacted in fiscal 2014. No amendments were
offered but Sen. Susan Collins
(R-Maine) stated her intention
to offer an amendment regarding the inclusion of white potatoes as eligible for purchase
through the Women, Infants,
and Children program. Unlike
the House bill the Senate bill
does not include the white potato in the WIC program. HSUS Pays $15.75
Million Settlement
The Humane Society of the
United States, along with codefendants, have paid Feld
Entertainment, Inc., the parent company of Ringling Bros.
and Barnum & Bailey Circus,
$15.75 million to settle cases stemming from a lawsuit
brought against Ringling Bros.
over the care of its Asian elephants. This historic settlement
payment to Feld Entertainment
ends nearly 14 years of litigation between the parties.
“We hope this settlement payment, and the various court decisions that found against these
animal rights activists and
their attorneys, will deter individuals and organizations from
bringing frivolous litigation
like this in the future,” said
Kenneth Feld, Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of Feld
Entertainment. “This settlement is a significant milestone
for our family-owned business
and all the dedicated men and
women who care for the Ringling Bros. herd of 42 Asian
elephants. We look forward to
continuing to set the standard
for providing world-class care
for all our animals and producing high quality, family entertainment.”
State-mandated GMO
Labels Will Drive up
Food Prices
A recent study showing how
mandatory labels for foods
made with genetically modified ingredients would cost
families in one state hundreds
of additional dollars each year
at the grocery store is yet another reason why Congress
shouldn’t delay in passing the
bipartisan Safe and Accurate
Food Labeling Act, according
to farmers and ranchers. In making it clear that the Food
and Drug Administration is the
nation’s foremost authority on
the use and labeling of foods
containing GM ingredients, the
Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act will provide a federal
solution to protect consumers
from a confusing patchwork
of 50-state GMO labeling policies, and the misinformation
and high food costs that would
come with them, explained
Andrew Walmsley, American
Farm Bureau Federation biotech specialist. The number of cases of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus in the U.S. continues to
climb, according to the latest
data from the American Association of Swine Veterinarians. The number of current
confirmed “case submissions”
(one or more samples from one
or more farms from a single
or multiple days of testing) is
at 6,421 since the disease was
first discovered in the in the
U.S. a year ago. Paragon Economics president Steve Meyer,
president of Paragon Economics, has estimated that up to 7
million pigs have died from
PEDv in North America.
Proposed EPA Rule
Could Hurt Arizona’s
Water Supply
An editorial in Sunday’s Arizona Republic titled “Proposed
EPA rule could hurt Arizona’s
water supply,” noted: “Alarm
bells are being sounded by
Sens. Jeff Flake and John McCain, the Arizona Farm Bureau, water lawyers, ranchers
and the head of Central Arizona Project.” Further, “Environmental-law attorney Michelle De Blasi said if the EPA
is not expanding jurisdiction, it
needs to specifically state that
in the final rule. The proposed
rule is open to interpretation
and court challenges.”
The editorial also refers to a
recent op-ed by rancher and
Arizona Farm Bureau First
Vice President Stefanie Smallhouse, who wrote that “every
dry wash in Arizona would
now be considered ‘connected’
to a navigable waterway and
subject to a permit” if the proposed rule goes into effect.
AFBF believes EPA’s proposed
rule is an end run around Congress and the Supreme Court.
For more information about
AFBF’s Ditch The Rule campaign, visit ditchtherule.fb.org.
House GOP
Releases Ag Budget
House Republicans proposed
a $20.9 billion budget for agriculture and food safety programs recently, an 82-page
bill that challenges the White
House on nutrition rules and
denies major new funding
sought by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to
better regulate the rich derivatives market.
The CFTC fares better than in
the past in that the GOP allows
for a modest $3 million increase for information technology investments. But the $218
million budget is still $62 million less than President Barack
Obama’s request and continues
a pattern that has frustrated
the administration’s ability to
implement Wall Street reforms
called for under the DoddFrank law enacted in July 2010.
In the case of nutrition programs, the House bill seeks to
open the door for white potatoes to be added to the list of
qualified vegetables under the
WIC supplemental feeding
program for pregnant women and their young children.
USDA would also be required
to establish a waiver process
for local school districts which
have found it too costly to
comply with tougher nutrition
standards for school lunch and
breakfast programs.
35
FARM BUREAU COMMODITY REPORT
GRAIN PRICES
Portland:
White Wheat
11% Winter
14% Spring
Oats
Ogden:
White Wheat
11% Winter
14% Spring
Barley
Pocatello:
White Wheat
11% Winter
14% Spring
Barley
Burley:
White Wheat
11% Winter
14% Spring
Barley
Nampa:
White Wheat (cwt)
(Bushel)
04/25/2014
05/23/2014
Trend
7.84
8.75-8.86
8.87
275.00
7.29
8.11-8.21
8.57
280.00
- .55
- .64 to - .65
- .30
+ 5.00
New Crop
6.45
7.11
7.21
9.10
6.15
6.52
6.72
9.15
- .30
- .59
- .49
+ .05
New Crop
6.50
6.70
6.93
No Bid
6.50
6.99
6.76
No Bid
Steady
+ .29
- .17
N/A
6.20
7.00
7.00
7.50
5.81
6.45
6.60
6.50
-
11.08
6.65
10.50
6.30
- .58
- .35
Lewiston:
White Wheat
7.50
7.05
H. Red Winter
8.64
8.19
Dark N. Spring
8.59
8.51
Barley
156.50
186.50
.39
.55
.40
1.00
- .45
- .45
+ .08
+ 30.00
5 Year Grain Comparison
Grain Prices.................5/24/2010.....................5/24/2011.....................5/29/2012.....................5/21/2013....................5/23/2014
Portland:
White Wheat..................... 4.70 ..............................8.05 ............................6.90 .............................7.65 ...........................7.29
11% Winter...................4.98-5.06.......................9.07-9.17 ......................7.28-7.43......................8.68-8.69..................... 8.11-8.21
14% Spring........................ 6.40..............................12.42 .............................9.10 ...........................9.33.............................. 8.57
Corn...............................169.75-170.................... 303-303.75....................256-257.25.......................285.00..........................No Bid
Ogden:
White Wheat..................... 4.07 .............................8.00 ..............................6.10.............................. 7.80............................. 6.15
11% Winter....................... 3.89 .............................7.90 ..............................6.03 ............................ 7.22............................ 6.52
14 % Spring.......................5.14 .............................10.97...............................7.52 ............................ 7.85............................ 6.72
Barley................................. 6.14 .............................12.00..............................10.00.............................11.70............................. 9.15
Pocatello:
White Wheat..................... 3.85 .............................7.90 ..............................6.00.............................. 7.48............................. 6.50
11% Winter....................... 3.69 .............................. 7.69 ..............................5.84 ............................ 7.55............................. 6.99
14% Spring........................ 5.25 ............................ 11.51...............................7.49 ............................ 7.48..............................6.76
Barley................................. 6.35 ........................... 11.56 ............................10.42............................ 11.35..........................No Bid
Burley:
White Wheat..................... 3.94 ..............................7.55 ..............................6.05.............................. 7.50..............................5.81
11% Winter....................... 3.72 .............................. 7.75 ..............................6.11 ............................ 7.04..............................6.45
14% Spring........................ 5.01 .............................10.70...............................7.49 ............................ 7.73............................. 6.60
Barley................................. 5.25 ............................ 11.50 ............................10.00............................ 11.25............................ 6.50
Nampa:
White Wheat (cwt).......... 6.33 ............................ 11.61...............................9.75 .......................... 11.83.......................... 10.50
(bushel)........... 3.80 .............................6.97 ..............................5.85............................. 7.10........................... 6.30
Lewiston:
White Wheat..................... 4.50 ............................. 7.75 ..............................6.50............................. 7.45.............................7.05
Barley................................111.50 ........................ 211.50............................204.50......................... 221.50........................ 186.50
Bean Prices:
Pintos................................30.00.............................30.00.............................50.00.......................33.00-34.00.................34.00-35.00
Pinks.................................30.00........................30.00-32.00..................45.00-48.00.................38.00-40.00.................39.00-40.00
Small Reds........................30.00...............................N/A.................................N/A........................38.00-40.00.................39.00-40.00
***
LIVESTOCK PRICES
Feeder Steers
Under 500 lbs
500-700 lbs
700-900 lbs
Over 900 lbs
Feeder Heifers
Under 500 lbs
500-700 lbs
700-900 lbs
Over 900 lbs
Holstein Steers
Under 700 lbs
Over 700 lbs
Cows
Utility/Commercial
Canner & Cutter
Stock Cows
Bulls
Slaughter
BEAN PRICES:
Pinto
Pink
Small Red
04/25/2014
05/20/2014
Trend
200-256
178-236
142-194
102-160
170-258
174-241
145-191
106-171
- 30 to + 2
- 4 to + 5
+ 3 to - 3
+ 4 to + 11
181-248
164-231
127-176
105-139
189-245
169-221
135-174
114-153
+
+
+
+
110-150
110-138
115-158
100-145
+ 5 to + 8
- 10 to + 7
82-114
70-95
75-113
74-112
- 7 to - 1
+ 4 to + 17
1085-2325
1200-1900
+ 115 to - 425
89-129
91-139
+ 2 to + 10
34.00-35.00
39.00-40.00
40.00
34.00-35.00
39.00-40.00
39.00-40.00
Steady
Steady
- 1 to Steady
May 19, 2014
Compiled by the Idaho Farm Bureau Commodity Division
36
Milk production
8 to - 3
5 to - 10
12 to - 2
9 to + 14
April Milk Production up 1.2 Percent
Milk production in the 23 major States during April totaled 16.3 billion pounds, up
1.2 percent from April 2013. March revised production, at 16.7 billion pounds, was
up 1.1 percent from March 2013. The March revision represented an increase of 6
million pounds or less than 0.1 percent from last month’s preliminary production
estimate.
Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,911 pounds for April. This
is the highest production per cow for the month of April since the 23 State series
began in 2003.
The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.53 million head,
10,000 head more than March 2014.
IDaho Hay Report
May 16, 2014
Tons: 14,302 Last Week: 6000 Last Year: 5475
Compared to last week, new crop Alfalfa contracts 10.00-15.00 higher.
New crop contract hay is selling straight thru rain or shine with no test
required. Trade active this week with very good demand. Retail/feed
store/horse not tested this week. Buyer demand good with light to moderate
supplies. All prices are dollars per ton and FOB unless otherwise stated.
Tons
Price Wtd Avg Comments
Alfalfa
Large Square
Premium/Supreme 4334 210.00-210.00 210.00 New Crop
Good/Premium
4334 210.00-210.00 210.00 New Crop
Good
200 165.00-165.00
165.00 Rain Damage
Fair/Good
4334 210.00-210.00
210.00 New Crop
Utility 800 165.00-165.00
165.00 Del
POTATOES
UPPER VALLEY, TWIN FALLS-BURLEY DISTRICT, IDAHO---Shipments
670-668-608--- (includes export of 13-2-4) ---Movement expected to remain
about the same. Trading cartons 40-80s very active, others moderate.
Prices baled generally unchanged, cartons higher. Russet Burbank U.S. One
baled 5 10-pound non size A 4.00-5.00, 50-pound cartons 40s mostly 12.0013.00, 50s 12.00-14.50, 60-80s mostly 14.00-14.50, 90s mostly 11.00-11.50,
Forage Mix-Three Way
Large Square
Good/Premium
300
135.00-135.00
135.00
Grass Hay guidelines
Quality
Crude Protein Percent
Premium
Over 13
Good
9-13
Fair
5-9
Utility
Under 5
Contracted price - Price and conditions of sale agreed upon when buyer and
Seller negotiates a transaction.
USDA Market News, Moses Lake, WA 509-393-1343 or 707-3150
100s mostly 10.50-11.50. The shipment by variety breakdown for weekending
May 10, 2014 was generally Russets with 90 percent Burbanks and 3 percent
Norkotahs..
Potatoes for Processing
May 20, 2014
IDAHO---Open-market trading by processors with growers was inactive.
37
5 Year livestock comparison
United States Cattle on Feed
Down 1 Percent
......................................5/24/2010.....................5/23/2011.....................5/22/2012....................5/21/2013....................5/20/2014
May 16, 2014
Under 500 lbs................ 115-141..........................125-176 ......................140-197 .....................122-158........................170-258
500-700 lbs..................... 97-139 ........................ 114-151..........................130-177.........................119-151........................ 174-241
700-900 lbs.....................90-114 .........................93-139 .......................120-157.........................105-135........................ 145-191
Over 900 lbs...................85-101...........................90-110...........................95-132 .........................89-115......................... 106-171
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for
feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.6 million head
on May 1, 2014. The inventory was 1 percent below May 1, 2013.
Feeder Heifers
Under 500 lbs.................95-133.......................... 112-156 ......................131-182.........................118-143........................ 189-245
500-700 lbs..................... 87-124 .........................97-149 .......................121-169.........................109-135........................ 169-221
700-900 lbs.....................75-106...........................88-122..........................108-141..........................90-124......................... 135-174
Over 900 lbs....................80-93 ........................98-105...........................90-127 ........................ 80-108......................... 114-153
Holstein Steers
Under 700 lbs.................74-101...........................70-116............................75-135...........................73-106......................... 115-158
Over 700 lbs....................64-87 ...........................65-97 ..........................75-106............................76-95..........................100-145
Cows
Utility/Commercial........... 41-75.............................52-83.............................64-86........................... 60-85........................... 75-113
Canner & Cutter..............35-64.............................46-76.............................55-78.............................55-74........................... 74-112
Stock Cows......................650-975 ......................850-1500.......................950-1300.....................800-1200.....................1200-1900
Bulls – Slaughter............53-88............................60-100...........................75-102...........................68-110.......................... 91-139
Placements in feedlots during April totaled 1.64 million, 5 percent
below 2013. Net placements were 1.55 million head. During April,
placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were
385,000, 600-699 pounds were 255,000, 700-799 pounds were
396,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 600,000.
Marketings of fed cattle during April totaled 1.78 million, 2 percent
below 2013. Marketings for April are the lowest for the month since the
series began in 1996.
Other disappearance totaled 83,000 during April, 20 percent above
2013.
Cattle Outlook
May 16, 2014
The April Cattle on Feed report said the number of cattle on feed in large feedlots
at the start of the month was down 1.0% compared to last year. This was the 21st
consecutive month that the on-feed number has been below the year earlier level.
USDA said April placements of cattle into feedlots were down 4.9%. April marketings by feedlots were down 2.0%. The average of pre-release predictions was for
April placements to be down 3.2%, April marketing down 2.1% and the May 1 on
feed number to be down 0.8%. The lower placements makes the report slightly
bullish.
Retail beef prices were record high in April for the third consecutive month. The
average price of choice beef in grocery stores was $5.871 per pound. That was
15.1 cents higher than the month before and 64.7 cents higher than a year ago. The
average retail price for all fresh beef was $5.496/lb, also record high for the third
month in a row. The 5 market average fed cattle price during April, $147.20/cwt.,
were down $2.60 from the record set the month before, but up $19.70 compared
to April 2013.
USDA said that 23% of U.S. pastures were in poor or very poor condition on May
11, up 1 point from the previous week, but down from 33% poor or very poor a
year ago.
Fed cattle sales volume was good this week. Through Thursday, the 5-area average price for slaughter steers sold on a live weight basis was $146.95/cwt, down
$3.07 from last week’s average, but up $22.16 from a year ago. The 5 area average
dressed price for steers was $234.06/cwt, down $1.99 for the week, but up $34.30
from the same week last year.
38
Beef prices were higher this week. This morning the boxed beef cutout value
for choice carcasses was $226.72/cwt, up $2.83 from the previous Friday and up
$17.76 from a year ago. The select carcass cutout is $217.00/cwt, up $3.83 from
last week.
This week’s cattle slaughter totaled 591,000 head, down 1.5% from the previous
week and down 9.6% from the corresponding week last year. Cattle slaughter is on
a pace to be the lowest for any May in over 25 years. The average dressed weight
for steers slaughtered the week ending on May 3 was 840 pounds, down 1 pound
from the week before, but up 1 pound compared to the same week last year.
Feeder cattle prices at this week’s Oklahoma City auction were mostly $2 to
$4 higher. This week’s prices for medium and large frame #1 steers by weight
were: 400-450# $228.50-$257, 450-500# $220-$243.50, 500-550# $222-$234,
550-600# $205-$223, 600-650# $194-$218, 650-700# $186.50-$202, 700-750#
$184-$197.50, 750-800# $181-$193.50, 800-900# $172-$186.35, and 900-1000#
$162-$173.50/cwt.
The June live cattle futures contract closed at $137.90/cwt today, down 15 cents
from last week’s close. August fed cattle settled at $138.37, up 17 cents for the
week. The May feeder cattle contract ended the week at $187.30/cwt, up $2.73 for
the week. August feeders closed at $193.32/cwt.
Provided by: University of Missouri
Classifieds
Animals
Wanted
Real Estate/Acreage
Real Estate/Acreage
ASCA registered Australian Shepherd pups.
Working line since 1968. Full satisfaction
guaranteed. All four colors available. Boise,
Id 208-484-9802
Collector of baseball, basketball and football
cards. Also baseballs. Idaho Falls, Id. 208881-2213
Himalayan Yaks for Sale - Yearlings, 2 year
olds and Breeding Age Cows. $800.00$1500.00. Call or e-mail for more about
these amazing animals. McCall, ID. (208)
890-6399 or [email protected]
Miscellaneous
Cabin style, 6 bed, 2 bath, huge porch,
woodstove, appliances on 4.5 acres. Garage,
Quonset, machine shop, 8 stall horse barn,
tack, hay, Hotwalker tractor w/attach.
100x300 outdoor riding arena. Located in
N. Rupert. Asking $235,000. 208-532-0165
5 acre cabin site, 35 K, owner carry, road in,
hydro potential; For rent 1 acre fenced RV
site, $150/mo, private garden, electric; Wool,
meat sheep, prime breeding pairs, $200. St.
Maries, Id. 208-245-1563
1974 Skylark 12x60 $6,000; 1974 Academy
14x60 $6,500. Good Condition. Sold “AS
IS” condition. Natural Gas. Must be moved.
Shelley area. For more information, call 5285337. Please leave message.
Salmon, Idaho~5.5 acres Tower Creek
frontage, water rights, well, mobile home.
Grand fathered next to creek, springs.
Orchard, apple, plumcot, cherry, apricot.
Salmon River near, fishing, wildlife, shed
pasture, crossed fenced, trees, gravity
irrigation. $169,000. (435) 229-3473 or
(208) 403-7685
Bueno Bar Fritz. AQHA Registered stallion,
Grullo, Foundation bred. $350 breeding fee
+ mare care. For more info call (208)
965-7907.
Farm Equipment
Challenger MT 755, 2209 hrs, annual service
by Western States, 1000 hrs on 25” tracks,
Trimble A/S and sprayer control, (reduced)
$147,500.00. Two, 500hp US Motors, 480
volt, 3 phase, Inverter duty, hollowshaft
irrigation motors, $25,000 each. Call 208220-5588 or e-mail: [email protected].
New squeeze-chute, hand pull, green. $1,200.
Midvale, Id 208-355-3780
Balewagons: New Holland self-propelled or
pull-type models/parts/tires. Also interested
in buying balewagons. Will consider any
model. Call Jim Wilhite at 208-880-2889
anytime
Wanted
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.
[email protected]. 208-285-1258
Paying cash for old cork top bottles and
some telephone insulators. Call Randy.
Payette, Id. 208-740-0178
5” Aluminum Main Line (380 ft) with valves
and couplers. $600.00; Gas/Propane Hot
Water Heater-Make: G.E.-Capacity - 40 Gal.
(Tall). Only used 3 years. Great Condition.
Paid $550 - Asking $300 Shelley, ID. Call
528-5337. Please leave message.
Need a replacement pump? Cleaning out
the shop. Gently used submersible pumps
from ½ hp to 20 hp. Major brands: Jacuzzi,
Berkeley, Gould, Grunfos and Red Jacket.
Boise, Id. Call for details 208 863-2887 or
208 385-0151.
1980 Honda CB650 Motorcycle, 1981
Yamaha XT250 Motorcycle, Trailer hitch
for 1997 Olds Cutless, 20” Craftsman 6.0
mulching lawn mower, New 4X8 Utility
Trailer, 4x10 Heavy utility trailer, Bronze
color pickup shell – fits long bed Ford new
condition, 5th wheel hitch. American Falls, Id.
208-226-3105
Clean, well maintained 2,500+ square foot
home on 1 acre. 5 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms,
2 car garage, maintenance free siding, trex
deck, private well, sprinkler system, irrigation
rights, etc. Westside Idaho Falls off Shelley
New Sweden Highway. Call 208-339-8748
10 acres ready for your animals. 3 bedroom
2/12 bath home built in 2001. Property is
perimeter fenced with cyclone fencing and
cross fenced with 2x4 nonclimb fencing.
40x84 foot shop/barn,20x30 pole building,
and some other shelters. $350,000. Athol, Id
208-623-6222
160 Acre Mountain Ranch, Wayan, Id. NFS
on 3 sides. Sawmill creek runs entire length
of ranch. $224,000. Call Steve Shelton 208557-9005 Silvercreek Realty Group
Trailers
Homemade heavy duty 8x12 ‘Dual’ axel
trailer with electric brakes. $800 obo.
Blackfoot, Id. 208-782-1995
Deerflat Stainless Steel Shovels, personalized.
Automatic Chain Oilers for all equipment.
4 wheeler trailer to move wheel lines fast.
Weiser, Id. Call John at 208-549-1232 or
550-4619.
Antiques: Round oak table w/6 matching
chairs, wash stand, hall tree, 4 drawer file
cabinet, treadle sewing machine, dresser w/
mirror, Hyboy w/mirror, ice box, buffet, all
oak furniture. Burley, Id. 208-678-2036 or
431-2036.
Coleman Ram-x17 Canoe $300 obo. MTD
rear tine tiller. $450. Bliss, Id 83314. 208490-1300
Antique Blacksmith’s Anvil. Has heavy duty
metal stand. $175. Call 208-234-2612
39
Farm Bureau
Members
Pay Less
www.idahofbstore.com
208-239-4289
General Admission
Regular - $51.07
Meal Combo
Regular - Over $59
Farm Bureau Price
Farm Bureau Price
$38.50
$44.50
*Lagoon prices include sales tax.
Purchase at Farm Bureau offices.
Regular Adult $31.79
Farm Bureau Price
$25.50
*Roaring Springs prices
include sales tax.
Purchase at select
Farm Bureau offices
or online.
Farm Bureau Online
Discount Price
$23.99
Child/ (Under 58”) $22.99
Farm Bureau Online
Discount Price
$18.49
Roaring Springs/Wahooz Combo
available for $35.99
Farm Bureau Online
Discount Price
$38.99
Child/Senior $22.99
Farm Bureau Online
Discount Price
$17.99

- Idaho Farm Bureau

Transcription

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