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Spring 2016 Volume 16, Issue 2 Interest Grows Art Spring in Small-Scale Contest Marketbasket Solar Power Winners Survey – page 4 – page 10 – page 38 The Ag Agenda Visa Backlog Thanks to the hard work food products. But labor shortages and unrea- and ingenuity of our sonable visa delays challenge farmers’ ability to Adding to Ag nation’s farmers and get their crops harvested and to market. ranchers, we enjoy an Labor Woes abundance of afford- There’s no question that we need a long-term able, American-grown solution to protecting our borders while also food. With summer securing a legal, reliable workforce for agri- nearly here, consumers culture. The fix won’t be quick or easy, but it are ready for their local is possible. Farmers need a market-based visa By Zippy Duvall grocery stores and mar- program, managed by USDA, which gives both President American Farm kets to be fully stocked with their favorite fresh employers and workers flexibility for long- and Bureau Federation fruits and vegetables. And U.S. agriculture is short-term work. eager to keep up with the demand for American See DUVALL, page 12 The President’s Desk The Idaho Farm Bureau This month we are calling on our members, Understanding built its reputation over our grassroots network of farmers and ranchers the past 76 years by be- from throughout the state, to band together and Farm Bureau ing active in politics get that engine running on all cylinders. from top to bottom. - Membership It’s election season folks. So first things first, In the past when big is- sometime between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Tues- Engagement sues rose to the surface, day, May 17, we need all of you to cast a ballot. Idaho Farm Bureau’s If you’re not yet registered, you can do so at grassroots membership your polling place. You can find answers to all By Bryan Searle was always willing to grind the political gears of your voter-related questions at www.idaho- President Idaho Farm into motion and hit the throttle. votes.gov. Remember that it’s not only our right Bureau Federation to cast a ballot, it’s our duty to do so and our See SEARLE, page 12 Inside Farm Bureau The Idaho Farm Bureau didates vying for the position. If one receives Farm Bureau Board of Directors, af- more than 50 percent of the total votes in the ter careful consideration May 17 primary, the election is over. If 50 per- Endorses of the candidates, has cent is not achieved, there will be a run-off of voted to support Sena- the top two finishers in the November general McKenzie for tor Curt McKenzie in election. his campaign to become Idaho Supreme an Idaho Supreme Court The Justices of the Supreme Court are elected Justice. at large, on a non-partisan ballot, for a term of Court Justice six years with staggered terms so continuity on Many Idahoans are not yet attuned to the Idaho the Court will be maintained. A candidate for By Rick Keller Supreme Court race, with only a short time be- Justice must be a qualified elector and a duly CEO Idaho Farm Bureau Federation fore the primary elections. There are four can- See KELLER, page 35 2 IDAHO FARM BUREAU QUARTERLY / WINTER 2016 Volume 16, Issue 2 IFBF OFFICERS President ........................................Bryan Searle, Shelley CO NTENTS Vice President ..................................Mark Trupp, Driggs Executive Vice President .............................. Rick Keller BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mark Harris ................................................ Soda Springs FATESE UR Chris Dalley ...................................................... Blackfoot Stephanie Mickelsen........................................ Idaho Falls Homeowners cut Lee named President Danny Ferguson .......................................................Rigby Scott Steele .................................................... Idaho Falls power bills with of national sugarbeet Gerald Marchant ................................................. Oakley Rick Pearson .................................................. Hagerman Rick Brune ...........................................................Hazelton solar investment organization Luke Pearce ............................................ New Plymouth Cody Chandler ...................................................... Weiser Tracy Walton ....................................................... Emmett PAGE 4 PAGE 25 Marjorie French .............................................. Princeton Alton Howell ............................................... Careywood Tom Daniel .............................................. Bonners Ferry Women’s Leadership Judy Woody ............................................................... Filer GMO labeling Cole Smith ..................................................... Montpelier measure stalls in U.S. Committee sponsors STAFF Dir. of Organization .............................. Dennis Brower Senate essay contest Director of Admin. Services ....................... Cara Dyer Commodities & Marketing Assistant .......... Peg Pratt PAGE 8 PAGE 26 Member Services Assistant .................... Peggy Moore Public Relations Assistant ....................... Dixie Ashton Dist. I Regional Manager .......................... Justin Patten Dist. II Regional Manager ............................. Zak Miller Women’s Leadership Dist. III Regional Manager .................. Charles Garner Legislative Friends Dist. IV Regional Manager .........................Brody Miller Dist. V Regional Manager ...................... Bob Smathers Committee holds art of Agriculture Dir. of Governmental Affairs ...............Russ Hendricks Asst. Dir. of Governmental Affairs ... Dennis Tanikuni contest Director of Public Relations ............. John Thompson recognized Video Services Manager ........................... Steve Ritter PAGE 10 Broadcast Services Manager .................... Jake Putnam PAGE 33 Office Manager, Boise ......................... Julie Araquistain Member Services Manager ....................... Joel Benson Assistant Treasurer.................................. Tyler Zollinger Trade Ambassador Energy/Natural Resources ..................... Braden Jensen Printed by: Owyhee Publishing, Homedale, ID passes away IDAHO FARM BUREAU QUARTERLY PAGE 21 USPS #022-899, is published quarterly by the IDAHO FARM BUREAU FEDERATION, 275 Tierra Vista Drive, Pocatello, ID 83201. POSTMASTER send changes of address to: DEPARTMENTS IDAHO FARM BUREAU QUARTERLY P.O. Box 4848, Pocatello, ID 83205-4848. Periodicals postage paid at Pocatello, ID and additional mailing offices. The Ag Agenda: Bob Stallman ............................................................ 2 SUBSCRIPTION: $4 a year included in Farm Bureau dues. MAGAZINE CONTACTS: The President’s Desk: Bryan Searle .................................................. 2 Idaho Farm Bureau Federation Inside Farm Bureau: Rick Keller ........................................................ 2 EDITOR (208) 239-4292 • ADS (208) 239-4279 E-MAIL: [email protected] University of Idaho Forestry ............................................................18 www.idahofb.org Word Search .......................................................................................24 Cover: T his year’s winner of the Idaho Farm Farm Facts ............................................................................................28 Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee Art Classifieds ...........................................................................................42 Contest in the 7th and 8th grade category went to Fahh Lee, an 8th grade student at Weiser Middle School. IDAHO FARM BUREAU QUARTERLY / SPRING 2016 3 Solar panels installed on the roof of a garage at farm near Melba. Photo by Steve Ritter Treasure Valley Landowners Explore Solar Power By Jake Putnam wards.” The interest in solar power across the na- tion is adding up according to the United Kerry Smith of Melba has a quirk and she She’s checking what’s known as a net me- States Department of Agriculture. On-line doesn’t care who knows about it. She can’t ter and it’s capable of spinning backward solar power systems have cut carbon pollu- wait to open her power bill each month. and building up energy credits on the grid tion by nearly 300 million metric tons this when solar conditions peak, creating more Smith and a few hundred other Idaho farm- year alone. That’s like taking 60 million power than needed. RX Solar of Boise re- ers have gone solar. She loves to watch her cars off the road. In 2015 farms, homes and cently installed the system and Smith Farm power meter run backwards. She admits businesses cut nearly $45 billion off power immediately started reaping the benefits. it’s an obsession. bills, according to USDA. “This is a 69 panel system and it produces “I come out and watch my power meter “I try and keep that meter running back- almost 19 kilowatts of energy on a sunny run backward,” she said. “Any time I turn ward as much as I can,” said Smith. “I day. It’s enough to run all the farm and something on in the house I run out and guess the whole point is to become more most of the home here,” said Kevin Holmes check it to see if it’s still running back- efficient so we don’t have to depend on of RX Solar. 4 IDAHO FARM BUREAU QUARTERLY / SPRING 2016 anyone else.” Smith says she looked into alternative power sources about three years ago. “I looked into windmills and hydro because we have running water down on our other place, but where we’re located, solar was the best bet because it’s more re- liable.” Smith found a firm called RX Solar through the