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39 / 28 HHerer wwaayy,, Golden Eagle GettingGetting baseball squad hishis wwaayy begins ’10 season Rain & snow. organizedorganized H&G 1 Sports 1 Agribusiness 4 DAIRY DILEMMA >>> Will industry recover without more buyouts, AGRIBUSINESS 1 TUESDAY 75 CENTS January 26, 2010 MagicValley.com U of I ag defends needs in JFAC By Ben Botkin TOO CONTROVERSIAL Times-News writer BOISE — Agriculture isn’t normally a tough sell in Idaho, but in this economy, every industry faces the state’s budg- TO CHANGE et-cutting knife. The University of Idaho’s Agriculture Research and Extension Service, which faces a 10.5 percent cut, or $2.6 mil- lion in state funding in fiscal year 2011, made its presenta- tion on Monday to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee. John Hammel, dean of the university’s college of agricul- ture and life sciences, told JFAC that the bulk of cuts would affect programs and personnel. Thirty-five faculty and staff positions would need to be trimmed to help make up the shortfall. “We will have to narrow the focus of the programs, we will be dropping some programs,” said Extension Director Charlotte Eberlein. For example, what the future extension offices look like could result in crossover, with agri- cultural agents or 4-H program directors in one county also serve adjacent counties. See JFAC, Main 2 MEAGAN THOMPSON/Times-News A sheep bounds through a field in search of more food pellets as local sheep rancher John Noh, left, talks with employees Felix Saldivia, center, and Francisco Llereiva after they finished feeding a herd of sheep Wednesday morning on land south of Buhl. Many Idaho ranchers are concerned about the reach the Endangered Species Act Obama plans has over their operations, while federal biologists are working to bring those ranchers into their conservation efforts. to help a MYSTERY Critics push ways to improve the SURROUNDS middle class FATE OF ‘under assault’ ESA, but politics block major reform By Ben Feller SAGE Associated Press writer BY NATE POPPINO TIMESNEWS WRITER WASHINGTON — Declaring GROUSE America’s middle class is “under esterners who gripe about the Endangered Species Act often have very clear assault,’’ President Obama ideas about how they’d change it. unveiled plans Monday to help W Agencies could list hurting families pay their bills, But actually making those changes is another matter entirely. The ESA is the save for retirement and care for very definition of a political hot potato, and there may not be much anyone can do to alter it their kids and aging parents. bird by next month His comments previewed anytime soon. By Nate Poppino Wednesday’s State of the Union The agencies that administer the law note they already accomplish quite a bit in Idaho. Times-News writer Address. Obama’s proposals won’t cre- And, aware of the criticism, they said they’ve taken steps to try to respond to it. Mountain Home rancher ate jobs, but he said they could Steve Damele is the kind of cat- “re-establish some of the secu- Not always easy to play nice Sarah Harris, president of the administer the species act. tleman who doesn’t mince rity that’s slipped away.’’ His Audubon Society chapter in Twin Officials with the U.S. Fish and words when talking about remarks aimed to lift the Getting people of all persua- Falls, participates in one of the Wildlife Service and National threatened species on his land. nation’s dour mood and show he sions together to help a species is local working groups aiming to Oceanic and Atmospheric But he only had one answer is in touch with the daily strug- easier said than done. save the Greater sage grouse. But Administration said that when asked if his property was gles of millions of people as Idaho residents and govern- she has mixed feelings about how Idahoans, stereotyped as anti- habitat for the Greater sage resentment runs high about lost ment officials alike clearly see that collaboration has worked, as government, are actually more grouse. jobs and the economy. local input and guidance as vital to well as the partisan turn the willing to work with them than “I’d rather not say.” The initiatives amount to a the ESA. Steve Westphal of Filer, a statewide conversation about some think. Such worries are common- package of tax credits, spending member of the Rocky Mountain wolves took. One of the agencies’ most criti- place as the federal government expansions and new mandates Elk Foundation, praised the role “I’ve been really dismayed by cal roles from a local perspective is completes a lengthy review of on employers to encourage grassroots groups — such as the the vitriol expressed by those who crafting habitat conservation whether to list the bird under retirement savings by workers. one he supports — play in conser- don’t want wolves,” said Harris, agreements for listed species. In the Endangered Species Act. Most of them will be included in vation. who didn’t oppose the state hunt- exchange for pledging to improve The birds’ numbers have Obama’s budget for the fiscal “It’s made up almost entirely of ing season for the predators. “I habitat over a 10-year span, dropped for a decade, some year starting Oct.1,and they will volunteers like me,”he said. “And don’t think it’s going to hurt to landowners aren’t punished for believe to half its historic habi- require approval from Congress. we do it because we love the out- have a hunt. Hunting with heat in minimal harassment or harm to a tat. Southern Idaho is one Obama will release that budget doors and we want to protect our your eyes is another thing.” listed species in the course of region where numbers are on Feb. 1. interest for the future genera- business. the decline. The president’s latest rollout tions.” Reaching out, opening up That’s the ESA’s main tool in The debate over the bird, of ideas served as a preview of But even locals can disagree, recruiting private landowners, which lives in sagebrush areas his prime-time State of the and politics and philosophy can Getting past that heat is a key Union address. The economic infect attempts to cooperate. task for the federal agencies that See REFORM, Main 3 See GROUSE, Main 4 elements of that speech will also cover Obama’s plans to boost job creation and reduce swelling IN THE SERIES MORE ONLINE AT MAGICVALLEY.COM budget deficits — areas of con- Sunday: Westerners clash over the scale of the Endangered Species Act. VIEW a slideshow of John Noh's sheep, WATCH a video interview with Jim Caswell cern to the public. Monday: How the ESA became a political force through Congress and courts. and see other multimedia from this project. Plus, READ more in the Snake River Today: The feds respond to ESA criticism, and why reform faces a rough path. Dispatches blog by reporter Nate Poppino. See OBAMA, Main 4 Bridge ........................H&G 9 Crossword..................H&G 7 Obituaries ..................Main 7 Comics....................Sports 4 Dear Abby ..................H&G 9 Opinion ..................Main 8, 9 YOU DON’TSAY Commodities..Agribusiness 2 Jumble ......................H&G 8 Sudoku ....................H&G 10 Turning the ski world upside down > Main 4 MORNINGMORNINGMain 2 Tuesday, January 26, 2010 BRIEFINGBRIEF- TN Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho Pat’s Picks TODAY’S HAPPENINGS Three things to do today ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT 7 p.m., City Hall, 207 S. Rail St. W., 886- p.m., Herrett Center for the Arts and Pat Marcantonio Let’s Dance Club with line and square danc- 2030. Science, north end of the College of ing, 6 to 10 p.m., Twin Falls Senior Citizens Jerome County commissioners, 9 a.m., Southern Idaho campus, Twin Falls, $4.50 Center, 530 Shoshone St. W., $3, no cost for courthouse, 300 N. Lincoln St., 644-2700. for adults, $3.50 for seniors and $2.50 for • If you’re interested in Feb. 9 and Feb. 16 at Twin students, family special: $4.50 adults, up quilting, attend the Mount Falls’ United Methodist children under 14 with an adult, 410-5650 or galenslatter.com. HEALTH AND WELLNESS to five minor children for $1, any additional Harrison Quilt Guild meet- Church, 360 Shoshone St. children $2.50 (no cost for children under ing at 1:30 p.m. at the E. The group will sing “The SilverSneakers Fitness Program at Curves of two), 732-6262. Trinity Lutheran Church Star-Spangled Banner” CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS Twin Falls, complete cardio and circuit Parish Hall, 909 Eighth St., before the College of training with resistance, state-of-the-art Rupert. There is an annual Southern Idaho men’s bas- REAI of Magic Valley meeting, all retired equipment and “Curves Smart” personal- SPORTS AND RECREATION fee of $15. ketball team takes on North education personnel invited; tourism; ized coaching, 5:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Twin Falls • You can make a “Steele Idaho College at 7:30 p.m. speaker: Judy Harr (manager of Twin Falls Curves, 690 Blue Lakes Blvd. N., no cost for Snowsports Camp for kids, four consecutive of a Deal” with Danielle Feb. 19. Information: 543- Visitor Center), 11:30 a.m., Idaho Pizza Humana Gold-insured or AARP provided by weeks for kindergarten to sixth grade, 9 to Steele books going for 50 5480. Company, 1859 Kimberly Road, Twin Falls, Secure Horizons, 734-7300. 11:30 a.m., and 12:30 to 3 p.m., Sun Valley cents at the Burley Public spouses and guests welcome, 734-3337.

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