® January 2018 • Volume 22, Issue 1 IDAHO FARM BUREAU Wheat Commission Controversy Builds Owyhee Cattlemen Seeks to Build over Bear River Allowed Back on Grower3 Database Water8 Flows 26Range The Greatest Hardships Beyond the Bring Out the Greatest Fencerows Resolve in Rural America By Zippy Duvall This resolve is what led the they’ve been affected by opioid American Farm Bureau Fed- abuse, and 74 percent of farm- AFBF President eration and National Farmers ers and farm workers echo that Union to team up to increase sentiment. Too many of us have The New Year is a time for new awareness of a heartbreak- seen people we know struggle beginnings, when we resolve to ing crisis in our nation’s rural with addiction personally or do better, try harder, and make communities—opioid abuse. with the pain of addiction in more of a difference in the lives According to a new survey we their families. around us. It’s a chance to renew jointly commissioned with the the commitments we’ve made Our nation is facing an opioid firm Morning Consult, nearly to help our neighbors and make epidemic. Rural Americans half of rural Americans say our communities stronger. See DUVALL, page 6 this an invitation to lend your during the AFBF convention. It Where Farm Bureau voice to this vital activity. As is gratifying to see the strength we have just finished our an- of this process and the creation Hangs its Hat: The Policy nual meeting in Idaho we have of strong, sound policy. witnessed this amazing pro- Regular members of the Idaho Development Process cess once again. I have also Farm Bureau, as designated by just returned from Washington By Bryan Searle their county Farm Bureau, are DC, where all the state presi- “bona fide farmers and ranch- President Idaho Farm Bureau dents and American Farm Bu- ers,” as stated in our Memo- Federation reau Federation staff met to re- randum of agreement between If you’re a regular member of view and act on resolutions that our counties, the state, and this organization but not in- passed within their state which American Farm Bureau. They volved in our grassroots policy will be presented to the House can bring their concerns to the development process, consider of Delegates in early January See SEARLE, page 7 local governments to collect nities. property taxes on federally- “Pay-to-Play” For Idaho, which is 61.7 percent owned land can create a finan- federally owned, the PILT pro- cial impact. gram sounds wonderful, how- PILT payments help local gov- ever the results do not measure By Rick Keller ernments carry out such vital up with its intended purpose. In services as firefighting and po- 2017, Idaho counties received CEO Idaho Farm Bureau Federation lice protection, construction of approximately $30 million from Payment in Lieu of Taxes public schools and roads, and PILT, but the receipts are only a (PILT) are federal payments to search-and-rescue operations. fraction of what is required of county governments that help PILT payments are one of the the counties to sustain having offset losses in property taxes ways the federal government federal government land within due to non-taxable federal lands can fulfill its role of being a their boundaries. The Idaho within their boundaries. The good neighbor to local commu- law recognizes the inability of See KELLER, page 6 2 IDAHO FARM BUREAU PRODUCER / JANUARY 2018 Volume 22, Issue 1 IFBF OFFICERS President ........................................Bryan Searle, Shelley Vice President ..................................Mark Trupp, Driggs Executive Vice President .............................. Rick Keller Assist Executive Vice President.........Dennis Brower BOARD OF DIRECTORS Austin Tubbs .............................................................Malad Dan Garner .............................................................Clifton Chris Dalley ...................................................... Blackfoot Stephanie Mickelsen........................................ Idaho Falls Danny Ferguson .......................................................Rigby Scott Steele .................................................... Idaho Falls Gerald Marchant ................................................. Oakley Rick Pearson .................................................. Hagerman Rick Brune ...........................................................Hazelton Luke Pearce ............................................ New Plymouth Cody Chandler ...................................................... Weiser Tracy Walton ....................................................... Emmett Marjorie French .............................................. Princeton Bob Konen ...........................................................Lewiston Tom Daniel .............................................. Bonners Ferry Judy Woody ............................................................... Filer Idaho Wheat Commission officials plan to seek legislative support for a new rule allowing the LaNae Nalder ..........................................................Rupert collection of grower information. Farm Bureau file photo STAFF Dir. of Organization .................................. Justin Patten Director of Admin. Services ....................... Cara Dyer Commodities & Marketing Assistant . Melissa Nelson Wheat Commission Plans Member Services Assistant .................... Peggy Moore Public Relations Assistant ....................... Dixie Ashton Assistant Treasurer.................................. Tyler Zollinger Dist. I Regional Manager .............................. Ott Clark Legislation to Collect Dist. II Regional Manager ..................... Tyrel Bingham Dist. III Regional Manager ............................. Zack Lanier Dist. IV Regional Manager .........................Brody Miller Dist. V Regional Manager ...................... Bob Smathers Grower Information Dir. of Governmental Affairs ...............Russ Hendricks Asst. Dir. of Governmental Affairs ... Dennis Tanikuni Energy/Natural Resources ..................... Braden Jensen By Jake Putnam Director of Public Relations ............. John Thompson Video Services Manager ........................... Steve Ritter Fort Hall— Idaho Wheat Commission Executive Director Blaine Jacobson ner- Broadcast Services Manager .................... Jake Putnam Office Manager, Boise ............................ Melissa Bechaver vously sat in the Idaho Farm Bureau’s House of Delegates at the Annual Meeting Member Services Manager ....................... Joel Benson last month in Fort Hall. Commodities and Marketing .........................Zak Miller Project Manager ...........................................Tyler Moore The Commission wants grain elevator operators to provide mailing and email Printed by: Owyhee Publishing, Homedale, ID addresses of producers at the point of sale to the Idaho Wheat Commission. GEM STATE PRODUCER USPS #015-024, is published monthly Jacobsen is interested in the rule change for obvious reasons. Most commodity except February, May, August and November by the IDAHO FARM BUREAU FEDERATION, groups, be they non-profit or an arm of state government, have the ability to 275 Tierra Vista Drive, Pocatello, ID 83201. contact and collect information about their constituents. POSTMASTER send changes of address to: GEM STATE PRODUCER P.O. Box 4848, Pocatello, ID 83205-4848. Periodicals postage paid at Pocatello, Idaho, During the Idaho Farm Bureau Meeting on December 5th, the House of Del- and additional mailing offices. egates discussed, voted and passed the resolution that will allow the Wheat Subscription rate: $6.00 per year included in Farm Bureau dues. Commission to build a producer database and Jacobson breathed a sigh of relief. MAGAZINE CONTACTS: Idaho Farm Bureau Federation EDITOR (208) 239-4292 • ADS (208) 239-4279 “We’re quite pleased with the resolution passed by the House of Del- E-MAIL: [email protected] www.idahofb.org egates because that grassroots support from Idaho farmers will help Cover: The Idaho Wheat Commission is planning to us when we take this issue to the Statehouse this year,” said Jacobson. seek legislative support to collect grower information from first handlers of wheat. Idaho Farm Bureau In a time of high-tech communication, the ability to build a database is im- delegates supported the idea during meetings held in early December. Farm Bureau file photo See GRAIN LEGISLATION page 4 IDAHO FARM BUREAU PRODUCER / JANUARY 2018 3 GRAIN LEGISLATION Continued from page 3 portant. Other groups might delayed for more than two more questions were raised. by IWC revealed that it’s not. think it inconceivable that years. Jacobson will now the Idaho Wheat Commis- go to the Idaho Legislature Since then the Idaho Wheat Some elevators were also sion hasn’t had a complete armed with grassroots sup- Commission has been concerned about how the da- member database in years. port from the Idaho Farm through a total of six nego- tabase would be used, so the Bureau and the Idaho Grain tiated rule-making meet- IWC adopted a policy that “When the Wheat Commis- Producers Association. ings. IWC Board and Jacob- specified that grower names sion was originally organized son thinks the commission and addresses will only be we had that capability but by In November the IWC and has answered all concerns used by the Idaho Grain mag- mistake, it got removed from Idaho Grain Producers Asso- that elevator owners and azine and to conduct the pe- our administrative rules at ciation sat down and agreed lawmakers raised the past