® March 2018 • Volume 22, Issue 2 IDAHO FARM BUREAU Federal Programs Unique Partnership Livestock Emission Cause Budget Distress Created Around Blaine Rule Delayed in Rural3 Counties County10 Ranch 26 Building on Beyond the NAFTA’s Success Fencerows By Zippy Duvall export markets hang in the balance, a a third of those exports went to our cloud of uncertainty hangs over a time North American neighbors. Mexico AFBF President that usually is filled with optimism and and Canada are top export markets hope. The impact of U.S. withdrawal for all types of commodities—from Agriculture will be keeping a close from NAFTA could be devastating for grains to dairy, from poultry and live- eye on the next rounds of the North farms and ranches of all sizes. stock to fresh fruits and vegetables. American Free Trade Agreement re- NAFTA has been a real success story negotiation this month in Mexico City Robust trade agreements boost farm for U.S. agriculture, and it continues and Washington, D.C. For farmers and prices and help sustain farms and to be. Last year, ag exports to Canada ranchers across the country, spring is a ranches. Twenty-five percent of Amer- and Mexico topped $39 billion—that’s time of planning, planting and praying ican-grown products go to customers $1 billion higher than in 2016. for a fruitful year. But if our leading outside our borders, and in 2017 nearly See DUVALL, page 6 “I have met farmers and ranchers over-reaching. who are not sure if they should en- In my own recent discussions with Federal Regulations courage their children to remain on Idaho Farm Bureau members I the farm,” Duvall said. “This is not sense a remaining frustration and a partisan issue. This is about al- Stifle Small Business confusion over many of the federal lowing our farmers and businesses government’s attempts to regu- to be productive. It’s about a goal late agriculture in the wake of the By Bryan Searle that I believe we all share: a regula- Obama presidency. President Idaho Farm Bureau tory process that is credible—one Federation that we can get behind instead of Waters of the U.S. or WOTUS as it American Farm Bureau President having to fight against.” has come to be known, is one ex- ample of government agencies bit- Zippy Duvall recently told a U.S. Duvall singled out the Clean Water ing off more than they could chew. Senate Committee that federal Act, the Endangered Species Act Since this issue rose to the sur- government regulations are ripe and the Administrative Procedure for reform. Act as laws that are harmful and See SEARLE, page 7 continues to creep up, currently at 57.6 to making their life choice and career Are There Any Young years. That statistic implies an aging a family priority. The conferences are farmer base, but statistics don’t always sponsored by the American and Idaho provide a full picture. Farm Bureaus, through a program Farmers and Ranchers? called the Young Farmers and Ranch- I wish all the nay-sayers comment- ers program (YF&R). ing of no young farmers and ranchers By Rick Keller could have attended the meetings that In Boise, I attend a conference of over CEO Idaho Farm Bureau Federation I have this past month, where there 200 young farmers and ranchers from As I have traveled around the state, were many young farmers and ranch- around the state. It was awesome. The I’m frequently asked about the future ers present. The meetings were re- conference was put on by young farm- of agriculture. One of the more com- freshing as hundreds of young famers ers and ranchers for young farmers mon concerns expressed is there just and ranchers met to discuss pertinent and ranchers. The meeting provided aren’t any young farmers and ranchers issues before them. Even more encour- a wonderful blend of training, net- entering the farming scene. Yes, it is aging was to witness most attending working, and leadership development. true the average age of Idaho’s farmers the conferences were couples, united See KELLER, page 6 2 IDAHO FARM BUREAU PRODUCER / MARCH 2018 Volume 22, Issue 2 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 Travis McAffee ........................................................ Howe 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 Kyle Wade .............................................................Downey STAFF Dir. of Organization .................................. Justin Patten This is a photograph of federal land in Custer County, where 96 percent of the land is controlled Director of Admin. Services ....................... Cara Dyer by the federal government. Many rural counties in Idaho are facing difficult budgeting decisions Commodities & Marketing Assistant . Melissa Nelson due to large sections of federal land within their boundaries and underperforming federal Member Services Assistant .................... Peggy Moore programs established to offset tax exemptions on that land. Public Relations Assistant ....................... Dixie Ashton Farm Bureau file photo Assistant Treasurer.................................. Tyler Zollinger Dist. I Regional Manager .............................. Ott Clark Dist. II Regional Manager ..................... Tyrel Bingham Dist. III Regional Manager ............................. Zack Lanier Dist. IV Regional Manager .........................Brody Miller Dist. V Regional Manager ...................... Bob Smathers PILT Distribution Unfair Dir. of Governmental Affairs ...............Russ Hendricks Asst. Dir. of Governmental Affairs ... Dennis Tanikuni Energy/Natural Resources ..................... Braden Jensen to Rural Counties Director of Public Relations ............. John Thompson Video Services Manager ........................... Steve Ritter By John Thompson Broadcast Services Manager .................... Jake Putnam Office Manager, Boise ........................... Melissa Bechaver Member Services Manager ....................... Joel Benson Idaho legislators are in Boise this winter doling out tax cuts, deliberating on how to Commodities and Marketing .........................Zak Miller allocate budget surpluses and focusing on re-election. Project Manager ........................................... Tyler Moore But out in the rural counties, budget-setting is a bit more tenuous. In fact some rural Printed by: Owyhee Publishing, Homedale, ID counties are struggling just to keep the lights on and are in discussions about override GEM STATE PRODUCER USPS #015-024, is published monthly levies that will increase property taxes later this year. except February, May, August and November by the IDAHO FARM BUREAU FEDERATION, 275 Tierra Vista Drive, Pocatello, ID 83201. Washington County Commissioner Kirk Chandler says Idaho’s rural counties, espe- POSTMASTER send changes of address to: cially those with high percentages of federal land, are at the bottom of the food chain GEM STATE PRODUCER P.O. Box 4848, Pocatello, ID 83205-4848. because of underperforming federal programs established to offset large tracts of Periodicals postage paid at Pocatello, Idaho, untaxed federal land and costly mandates passed down from the State. Ultimately, it’s and additional mailing offices. the farmers, ranchers and other private landowners who the costs are passed down to. Subscription rate: $6.00 per year included in Farm Bureau dues. MAGAZINE CONTACTS: One of the options under consideration in Washington County is to pull sheriff’s Idaho Farm Bureau Federation EDITOR (208) 239-4292 • ADS (208) 239-4279 deputies off patrol, put them in charge of the jail and lay off the jail staff. In the past E-MAIL: [email protected] Chandler said some rural counties have even escorted law-breakers to the state line www.idahofb.org and let them go because the cost of jailing them was more than the county could af- Cover: At Huston Winery in Canyon County’s ford. Sunnyslope area, pruning the grape vines is a family affair that got underway in late February this year. “We have had to go out for override levies twice in the last few years just to pay the Photo by Steve Ritter See PILT page 4 IDAHO FARM BUREAU PRODUCER / MARCH 2018 3 PILT Continued from page 3 Kirk Chandler, center, is a rancher and commissioner in Washington County. In this photograph he is teaching children from