Legislators are talking with farmers and agricultural groups to discuss the 2012 Farm Bill. The first hearings were held in Idaho.
The United States House Agriculture Committee wants to know what farmers want or would like to see in the new farm bill.
“We haven’t decided what to do yet,” said Representative Walt Minnick. “But hearing from Idaho producers, whether they grow potatoes, or cattle, or grow mint in the Treasure Valley will help us put together a bill that will better suit Idaho.”
Organizations and farmers are happy to be included in the process.
“(This) gives Idahoans the opportunity to testify on what we believe the farm program should look like,” Scot Brown, president of the Idaho Grain Producers Association, said. The committee has challenged farmers to come up with a new farm bill, pretending that there wasn’t an original farm bill- what would producers want it to offer and protect?
Group leaders agree all industries are struggling, not just dairy or livestock. “Having the agriculture committee here at the very beginning of the process of formulating the next farm bill is the most important time for Idaho agriculture to be heard,” Minnick said. Producers want a bill that will help more than just the dairy industry, a bill that addresses all industries.
After the U.S. House Agriculture meets with producers about their desires they will meet with farmers to see how they current Farm Bill worked for them.
The 2008 Farm Bill expires in 2012. The bill covers farm support, food assistance, trade, rural development and marketing.
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The annual “State of the Rockies” report was released by the Colorado College. This report looks at agriculture over the past years in the eight Rocky Mountain region states.
Liz Kolbe, program coordinator for State of the Rockies, said “I think one of the most interesting… was the increase of female operators over the past 20 years. Since 1987 there has been 257% increase in female farm operators.”
Out of the eight states, Idaho is the largest producer with an annual income of $70,000 per farm. The highest grossing counties in Idaho are Gooding, Cassia and Lincoln. According to the report potatoes are not the state’s biggest crop, even if they may be the most well-known. “Potatoes actually come in third for the highest earners in Idaho. Buhl actually has 549,000 milk cows, which is almost double the milk cows in any other state, and accounts for 36 percent of Idaho’s total agricultural receipt. We produce six percent of the nation’s total dairy,” Kolbe said.
Although Idaho produces the most, Utah and Nevada have the most irrigated farms.
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The ownership of irrigation channels, such as lakes and rivers, is a constant debate across the country, especially as more and more states are being declared drought areas.
In Idaho, U.S. Rep. James L. Oberstar (Democrat) is fighting to reverse to U.S. Supreme Court cases that are confusing and “handcuff” the protection of America’s waters.
Since 2007 Oberstar has been working to change the Clean Water Restoration Act to take the phrase “navigable waters” out. Navigable waters is water that can be used for commerce or travel falling under the commerce clause. After the EPA began regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, he fears other groups will try to rule waterways under the Clean Water Act.
Oberstar feels that this change will improve conditions for farmers, consumers and government officials. Existing exemptions (farm or stock ponds, irrigation ditches and artificially irrigated areas) will stay exempt as well.
“Simply put, if it was not regulated before 2001, it will not be regulated with the enactment of this legislation,” he explained via a press release.
The Idaho Farm Bureau and Idaho Water Users Association oppose the changes because they want a change that will help farmers, not keep a tight restriction like the one that currently exists.
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The Idaho Farm Bureau is reminding farmers and producers that any potato seeds purchased for intended sales or distribution upon growth must be inspected and certified under the Idaho Seed Potato Law of 1996.
A number of agencies are eligible to certify these seeds and crops including the Idaho Crop Improvement Association. The certification assures that crops will be pure and healthy, leaving a good name for Idaho’s famous potatoes. Without inspection potato plants can be plagued with diseases which can be passed through potato tubers. Farmers should not use potatoes found in the super market for seeds because they are often infected and can prevent sprouting.
The certification goes beyond the seeds and crops, but to the cleanliness and efficiency of the farms as well. This helps assure that future crops will also be of the highest quality.
Anyone who violates this law can be fined as much of $10 per hundredweight of the potatoes in violation.
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Idaho farmers are now planning their seasons based off the USDA’s annual estimates for the upcoming growing season.
Every year the USDA releases a report of what the USDA thinks farmers are planning for the up-and-coming season. Although farmers were expecting higher numbers for Idaho, it works as a guide of what to plant, how much and how to market the crops.
“In a market based economy it’s supply and demand that set price and so one of the first things you need is an estimate of what the supply is going to be,” explained Paul Patterson, an Agricultural Economist at University of Idaho told KDIK.
The study focuses mostly on grains and corn, but a number of other crops are predicted as well.
The numbers will change over the season, especially once farmers start reporting back to the USDA. However, it is the ideal guide for farmers across the country.
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Blackfoot, Idaho will soon be the home of a 33-wind turbine farm stretched across 2,971 acres of farm land.
The proposal was approved by the Planning and Zoning committee at a meeting last week. The project was proposed by Western Energy of Utah. Melody Halstead, Planning and Zoning Administration told Idaho State Journal that no one opposed the idea at the meeting, but if an appeal is filed within ten days of the approval the project will be halted.
Wind farms are popping up across the country because they are an innovated way for farmers to add a new income from their land and make extra money. There are a variety of low-rate loans available from the USDA to cover expenses through programs such as the Rural Development Program. The government offers a number of subsidies as well for those generating renewable energy. For more information visit the USDA’s website.
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After California residents voted to tighten the regulations on poultry farms to avoid animal cruelty, Idaho’s senate is preparing for a large expansion of the state’s own poultry industry.
The Senate has passed a bill that restricts the size of poultry farms on the grounds of what impact it will have on the environment. Idaho leaders feel that many poultry farms will relocate from California to avoid the new law.
Senator Tim Corder (R-Mountain Home) and the chairman of the Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee proposed a 40-page bill on March 16. The bill asked that the poultry and swine regulations be moved from the Department of Environmental Quality and placed under the Idaho State Department of Agriculture.
As we go forward in these times, we find more and more groups that are critical of the state’s management of water quality and air quality, and we want to provide some assurances that we’re serious about that as a state and not only that, but the industry’s serious,” Corder said at Tuesday’s hearing
The bill puts a limit on the size of the farm, the permits allowed per poultry farm and groups the various operations across the state by size.
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Producers in Idaho are hoping for a cool, wet spring in order to have a successful growing season. Low snow fall has left the state at only 50 to 75 percent of its average water levels.
Officials fear that Idaho is at its driest since 1961. If the spring isn’t cool and wet, the state could end up in a drought. Idaho would be the next state on the ever growing list of drought states. California tops that list having been in a drought for the past three years.
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Idaho producers interested in participating in the USDA’S Natural Resources Conservation Services program must apply by February 12, 2010 to receive assistance for the 2010 year.
As part of The Farm Bill, the program is designed for producers interested in protecting or improving natural resources on their land.
“Whether they’re interested in improving irrigation efficiency, improving wildlife habitat, protecting water quality or reducing erosion,” said Jeff Burwell, NRCS State Conservationist, “chances are, we have a program that can provide both technical and financial assistance for qualifying applicants.”
In 2009 Idaho producers received $19 million in assistance.
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Tom Vilsack announced the requirements and steps to apply for The Dairy Economic Loss Assistance Payment and Idaho economists are skeptic to weather the plan will truly help farmers in the end.
Mike Brown, dairy economist for Glanbia Foods in Twin Falls, said the program is a one time payment to farmers that limits payments to no more than six million pounds annually. This covers only 40 percent of Idaho’s milk production.
He feels that the smaller farms in the northeast and Midwest states are the only ones who will really benefit from the new program. Idaho dairy will only receive 13 cents for every 100 pounds of milk produced.
Although the money will help, it is not nearly enough to help Idaho farmers in crisis.
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