utah farm bureau news - june 2015

Boyack: Aurline Boyack retires after 19 years with UFBF 13 ESA: Fundamental Reforms Needed 28

Utah Farm Bureau News JUNE 2015VOL. 61, NO. 5

Inside:National Perspective 3 Farm Bureau at Work 11Member Benefits 8Baxter Black 12 Farm Safety Column 27Classifieds 31

OVERREACH continued on pg. 27

DROUGHT continued on pg 20

Photo by Matt HargreavesCarbon County rancher Jeff Christensen rides on the Icelander allotment during his family’s spring bull roundup on his family’s TN Ranch. Precipitation in May has helped many range operations statewide, but many are still gearing up for impacts of Utah’s continued drought.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A newly introduced Senate bill, the Federal Water Quality Pro-tection Act, would put in check the EPA and its attempt to broaden the definition of “wa-ters of the U.S.” Farmers and ranchers say they’re grateful congressional lawmakers are listening to them as it seems EPA has turned a deaf ear to their concerns.

“Tens of thousands of farm-ers, ranchers and land owners have spoken out, but EPA has yet to fully acknowledge the proposal’s potential impact on everyday farming activities,” American Farm Bureau Fed-eration President Bob Stallman said. “We work hard every day to minimize the environmental impact of raising the food, fuel and fiber we all consume. We’re grateful that our congressional representatives are paving the way to safeguard both farmers and their land.”

The legislation, introduced by Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Joe Donnelly (D-

Farmers cheer Senate move to stop EPA overreach

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Car-bon, Emery, Piute, Sanpete and Sevier counties in Utah as primary natural disaster ar-eas due to damages and losses caused by a recent drought.

“Our hearts go out to those Utah farmers and ranchers

USDA designates five counties in Utah as primary natural disaster areas

affected by recent natural di-sasters,” said Agriculture Sec-retary Tom Vilsack. “President Obama and I are committed to ensuring that agriculture remains a bright spot in our nation’s economy by sustain-ing the successes of America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities through these

difficult times. We’re also tell-ing Utah producers that USDA stands with you and your com-munities when severe weather and natural disasters threaten to disrupt your livelihood.”

Farmers and ranchers in the following counties in Utah also qualify for natural disaster as-sistance because their counties are contiguous. Those counties include Beaver, Duchesne, Grand, Juab, Millard, Gar-field, San Juan, Uintah, Utah and Wayne.

White Pine County in Nevada

Utah Farm Bureau News2 June 2015

Utah Farm Bureau News(ISSN 1068-5960)Matt Hargreaves, Editor9865 South StateSandy, Utah 84070-3205Phone Numbers:General Inquiries: (801) 233-3000Address Changes: (801) 233-3009Farm Bureau News: (801) 233-3003Classified Ads: ..........(801) 233-3010Fax: .............................(801) 233-3030FB News E-mail: [email protected] site: .....http://www.utahfarmbureau.orgNational Ad Rep:The Weiss Group9414 E. San Salvador Dr. #226Scottsdale, Arizona 85258(480) 860-5394 [email protected] Display Ad Information:Jennifer Dahl(775) 752-3061

Utah Farm BureauFederation OfficersChairman and PresidentLeland J. Hogan, South Rim*Vice PresidentStephen A. Osguthorpe, Park City*CEO and Secretary/TreasurerRandy N. Parker, Riverton* Denotes member of the Board of Directors

BOARD OF DIRECTORS District 1 ............................ John Ferry, CorinneDistrict 2 ...............Ron Gibson, West WeberDistrict 3 ...................Ken Patterson, SyracuseDistrict 4 ................ Rex Larsen, Spanish ForkDistrict 5 ................ .....Joël Hatch, HuntingtonDistrict 6 ...........Edwin Sunderland, ChesterDistrict 7 ..................................Craig Laub, BerylFB Women’s Chairman ...Belva Parr, LindonYoung Farmer & Rancher Chairman..

Meagher McConkie, AltamontPeriodicals Postage Paid at Sandy, Utah and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to the Utah Farm Bureau Federation, 9865 South State, Sandy, Utah 84070. Published quarterly for all Farm Bureau members (April/Spring, July/Summer, Oct./Fall, Dec./Winter). Published expressly for farmer/rancher Farm Bureau members and others who specifically request copies Feb., March, May, June, Aug., Sept., and Nov. All eleven issues published by the Utah Farm Bureau Federation in Sandy, Utah. Editorial and Business Office, 9865 South State, Sandy, Utah 84070-3205.

PARKER continued on pg 20

Thoughts: DOL wants to fleece the sheep industryBy Randy Parker

Chief Executive OfficerUtah Farm Bureau

The United States De-partment of Labor (DOL) i n A p r i l 1 5 t h proposed in the Federal Register dramatic chang-es to the regula-tions governing the employment of non-immigrant H2A workers as sheepherders, goat herders and for the production of livestock on the open range. After requests from in-dustry, many members of the United States Congress – including Utah’s entire congressional delegation – asked for an extended comment period. The DOL provided just 45 days for farmers, ranchers and their representatives to make comments on this compli-cated and troubling recom-mendation.

At issue is a wage struc-ture recommended by DOL rulemaking that would more

than triple wages for herders in Utah. This is coupled with re-

defining “open range” herd-ing and creat-ing additional recordkeeping burdens.

T h e H 2 A herder pro-gram is criti-c a l t o t h e western sheep industry and ranching fam-ilies across the state of Utah.

Utah ranks fifth is sheep pro-duction nationally with more than 288,000 head according to the U.S. Census of Agricul-ture. There are 79 operations with more than 1,000 head of sheep, with 3,000 head being an average sized ranch. Each one of these family ranching businesses relies on the H2A herder program and grazing on Utah’s vast open ranges.

Livestock ranching is im-portant to the economic vital-ity of rural Utah. An average

sized range sheep operation will contribute more than $600,000 to the local com-munity from the sale of wool and lambs. Through forward and backward linkages such as equipment and feed dealers, the economic ripple effect in rural Utah exceeds $1 million. That economic contribution underpins local taxes, schools, roads and other critical infra-structure needs in rural Utah.

According to Dr. Julie Shi-flett of Juniper Economic Con-sulting, sheep ranchers will be unable to afford the increased wage proposal, pointing out they would be forced to “vacate their operations.” Based on the Shiflett analysis, an aver-age sized Utah sheep operation with ewes on the open range selling feeder lambs and based on a ten-year price average, would return about $90,000 on their investments, land, management costs and risk. Where hired labor accounts for as much as 40 percent of total operating costs, the

BLM-Utah RAC seeks second call for nominations

SALT LAKE CITY — The Bureau of Land Manage-ment (BLM) in Utah is seek-ing public nominations for five open positions on its Utah Resource Advisory Council (RAC). The BLM will consider nominations until June 22, 2015.

The BLM’s RACs, com-posed of citizens chosen for their expertise in natural

resource issues, help the Bu-reau carry out its stewardship of 245 million acres of public lands. The BLM, which man-ages more land than any other Federal agency, has 31 RACs across the West, where most BLM-managed land is locat-ed. The BLM-Utah RAC consists of 15 members with an interest or expertise in public land man-agement, including such indi-

viduals as conservationists, ranchers, outdoor recreation-ists, state and local govern-ment officials, Tribal officials, and academics. The diverse membership of each RAC helps ensure that the BLM land man-agers get the varying perspec-tives they need to achieve their mission, which is to manage the public lands for multiple

RAC continued on pg 24

Utah Farm Bureau News 3June 2015

AgAgenda: Planting the seeds for smart corporate policyBy Bob StallmanAmerican Farm Bureau President

These days it seems as much policy comes f rom the corporate boardroom as from Con-gress. Some corporate directors are hurriedly bowing to pressure not from their customers, but from vocal activists. The result is corporate policies that forbid farm-ers and ranchers from using tools to maximize production, protect the environment or care for animals.

Smart companies listen to their customers—and their suppliers. They col-lect all the facts before making decisions, rather than just responding to whoever is complaining the loudest. Through our corporate advocacy program, Farm Bureau is working to help com-

panies understand the reasons why farmers and ranchers use certain pro-duction methods, and

how blanket prohibitions can harm farm profit-ability and therefore sus-tainability, as well as the reliability and even the safety of our food supply.

We don’t expect large corporations — even the ones that make their liv-ing selling food — to be experts in what it takes to run a farm every day.

That’s our job. Farmers and ranchers are com-mitted to providing cus-tomers what they need and want. But companies need to better understand how we keep store shelves and dinner tables full, and what it takes to do so while protecting the environment and keeping animals healthy.

Real corporate respon-sibility begins with lis-tening to the people on the ground. Companies need to hear from farm-ers and ranchers on how policies could affect our ability to grow affordable food. Sweeping gestures such as Chipotle’s recent announcement that it is eliminating all or most genetically modified in-gredients from its menu are shortsighted. They fail to count the cost to consumers, farmers and

the environment. Catchy but vague slogans tout-ing “natural ingredients” and “integrity” too often mislead consumers, and have nothing to do with keeping food safe and healthful.

There are companies that are going against the flow and looking beyond the trendy rhetoric. Kel-logg’s is a good example. They are providing a vari-ety of options for consum-ers, not insulting their intelligence with simplis-tic, cartoonish marketing campaigns. They are step-ping up to the challenge of explaining why these issues aren’t as simple as one production method being bad and another being good. That’s a bit more challenging than jumping on the latest “all natural” bandwagon, but consumers should understand how the ap-plication of science and technology to farming al-lows us to grow more food with less fuel, water and land and cultivate crops

that withstand drought, require little-to-no pesti-cide and benefit the soil. They need to know that banning modern farming methods means throwing away those benefits.

Farm Bureau is reach-ing out and recognizing those companies for their responsible decision-making on agricultural practices. And we are letting companies know that we and, more im-portantly, the men and women who actually pro-duce our food are a source of information for them. Farmers and ranchers make hard choices each day—not based on what is popular at the moment, but on what is good for their families, land and animals.

Every food company has a responsibility to provide safe and health-ful products. We bring them the information and insight they need to be responsible partners in feeding our growing population.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – America’s farmers and ranchers need access to open markets around the world to boost the economy here at home. The American Farm Bu-reau Federation called on the House to protect the future of U.S. agri-cultural trade by passing the Bipartisan Congres-sional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015, H.R. 1314.

“We lead the world in

American Farm Bureau calls on House to pass Trade Promotion Authority

agricultural exports but will soon give up custom-ers and potential markets without the trade pro-motion authority need-ed to secure important new trade agreements,” American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman said.

U.S. agricultural ex-ports exceeded $152 bil-lion last year, but stand to fall by $12 billion this year, due in part to the challenges U.S. negotia-

tors are facing in reduc-ing trade barriers. TPA gives our negotiators the leverage they need to resolve trade conflicts, break down barriers to U.S. products and open new markets around the world. The need for this tool is particularly critical now to break through log-jams in both the Trans-Pacific Partnership and Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations.

Foreign governments are reluctant to work out the tough trade issues with the U.S. when it’s possible for Congress to change details at the final hour and send negotia-tors back to the drawing board. Importantly, TPA ensures Congress retains final approval authority and its critical role in set-ting objectives and pri-orities for trade negotia-tions, but eliminates the possibility of deal-killing

amendments.“With TPA, we send a

strong message to our in-ternational partners that when the United States comes to the negotiating table, we mean business,” Stallman said. “Without TPA, we risk yielding our global economic leader-ship to other nations. Farm Bureau urges the House to vote now to pass H.R. 1314 for the future of agriculture.”


Along the CountrysideVice President- CommunicationsMatt Hargreaves

SQUIRRELS continued on pg 25

AXTELL, Utah. Though small in stature, the Townsend Ground Squirrel has been packing a powerful punch in terms of dam-age caused to farmers in central Utah. With early notice and use of control measures, farmers and USU Ex-tension agents are hopeful to keep the damage from spreading.

Originating in Nevada and western Utah, the Townsend ground squirrel (TGS) has been migrating north into Beaver and Iron counties, and has now spread into central Utah, caus-ing significant damage to alfalfa crops in Sanpete, Sevier and Mil-lard counties.

“It has completely eaten four acres in Axtell, moving across these fields, and has taken one new swath every week,” said Matt Palmer, Sanpete County Agent for USU Extension. “The problem has spread from Bea-ver County, and been growing in recent years, but has just exploded this year because of the mild winter and the loss of effective control measures.”

In years past, many of ro-dents lived on rangelands, but with continued drought, squir-rels have fled to where water and good feed can be found – in alfalfa fields. Changes in irrigation practices have also played a role, according to Palmer, who said that in the days of flood irrigation, bur-rows would be flooded and populations were lower.

Today, TGS are able to infest alfalfa fields and eat the plants all the way to the roots, leaving fields bare. Hay farmer Danny Boore noticed the problem was increasing, and contacted Palmer

Spreading populations of ground squirrels in central Utah causing major damage

and Beaver County Extension Agent Mark Nelson for help.

The Extension agents, along with Terry Messmer, USU Exten-

sion Wildlife Specialist, gathered with about 3o farmers from central Utah on Boore’s farm in Axtell to survey the damage and talk about how to control the varmint.

“First off, we learned that we’ve started a little too late in terms of trying to reduce populations of TGS,” Palmer said. “But we’re hoping to get the word out to more and more farmers, so that we can keep this problem from exploding next year.”

Townsend Ground Squirrels live in colonies and build under-ground burrows, which can be up to six feet deep. Adult TGS may be up to seven inches long, with a mostly-white belly. Utah’s extremely mild winter may help explain the populations of TGS

exploded this year, because the rodents hibernate in the coldest parts of the winter. Breeding takes place immediately after

hibernation, and typically produces between 8-10 young each year. This usually takes place in late February or early March.

A Successful ProgramBecause of the potential for

rapid population growth, con-trolling TGS populations early is imperative. With increasing populations and reduced flood irrigating, farmers have turned to fumigants, trapping and shoot-ing to reduce squirrel numbers. Fumigating and trapping is dif-ficult and expensive, because of the many holes a single TGS can burrow. Shooting can also be effective, but populations have

soared too high to make any of these methods effective at con-trolling populations.

Nelson shared with farmers some of the more recently efforts taking place in Beaver County, which has been met with success. It’s a multi-stage effort of pre-

baiting and then baiting of TGS. To be effective, the baiting needs to take place when all the TGS are active, which is about 2-3 weeks after the first squirrel activity is noticed. This makes visually accounting for TGS critical, be-cause with a mild winter such as this year, TGS activity took place earlier than when most factsheets would have suggested.

According to USU fact sheets, pre-baiting is done with a rolled oat, following up several days later with grain bait containing zinc phosphide. This product is a restricted pesticide in Utah; meaning application must be done by someone with a pesti-cide license. Care needs to be observed in the application of the pesticide, to ensure safety. More information regarding this pesti-cide can be found by contacting A.J. Ferguson, at 801-233-3006.

The reasoning behind this method is that a better control rate is achieved by baiting the squirrels with untreated grain,

so that they get a taste for the future bait and develop a trust of the feed source. Then, once bait is consumed with a high-enough pesticide concentration, popula-tion reduction has been as high as 75 percent.

Photo by Matt HargreavesA Tale of Two Fields: Danny Boore shows what one of his un-infested fields looks like on the left, growing quality alfalfa; compared with one infested with ground squirrels on the right, which have eaten hay and left bare spots throughout his fields in Axtell, Utah.


PRIVACY continued on pg 9

WASHINGTON, D.C. The Environmental Pro-tection Agency’s public release to environmental groups of personal details about the home locations and contact information of tens of thousands of farm and ranch families was unlawful. A lower court ruling that upheld the EPA action failed to address key privacy issues and should be re-versed, according to court documents filed today by the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Farm Bureau, along with the National Pork Producers Council, filed a brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth

American Farm Bureau appeals flawed privacy decision

Circuit to overturn an earlier district court rul-ing. That ruling held, in part, that because some of the information had been posted online by state agencies, EPA was free to publicly release the same information under the Freedom of Informa-tion Act.

The brief to the appeals court states that there is no “merit to the (district court’s) suggestion that citizens lack a privacy in-terest in information that appears on the Internet. That theory is one that might appeal to George Orwell, but it is not one that has a basis in law or common sense.”

“Personal information is ubiquitous on the In-ternet; if the mere appear-ance of information on a website destroyed any continuing privacy inter-est in that information, privacy would be dead. The Supreme Court’s FOIA precedents fore-close that conclusion,” the brief stated.

According to the brief, EPA’s disclosure of the requested information serves only one purpose: “to put in the hands of environmental activists information that will help them to investigate and harass family farms on their own, in their efforts to bring private lawsuits

against family farmers.”The brief states “the

disclosure of information such as names, addresses, and other personal iden-tifying information, like the data at issue, creates a palpable threat to pri-vacy.”

In addition, the brief states that farms and ranches are inherently different from typical businesses in that infor-mation divulged typically leads to a home residence of a farm or ranch family.

“Most businesses’ mail-ing addresses lead to of-fices or factories; their telephones are answered by receptionists and sec-retaries; and their GPS coordinates point to park-ing lots or security-guard booths,” the brief states. “But family farms are fundamentally different

-- or the great major-ity of them, their busi-nesses are their homes. Their driveways lead not only to their fields and their hen houses, but also to the swing sets where their children play. Their business telephone num-bers are answered not by nameless receptionists in florescent-lit offices, but by their spouses in their family kitchens, and their children in their upstairs bedrooms.

“If anything, the fact that the disclosed infor-mation concerns farmers as both individuals and businesses is a greater reason to find the infor-mation protected, not the other way around.”

The EPA shocked the farming and ranching community in early 2013

Utah Farm Bureau News 7June 2015-- or the great major-ity of them, their busi-nesses are their homes. Their driveways lead not only to their fields and their hen houses, but also to the swing sets where their children play. Their business telephone num-bers are answered not by nameless receptionists in florescent-lit offices, but by their spouses in their family kitchens, and their children in their upstairs bedrooms.

“If anything, the fact that the disclosed infor-mation concerns farmers as both individuals and businesses is a greater reason to find the infor-mation protected, not the other way around.”

The EPA shocked the farming and ranching community in early 2013

F a r m B u r e a u members are headed south for the 2015 Mid-year Conference, which will be held July 16-17 at the Sharwan Student Center, on the beautiful campus of Southern Utah University (351 West University Blvd.) in Cedar City, Utah.

The program is full of important issues and topics for discussion i n p r e p a r a t i o n f o r l e g i s l a t i v e i n t e r i m a n d t h e 2 0 1 6 General Legis lat ive Sessions. Balanced with discussions on policy, there are opportunities to meet with and ask questions of elected officials and participate in classes on leadership development.

All interested Farm Bureau members are i n v i t e d t o a t t e n d . T h e c o n f e r e n c e will be packed with powerful information a n d p r e s e n t a t i o n s model ing the Farm Bureau’s unique ability to analyze issues and propose solutions.

E x p e r t s w i l l b e reporting on areas of high priority already identified through our Spring Issues Surfacing meetings (SISM). There will be presentations on topics including how rural Utah fares at the legislature, laws governing access to private roads, authority and power of county

Farm Bureau members invited to attend 2015 Midyear Conference in Cedar City

g o v e r n m e n t s , a n exercise in prioritizing t h e m a n y i s s u e s farmers and ranchers are involved with, and more.

T h e a n n u a l B B Q will be held on campus Thursday evening at 5:30 p.m. Following the BBQ, Farm Bureau has reserved a limited block of tickets at the Utah Shakespeare Festival for two plays , King Lear and South Pacific. Tickets are on a first come first served basis and are non-refundable. Children under the age of 6 are not admitted.

County secretaries will gather registration i n f o r m a t i o n f o r t h e c o n f e r e n c e a n d r e s e r v a t i o n s f o r t h e S h a k e s p e a r e Festival . The Early-bird registration and the Utah Shakespeare Festival ticket block end on June 15, so please register early!

N e w t h i s y e a r , attendees are invited to make their own room reservations. Ask for the special Utah Farm Bureau room rate at the following hotels. NOTE—room block and discounted rates will be available only until June 15, 2015. Book early!

• Crystal Inn – $82 + t a x . 1 5 7 5 W . 200 N., Cedar City 435-586-8888

• Abbey Inn – $85 + tax. 940 W. 200 N . , C e d a r C i t y 4 3 5 - 5 8 6 - 9 9 6 6 B e s t W e s t e r n Town & Country. – $95 + tax. 189 N. Main, Cedar City 435-586-9900

Amberley Snyder, a

senior at Utah State

University will be the concluding motivational speaker on Friday. A 2010 car accident left Snyder unable to walk, but she has continued to compete in barrel racing and breakaway roping at the college level. Come hear what she has to say

about living life without excuses!

If you have questions or need more information, please contact Susan Furner at 801-233-3040 or [email protected].


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Another PerspectiveVice President - Member Services

& Women’s Committee CoordinatorAurline Boyack

2015 Creative Story contest winners when it publicly released a

massive database of personal information about tens of thou-sands of livestock and poultry farmers, ranchers and their families in multiple states. The information was collected from state regulatory agencies and then distributed to three envi-ronmental groups that had filed requests under the Freedom of Information Act. The database included the names of farmers, ranchers and sometimes other family members, home ad-dresses and GPS coordinates, home telephone numbers and personal emails.

“We wholeheartedly support government transparency, but we insist on protecting the privacy of farm and ranch families,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman.

PRIVACYContinued from pg. 6

By Kyler HorneBrigham City, Utah. 3rd Grade

A while back I was visiting my great grandpa who runs a small farm. I asked him to tell me some things about farming. Because he is a farmer and his dad was a farmer I got to learn some of the things that have changed from when he was little to what I know about farms.

One thing he told me was that when he was a little boy helping his dad plant the seeds for their crops they would have to attach a plow to a horse in order to get their fields ready to plan seeds. Now for his own farm he has a big tractor that has a big plow. Using the plow on the tractor is a lot faster. He can get more work done and cover a lot more ground. He has lots of different tractors in his shed and barns.

He told me a story of when his dad was growing up his grand-

My Grandpa’s Farm Then...and Now

pa’s crop got wiped out because of a very harsh winter. Now days seeds have been tested and are produced to be strong enough to deal with harsh weather con-ditions.

We talked about the different types of farms. There are dairy farms that have hundreds of cows that they hook up to pumps to get the milk. Back when he was little he milked cows by hand. Dairy farms give us milk, cheese, but-ter, and my favorite dairy item Ice Cream! Farmers produce grains, which give us wheat and grains for breakfast and cereal. There are also farmers who raise chickens. My mom told me a time when they were visiting grandpas house and a skunk had got into the chick coop and ate some chickens. It started to happen often enough that they decided to not raise chickens anymore. Bun now days chickens are housed

in huge barns that protect them from skunks and others predic-tors like coyotes.

We talked about how horses used to pull wagons to take food to the small stores that were close by. Now days crops are shipped all over the world and we use many things like trains, boats, and semi-trucks to ship them. We even use corn to make fuel. It’s neat to see that farmer even help with fuel.

We get our meat from farmers too. Chicken, beef, and pork all come from farms. My grandpar-ents used to raise cows to see the meat. My mom got to name some of the calves along with her cousins.

Even though his ranch isn’t big I have loved to see how much work going into farming. His farm is much bigger than his dad’s farm. He told me because of the science and machines, farm-ers are able to produce much more that the past.

We’ve included below one of the winning state entries in our Cre-ative Story Contest. This one comes from Kyler Horne, a third grade student from Brigham City, Utah. Congratulations Kyler!


Money Matters A special column for the Utah Farm Bureau News provided by USU Extension

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By Stacy Abbott, Utah State University Extension educator – Salt Lake County

Regardless of where you find yourself in preparing for a child’s college expenses, there are some basic questions to ask yourself: 1. What can I contribute?2. What resources are avail-

able?3. How can my child prepare

for college expenses?

What can I contribute?Some parents feel they don’t

have the financial capability to pay for college expenses for their children. This may be especially true if there are mul-tiple children in your family or if you live on a limited income. Keep in mind that tuition is only a portion of college ex-penses. Other expenses include textbooks, housing, food and transportation. Perhaps you can’t provide tuition assistance but could provide housing, buy textbooks or continue to pay for car insurance.

If you are interested in saving money for your child’s educa-tion but are unsure of how to fit it into your budget, you can look for money to save by ana-lyzing and cutting discretionary spending.

Examples include: -Cut back on how

many times you eat out or stop at the conve-nience store for a snack.

-Shop only for things you need. Don’t making shopping a recreational activity.

-Cancel unnecessary services.

Financing your child’s educationPlace the money you would

have spent on these items into a savings account. Automate your savings by having money directly deposited into a desig-nated account. This will maintain consistency in your saving and takes away the temptation of spending it.

These small changes will add up over time. Saving $75 a month will add up to $900 per year and $11,700 after 13 years. With a good interest rate and time on your side, your contributions can develop into a substantial nest egg, not to mention a fabulous graduation gift!

Accounts that offer a com-petitive interest rate include Educational Savings Plan (529 or Coverdell), Roth IRAs, Mutual Funds and Money Market ac-counts. As you are making your choice, remember to compare fees, rate of return and tax incen-tives for saving.

What resources are avail-able?

Federal Financial Aid is avail-able to college students in the form of Pell Grants, Federal Student Loans and Work Study. These are awarded according to the financial need of the stu-dent. Factors considered in the calculation include the cost of attendance, income, assets and household size. Some assets are considered exempt; these in-clude home equity, life insurance policies, income from a small business with less than 100 em-ployees and family farm income.

Visit www.fafsa.org to file your

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This can be done as soon as January 1st but not before you have filed your most recent tax return. Ap-plicants are encouraged to apply early.

Once your child is in college, take advantage of federal tax credits for education includ-ing Lifetime Learning Credit and American Opportunity Tax Credit.

How can my child prepare for college expenses?

Encourage your child to pre-pare for future college expenses by saving a portion of the money they earn through a part- time job or by selling livestock or produce. They should also main-tain good grades and apply for scholarships from universities, private companies and club or-ganizations.

High school students can take advantage of concurrent enroll-ment and AP courses, which may satisfy general education requirements at universities for a reduced rate.

In addition, Utah Applied Technology Colleges offer tuition waivers to high school students. Courses at these colleges teach students marketable skills that can be used to gain employment or transfer credit for further education. For more information visit: http://www.ucat.edu/.

Words of Caution:Applying for financial aid is a

free service, so beware of anyone who tries to charge you for this service. Visit https://studen-

taid.ed.gov/sa/ for additional information about federal financial aid.

If you must borrow money for college expenses, consider Federal Student Loans that are available to students and their parents. Repayment options are more flexible than loans through private companies.

Student loans cannot be discharged in bankruptcy re-gardless of whether they are private or federal.

Borrowing from your home equity for college expenses may be tempting, but keep in mind that this will add an additional payment to your mortgage and put your house at risk if you are unable to make payments.

Borrowing against your 401(k) may incur penalties and additional taxation, not to mention stunt the growth of the account.

Sources:-Pennsylvania Higher Education

Assistance Authority. (2011). Why Save For Your Childs Future? Re-trieved from http://www.education-planner.org/parents/why-save.shtml

-Flynn, Kathryn. (2013, January 1). Which is Best: 529 College Savings or Roth IRA. Retrieved from http://www.savingforcollege.com/articles/which-is-best-529-college-savings-plan-or-roth-ira-710

-Internal Revenue Service. (2014 December 11). Education Credits AOTC & LLC. http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Education-Credits-AOTC-LLC

Stacy Abbott is an educator for Utah State University Extension, Salt Lake County. She received a master’s degree in family and con-sumer sciences education from USU. Trained as a financial counselor and housing educator, she spent 6 years working at a HUD-approved coun-seling agency. Stacy loves learning and enjoys teaching others practical life skills, especially in the area of housing and personal finance.


YOUR Utah Farm Bureau at Work

Utah Farm Bureau … attended various meetings with Utah’s School and Institutional Trust Land Administration (SITLA) leadership and staff regarding their proposal to increase transparency of their 15-year renewal permits. During SITLA’s May 28 board meeting in Price, the SITLA board unanimously approved new polices that will direct staff to post online notices of annual permit renewals.

Utah Farm Bureau … attended the Governor’s Rural Partnership Board Meeting in Ephraim, where a number of rural economic developments were discussed. Agriculture has a seat on this board and UFBF works with members of this board to help ensure needs of production agriculture are maintained.

Utah Farm Bureau … visited with many of Utah’s fruit growers and discussed recent Utah Legislative actions that directly impact the fruit industry including labor, water rights and development, agriculture protection areas and administration/regulations of bees.

Utah Farm Bureau … attended Utah’s fifth annual Utah Energy Summit at the downtown Salt Lake Convention Center. Hundreds of private, academic and government leaders in the energy industry attended. Utah continues to be a national leader in oil and gas production. Much of this production occurs on private property creating conflict with historic and traditional agriculture production practices.

Utah Farm Bureau … participated in a Utah Farmer’s Cooperative Council meeting. This broad-based council represents many of Utah’s agricultural cooperatives.

Utah Farm Bureau … staff visited with Utah’s Congressional and Senate staffers representing Congresswoman Mia Love, Senators Mike Lee and Orrin Hatch. Regular visits with both staffers from Utah and Washington, D.C. offices maintains close, trusted relationships with our Congressional delegation.

Utah Farm Bureau … staff awarded scholarships at the Western National Spring Dairy Show. Staff also assisted with numerous County Farm Field Days throughout the state.

Utah Farm Bureau … attended meetings in Bicknell & Hanksville on grazing in Capitol Reef National Park, helped resolve fencing & rights of way issues in Sanpete and Sevier Counties, and attended working group meetings for Sage Grouse.

Utah Farm Bureau … coordinated several media interviews during the month on issues related to water. These broadcast news stories aired on KSL 5 and Fox 13 television. Staff also coordinated in a 30-minute program called Utah Matters, which airs on KJZZ TV. The episode can be viewed online at https://goo.gl/ynU53m. Lastly, Farm Bureau participated in print and radio news stories related to the EPA release of its final Waters of the United States rule.

Bailee Woolstenhulme has been selected as an intern for the Utah Farm Bureau’s Commu-nications Division. The annual internship provides students with opportunities to put public relations and communica-tions skills they’ve learned in classes to practical use. The internship combines strategic communications planning skills with writing, photography, event planning and more with the unique demands and issues of agri-culture.

Woolstenhulme is a stu-dent at Utah State Univer-sity, studying agricultural communications and jour-nalism, with an emphasis in public relations and a minor in Equine Science. Along with her communications degree, Bailee has served as the USU College of Agriculture Marketing Vice President, as well as Vice President of the Ag-ricultural Communications Club. Woolstenhulme has also recently completed an internship with the Utah Department of Agriculture and it’s Utah’s Own program.

“I grew up helping on my fam-ily’s small beef cattle operation. My family has also been heavily involved in the equine industry, raising and training quarter horses from my grandpa’s breed-ing program,” Woolstenhulme said. “I was raised on the back of a horse and that is where I prefer to be. For me there is nothing better than going for a ride to check the cattle with my family in the beautiful mountainsides

Bailee Woolstenhulme picked as Farm Bureau

Communications Division summer intern

of my hometown. At the Utah Farm Bureau,

Woolstenhulme hopes to learn about advocacy communications, to see how she can be a better advocate for agriculture in the future.

“Growing up the way I did has given me a love and apprecia-tion for the agriculture industry and the farmers and ranchers who work day-in and day-out to provide for others in the world,” Woolstenhulme said. “This is why I am excited to work as an intern for the Utah Farm Bureau. I hope to help advocate for the farmers and ranchers in Utah as well as educate the general public about the agriculture industry.”

Woolstenhulme began her in-ternship the beginning of June and will work at the Farm Bu-reau’s offices in Sandy through the summer.

Utah Farm Bureau News12 June 2015On the edge of common senseBAXTER BLACK

CRICKETS continued on pg 18

The editor of the Delmarva Farmer made the observation that Americans as a whole have reached the Age of Agricultural Ignorance. This stage in our civilization is a direct result of the lack of “kids growing up on the farm.”

There are many reasons for them leaving. One of the greatest being that farming requires manual labor. As our country has progressed, each generation was drawn to professions that demanded less and less physical exertion. A perfect example is the importation of foreign labor to do the grunt work. Grandparents and parents crossed the border to work in the fields. They, themselves were close to the land and understood farming. But when they raised their children, they deliberately discouraged them from working in ag.

In the last five generations in the U.S., we have whittled down the percent of the population engaged in production agriculture from 25% in 1933 to less than 2% today.

So what? Using modern agriculture practices, the reality is, 2% is enough to feed everyone else. It’s an amazing accomplishment that is now taken for granted. However, there is an accompanying negative progression that has contributed to the Age of Agricultural Ignorance. It is the expanding ignorance of science. Today in the U.S., 50% of all post-graduate degrees in science-based curriculums are earned by students who are foreign born. “Science based” include subjects like math, chemistry, engineering, medicine, physics and agriculture. Political science & economics aren’t sciences.

What those of us in agriculture find hard to believe is, according to popular culture, we are not doing a good job. The community of denigrators accuse farmers of misuse of animals and land and our environment. They are innocently supported by an ignorant media (journalism is not a science) who are incapable of evaluating information like statistical significance, withholding times, FDA requirements and the writing on the back of a bottle.

I grant that they get a disproportionate amount of the front-page scares and the denigrators stir up contributions to their anti-farming causes and the gutless media-sensitive politicians (lawyery is not a science) and pop stars are no help, but…

Dwarfing their squealing, the landslide of food production roars down through the planting, harvest, transportation, preparation and consumption of what we choose to eat. The food chain never stops. It is feeding 320 million people in the U.S. daily, plus furnishing $45 billion worth of food exports (2013).

One might conclude that America’s horn of plenty will survive as long as foreign-born students help us continue to technically and biologically streamline farming. And as long as foreign-born laborers who are willing to pick up a shovel or drive a tractor keep immigrating, that we will not go hungry. A sad conclusion.

Then again, there might be a renaissance of 21st Century Agricultural Awareness, where farmers and ranchers will be recognized for their contribution and treated like royalty! In the league of astronauts, Heisman Trophy winners, or even Oscar winners! Hey, you never know. Hunger is a powerful influence.

Agricultural ignorance

Article courtesy of USU ExtensionGrasshoppers are a threat to

crops and rangeland across the West, but Utah always has had a special historical relationship with Mormon Crickets. Ana-brus simplex has been known as a Mormon Cricket since 1848 when hordes of the insect started eating the early Mormon settlers’ much-needed crops. When set-tlers prayed for help, an equal horde of seagulls descended and ate enough of the crickets to save the crops and possibly the lives of the pioneers. Ever since, the Cali-fornia gull has been Utah’s state bird and the ravenous cricket has taken on a religious nickname.

Utah State University Exten-sion and the Utah Department of Agriculture & Food have co-ordinated control efforts across state, local, private and federal boundaries to help mitigate the impact of Mormon Crickets. Extension disseminates control information through community meetings and the media and acts as a referral center for bait, pesti-cides and application equipment.

Utah State Extension agents have been instrumental in work-ing with private landowners, UDAF and USDA-APHIS to organize control program to minimize the damage on crops and rangeland. Agents have been proactive, organizing meetings with representatives from UDAF, the US Forest Services, Bureau of Land Management, Farm Services Agency, County Com-missioners and private suppliers.

Utah State University Exten-sion and the Utah Department of Agriculture & Food have worked with landowners, and coordi-nated with agencies such as the

Fighting grasshoppers and Mormon Crickets for

nearly 100 yearsBureau of Land Management, tribal councils, the National For-est Service, county commission-ers, USDA-APHIS and others to reduce damage due to Mormon Crickets and grasshoppers.

Risk Areas and Control Methods

Utah has millions of acres of rangeland that are prime habitat for many species of grasshop-pers. Left unchecked, grasshop-pers may destroy rangeland and compete with livestock and wildlife for food.

Ranchers and land managers need to first determine if there really is an infestation. The defi-nition of an infestation, though this is not an exact science, is “eight or more grasshoppers per square yard” (your County Extension Agent can help deter-mine the grasshopper count). If there is an infestation, a control plan needs to be devised.

The best and most economi-cal way to control infestations on rangeland is aerial spraying. Some years, there are govern-ment cost share programs to help spray large acres of rangeland. Usually, the land needs to border adjacent to federal or state lands to qualify for government aid. The insecticides most commonly used on rangelands are Mala-thion ULV and Dimilin.

Dimilin spray is proving to be the least expensive and environ-mentally safe alternative. It is important that spraying takes place early in the grasshoppers’ lives. The younger the grasshop-pers and Mormon Crickets are, the higher the kill rate. The best


BOYACK continued on pg 21

CRICKETS continued on pg 18

Nineteen years after setting out looking for a job, Aurline Boyack is calling it a wonderful career. With almost two decades worth of selfless service for Utah Farm Bureau members, Boyack is looking forward to spending more time with another set of members – her family.

“We are going to miss Aurline greatly, and thank her for her many years of serving Farm Bu-reau members,” said Leland Ho-gan, President of the Utah Farm Bureau Federation. “In many

instances, Aurline has been the first point of contact for many of our members – especially our associate members – and she has represented us well. We wish her well in her future endeavors.”

Having grown up on a farm in rural Snowville, in Box Elder County, one of Aurline’s earli-est memories of her family is of going to check on her dad while he was milking dairy cows. When asked if she was going to help him, Aurline replied that ‘she couldn’t because she didn’t have her gloves on’. Despite that playful childhood response on

Boyack retires after 19 years of service with Farm Bureauneeding gloves to work, Aurline has definitely taken the gloves off to fight for Utah’s farmers and ranchers ever since she joined the Farm Bureau

Boyack came to the farm – or rather to Farm Bureau – in a round about way. After finish-ing schooling at Bear River High in Garland, Boyack wasn’t sure when she was going to be working with farmers again as she entered Brigham Young University to study journalism.

Plans changed for Aurline while

at BYU when the student body government thought of a fun way to show off the “room-sized com-puter” they recently got by creat-ing what could only be termed as one of the first versions of online dating!

“Students had to fill out ques-tionnaires, and then put it into this computer, which would then match up students for a dance, according to their answers with the most compatible students,” Boyack said. “My husband (Gary) and I joked that we must have been the last two cards to match, because we had hardly anything

in common on those cards and we didn’t even like dancing!”

Despite not going to the dance, Gary and Aurline hit it off and were married not too long af-terwards. Gary accepted a job in California working for Carnation Fresh Milk & Ice Cream, which

unknowingly placed Aurline in the food world for the first of many years to come. The family came back to Utah in 1986, and with older kids in the home, Au-rline looked for an opportunity to

Boyack could always be found advocating for Utah’s farmers and ranchers, including most Saturday’s at the two Farmer’s Markets she helped manage. Some days, she even got to put on the headset for the KSL Greenhouse Show.

Boyack helped promote the value of food through many ‘Food Checkout Week’ events in grocery stores throughout the state.


Practical PolicyVice President- Public PolicySterling Brown

Maintaining a healthy tax climateAgriculture is Utah’s most

basic industry and one of only two that creates new wealth. The health of this basic industry depends in part on a healthy tax climate.

It is well-established economic fact that the competitive nature of agriculture – where products are available seasonally and are very perishable – forces farmers and ranchers to market when crops or livestock are ready without regard to cur-rent price. Farmers and ranch-ers – unlike producers in other industries – cannot hold com-modities for a more favorable price or pass on additional costs of production; rather, they must absorb any additional production cost and take the price offered at the time of seasonal marketing. The same is true of taxes imposed on agricultural production.

Utah farmers and ranchers annually produce $1.7 billion in food and fiber. But when you add in the value of the jobs cre-ated by the inputs required to produce this food, the dollars that turn over in processing and marketing this produce, the main street credit, and other industry-related expenditures, agriculture and agribusiness in Utah gen-erate more than $17 billion in economic activity and contribute 80,000 jobs to our workforce.

Modern agriculture competes in a regional, national and in-ternational market place. Many agricultural products imported from abroad, which compete with Utah agricultural prod-ucts, are heavily subsidized by the country of origin. Any tax imposed in Utah, which is not imposed equally in other states or countries, puts Utah farmers and ranchers at a competitive disadvantage. To do so would

be counter-productive to the economy of Utah.

Input items (which become component parts of agricultural commodities) and the sales of tangible personal property used or consumed primarily and directly in farming operations

are exempt from sales tax. Also included are animal medicines and veterinary supplies. The exclusive sales of seasonal agri-cultural produce are tax-exempt. Agricultural fuels are also ex-empt from sales tax with some limitations. Farmers and ranch-ers must sign an affidavit at each farm supplier to receive the sales tax exemption.

Here are a few other categories, and their tax implications, for you to consider:

Irrigation Equipment – Irrigation pipe intended to be buried, pipe above ground and concrete ditches, headgates, etc. are all tax exempt regardless of whether or not it becomes part of real estate. An affidavit is required to be filed with the supplier. However, because most uses of cement or concrete in agriculture become part of real estate, their use for lining irri-gation ditches will be subject to sales tax at the point of purchase. However, a farmer or rancher may apply for a refund from the tax commission with proper au-thorization and documentation.

Fencing Materials – All fencing materials become part of real estate and therefore do not qualify for sales tax exemption. Historically, the Utah State Tax Commission has felt that fencing

materials, except for portable corrals, almost always become a permanent part of the real estate.

Dog Food – Dog food for working stock dogs (both cattle and sheep) is tax exempt pro-vided an affidavit is on file with the supplier.

Horse Tack – Horse tack purchased for work-ing livestock operations, not pleasure, is tax exempt with the filing of an affidavit. Many livestock operators use their horses exclusively for working livestock and

therefore there tack is a tool of the industry. An active cattle or sheep operator may wear out a saddle in a year. It can be difficult to distinguish between pleasure and working use of horse tack and that calls for a judgement on the part of the dealer.

Livestock Insect and Para-site Applications – Because dips, drenches and pour-on in-secticides and parasite controls are for the control of insects and other parasites, and Utah law provides exemption for “sprays and insecticides used to control insects, diseases, and weeds for commercial production of fruits, vegetables, feeds, seeds and animal products.” These products are sales tax exempt as long as they are sold to farmers and ranchers and an affidavit is on file.

Livestock Medicine and Veterinarian Supplies – Are sales tax exempt.

Farm Equipment and Ac-cessories with Dual Appli-cations – Items such as tires, batteries, lubricants, antifreeze and filters may have dual ap-plications and feasibly could be used for farm/ranch work as well as non-farm use. The purchase of farm machinery is not subject to sales tax. This also, exempts repair parts and labor for farm

machinery. Leased equipment is not included in this exemp-tion. Equipment dealers and repair shops require farmers to sign an affidavit certifying that equipment is being purchased for agricultural purposes and that repairs are made on farm equipment. Farm trucks or any vehicle requiring a license are not included in this exemption.

Storage Tanks and Bins – Portable storage tanks and bins are exempt from sales tax. The following sizes and configura-tions will qualify tanks and bins for the sales tax exemption: fuel tanks with 1,000 gallons or less, water tanks with 2,000 gallons or less, liquid fertilizer tanks with 1,000 gallons or less, all liquid spray tanks, propane tanks with 200 gallons or less, all watering troughs and all grain storage bins with legs and built-in floors (intended to be portable).

Seasonal Sales – Seasonal sales of crops, seedling plants, garden, farm or other agricul-tural produce, if sold by the producer, is currently exempt from sales tax. If these products are sold in connection with non-agricultural items, the exemption does not apply.

Specific sales tax exemp-tions have helped sustain the most basic industry – Production agriculture. Main-taining certainty and predictabil-ity going forward will continue to provide production agriculture with sustainability. Maintain-ing competitive equality with regional and international food and fiber producers will further advance a safe, affordable and abundant food and fiber supply, which is essential to our life style and standard of living.


Friends of Farm Bureau

The “Friend of Farm Bureau” award is given at the end of each Congress to those members of Congress who were nominated by their respective state Farm Bureaus and approved by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Board of Directors.

This award is based upon voting records on AFBF’s priority issues established by the Board of Directors, number of bills that a member has sponsored and co-sponsored, specific leadership role for Farm Bureau on priority issues, and how accessible and re-sponsive that member is to Farm Bureau members and leaders. In addition, the state Farm Bureau lists any other specific reasons why that member should receive this award. Representative Rob Bishop (Congressional District 1) and former Representative Jim Matheson (Congressional District 4) also earned the award, but are not featured in these photos.

The U.S. House Ag Committee recently approved H.R. 2393, a bill to amend the Agriculture Marketing Act of 1946. A com-bination of 68 Democrats and Republicans joined Chairman Conaway in introducing this bi-partisan bill that will effectively repeal country of origin labeling requirements for beef, pork, and chicken, while leaving intact the requirements for all other cov-ered commodities.

“This bill is a targeted response that will remove uncertainty and restore stability for the United States by bringing us back into compliance,” Chairman Conaway said. “We must do all we can to avoid retaliation by Canada and Mexico, and this bill accom-plishes that through full repeal of labeling requirements for beef, pork, and chicken.”

House ag committee approves bill to repeal COOL

“Working in a bipartisan man-ner is the only way to accomplish real change for our country. That is why I would like to thank my colleagues, from both sides of the aisle, for their support of H.R. 2393, a bill to repeal manda-tory COOL requirements for beef, pork, and chicken products,” said Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Agricul-ture Committee’s Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Subcommit-tee. “With the recent decision by the WTO, we must act rapidly to avoid serious trade barriers being enacted against U.S. agricultural products. This is a good first step towards resolving this issue that has been hanging over the indus-try for years.”


Farm Bureau seeks applicants for Women’s

Communications Boot CampDo you want to become

a better public speaker? Would you like some help in learn-ing to successfully target your message? How about some tips in dealing with the media?

The Utah Farm Bureau (UFBF) Women’s Commit-tee is accepting applications for participation in the Farm Bureau Women’s Communi-cations Boot Camp. The c o n f e r e n c e is open to all women who are Farm Bu-reau members and want to enhance their communica-tion and lead-ership skills. The inten-sive training offers sessions on public speaking, testifying, targeting your message, work-ing with the media and seeking elected office. Participants will complete an intense round of media interviews on their pre-selected issue and practice tes-tifying on the issue. Feedback will be given throughout Boot Camp in order to prepare par-ticipants to target their mes-sage to a variety of audiences. Women’s Communications Boot Camp challenges partici-pants to become confident and powerful voices for rural com-munities.

The training offers multiple interactive opportunities to build skills needed to commu-nicate about agriculture and for Farm Bureau. Each partici-pant will also network and de-velop relationships with Farm

Bureau members and staff. Applications are due to the

Utah Farm Bureau State Office by June 15, 2015.

All applications submitted to the Utah Farm Bureau will be reviewed and one will be se-lected to be sent to the AFBF Women’s Communications Boot Camp selection commit-tee. All applications will be no-

tified of their application sta-tus via email by July 31.

Should Utah Farm Bureau’s nominee be accepted as a member of the 2015 Commu-nications Boot Camp, UFBF will pay the participant’s regis-tration fee, round-trip airfare to Washington, D.C. and hotel accommodations for the con-ference.

If you are interested in build-ing the skills needed to com-municate for agriculture and Farm Bureau, contact us for an application today! If you have any questions, please email Belva Parr, State Wom-en’s Chair at [email protected] or Susan Furner, at [email protected].

LOS ANGELES – Academy Award®-winning filmmaker James Moll’s feature-length documentary, FARMLAND, is now available for streaming on Netflix.com. With 57 million subscribers worldwide, Netflix is considered a premium destina-tion for documentaries and is an opportunity to extend the reach of FARMLAND across the U.S. and into Canada.

“I’m thrilled that FARMLAND has found a new home at Netf-lix,” said Moll. “There’s a lot of interest out there in the next gen-eration of farmers and ranchers, and Netflix is a great venue to meet and be inspired by these six hard-working Americans.”

F A R M -L A N D p r o -vides viewers with a first-hand glimpse inside the world of farming and ranching by depict-ing the lives of six young farm-ers and ranchers. In addition to streaming on Netflix, the film is currently screening on major college and university campuses across the nation. Additional campuses interested in holding a screening can submit requests at FARMLANDfilm.com.

The film continues to be avail-able for rent and purchase at Walmart retail locations na-tionwide, Walmart.com, and via digital download on iTunes, Am-azon Instant Video, Blockbuster On-Demand, Sony PlayStation, Vudu.com, Xbox and YouTube.

Produced by Moll’s Allentown Productions, FARMLAND was made with the generous support of the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance®. During its theatrical

Netflix to stream Farmland movie

debut in 2014, FARMLAND was shown in theaters nationwide and also was featured at film festivals in Atlanta, Cleveland, Nashville and Newport Beach, Calif. Check out the official trailer and more information about the feature length documentary at FARMLANDfilm.com and on https://www.facebook.com/farmlandfilm.

Many Americans have never stepped foot on a farm or ranch or even talked to the people who grow and raise the food we eat, yet are increasingly passionate about understanding where their

food comes from. FARMLAND takes the viewer inside the world of farming for a firsthand glimpse into the lives of six young farmers and ranchers in their twenties. Through the personal stories of these farmers and ranch-ers, viewers learn about their high-risk/high-reward jobs and passion for a way of life that has been passed down from genera-tion to generation, yet continues to evolve.

Produced by Moll’s Allen-town Productions, FARMLAND received notable attention dur-ing its theatrical run securing reviews in several national me-diums and recognition in film festivals across the country, including Atlanta, Cleveland and Newport Beach, Calif. The film has a 94 percent audience rating on RottenTomatoes.com.


ECONOMY continued on pg 26

Unleashing the American economyBy Dale Newton, Director of Finance, Utah Farm Bureau Federation

It’s important that readers of this news-paper know the truth about the U. S. econo-my, rather than what many in the national media and many poli-ticians want you to know and think. The U.S. economy is not doing very well. Many of you know that from your first hand person-al experiences. Growth is anemic, wages are stagnant to declining, and taxes and regu-lations are about the only thing expanding.

The first “we believe” statement on the Farm Bureau’s listing of ba-sic beliefs is “we be-lieve in the American private, competitive enterprise system.” Many of the remain-ing statements discuss constitutionally lim-ited government, pri-vate personal property rights and the value of productive contribu-tions to society. It is no secret to anyone that all of these value state-ments are under attack at this time.

Let’s start with a dis-cussion of the coun-try’s economy. Eco-nomic growth has been lack-luster, to say the least, for the past seven years. One prominent economist, Jim Rickards (a fi-nancial lawyer, hedge fund manager and au-thor of the New York Times bestseller, The

Death of Money), ar-gues that the economy is in a depression if you use the definition originally postulated by John Maynard Keynes. Mr. Keynes stated in his 1936 classic, The General Theory of Em-ployment, Interest and Money, that a depres-sion is a “chronic con-dition of sub-normal activity for a consid-erable period without any marked tendency towards recovery or towards complete col-lapse.” I think most people would agree that we are in a period of “sub-normal” economic activity.

The sluggish 0.2% growth rate of the U. S. economy in the first quarter of 2015, and the sub-normal 1% per year growth for the last 7 years, is far below av-erage growth rates in previous economic re-coveries. For example, from 1983 to 1985, during the heart of the “Reagan boom”, growth in the U.S. economy averaged more than 5.5% per year [27 times higher than the last quarter]. This is what the U. S. economy is capable of producing if conditions are right and if the government gets out of the way. You might wonder what the differences are between 1% growth rates and, say, 3% growth rates. While it might seem small in a given year, the results are enor-mous over time. From

the same beginning point, an economy that grows 3% per year for 35 years will be twice as large as the one that grows only 1% per year. If you extend that time frame to 70 years, the difference is astound-ing – four times richer. Growth rates do matter and they do provide a window into the possi-

bilities for the economy as a whole and for in-dividuals, farmers and ranchers trying to pros-per within that econo-my.

So how do we allow the economy to grow? One way would be to reduce the tax burden on busi-nesses and individuals – and, it is a heavy bur-den. The U. S. govern-

ment is projecting total fiscal year 2015 spend-ing of $3.759 trillion – or $10.3 billion of daily outlays. To finance this spending, the federal government is collect-ing taxes like never be-fore. Never! The gov-ernment took in nearly $472 billion of tax re-ceipts in April 2015 – the largest monthly total ever collected in history! The recent tax


Farm Shops A Direct Marketing Opportunity for Farm and Food Products

What

When Where

• Farm Shops: A Market Alternative• Assessing Profitability: Business and Financial Plans• Marketing: Customer Types and Promotional Strategies• Realities: Products, Sourcing, and Pricing • Financing: Federal Grant and Loan Programs and Private Financing Options• Value-Added Products: Cottage Foods, Processing and Labeling Requirements• Business Ownership: Issues, Regulations, and Permits

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension 8050 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, NV, 89123

Online registration is available at: http://farmshopslv.eventbrite.com

June 19, 2015, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. The registration fee of $30 includes all materials, as well as breaks and lunch.

Workshop TOPICS

For further information, contact Kynda Curtis at 435-797-0444 or [email protected].

The workshop is designed for growers and small food producers looking to expand or diversity their direct marketing activities by taking advantage of the growing consumer demand for local foods and food-based experiences. Workshop topics will focus on farm shop development and value-added product sales through tourism outlets. Edu-cators, Extension, agency, government and industry representatives looking to assist growers and small food producers should also attend. Workshop speakers will include a variety of academic and industry profes-sionals.

Funding for this project was provided by the Washington State University Western Extension Risk Management Education Center, the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Utah State University Extension, and the University of Nevada Extension. Utah State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunityinstitution.

time to spray rangeland is usu-ally during the fi rst three stages of the insects’ lives.

CroplandGrasshoppers and Mormon

Crickets can be devastating to Utah’s most profi table crops – alfalfa, corn, oats, wheat, rye and barley. Farmers should first determine if there is an infestation of eight or more grasshoppers per square yard. If there is, the most effective control methods are baiting for Mormon Crickets and ground spraying or aerial spraying for grasshoppers and Mormon Crickets when they occur in large numbers. Ground spray-ing is usually more expensive per acre, but there is less chance of killing non-target insects such as bees or other benefi cial insects.

Aerial spraying is quick, usu-ally less expensive, and has a high kill rate. Usually, aeri-

CRICKETSContinued from pg. 12

al spray applications are used when there are more acres to be sprayed. Justifi cation for chemi-cal control depends on the type of crop, stage of growth, additional migration and the type of dam-age being done to the crop. The insects, of course, do not respect farm boundaries. They hatch and migrate off bordering lands, and at times this is extremely frus-trating to a grower trying to con-trol an infestation. This is where communities pulling together to do a county-wide spray program comes into play. Also, the impor-tance of government spraying of public lands bordering cropland cannot be stressed enough.

Some areas of Utah have expe-rienced challenges with Mormon Crickets this year, while others have not. However, the need to be prepared for when they ar-rive remains critical. For more information, contact your local County USU Extension Agent or Rob Hougaard, Director of the Plant Industry & Conservation division at the Utah Department of Agriculture & Food.

By Randy Julander, Snow Survey Supervisor, USDA-NRCS.

I am often asked – we have had a monster week of storms with the entire state getting rain and lots of it – is the drought over? That’s a great question without an easy an-swer because drought is a very complex issue. So, let’s see if we can fi gure out what the re-cent rains do for us and what they don’t do.

First off – a general prin-cipal: rain waters your lawn, snow fi lls your reservoir. These storms – as big as they were –

Is the drought over?for the most part were like water falling on a dry sponge; soaking it all up and generating very little streamfl ow response. That rain or snow which falls on or next to saturated areas of the watershed will produce some fl ow – just not a lot. Twice a penny is still just two pennies. Other than that, the rain is primarily consumed by the soil and vegetation – and that’s a wonderful thing for producing lots of forage on our ranges and forestlands.

The rain also means that for the past little while, we haven’t had

to consume much water for irri-gation for pretty much a month! That’s nearly a whole month or more of water saved that can be used later in July and August and that’s a good thing. So with a little added to streamfl ow and a whole lot saved by not hav-ing to use it now it adds up to a substantial chunk of water in the bank. So, yes, recent rains have had a positive impact on drought conditions.

Now for the reality part. We still expect exceptionally poor runoff conditions for the re-mainder of the snowmelt runoff season. Who am I kidding – ‘yall are farmers – runoff season is basically over and what water we have in the bank is all we got at this point! So while the rain is great and a huge blessing for all the small grain farmers and for a fi rst crop of hay, we still have

June, July and August coming. For those months, we will still need adequate reservoir storage of which there is not nearly as much as we would like.

The drought is alive and well because we have very little streamflow. The rains did not improve that function, and our reservoir storage is certainly not where we would like it to be. For the next two to three weeks the drought will have seemingly “vanished”, but absent persistent rains through the summer, will return soon enough.

Despite some “doom & gloom”, my best wishes as you farmers and ranchers try your best to cope with a diffi cult situation. If you have any specifi c questions, please feel free to contact me. You can do so via email at [email protected] or call me at 801-524-5213, ext. 112.


Presented by Sand County Foundation in partnership with the Utah Farm Bureau Federation, Western AgCredit, and the Utah Cattlemen’s Association

L e o p o l d C o n s e r v a t i o n Aw a r d

In his influential book, A Sand County Almanac, Aldo Leopold called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage. The development of a land ethic was, he wrote, “an evolutionary possibility and an ecological necessity.” A land ethic is alive and well today in the thousands of American farmers, ranchers, and foresters who do well by their land and do well for their land.

Sand County Foundation proudly presents its Leopold Conservation Award to a private landowner who exemplifies the spirit of a land ethic — an individual or a family committed to enhancing the natural resources that are in their care.

In Utah, Sand County Foundation presents the Leopold Conservation Award in partnership with the Utah Farm Bureau Federation, Western AgCredit, and the Utah Cattlemen’s Association. The Leopold Conservation Award winner receives an Aldo Leopold crystal and $10,000.

Leopold Conservation Awards recognize extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation, inspire other landowners through their example, and help the general public understand the vital role private landowners can and do play in conservation success.

2014 recipientJohnson Family

Johnson Mountain Ranch LLC

2014 recipientJohnson Family

Call for ApplicationsUtah 2015

131 WEST WILSON STREET | SUITE 610 | MADISON, WI 53703 | (608) 663-4605 | WWW.SANDCOUNTY.NET

L e o p o l d C o n s e r v a t i o n Aw a r d

2015 Call for Applications

Application Deadline: August 3, 2015For further information, please see the Leopold Conservation Award website:

www.leopoldconservationaward.org

National Program Sponsors:

The Utah award is sponsored by:

ApplicationsIf you, or someone you know, is a Utah landowner who is committed to land management practices that increase conservation, we invite your application for the Leopold Conservation Award.

Please provide the following information:Nominee: Name, address, phone, email, website, type of agricultural operationNominator (if different): Name, address, phone, email

Each response must be clearly numbered and limited to 1,000 words. Nominations must be typed on 8 ½ X 11 inch paper. Please paper clip/binder clip (do not staple) your document, for copying purposes. If you wish, include supporting materials (news clippings, photos, maps, etc.) Do not send DVDs or videos. Please indicate if you would like the materials returned.

Where applicable, indicate the local, state and federal agencies and partner organizations involved with the nominee’s conservation practices.1. Conservation Ethic – Describe how the nominee has voluntarily exceeded the minimum

obligations of regulation and general agricultural practices to enhance and conserve natural resources.

2. Ecological Community – Describe how the nominee’s agricultural operation works with natural systems (soil, water, plants & wildlife, etc.). Describe how this benefits others.

3. Innovation & Adaptability – Describe how the nominee has overcome business or conservation obstacles by utilizing or experimenting with new techniques to adapt to changing demands and threats (consumers, markets, weather, regulations, etc.).

4. Resilience – Describe the business and conservation methods used by the nominee to maintain healthy land and ensure the operation remains productive into the future.

5. Leadership and Communication – Describe significant efforts the nominee has made to share his/her conservation ethics and techniques with others inside and outside of agriculture. Describe community service, positions held, leadership roles and media outreach.

6. Additional information. Describe any other relevant accomplishments and/or challenges.7. Attach three letters of recommendation. At least one should be from a natural resources

conservation organization or agency.

Please sign and submit the following statements with the application.1. I agree to be a nominee for the Leopold Conservation Award.2. I manage and/or own the property described in this application.3. The agricultural operation described in this application is in compliance with all applicable

regulations, and provides a positive example of environmental stewardship.4. I understand I may be asked to be available for communications/media opportunities to

promote the message of voluntary private lands conservation.5. I understand a video may be produced featuring my agricultural operation, which will require

my participation.

All materials must be mailed to:Leopold Conservation Awardc/o Utah Farm Bureau Federation 9865 S. State StreetSandy, UT 84070

Producers Livestock Marketing

The Nature Conservancy

USDA NRCS

Utah Farm Bureau Federation

Utah Farm Bureau News20 June 2015PARKERContinued from pg. 2

was also listed as a pri-mary natural disaster area due to damages and losses caused by a recent drought.

All counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas in May & June 2015, mak-ing all qualified farm operators in the des-ignated areas eligible for low interest emer-gency (EM) loans from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses. FSA will consider each loan ap-plication on its own merits, taking into ac-count the extent of loss-es, security available and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of programs, in addition to the EM loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from adversity.

Additional programs available to assist farm-ers and ranchers in-clude the Emergency Conservation Program, The Livestock Forage Disaster Program, and more.

Interested farmers may contact their local USDA Service Centers for further information on eligibility require-ments and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available online at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.

DROUGHTContinued from pg. 1

DOL proposal would increase Utah herder wages three to four times creating a corresponding net loss of $10,200 for that same average sized family sheep operation.

DOL fails to take into consideration that most of the sheep herder’s ba-sic needs are taken care of by their employer, including housing, food, transportation (includ-ing guaranteed round trip travel from country of origin), workers comp insurance, telephone (including international calls home) emergency health care, clothing and more. Meeting this H2A herder’s considerable list of personal needs al-lows them to send most, if not all, of their wages back to home and family. The DOL wage proposal will result in an outflow of $45 million from our sheep industry and the rural communities it

supports to the foreign herders home country over the next five years.

The assumption by DOL that increasing the H2A herder wage rate to “adequately protect U.S. and H2A workers” is flawed. At most, there are 18 U.S. workers in the herding profession as acknowledged by DOL. The federal agency cites the unique “on-call” and “work in isolated ar-eas” as the reasons for scarcity of U.S. herders; not wages. This wage proposal is punitive to livestock ranchers, po-tentially leaving them without access to domes-tic or foreign labor.

Utah is an open range state with 45 million acres identified as range-land. Of that, 33 million acres or 73 percent are managed by federal land management agencies. Only 8 million acres are privately owned. DOL proposing new rules re-quiring open range live-

stock grazing to take place “away from fences” is unrealistic and imprac-tical. Fences, even on Utah’s vast public lands, are used to delineate property lines – such as State Institutional Trust Lands and grazing allot-ment boundaries – and to manage livestock ac-tivities like grazing and watering. To exclude herders from work near fences clearly shows the lack of understanding DOL has for ranching in the West and livestock grazing on “open range.”

Herders’ work assign-ments include corralling in animals from fenced areas in order to move them from summer to winter ranges, managing sheep for short duration grazing to harvest crop residue, and managing sheep in designated ar-eas to harvest dry forage to reduce the threat of wildfires for example. The reality that fences are part of the Western open range scenario cre-ates considerable con-flict and uncertainty for Utah’s sheep ranchers and their H2A herders under the proposed rule-making.

Instead of complicat-ing the H2A herder pro-gram with industry kill-ing wage obligations,

impractical open range definitions and burden-some reporting require-ments, the current pro-gram should be expand-ed to include dairy and other animal agriculture operations. Just like the sheep industry, many agricultural sectors need foreign-born employees on a year-round basis to meet farming and ranching needs – not short duration seasonal workers available under the current general H2A program.

It should be mutually agreed upon that the proposed rulemaking will not protect the basi-cally non-existent U.S. workers in the herd-er industry; nor will it increase U.S. worker numbers. The 18 cur-rent Americans working as sheepherders under-scores the lack inter-est domestically in the profession and lack of understanding and rea-son in the DOL proposed rules.

Farm Bureau is calling on DOL to withdraw the wage proposal, revise the “open range” defini-tion to reflect western rangeland realities and abandon the onerous reporting burdens!


re-enter the workforce.“I responded to an ad

from workforce services,

not thinking I met all the requirements, but they hired me on to work as an assistant to Reed Balls in member services,” Boyack said. “My earli-est impressions working at the Farm Bureau was that the people we got to work with were fantas-tic. The staff, the Farm Bureau leaders, all of them. I didn’t quite know what I was getting myself into, and it was ironic to find myself back in agri-culture after those many years.”

Aurline fit in like hand-in-glove, working with members to help them understand how to find additional value in their memberships.

“We really didn’t have too many member ben-efits at the time, and I asked to help it grow,” Boyack said. “I could see how we needed to do something for our associate members, to help them find value in their membership. That’s

BOYACKContinued from pg. 13

when we started doing things like creating tri-fold brochure explaining the benefits, and I worked with insurance agents

to explain our benefits through a benefit guide.”

Along the way, Aurline got involved – as she often did – behind the scenes, making events successful with her attentive eye for detail. She worked on pro-grams and events includ-ing the Young Farmer & Rancher Talent Find, and producing a leadership directory for Farm Bureau members.

About this time, Boyack also began working more with the Farm Bureau Women’s Committee, pro-viding a unique perspec-tive on a range of issues from education, outreach, and the dynamics of the family farm.

“I’m much more aware of these issues than I was previously. Working with women in Farm Bureau was very fulfilling, helping them be able to share their story of how issues impact a family,” Boyack said.

In addition to work-ing with women to en-hance their leadership

skills, Aurline and the Women’s Committee un-dertook several initiatives and projects, including the ‘Share-a-book’ program,

which advocated for accurate agriculture books and literacy in elementary schools. The program also provided opportu-nities for students to have first-hand experiences meeting a farmer.

Through her years of service, Boyack also helped with out-reach projects like the FB Act advocacy system, ‘Little Hands on the Farm’ at the State Fair, and most

importantly, coordinating the Utah Farm Bureau’s two Farmer’s Markets in Murray and South Jordan. In addition to maintain-ing the state’s first and longest running Farmer’s Market in Murray, Aurline led the effort to move the other market from Sandy to South Jordan. Despite challenges, the market has proved to be successful

and captured new oppor-tunities for farmers and ranchers.

The transition of the market epitomized how Aurline went about her work. Quietly, yet atten-

tive to every detail, she worked to overcome chal-lenges and left the work better off.

“It’s hard to leave, but it’s time,” Boyack said.

“I’m looking forward to spending more time with my family and seeing where life takes Gary and I. We’ll probably do some church service and see more of our grandkids.

Farm Bureau will be forever indebted to Au-rline for her efforts and for being a trusted advocate. Congratulations on a well-deserved retirement.

Aurline could always count on the support of her family in the many responsibilities she took on at Farm Bureau. In time, Gary came along as well to lend a helping hand.

Members and staff have always been able to count on Au-rline for her dedication and service. Best wishes for a well-deserved retirement with your family.


County ConnectionVice President- OrganizationDavid Bailey

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) recently held a media event at Deer Creek res-ervoir to showcase how they are dealing with the quagga mussel threat, specifically at Dear Creek Reservoir. During the event, media mem-bers were taken out on the lake to see for themselves what it takes to monitor the lake for quagga veli-gers. Officials demon-strated the sampling techniques used by divers to test for veligers. Officials from the UDWR, State Parks and Bureau of Reclama-tion were also on hand to discuss the threat and demonstrate what steps are being taken to mitigate the threat.

Currently, samples are pulled twice a month from Deer Creek and sent to four independent labs to test for any signs of a potential infestation. So far the lab results have been negative for mussels. Officials also make periodic dives near Deer Creek dam to visually inspect areas of concern.

During the event, media also learned what it takes to decon-taminate a watercraft after a day on the water or prior to entering. Division officials demonstrated the procedure to give them a bet-ter understanding of the time, ef-fort and resources it takes a boater to exit a water body after a day of fun. Boats that are not properly drained and cleaned can easily carry Quagga Mussel veligers to other water bodies they enter.

The Utah Legislature recently passed SB89 during this last Leg-islative session, which essentially raises every boater registration fee by $10. With close to 70,000 registered boats in the state, the new fee is expected to bring in $700,000 of additional fund-

Quagga mussels on the mind of Deer Creek water managers

ing to fight the ongoing Quagga mussels battle. Although the total estimated costs to deal with a full on infestation are not entirely known, it’s estimated that it could cost taxpayers and water users

between $19-$25 million annually if Deer Creek became infested.

Decontamination is the only way to stop the spread of these mussels. It does not harm boats and it can actually prevent dam-age to your boat by removing mussels that would clog pumps and hoses. According the UDWR website, there are two ways to decontaminate your boat after pulling it out of the water:

1. Clean mud, plants, animals or other debris from your boat and equipment.

2. Drain the ballast tanks, bilge, live wells and motor.

3. Dry (7 days summer, 18 days spring/fall and 30 days in the winter) or freeze (3 days).

Professional decontamina-tion is an alternative method (generally a free service) available at many Utah waters. Certified personnel will wash your trailer and boat inside and out—flushing ballast tanks, bilge, live wells and motor with high-pressure, scald-ing (140° F) water. This method is effective and won’t harm boats.

New boats are more complex than older boats made just a few years ago. Many have internal ballast systems that weigh down

the boat to heighten the wake fol-lowing close behind. These boats can be much harder to clean if the owner is not properly aware of how the system operates. Clean-ing systems can be added to boats

with these ballast systems and many newer boats come with the system already installed at the factory.

Quagga contamination is a major concern to water managers and all

of us who use water, whether it is in commercial businesses, our homes or to irrigate crops. In Idaho, water managers are so concerned about potential con-tamination they are considering closing down several reservoirs for recreational use this summer. According to the Idaho Farm

Bureau website, they reported the following: “Due to concerns that quagga mussels could be transported from infected Utah reservoirs, several irrigation reservoirs in Franklin County, popular with fishermen as well as water sport enthusiasts, will be closed to boats in mid- to late-July when funding for a state funded boat inspection program is expected to run out. The own-ers of the irrigation impound-ments cannot afford to inspect boats on their own.”

The battle against Quagga Mussels will continue here in Utah and surrounding states. Resources must be used in the battles to contain the spread of the invasive species to give sci-ence enough time to eventually win the war and eradicate the problem. For more information about how to prevent the spread of Quagga Mussels often called the “STD of the Sea” please visit http://www.stdofthesea.com/


YF&R Focus: Derek & Jordan BlackYoung Farmer & Rancher Committee ~ District 3 (Davis, Salt Lake & Tooele Counties)

YF&R continued on pg 25

An old motto that the Mat-thews family has grown to live by was given by Grandpa Pratt Matthews. “Always run John Deere equipment, be involved with conservative politics, and when you plow in the fall, plow deep!” The Matthews family comes from a persistent influ-ence of hard-working men and women who devote their lives to faith, family, & farm life. This devotion and love continues to be seen throughout generations of the Matthews family, and will continue to live on through their deep-rooted heritage.

When the early settlers came to the town of Grantsville, it was far from prosperous and even lacked potential. The Matthews family was among of this group of settlers, and they quickly learned that living and thriving in Grantsville would be harder than imagined. The ground had never been worked, which made growing crops very difficult. The unpredictable West Desert weather condi-tions in Grantsville could be so severe, that it was extremely hard to keep livestock alive and healthy. Only time and perse-verance would soon provide this little community with hope for what would soon develop into a beautiful place where agriculture could flourish.

Pratt Matthews was our 2nd Great Grandfather. He was born and raised in Grantsville. Pratt worked on the family farm his entire life. He had many siblings who all helped and contributed to the farm. Each individual served an important role in keeping the farm and

Matthews Farm: Then and now

livestock operations produc-tive. Pratt’s brother, Billy Mat-thews, was the owner/operator of the family farm. Pratt bought out his brother Billy, and paid $12,000 for the house, farm, and sheep. In 1915, Pratt built a new house on the farm, and raised his family there. He was a very proud and honest man, whose children never went without. He kept a roof over their heads and food on the table. He continued to farm and teach his children the value of hard work.

Pratt had a son named Law-rence Matthews, who is our Great Grandfather. Even to this day all the locals referred to him as “Uncle Tiggs”. He grew up in the house that his father Pratt had built on the farm. During World War II, Tiggs moved to California for employment. He worked at the immigration office and helped with border patrol for the United States. In 1945, he and his young family moved back to Grantsville and began again to work on the family farm. Shortly after his return, he bought the house, farm, and sheep from his father (Pratt) and became the owner/opera-tor of Matthews Farms. At the time, there were about 250 head of sheep. Within a very short period, Tiggs had grown his op-eration to more than 1,200 head of sheep and several hundred acres of farmland for crops and grazing. At that time, the sheep industry was thriving. Tiggs was blessed with children who vigor-ously worked each day to keep the family business at its best.

Our grandfather Alvin Mat-thews remembers those days

This photo was taken August 23, 1962 on the front porch of Pratt Matthews house. The men in the white shirts with ties going from left to right, are brothers Morris Matthews, Pratt Matthews, and Billy Matthews. The other 2 men in the bottom left, and the suit jacket are cousins of the brothers

This photo is of Derek and Jordan Black and their two children in the original Pratt Matthews house.

well as a child, when he would be helping his father Tiggs with the sheep and crops. During the month of March, he and his fam-ily would not leave the city limits of Grantsville for more than 30 days; between school, docking, sheering, and lambing, there was absolutely no time for play.

In 1978, Alvin Matthews took over the family operation and

continued to manage in a way that would allow future growth. Soon after purchasing the farm, the sheep market plummeted, and by 1983, Alvin had sold all the sheep and the farm evolved into a row crop operation. He picked up available ground to lease in Grantsville and was

Utah Farm Bureau News24 June 2015RACContinued from pg. 2

MILK continued on page 28

uses.“As a land-manage-

ment agency that carries out a multiple-use mis-sion, the BLM seeks out and values diverse input from citizens who care about the stewardship of America’s public lands,” said BLM-Utah Acting State Director, Jenna Whitlock. “This input advances our efforts in managing uses of and protecting resources on the public lands.”

Those who have al-ready submitted a nomi-nation in response to the first call for nominations (published in the Federal Register on February 3, 2015, (80 FR 5785)) do not need to resubmit. All nominations from the first and second calls will be considered together during the review pro-cess.

Individuals may nomi-nate themselves or others to serve on an advisory council. Nominees, who

must be residents of the state or states where the RAC has jurisdiction, will be judged on the basis of their training, education, and knowledge of the council’s geographical area. Nominees should also demonstrate a com-mitment to consensus building and collabora-tive decision making. All nominations must be ac-companied by letters of reference from any rep-resented interests or or-ganizations, a completed RAC application, and any other information that speaks to the nominee’s qualifications.

The open positions are in the following catego-ries:

Category One – Public land ranchers and representatives of organizations associated with energy and mineral development, the timber industry, transportation or rights-of-way, off-highway vehicle use, and commercial recreation.

Category Two – Rep-

resentatives of nationally or regionally recognized environmental organiza-tions, archaeological and historical organizations, dispersed recreation ac-tivities, and wild horse and burro organizations.

Category Three – Representatives of state, county, or local elected office; representatives and employees of a state agency responsible for the management of natu-ral resources; represen-tatives of Indian Tribes within or adjacent to the area for which the RAC is organized; represen-tatives and employees of academic institutions who are involved in nat-ural sciences; and the public-at-large.

Fillable application forms are available on-line at: http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/res/re-source_advisory.html.

Nominations should be postmarked by June 22, 2015, to:

Sherry Foot, Special Programs

Coordinator Bureau of Land Man-

agement, Utah State Office

440 West 200 South, Suite 500

Salt Lake City, Utah 84101

For more information,

please contact Sherry Foot by phone (801)539-4195; fax (801)539-4013 or email [email protected].

The BLM-Utah will consult with the gover-nor’s office before for-warding its recommen-dations to the Secretary of the Interior for a final decision.

By Tim Pierson – Graduate Student, Division of Nutrition, University of Utah

As a graduate student of nutrition, I often find my-self heating up the kitch-en of countless parties or gatherings. Not because I am cooking up all kinds of delicious appetizers and hors d’oeuvres, but rather because I am talking to people about food – food trends, popular diets, food avoidances etc. And the conversation almost always whips around to the topic of milk.

Milk, although widely accepted by many around the world, seems to stir up passionate debates in every setting with de-mands like: “Should we drink milk?” “Is it safe?” “Raw, organic, or regu-lar?” “Whole or skim?” “Almond, Soy, or Cow? Camel milk?

All of these questions can be answered by tak-ing a look at the history of milk, animal milk that is. Its a story that begins back at the dawn of ag-riculture; about 10,000 B.C.E. Cuneiform tablets indicate that ancient Near Easterners gave fresh milk to royalty, while the common milk—that which was soured from sitting out—was used to make butter and cheese. Romans offered libum, essentially the origi-nal cheesecake, to the gods. Fast forwarding to 14th century Europe,

A history of drinking milk

Editor’s Note: In recognition of National Dairy Month in June, we wanted to provide a little history into the development of our dairy industry and the consumption of milk. The following article appears courtesy of the Utah Dairy Council.

milk found its way to the top becoming the “white l i quo r, ” a neces sa ry item for any respectable banquet or soiree. Milk (animal milk in general) was a prized possession for Europeans—some might even argue it still is – evidenced by the highly sought after milk chocolate produced by that region. Interesting note about milk chocolate is that the milk itself is responsible for much of the flavor.

However, the history of dairy consumption has not always been favorable. Physicians once advised individuals to consume cheese after a large meal to act as a kind of plug or stopper due to the constipation it causes some people. Likely the result of some intolerance and souring, many cultures viewed its consumption as bar-baric and pungent.

You might ask your-self, “why then, have we evolved to indulge in this white elixir? And should we even be drinking it?” The simple answer is yes, we should consume dairy.

Here’s a bit of history about why:

Northern Europeans evolved to tolerate lac-tose from the milk of domesticated animals thousands of years ago and benefited from its

Utah Farm Bureau News 25June 2015SQUIRRELSContinued from pg. 5

The pre-bait and baited grain needs to be applied before alfalfa begins to green up, so that the TGS choose the grain instead of the forage. Extension experts also suggest plac-ing bait above ground, rather than in burrows, b e c a u s e s q u i r r e l s won’t trust something r i g h t i n their home.

M e s s -mer adds that in ad-di t ion to the baiting program, additional integrated control methods can be implemented to further ensure success. Messmer also advocates for use of artificial perches for raptors, which are natu-ral predators of ground squirrels. Raptors natu-rally hunt in areas such as alfalfa fields, ditch

banks and other rural areas. By providing ad-ditional areas to look for prey, raptors can further increase the amount of squirrels caught. The hor-izontal axis of perches for raptors such as kestrels, hawks, and owls, should face east-west, to allow for easier use.

All Working TogetherWith an effective pro-

gram developed, Palm-er, Nelson and Messmer stress the importance of coordination and orga-nization with all farmers, as well as working with county and municipal governments to help con-

trol the TGS. According to the fact sheet prepared by Nelson and Messmer, a problem for one farmer is a problem for all farmers.

“As in many agricul-tural situations, we have found that if a good job of controlling the pest is performed and the neighbor does not, then

the problem will move from the neighbors’ fields to the well con-t ro l led f ie lds . This is similar to the problem with noxious weeds,” the factsheet re-ported. “In this project, we have worked to edu-cate all the farm-ers in the area on

the importance of con-trolling the ground squir-rel…In order to signifi-cantly reduce the number of squirrels in the entire affected area, all the pro-ducers will need to make this a priority.”

Messmer added that monitoring of ground squirrels should be includ-

ed in any farmer’s stan-dard practices, in order to keep numbers down. “Just as they’re keep-ing track of other pests and repeating some of the same growing prac-tices every year, farmers should be keeping tallies of squirrels so they know when to intervene,” Mess-mer said.

Matt Palmer is hopeful to get the assistance from county road crews and others to help in reducing squirrel numbers.

“We need everyone working together if we’re going to be successful,” said Palmer said.

The challenge with the squirrels has been es-pecially hard this year because of the impacts on early crop alfalfa.

“The water farmers have been getting now is the only water we’ll have this year. The damage to the 1st and 2nd crop alfalfa is really discourag-ing,” Palmer said.

Back on his farm, sur-veying the damage done to one of his fields, Boore

agrees with Palmer on the need to spread the word about this pest so farm-ers can get started earlier on baiting. As it stands, Boore will continue to pour resources into con-trolling however he can until next year.

“With pesticides and ammunition – not to mention the loss of the crop value – I’ve already spent about $12,000 on these squirrels,” Boore said. “It’s taken the rela-tive feed value from 180 down to about 150. That’s another big hit for our farm.”

USU Extension and the many farmers who at-tended the information session are hopeful they can keep populations from growing too high until they can coordinate large-scale baiting effort next spring.

For more information on the Townsend Ground Squirrel, visit http://goo.gl/m6i0Ln or contact your local USU Extension Agent.

YF&RContinued from pg. 23able to farm it. He grew mostly alfalfa, barley, wheat and corn. Just like any family farm, there are many hard times and challenges to overcome in order to pass on the legacy to the next gener-ation. The perseverance of Alvin Matthews had made it possible for our family to continue work-ing and expanding in ag-riculture. With the help of his wife Janet, two sons (Kirk and Kyle) and two daughters (Marlo and Mary), he was able

to successfully continue the family tradition of op-erating Matthews Farms.

In 2010, Kirk and Kyle Matthews bought sepa-rate farms in Idaho, and relocated with their fami-lies. Alvin’s grandson (Derek) just graduated from Utah State Uni-versity and had a deep love for the farm. He had grown up irrigating and putting up hay on this farm. It was in his blood and he loved every aspect of this lifestyle. After his graduation, the opportunity was given to him and he took over the

family farm in Grants-ville. Now the tradition of Pratt Matthews’ origi-nal farm has worked its way through the genera-tions and branched into three separate entities – Matthews Farms, KLM Farms, and B&M Farms. These operations are lo-cated in two different states and operated by three different owners. One thing we all share though is our duty to con-tinue raising our families and creating opportuni-ties for future genera-tions to this legacy.

Having the opportu-

nity to manage a fam-ily farm, preceded by so many exceptional men and women, has been a greater blessing that we could have ever hoped for. Learning about these individuals while raising our children in the house 2nd great Grandpa Pratt Matthews built for his family in 1915 is more than special. The house, and the legacy of Mat-thews’ farm, has a special place in our hearts. They have become sacred to us. Though the legacy started with family we might not have known

personally, it continues to guide our family to-day. Within the bounds of our farm, the spirit of hard work, perseverance, determination, faith, and hope can be felt. As an industry, we must tip our hats to those that paved the road before us to cre-ate a future for genera-tions of family farms.

Pratt Matthews used to say “when you plow in the fall, plow deep.” He meant that with every aspect of your life. Work hard, and if you’re going to do it, do it at your best!

Utah Farm Bureau News26 June 2015ECONOMYContinued from pg. 17

increases [see below] seem to be working – at least for the governments. They are keep-ing the economy languishing but the bureaucrats love it. More of your money to spend. How good can it get?

To give you some idea of the current tax increases consider

the following: marginal tax rates on ordinary income are up 24%, a burden that falls directly on small businesses; tax rates on capital gains and dividends are up 59%; and the estate tax rate is up 14%.

While meaningful tax re-form has languished in the U. S., other nations have cut corporate tax rates. The Unit-ed States now has the high-

est corporate tax rate in the world and the most punitive treatment of foreign earnings. Many politicians claim they want lower taxes (corporate and individual), but nothing, other than tax increases, ever seems to happen. However, at least a couple of people have lately made reasonable pro-posals.

First, Paul Ryan, the House

Ways and Means Committee Chairman, is a supporter of a “flat tax”. A “flat tax” rate of 13.1% on the nation’s $9.0 tril-lion of adjusted gross income [for individuals for tax year 2012] would have produced the same amount of federal income tax as was actually col-lected under our current puni-tive tax system [source: Inter-nal Revenue Service].

Second, on the corporate side, Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey, is on record as supporting a reduction in the basic corporate tax rate to 25% from 35%. It would be most fascinating to see just how fast the U. S. economy could grow with lower individual and corporate tax rates. Many economists have estimated that lower rates, on a larger economy, will actually pro-duce more total tax revenue. If only the politicians had the faith to try another approach – one aligned with the beliefs of the American Farm Bureau and the Utah Farm Bureau.

So, what do we do in the meantime? Get involved with local politics. Communicate often with your state and na-tional political representa-tives. Pay attention to your finances and balance your checkbook. And – stay in-volved and retain your mem-bership with the Utah Farm Bureau!

Sources: Principal Financial Group, Weekly Market Review, vari-ous weeks in 2015


Farm SafetyVice President- Farm SafetyA.J. Ferguson

Riding off -road; staying on track for safety

OVERREACHContinued from pg. 1

Ind.), directs the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to issue a revised WOTUS rule that does not include things such as isolated ponds, ditches, agriculture water, storm water, groundwater, fl oodwater, munic-ipal water supply systems, waste-water management systems and streams without enough flow to carry pollutants to navigable waters.

Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Joe Man-chin (D-W.V.) are also original cosponsors of the bill.

In a letter, Farm Bureau and more than 80 additional agricul-ture organizations urged leaders of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and the Senate Agriculture Committee to act quickly on the bill.

“The sooner Congress acts, the sooner the agencies can re-craft a rule that more accurately reflects the will of Congress, while respecting the concerns of all aff ected parties. By acting before the agencies’ regulation is promulgated, Congress can provide the best opportunity and path to ensure that a fi nal rule is practical, refl ects congressional intent, and ensures appropriate environmental safeguards,” the groups wrote to Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Inhofe and Senate Agriculture Committee Chair-man Roberts, as well as Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), rank-ing member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), ranking member of the Agriculture Committee.

Observed annually in June, National Safety Month focuses attention on reducing the lead-ing causes of injury and death at work, on the road and in our homes and com-munities. To recog-nize National Safety Month, Utah Farm Bureau wanted to fo-cus its column on ways we can make every aspect of our work and home lives safer for all. Join us, along with the Nation-al Safety C o u n c i l and thou-sands of o r g a n i -z a t i o n s across the c o u n t r y , as we work to raise awareness of what it takes to stay safe.

For farmers and ranchers today, an off-road side-by-side utility vehicle, such as the RANGER from Utah Farm Bureau Member Benefi ts part-ner Polaris, is the Swiss Army knife of vehicles; you find yourself using it everywhere. And there’s nothing that fami-lies look forward to more than off -roading for recreation with ATVs like the Polaris Sports-man. Whether you’re leaving the blacktop behind for family fun and adventure, or to meet the day-to-day needs of your operation, the number one goal of every ride should be to make sure you can do it again tomorrow. That’s what makes off -road vehicle safety such an essential topic.

For ATV riders, it’s important to know your skill level and not exceed your capabilities – that means taking the appropriate

al Safety

sands of

training from SVIA (ATVsafety.org) and actively practicing the maneuvers you’ve learned

until you can perform them consistently. Every rider needs to remember that ATVs are not designed for wheelies, jumps,

or stunts. And don ’ t forget : one machine, one rider. Never carry a passen-ger unless the vehicle is de-signed for tan-

dem riding.

Operating a side-by-side car-ries the additional responsibil-ity of ensuring the safety of any passengers. Be a respon-sible driver by operating to the abilities of your passenger, in-stead of your own, reducing the chance of accident and injury. And while your side-by-side is a tireless workhorse, remember that carrying tall, unbalanced, or unsecured loads can increase the chances of vehicle instabil-ity and loss of control. Also, be aware of the towing, payload and box capacity of your vehicle and don’t exceed them. All of this safety information and more can be found at ROHVA.org.

Whether you’re riding a side-by-side or ATV, it’s essential to utilize all recommended safety equipment – that includes eye protection, a DOT-approved helmet, over-the-ankle boots,

gloves, long sleeves and pants. Also, make sure all factory-installed safety features, such

as seatbelts and side nets on side-by-sides, are in good operating condition and utilize them every time you ride.

When it comes to safety, there is noth-

ing the manufacturer can do that will make up for what the rider won’t. The most important piece of safety equipment you have is right between your ears. The more you know, the safer you can ride.

Polaris is committed to the safety of their customers and riders. They have created a series of videos that cover the things their customers can do to make every ride as safe as pos-sible. While each presentation is specifi c to a Polaris model, much of the material presented is good advice for any off -road-er. It’s easy to fi nd out more; vehicle-specific safety videos are available online at http://www.polaris.com/en-us/safety.

Utah Farm Bureau members get $300 per unit off all Polaris utility, sport and GEM electric vehicles. A $200 incentive is available for Polaris ACE and Sportsman all-terrain vehicles. These membership incentives are NOT valid for youth vehicles and cannot be combined with any other Polaris coupon of-fer. Current sales event pricing and finance offers do apply. Polaris and your Farm Bureau are working together to make your off -road experience both safe and economical.


MILKContinued from pg. 24

Photo by Matt HargreavesDairyman & Cheesemaker Grant Kohler (left) and produce farmer Luke Pe-tersen (center) visit with host Dean Paynter on the public affairs program ‘Utah Matters’. The show, which runs on KJZZ 14, devoted a 30-minute long episode to agriculture, Utah food, and the challenges farmers & ranchers face today. Box Elder County rancher Becca Ferry was also featured on the program, along with several other Utah farmers included in recent UFBF video programs. The episode can also be seen online, at https://vimeo.com/kjzz/review/129385004/c8e423cc00.

nutritional profile with longer life and healthier bones – the genes of those healthier indi-viduals were passed on to future generations. At the time, people did not understand that it was milk’s unique nutrient package which includes calcium, protein, and naturally occurring vitamin D that was giving them a survival advantage and preventing bone issues like rickets, but they knew that milk had its benefits and was contributing to a healthier, longer life.

They were onto something, and thanks to a man by the name of Elmer V. McCollum, in 1920 vita-min A was discovered by looking at the fat from whole milk. This led to the discovery of vitamin D two years later. Vitamin D is manufactured by the skin with sun exposure, and there are few foods that contain naturally-oc-curing vitamin D. Northern Eu-ropeans who had been drinking milk were getting a boost during the winter months—there’s not

much sun up north- and the vitamin D found naturally in milk was helping maintain bone integrity. Due to its importance and because naturally-occuring vitamin D can be inconsistent in the milk supply, the U.S. began fortifying milk with additional Vitamin D in the 1930’s.

With what we have learned over the years about milk—cow’s milk—from first the cultural and later nutritional standpoint, how can we deny the benefits and nutrients it provides? Of course which milk you choose to drink—whole, low-fat, skim, lactose-free, organic, raw, or regular—is entirely a personal decision, but it is one that can be made with the satisfaction of knowing that what you are getting is quality nutrition from hard working cows and farmers near you.

Perhaps McCollum said it best, “There is no substitute for [cows] milk, and its use should be distinctly increased instead of diminished, regardless of cost.”

By Ryan YatesFor more than 40 years, the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been tasked with the protec-tion of plants and animals facing the threat of population decline, habitat loss and extinction. As the nation’s attention turned to environmental issues in the 1970s and 80s, Congress began to take on popular concerns and passed a number of bills that continue to govern the way we protect America’s resources to-day. While our environment has seen many benefits since that time, recovery of threatened and endangered species continues to be an abysmal failure.

Lawmakers, however, have done little to change this course. Congress has been unable or unwilling to provide meaningful changes to the Endangered Spe-cies Act in more than 25 years. Meanwhile the FWS and the Na-tional Marine Fisheries Service have free reign to fundamentally alter and increase the regulatory strength of the ESA through rule-making after rulemaking. Today, the ESA provides “protections” for nearly 1,600 domestic species at a cost of $1.75 billion annually. Nearly 300 new species have been listed during the Obama administration.

The primary goal of the ESA today is to list new species. Radical environmental groups monopolize the petition process with sue-and-settle tactics that bully the government into ad-dressing hundreds of species petitions. And taxpayers are left with the legal bill. More than 120 species have been listed as a result of these sue-and-settle tac-tics, with another 100, or more, court-mandated listing decisions

Fundamental shift in federal endangered species

management requiredscheduled by 2018.

Federal agencies are then left tangled in bureaucratic red tape and financial constraints: The FWS and NMFS are unable to do their primary job of actually re-covering and, ultimately, delist-ing threatened and endangered species. Rather, an endangered or threatened listing has be-come a death row sentence for species with little to no hope for recovery.

The new status quo is unac-ceptable. While the environmen-tal industry rakes in millions of taxpayer dollars, endangered species are left with meaningless federal protections that provide no pathway to recovery. While federal agencies craft new regu-lations to expand their authority and control more land, business owners and rural communities are excluded from creating work-able conservation plans.

It’s time for a change of direc-tion. Congress needs to work with states and the agricultural community to create and pass legislation that reforms the ESA with four key components:• Prioritize active recovery of

currently listed species over adding new listings;

• Empower state and local governments to lead local species recovery and man-agement plans;

• Ensure that sound, peer-re-viewed science and economic analysis is required in all ESA decisions;

• Incentivize private landown-ers’ voluntary species conser-vation efforts.

During a recent Senate Envi-ronment and Public Works Com-

ESA continued on page 30


A

Farming is a business of uncertainty, but here’s something you can count on.Chevrolet presents this exclusive $500 private offer1 toward the purchase or lease of an all-new Chevy Silverado — the 2014 North American Truck of the Year. From the family of the most dependable, longest-lasting full-size pickups2 in America, rest assured your Silverado will keep you working without skipping a beat.

1 Offer available through 4/1/17. Available on qualified 2014 and 2015 Chevrolet vehicles. This offer is not available with some other offers. Only customers who have been active members of an eligible Farm Bureau for a minimum of 30 days will be eligible to receive a certificate. Customers can obtain certificates at www.fbverify.com/gm. Farm Bureau and the FB logo are registered service marks of the American Farm Bureau Federation and are used herein under license by General Motors. 2 Dependability based on longevity: 1987–April 2013 full-size pickup registrations.


ESAContinued from pg. 28

Melonie Brinkerhoff of the Utah Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers shared her experi-ences in production agriculture with Camee Brough’s 1st Grade Class at Red Cliffs Elementary School in Juab County as part of the Utah Farm Bureau Women’s Committee “Share a book – Tell your story” program. Mt. Nebo FFA members Shelbie Garrett, McKenzie McPherson, and Jenny Gibson joined Brinkerhoff to help promote agriculture in the classroom.

Each FFA member shared their experiences in agriculture before asking first graders to exchange their personal involvements with agriculture. Baby chicks and full sized hens were special guests in the classroom that day and Brough’s students associated

Elementary students in Juab County learn of the journey from egg to chicken

proper terminology to identify the animals: Baby chickens are called chicks, female chickens are pul-lets until old enough to lay eggs and then they become hens and male chickens are called roosters!

Brinkerhoff then read the book “Egg to Chicken” where students explored the process of an egg as it develops in a hen, as it is layed, then hatched, and grown from a chick to chicken. Students were surprised to hear that chicks were not born fluffy and cute but actu-ally wet as they hatched from the egg. They also learned that hens need roughly 1/3 of a pound of feed, 10 ounces of water, 14-16 hours of light and 24 hours to produce just one chicken egg.

Brough’s 1st Graders were able to observe the chicks and hens up close and personal identify-

ing parts of the chickens noting their feathers, beak, and feet! FFA members shared fun facts with the class explaining that feathers make good paper, even for filters or decorative wallpaper, and work best combined with wood pulp to increase the number of times the fiber can be recycled.

Students enjoyed a quick egg hunt to learn additional fun facts about chickens and eggs. One that stood out to the youngsters was that the egg-laying process for a chicken begins in it’s eye: Chickens lay eggs only after re-ceiving a light cue, either from

In her visit to Red Cliffs Elementary School, Melonie Brinkerhoff showed students several color varieties of chicken eggs.

natural sunlight entering a coop or artificial light illuminating a hatchery. The light stimulates a photo-receptive gland near the chicken’s eye, which in turn triggers the release of an egg cell from the chicken’s ovary.

Students were then able to share what they had learned about eggs and chickens and each received a treat filled egg at the conclusion of the agricultural visit. For more information on how to get an agricultural visit in your student’s classroom call Melonie Brinkerhoff at 435-979-5695.

mittee hearing, FWS Director Dan Ashe noted that it is possible to bring people of goodwill to-gether to find practical solutions for overdue improvements to the ESA. We agree with Director Ashe that legislative reform of the ESA is indeed possible, and argue that these substantive re-forms are long overdue.

The scope and reach of the ESA is far more expansive today, covering activities and situa-tions not contemplated when it was originally enacted. But

Congress can improve the pro-cesses and procedures it put in place 40 years ago so that the ESA better serves both the needs of endangered species and the people most affected by implementation of the law. AFBF will continue to seek out new partners in Congress as we work together to identify and pursue timely improvements to the ESA.

Ryan Yates is a director of congres-sional relations at the American Farm Bureau Federation.


CLASSIFIED ADVERTISINGIMPORTANT NOTICE1. Non‑commercial ads for Utah Farm Bureau members selling items they grow or make themselves, or used machinery, household items, etc., they themselves have used in the past. Each member family is entitled to one such ad free in each three‑month period. Ads can be up to 40 words or numbers such as phone number or Zip. Words such as “For Sale” are included, initials and numbers count as a word. All words over 40 cost 25 cents each. Ads over 40 words not accompanied by the extra payment, or not meeting the above requirements, will be returned to the sender. Family memberships cannot be combined to create larger ads, nor can a membership be used for free classified ad purposes by anyone other than immediate family members. Ads run for three months.2. Commercial ads for Utah Farm Bureau members where the member is acting as an agent or dealer (real estate, machinery, handicraft items made by people outside the member family, etc.) cost 25 cents per word. Payment MUST accompany such ads or they will be returned to the sender. Members are entitled to one such ad. Ads run for one month.3. Ads for non‑Utah Farm Bureau members cost 50 cents per word. Payment MUST accompany such ads or they will be returned to the sender. Ads run for one month.In all ads, short lines requested by the advertiser, extra lines of white space, and lines with words in all caps count as 6 words per line. Ads with borders and bold headlines may be submitted and placed within the classified section, but will be charged the display advertising rate. Please contact the classified advertising department for further information. No insurance ads will be accepted.***DEADLINE: ALL ADS MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE 15TH OF THE MONTH IN ORDER TO APPEAR IN THE NEXT ISSUE. EXCEPT FOR THE JANUARY ISSUE, WHICH HAS A CLASSIFIED DEADLINE OF DEC. 5.Only free ads (Category 1 ads of 40 words or less) will be accepted by telephone at 801‑233‑3010, by fax at 801‑233‑3030 or e-mail at [email protected]. Please include your membership number. Ads must be received no later than the 15th of the monthMail ads, typed or neatly printed, with any payment due, to Utah Farm Bureau News, Classified Ad Department, 9865 South State Street, Sandy, UT 84070‑2305. Free ads must be resubmitted by mail, telephone or fax after running for three months. Ads for which there is a payment due will be run as long as payment is received in advance.ALL CLASSIFIED ADS will be listed on the Utah Farm Bureau web page unless the Utah Farm Bureau member specifies otherwise when placing the ad. The ads on the web site will run concurrently with the classified ads in the Utah Farm Bureau News. NOTE: The appearance of any ad in the Utah Farm Bureau News does not constitute an endorsement or approval of the service or merchandise offered. While every effort is made to ensure the legitimacy of services or merchandise advertised, the Utah Farm Bureau News or the Utah Farm Bureau Federation

accepts no responsibility or liability for services or products advertised.

Real Estate: For Sale: 40‑acre horse property on year‑round creek, Fruitland. UT. 13.6 acres irrigated, fenced/cross‑fenced. 3,000 sf. 4 BD/3BTH, large kitchen, pantry, propane F/A, woodstove. Guest house, green house, barn, corrals, tack shed. MLS#1288752. 435‑548‑2630. DWELL REALTY GROUP, BRENT PARKER, (435)881-1000, email: [email protected] acres in Young Ward. Build or divide.16.75 acres in Petersboro. Great for crops or pasture. Has an existing well on one end and a spring.12.92 acres in Richmond. Excellent soil with water shares. Adjacent 9.53 acres available.60 Acres in Cache Valley. Majestic setting with incredible views of the valley. 642.94 Acres of Farm Property in Cache Valley. Price Reduced. Unique. Part in CRP. Year around spring.7.51 Acres in Cache Valley. Building lot with irrigation water. ‑Lots at Bear Lake. Views. Two at The Reserve. ‑10.01 Acres in Cache Valley. Views. Horse Property. Well permit.‑2,414 Acres in Cove. Beautiful recreational property with cabin and campsites up High Creek Canyon. 10.23 acre feet of water.‑60.96 acre ranch in Morgan Valley. Could be divided. 65 shares of water and a 6 bedroom home. Great views.‑7.37 acre parcel in Nibley in Cache Valley. Horse property. Can be subdivided. Irrigation shares.‑18.75 Acres in Cache Valley. Artesian well already dug. Secondary gravity pressure irrigation.‑Cabin in Logan Canyon. Beautiful setting close to river.‑View Lots in Mt. Sterling in Cache Valley. 4 to 5.5 acres Home sites. Horse property.‑Dairy Farm in Cache Valley 41 acres. Irrigated. Updated home, excellent crops. Double 5 Herringbone parlor.‑185.38 Acres in Cache Valley with views. Can be divided. Located in popular Maple Rise area. Borders national forest.‑37.91 Acres located on the foothills of the Wellsvilles. Can be divided in up to five lots. Water shares. Canal runs through.‑400 Acres Bordering Oneida Narrows Reservoir. Beautiful and secluded. Adjacent to campground and boat dock. Seller financing.

FARM EQUIPMENT:FOR SALE 1982 CASE 2090, 108 Horsepower, 4971 hours, 6 cycle diesel, 540/1000 PTO Powershift Transmission, A/C does not work, well maintained. Contact Dan Stevenson 435‑454‑3555 or Robert Stagg 435‑724‑5688. Located in Altamont, Utah. Price $12,000.FOR SALE: 2011 Cat 930H Loader, quick attach, 3 yd bucket, new bolt‑on cutting edge and hay forks. Approx. 4800 hrs. Excellent Condition. 2007 Challenger SP185 Rotary Swather e/w 16’ header. 850 hrs. Excellent Condition. Haybuster 1000 Tub Grinder. Kent 801‑514‑9959.

FOR SALE: 1996 Ford LTS 8000 Dump Truck, Cummings Engine, Auto, Courtney Berg 20’ Grain Bed, extension sides, rear controls, Hydraulic Gate. Excellent Condition. 1985 International S‑1900, Auto, Roto‑Mix Horizontal Feed Box. New liners and lower auger. Good Condition. Lynn 801‑514‑9962 FOR SALE: Gated Pipe‑ 45 lengths of 12 inch Gated Pipe in 30 foot lengths. 1350 feet total. 30 inch gate spacings. Good condition. $3.00 per foot. Also 12 inch Tee and 12X15 Universal hydrant. Located in Axtell, Utah (435) 340‑ 0325FOR SALE: 2009 Case IH 335, Excellent condition. 2330 hrs, 3pt hitch, PTO, complete guidance, 18.4‑46 rubber 50%, row crop settings, power shift. Will chip to 400 hp for $2500. 435‑279‑0101 $165,000 or best offer!FOR SALE: Truax 816 drill 10 feet wide native grass box alfalfa box depth bands excellent condition 8500.00 435 678 2984

LIVESTOCK:COWS – Angus & Gelbvieh x Angus Balance. Cows mostly fall bred but a few spring pairs. Price varies depending on age and breed or pairs! $2,200 – $3,000. Larry 435‑864‑7879.

MISCELLANEOUS:FREE Male & Female English Bulldogs To A Good Home. If Interested Contact: ([email protected] ) For More Information.

AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES:CIRCLE FOUR FARMS OF MURPHY BROWN LLC: If you are looking for a career in a fun, rewarding team environment, Circle Four Farms is the opportunity you’ve been searching for. We’re offering quality, full time Herd Technician animal production positions with training provided. Challenge yourself with a stable company that offers a starting entry‑level wage of $10 to $11, plus a full benefit package including: medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance plan, short and long term disability, company paid pension plan, 401(k) savings plan with company match, bonus/incentive programs, paid holidays and vacation and education reimbursement.C4 Job Application required. For more information please call our office: Circle Four Farms, PO Box 100, 341 South Main, Milford UT 84751, Phone (435) 387‑2107, Fax (435) 387‑2170. EOE / PWDNET ‑ If you require accommodation or assistance to complete the application process, please call Lacy Davis at (435) 387-6047. When you contact Lacy, please identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. We will assist you promptly.


County Scenes

Salt Lake County▶ Board meetings are the first Tuesday of each month. Sevier County▶ Board meetings on 4th Wednesday of each month. Next meeting is June 24, 8 p.m. at the insurance office in Richfield▶ Farm Field Day, May 14, County Fairgrounds in Richfield at 9 a.m.Washington County▶ Board meetings are the first Wednesday of each month. Next meetings are July 1 & August 5, 8 p.m. at Insurance office.Carbon County▶ Board meetings on 2nd Tuesday of each month. Next meeting planned for June 9.Utah County▶ Meetings are typically held the fourth Thursday of each month. Next board meeting is June 25, 7 p.m. at Extension officeEmery County▶ Board meetings, June 17, 7:30 p.m. at County courthouseDuchesne County▶ Summer BBQ & Swim, June 29, 6 p.m. at Roosevelt Pool.Tooele County▶ Board meeting, June 9,Cache County▶ Summer Picnic & Pool Party. June 25 at Logan Aquatic Center, 6:30 p.m.Weber County▶ Board meeting, June 30, Weber County Extension office, 7:30 p.m.

State and Regional Activities ▶ National AITC Conference, June 16-20▶ Farm Bureau Midyear Conference, July 16-17, Cedar City▶ UFBF Center closed July 3 for Independence Day holiday▶ UFBF Center closed July 24 for Pioneer Day holiday▶ Deadline for Leopold Conservation Award Applications, August 1

DWR Board & RAC MeetingsNext DWR Board meeting schedule for August 26-27.

Visit wildlife.utah.gov for details. DWR Board meetings takes place at DNR Salt Lake Office Auditorium, 1594 West North Temple, Salt Lake City. They are typically held at 9 a.m, on the first Thursday of each month.

No RACs scheduled for June. Next RACs scheduled as follows:

• Northern RAC, Brigham City Community Center, July 28• Central RAC, Springville Civic Center (110 South Main Street)

on July 29• Southern RAC, Beaver High School, August 4• Southeastern RAC, John Wesley Powell Museum, Green River,

August 5• Northeastern RAC, Wildlife Resources NER Office in Vernal,

August 6

FB County Corner

Utah began to green up with a rainy month of May, and production agriculture is in full-swing: [Top] The Christensen family graze their cattle near Green River, Utah. [Middle] John Reese (left) of Kane County lets kids feel wool that was sheared from sheep at the family’s Farm Field Days in Kanab. [Bottom] Cherries on Randall Ercanbrack’s fruit orchards in Orem are getting close to harvest in the next month.

utah farm bureau news - june 2015

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