Northwest Ag Information Network
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Voice of Idaho Agriculture
Invasive Species Present Grave Concern
Anyone who tows a boat into Idaho is required to stop and have it inspected for invasive plants or small mussels clinging to the hull or outdrive. Normally it’s a five-minute or less stop that may be inconvenient for some people. But for Idaho agriculture it’s imperative to keep our state clean of these clingy critters and plants.
There are dozens of invasive species out there to be concerned about. But mainly, state officials are on the lookout for quagga mussels and zebra mussels. These little creepers cause billions of dollars of damage in the U.S. every year. They can attach to irrigation pipes or any other water delivery pipe and clog it off. They also compete with native plants and animals for food – they eat phytoplankton – and could cause the demise of native fish populations.
Both of these mussels are small and can attach to boat hulls, boat engines, fishing tackle and nets and hundreds of other possible tools or recreational gear. And that’s how they spread from one body of water to another.
Environmental Groups Collect $20 Million in Hush Money
Two environmental groups recently bullied a Texas energy company into donating $20 million to their cause to “save” desert sagebrush habitat by agreeing not to pursue legal action against a proposed natural gas pipeline. The pipeline is planned to cross southwest Wyoming, northern Nevada and southern Oregon.
The agreement was praised by some as a breakthrough in environmental protection. We call it extortion. Our biggest fear is the money will be used to put ranch families out of business and cripple rural communities throughout the West.
In our view the El Paso Corporation, based in Houston, Texas, didn’t have a clue who they were dealing with when they agreed to set up a $20 million conservation fund to be spent by the Oregon Natural Desert Association and the Western Watersheds Project (WWP). The WWP, headed by Jon Marvel of Hailey, with their oft-stated goal of ending public lands grazing, is required in the 10-year agreement to spend the money in counties and adjacent counties wherein the pipeline will run for the first five years. After that they can spend the money wherever they want.
Farm Bill Discussion Underway on Capitol Hill
Chances are good the 2012 Farm Bill will be negotiated and written during a difficult economic period. As history indicates, that means cuts to some farm programs are likely. As Congress begins the debate over crafting new farm legislation the American Farm Bureau Federation has outlined five key principles that should be followed as the new legislation is written.
The biggest challenge will be the budget. The budget baseline for many farm bill programs has decreased since the passage of the last farm bill in 2008. More than 30 programs included in the last bill do not have any baseline at all and the standard re-insurance agreement currently being negotiated threatens to rob even more spending baseline.
Most farmers are generally supportive of the safety net provided in the 2008 farm bill, but some believe the crop disaster program is inadequate. In some cases the coverage may be duplicative, according to AFBF. Crop disaster assistance is provided to farmers to help protect crops from natural disasters. This and many other farm programs help keep farms solvent during difficult economic periods. These programs, while some need reform, are vital to maintaining a domestic supply of food and in turn they help maintain our nation’s security.
Report Exposes Humane Society Charade
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), a powerful political organization with a vegetarian agenda, doled out $280 million on salaries, lobbying, advertising and fundraising during a recent three-year period. Yet less than one-fifth of one percent of the organization’s total budget during the three-year period was used for programs that benefit unwanted pets.
Numbers gathered from HSUS’ IRS filings from 2006 to 2008 show only a pittance of the money generated from seemingly uninformed donors was given to hands-on pet shelters in 45 states. At the same time the organization spent huge sums of money supporting ballot initiatives like Proposition 2 that created new regulations on hog, egg and veal production in California, a ballot initiative to ban greyhound racing in Massachusetts, promoting a ban on dove hunting in Michigan and a ballot initiative in Arizona that put strict regulations on hog production.
Illegal Immigration Is Against the Law
Pop Quiz: What’s worse, getting a handle on the illegal immigration that costs our government upwards of $20 billion per year, or doing nothing about the problem because someone might get offended?
The amount of dissent and liberal media backlash triggered by recent passage of an Arizona law requiring police officers to enforce an already-existing federal immigration law is astounding. Arizona residents lost patience while waiting for the federal government to do its job of enforcing the border. It’s not hard to see why when ranchers and other landowners along the border are being killed, crime and drug activity along the border are rampant and countless other property damage is occurring. Arizonans have a right to expect some protection from their government.
Legislators Emphasize States Rights
“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
Preceding is the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, a part of the Bill of Rights adopted by our nation’s forefathers in 1791. The Idaho Legislature would like Congress to take note of these important words. Legislators expressed frustration with Congress and attempted to drive the point home recently by adopting numerous pieces of legislation warning Congress to clean its own house and butt out of state matters.
False Statements Lead to Revocation of Grazing Permit
Jon Marvel was recently caught lying to obtain federal grazing permits and got a dose of his own medicine. The shady undertakings of the Hailey architect and his Western Watersheds Project came to the forefront in mid-March when Marvel and crony Gordon Younger of Seattle admitted they lied to obtain grazing permits from the Bureau of Land Management.
Punishing Employers Won’t Correct Immigration Woes
Legislation currently under consideration at the Idaho Statehouse would punish employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers. On the surface this legislation appears to address a serious problem. We recognize the many societal concerns that illegal immigration presents and we share the frustration that has brought this legislation to the forefront.