Healthy Vision Member Benefit

When was the last time you had your eyes checked? More than 11 million Americans have uncorrected refractive errors according to a recent study conducted by the National Eye Institute. Refractive errors are one of the most common—and correctable—vision problems in the United States. Eye Care professionals can conduct a comprehensive eye exam and recommend corrective eyewear or LASIK eye surgery.

LASIK is the most popular elective procedure and is also the most successful course of permanent vision correction. Since FDA approval in 1996, over 14 million LASIK procedures have been performed nationwide. LASIK treats nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

As a Colorado Farm Bureau member, Healthy Vision Month is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of QualSight LASIK Savings. Schedule your FREE LASIK exam today to find out if you are a candidate for this life changing procedure!

Call 877-507-4448 or visit www.QualSight.com

Jackson-Shaw Grants Taylor River Rafting Companies Permission To Float

Jackson-Shaw, owner of the Wilder on the Taylor fishing reserve, announced today that it is granting the two Taylor River rafting companies, Three Rivers Outfitting and Scenic River Tours, permission to float through its property this summer.

Conflicts between fishermen and commercial rafting on the Taylor River gave rise earlier this year to Colorado House Bill 1188, which died at the end of the legislative session this week.

Jackson-Shaw Chairman and CEO Lewis Shaw said, “While mediation between Jackson-Shaw and the two Taylor River rafting companies continues, Jackson-Shaw recognizes that Three Rivers and Scenic are at the threshold of their commercial rafting season and that it will take time to finalize any formal agreement.  Accordingly, as a show of good faith, Jackson-Shaw has decided to give Three Rivers and Scenic permission to float through Wilder on the Taylor this summer.”

Shaw added, “Jackson-Shaw is still hopeful that the mediation process will result in a formal agreement among the parties.”

Mediation between the two rafting companies and Jackson-Shaw began on April 22 and remains ongoing.  All parties have agreed that the content of the mediation must remain confidential.

Due to differences in the parties’ and mediator’s availability, a second mediation session could not be scheduled at the Judicial Arbiter Group in Denver until May 26.

Women’s Ag-vocates for Agriculture Conference

Women’s Ag-vocates for Agriculture Conference

Richard Connell giving a safety program presentation on grain safety.

HB 1188 Hearing

Colorado Farm Bureau members filing into the Old Supreme Court chambers to oppose HB 1188.

Agriculture is Bright Spot in a Bad Economy

By Lynne Finnerty

With the U.S. facing deep economic turmoil and unemployment hovering around 10 percent, it might seem as if there’s little to be optimistic about. Agriculture, however, has helped fortify the economy when it needed it most, as other sectors such as U.S. automobile manufacturing, real estate and construction have contracted and shed workers.

Funny thing, how agriculture often is overshadowed by seemingly more exciting industries, like, say, derivatives trading, but turns out to be the old reliable when other endeavors fail. Just like the tortoise and the hare in Aesop’s fable, farmers and ranchers keep plodding along, producing food, fiber and fuel stocks.

To contrast two industries in particular, auto manufacturing and agriculture, let’s zoom in on the state of Michigan, home to the big U.S. automakers and attendant industries like auto parts manufacturing. With the decline in the automakers’ fortunes, the state’s unemployment rate has risen to the highest in the nation, 14.6 percent.

Bredenkamp Testifies on HB 1195

CFB Executive Vice President Troy Bredenkamp testifying in House Finance Committee against the removal of the sales tax exemption on Ag Compounds and Pesticides.

Colorado Farm Bureau
Testimony on HB 1195
Before the Colorado House Finance Committee
January 29, 2010

Mr. Chairman, Good morning.

My name is Troy Bredenkamp, Executive Vice President of the Colorado Farm Bureau, Colorado’s largest agricultural organization.  I come before you this morning on behalf of Colorado Farm Bureau and our 23,000 member families, the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association and the 28 member organizations of the Colorado Ag Council to express our strong opposition to HB1195.

As most are aware, Colorado agriculture is a huge part of the Colorado economy.  The ag industry as a whole, is the second largest industry in our state, made up of over 20,000 farming operations, farm families, businesses – responsible for over $16 billion of impact to Colorado’s economy.  You have just been told the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s general fund take is less than 0.01% of the entire general fund budget.  I would say spending less than one tenth of one percent on the 2^nd largest industry…and industry generating over $16 Billion of economic activity in Colorado is a pretty good return on investment in anybody’s book.

Protecting Landowners… Limiting Liability

Under current law, a landowner can be held liable for injuries suffered by a trespassing minor if the land contains an attractive nuisance. HB 1086, by Rep. Kathleen Curry and Senator Mary Hodge, is designed to help protect landowner from being held liable for injuries to members of the public who trespass onto their private land for recreational purposes, unless the landowner willfully or deliberately caused the said injuries. This bill is focused on all waterways and ditches, including facilities used for diversion, storage, conveyance, or use of water, claiming that property is not an ‘attractive nuisance’ and therefore the landowner can not be held at fault.

Colorado Farm Bureau Policy #228 titled “Landowner Liability” states that we favor legislation relieving the property owner of any responsibility for accident or injury to those parties on his premises without permission.

People of any age who trespass onto private land, must recognize that they are putting themselves at risk. This is not about public recreation; this is about people breaking the law and entering someone else’s land without their permission. We are well aware of the recreational opportunities that exist on many stretches of private land. However, we want to make clear that this land has many purposes and it is where we run our operations and businesses. It is not the landowner’s responsibility to watch out for someone else’s children.

This bill is up in the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday, January 28^th. CFB Member, Brenda Seifken, will be testifying on behalf of Farm Bureau in support of this bill.

2010 CFB Board of Directors

From Left
Front Row: Angela Ryden-State Women’s Committee, Don Shawcroft-Vice President, Alan Foutz, President
Second Row: Bob Winter-District 1, Gene Kleve-District 2, Jeff Thornton-District 3, Ken Schweizer-District 4, TJ Dice YFR Chair
Third Row: Ton Verquer-District 5, Chad Stevens-District 6, Mike Mitchell-District 7, Phyllis Snyder-District 8
Back Row: Carlyle Currier-District 9, Ron Nereson-District 10, Troy Bredenkamp-CFB EVP, Jack Anderson-CFBI CEO

 

2010 Legislative Conference

TENTATIVE AGENDA
February 2-3, 2010
Crowne Plaza Downtown
1450 Glenarm Place
Denver, Colorado

Tuesday, February 2
9:30 a.m.
     Advisory Committee Meetings
     (Animal Ag, Crops, Specialty Ag, Water, & Wildlife/Environment)

12:00 p.m.
      Break for Lunch

1:30 p.m.
     CFB Legislative Conference Welcome
     Former Congressman Scott McInnis, Candidate for Governor

     Legislative Updates

     Issue Updates and Debriefings from legislators, state officials, and candidates

     Colo. Department of Ag budget

     Continued Legislative updates

5:00 p.m.
     Adjourn

5:30 p.m.
     Reception

6:30 p.m.
     Legislative Dinner – Speaker: Craig Beyrouty, CSU Dean of Ag

Check out the Contours on That One

By Dal Grooms

There’s been much talk recently about how state-of-the-art airport security equipment can reveal body contours. Many people shudder at the thought of someone looking at the very personal curves and slopes of their bodies. Farmers and ranchers, on the other hand, are more than happy to show off another kind of contours—the ones on their farmland.

Nature has given the United States many land formations but crop farmers often are most attracted to that 20 percent with rolling hills and rich soils. To protect that soil, farmers use a variety of conservation methods but the ones that really show off the land are terraces, buffers and contour planting.

These conservation practices accent the grace and beauty of America’s farmland like a string of pearls around a woman’s neck. Terraces in particular are like pearls that highlight the rich, productive hillsides.

One can clearly see conservation practices in place when driving through farm country all across our nation. There are bands of color that can be seen with strip cropping and frames around fields when borders are used. And be sure to take note of crop buffers planted to protect the branching veins of waterways.

But conservation practices aren’t just about accenting the hills and slopes of the land. They are about keeping the soil in place—an important factor in crop productivity.

The practices are working. The Agriculture Department’s most recent National Resources Inventory report shows that between 1982 and 2003, soil erosion nationwide dropped dramatically. When the amount of soil lost per acre is compared, it’s down 66 percent. That means less dust in the air and clearer water in streams. It also means wildlife will find more habitats for shelter and food.

USDA’s conservation programs during that time have included taking farmland out of production. It’s been exciting during the past seven years, however, to see more focus being put on conservation measures for working land. This approach results in a working resource that provides food, fiber and fuel. But it also yields a cleaner environment, enhanced wildlife habitat and a farmscape marked by beauty.

Under the skilled hand of a conservation-minded farmer, our farmland works in numerous ways.

So, the next time you’re driving through farm country, take a look. Appreciate the farmland resources Mother Nature gave us. Appreciate the farmer who dressed them with conservation practices. And know these are contours each of us would be glad to show off.

Study: Raising pigs indoors healthier for animals, people

(12/20/2009)
By Cliff Gauldin

– Many swine diseases saw declines or eradication since move to confined operations.

– Raising pigs indoors reduced use of anti-parasitic agents.

– Outdoor pigs can damage land, environment.

Raising pigs indoors is healthier for the animals and has allowed for a higher-quality product for consumers, according to a new study, and the researchers hope it will provide producers with CONTINUED

More Weakness Seen for Ag Machinery

Agricultural machinery manufacturers anticipate overall continued weakness in U.S. and Canadian tractor sales in 2010, according to the annual outlook survey of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.

For all sizes of two-wheel-drive tractors, however, the declines are expected to be less steep than 2009 losses. Double-digit decreases are expected for four-wheel-drive tractors, following relatively flat business in 2009. Combine sales are predicted to drop in the double digits for 2010 after 2009 sales growth. Sales of tractors and combines are then predicted to start rebounding through 2011 and 2012.

For other types of farm-related equipment covered in the AEM survey, overall 2010 demand for most products in the U.S. and Canada is expected to improve after 2009 business declines. All categories are predicted to be in the plus column for 2011 and 2012.

“The recession reached the agricultural sector in 2009 and the drop in equipment sales in most categories is attributed to a combination of the fall in commodity prices, significant drops in net farm income, the tightening of credit throughout the ag equipment distribution channel and the overall reduction in economic confidence,” said Charlie O’Brien, AEM vice president of agricultural services. Survey results are available here.

FFA Heifer Wrangle

FFA Heifer Wrangle winner Garrett Keenan from Limon.

Standing with (from left) FFA advisor Cody Weber, father Fritz Gilbert and Chad Vorthmann of CFB. Look for Garrett’s updates as he puchases and raises his heifer.

Rodeo at the NWSS

Behind the chutes for the FFA Heifer Wrangle

Adams County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting

Bent County Annual Meeting

Baca County Annual Meeting

New Discount Program Helps Farm Bureau Members Cut Costs

Colorado Farm Bureau has introduced a new discount program that offers its members an average savings of 30 percent on prescription drugs.  The Prescription Discount Program card is free and is a benefit of membership in the Colorado Farm Bureau.

Farm Bureau members and their families without insurance, as well as those who find themselves with no prescription benefit in their plan, will benefit from the Prescription Discount Program, according to Colorado Farm Bureau. Further, Farm Bureau members who have full-time, part-time or seasonal workers may provide the card as an employee benefit.

Members can download a ready to use discount card and can also view a list of participating pharmacies.

Other benefits of the program include no enrollment forms, no age restrictions, no income requirements, no waiting periods, no eligibility requirements, no exclusions, no claim forms to file and no annual or lifetime limits.

“We believe this discount card will help our members and their families and employees save money,” said Alan Foutz, President of Colorado Farm Bureau.

The program is honored by more than 704 local, regional and national pharmacies in Colorado and more than 57,000 national and regional pharmacies.

Discounts of up to 75 percent on brand and generic prescription medications are available. Because the program is “open formulary,” all prescription drugs, including brand name products and generics, are eligible for discounts.

Stay 3 Straight Nights, Earn a FREE Night!

Offer Ends November 19th!

Colorado Farm Bureau member benefits partner Choice Hotels is offering stay 3 straight nights, earn a FREE night at over 1,500 hotels. It’s easy to earn enough points for a free night at over 1,500 Choice hotels! As a Choice Privileges® member, just stay three straight nights at the same hotel with arrival between August 31st and November 19th, 2009. Stays must be booked at www.choicehotels.com or 800.258.2847.

As a Colorado Farm Bureau member, receive 20% off your next stay at participating hotels when you use Special Rate ID 00212880. Remember to provide your Choice Privileges number to earn points.

Bonus offer:
Get 500 BONUS Choice Privileges points for every completed qualifying stay booked at choicehotels.com or 800.258.2847!

See flyer for additional details.

Stay 3 straight nights, earn a FREE night

Colorado Farm Bureau member benefits partner Choice Hotels is offering stay 3 straight nights, earn a FREE night at over 1,500 hotels. It’s easy to earn enough points for a free night at over 1,500 Choice hotels! As a Choice Privileges® member, just stay three straight nights at the same hotel with arrival between August 31st and November 19th, 2009. Stays must be booked at choicehotels.com or 800.258.2847.

As a Colorado Farm Bureau member, receive 20% off your next stay at participating hotels when you use Special Rate ID 00212880. Remember to provide your Choice Privileges number to earn points.

Bonus offer:
Get 500 BONUS Choice Privileges points for every completed qualifying stay booked at choicehotels.com or 800.258.2847!

See the flier for complete information.

C is for Cookie

Thanks to Cookies in Bloom for sending us some Farm Bureau cookies last week .  Cookies In Bloom was started in Dallas, Texas in 1988, the Colorado store was opened in 1996.  Owner of the Colorado store, Jay Brandt is a Farm Bureau member who gets his insurance through CFBI Agent Lee Lownsberry. To contact Cookies In Bloom about their delicious treats phone # 303-730-3131, Fax # 303-730-6313 or e-mail  cib1den@yahoo.com