Caldwell Chamber Agribusiness Committee, Caldwell, Idaho

AGRI-BUSINESS

Our Mission: To advance rural America’s success through building strong working relationships between agricultural producers, agribusiness people, and members of the local business community.

The Agribusiness Committee is a committee that serves both the Nampa and Caldwell Chambers of Commerce. We sponsor activities at the Canyon County Fair, select the Farm Family of the Year recipient as well as promote other agricultural issues. This committee is also responsible for sponsoring and presenting both the Legislative and Media Ag Tours, placing Crop Identification Signs around the county and supporting/promoting agricultural educational activities whenever the opportunity presents!

If you'd like to participate on this committee, which meets monthly to discuss agricultural issues affecting our community, please contact the Chamber Office, 459-7493, for meeting times and location.

AGRI-BUSINESS NEWS

Nampa & Caldwell Chambers of Commerce

2011 POSITION STATEMENT ON AGRIBUSINESS ISSUES

GENERAL STATEMENT

The Nampa & Caldwell Chambers of Commerce recognize that diversified agriculture is one of the major components of the economy of Canyon County, the State of Idaho, and the U.S. and therefore should be assisted to function in an atmosphere that enables it to compete profitably in worldwide markets. Agriculture is a base industry that remains stable in good or bad economic times and is an essential industry to Canyon County’s economy.

LAND USE PLANNING

Land use planning should be used as a vehicle to ensure that agricultural practices may remain viable in the area. Land use decisions should consider multiple use and long term infrastructure requirements for all new development. Residential growth should develop from the city limits outward for efficient use of city services.

WATER RIGHTS

Water is a critical resource and is of primary economic importance and value to agriculture. We support due process in any allocation, control, or transfer of any water used for agricultural purposes under current water rights. Preservation of water and its associated infrastructure is necessary.

WEED & PEST CONTROL

Controlling noxious weeds and invasive species are essential agricultural practices and should be allowed with legally prescribed practices. We strongly support local efforts for education of the public, enforcement of weed laws, and control of noxious weeds and invasive species on all private, public land, and waterways. Control of these pests on state and federal land needs to be a high priority. We support efforts that will protect the public from West Nile Virus.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

Recognizing that crop residue burning is a necessary agricultural practice for certain crops, we support the crop residue burning program. We support alternative methods to crop residue burning when possible to accommodate public concerns. Dairies are under intense scrutiny due to both air and water quality concerns. Continued research in the use of digesters, composting, and other technologies for the purpose of mitigating odor from CAFO’s should be a high priority. Proposed air and water quality regulations need to be based on sound scientific data. Environmental impact studies of projects need to be streamlined to eliminate unnecessary excessive costs and time delays. (CAFO’s = Confined Animal Feeding Operations)

ENERGY

We support the efforts of those companies who are endeavoring to provide necessary energy (traditional and alternative) for Idaho through new and existing sources as well as increasing our energy supply through expansion of current resources and the addition of transmission lines. We support public involvement in this process. We support the efforts of Idaho Power to obtain cost-effective re-licensing, through a stream-lined process, of the three dams in the Hells Canyon Complex and encourage the State of Idaho to provide assistance in achieving this critically important goal.

CROP PRODUCTION

Canyon County is a highly specialized diversified agricultural production area with numerous seed crops being produced for national and world-wide markets. We support the continued research efforts to enhance the economic base and provide for the future needs of the United States and the world.

Transportation

Transportation and transportation infrastructure are important to agriculture. We support efforts to improve the infrastructure and increase the weight limits of all trucks to 129,000 pounds provided that they are capable to safely carry the additional weight We are also in support of “weigh-in-motion” concept to allow trucks to be certified once and not be required to stop at each weigh station.

Stephanie Etter, Chairman
Linda Ramsey, Vice Chairman
Kristie Brown, Secretary
Becky Temple, Treasurer

Canyon County is home to some of the richest and most diversified farmland in the nation. More than 100 different crops are grown in our county including many specialty crops not found in other parts of the country. The Agri-Business Committee meets monthly to develop ideas and projects that further advance our agricultural heritage. Projects include selecting and honoring the Canyon County Farm Family of the Year, the Youth Livestock Sale Buyers BBQ, Legislative and Media Ag Tours, Educational Crop Signage Program, and Legislative Advocacy.

Canyon County Farm Family of the Year

We select a different Canyon County Farm Family to honor each year. A media announcement of the event is made in March during National Ag Week. The family biography, photos and a video are featured at the Canyon County Fair in booth space donated by the Canyon County Farm Bureau. The family is presented to the Caldwell and Nampa business communities each fall through sponsored lunches in both cities. The speech and video presentations at these luncheons have always been warmly received with standing ovations from the chamber members. Lastly the family is featured during the Holiday Season on the Canyon County Farm Family float at the Treasure Valley Night Light Parade which concludes the farm family year.

2010 Farm Family of the Year

Takasugi Farm

Canyon County Fair & Festival July 28 - 31, 2011
www.canyoncountyfair.org

Siphon Tube Setting Contest, This includes local 4-H Clubs, FFA/VoAg Chapters, with local officials, politicians and agricultural leaders.

Youth Livestock Sale Buyers Breakfast, We co-sponsor and conduct this important event as a “thank you” to all of the buyers at the 4-H & FFA Market Livestock Sale at the Canyon County Fair.

Canyon County Farm Family Booth: The committee assists in the set up and operation of the booth in conjunction with the Canyon County Farm Bureau.

4-H Breakfast

Legislative and Media Ag Tours

The committee has sponsored and conducted several legislative tours, the first in 2001 with other tours in 2004 and 2007. These tours focus on critical issues such as water supply/usage, economic impacts of agriculture and quality of life. The committee provides a variety of information geared toward educating elected officials and assisting them in making informed decisions.

Media Tour - Bitner Vineyards Ag Tour

Educational Crop Signage Project

Committee members place crop identification signs throughout major thoroughfares in our county. The goal of this endeavor is to educate the public on the various types of specialty crops that are grown in the Treasure Valley. This past year, the signs were placed along the newly designated Snake River Canyon Scenic Byway, which this committee helped sponsor. The Byway, which is entirely in Canyon County, starts off of Highway 55 near Melba on Map Rock Road and closely follows the Snake River toward Parma. Signage along the way points out historical, cultural, recreational, archaeological and agricultural aspects of the county. The Byway passes through the heartland of a multitude of crops and its signage, along the way, includes the wineries and vineyards of our county.

Crop Signage

Legislative Advocacy

The committee develops an annual position statement on agricultural issues. The issues include; land use, weed control, water and environmental concerns. The position statement is reviewed and approved by the chamber boards and then presented to the legislature.

Thanks to our 2010 Nampa/Caldwell Agri-Business Farm Family Sponsors

Amalgamated Sugar Company
Banner Bank
Seedbiotics/a Becker Underwood Company
Commercial Tire
Crookham Company
D.L. Evans Bank
G & R Ag Products, Inc.
Idaho Power
Idaho Press Tribune
Intermountain Community Bank
Northwest Farm Credit Services Pioneer Hi-Bred International
Pioneer Title
Silverhawk Real Estate Farm and Ranch
Treasure Valley Livestock
Wells Fargo
Wilbur Ellis
Zions Bank
Bank of the Cascades


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