THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NEW MEXICO FARM AND LIVESTOCK BUREAU®
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New Mexico Farm & Ranch
November 2018
NMF&LB President’s Column TRACTOR SEAT DAYDREAMING
BY CRAIG OGDEN
Preparing for the Future For those alfalfa farmers out there, they know and understand that the usual procedure is to water it after it is planted and then re-water within 24 to 48 hours after the first irrigation, at least that is what my Dad always told me. A little more than twenty-four hours after I had planted and irrigated my hay, I began re-watering as I always do. I finished around 8 am after irrigating all night, I knew we had chances of rain, but you can’t depend on mother nature. The ground was just starting to dry out when around 5:30 that afternoon we had 3 inches of rain in less than an hour. It filled the borders almost up to the brim and water stood for days on the field with no place to drain. I am still hoping that most of the stand will survive but only time will tell. Sometimes when things don’t go as you planned you start second guessing yourself and go through the “what if ” phase. Maybe I should have waited, maybe this, maybe that. You can second guess yourself to death, but it is in no way productive. You must make the best decision for that time and not live in the past but try to improve your future decisions.
over again and expect the results to differ. There is a quote From C.S. Lewis that states “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” We in Farm Bureau have had an excellent beginning but we need to keep working on the future. As we prepare for NMF&LB’s 101st Annual Meeting, our county organizations are hard at work hosting their annual meetings. As our grassroots discuss the business of the county Farm Bureau they must also consider issues that impact New Mexico agriculture. They must consider resolutions that will help direct their state organization. Resolutions adopted at each annual county Farm Bureau provides direction to our organization and helps navigate a future outcome.
“Times are changing and one of the constant concerns I hear from EVERY county Farm Bureau is getting people to get active.”
We have tried to do some things different concerning our state Farm Bureau organization. Some have not been as successful as we had hoped, but we have adjusted them or even reverted back some. I feel it is necessary to try new things and Chad Smith, our CEO, mutually agreed that we must be constantly changing and evolving to keep up with the trends and time. We can’t do the same thing over and Page 2
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Times are changing and one of the constant concerns I hear from EVERY county Farm Bureau is getting people to get active. One county was going to form a committee to address how to get members active and I told them if they figured it out to let me know. I don’t think there is a silver bullet answer for that problem, but I am always open for suggestions. Know that you are not alone with this challenge and we are constantly trying new things, new ways in an effort to solve this ever-growing problem. We must all remain stead-fast and continue to work at solving the problem(s). Like I said there is no silver bullet but if we all work together with the see “Future” pg 10 November 2018
AFBF President’s Column BEYOND THE FENCEROWS
BY ZIPPY DUVALL
Get Out the Rural Vote Election Day is just a few weeks away, and I hope each of you has it circled on your calendar—or maybe you’ve gotten your mail-in ballot already. This is the day when we as Americans have a clear say in what we want for the future of our country. But it’s amazing to me how many folks ignore this privilege and skip going to the polls. Let that not be said of rural America: there’s too much riding on the election outcome. In 2016, farmers and ranchers made their voices heard, and in 2018, we’ll get out the rural vote once again.
Tennessee Farm Bureau kicked it off back in 2014. I love how this slogan has caught on because it gets to the heart of why our vote matters. Too often, politicians play a numbers game and overlook the rural vote. They choose instead to spend their time and resources in urban areas, saying that our vote is too small to make a difference. But that rural vote has shifted the course of elections. We know what is at stake for our farms and livelihoods, and we know that every vote counts.
While the urban economy and job market is seeing tremendous growth, rural America is still waiting for that boom to come our way. The midterm elections have a real impact on the issues facing America’s farmers and ranchers and our rural communities. I hope you’ll join me in getting out there to #Vote4Ag this November and consider taking the FB Advocacy voting pledge—and inviting your friends and neighbors to do the same. The FB Advocacy team has also assembled helpful voter resources to empower grassroots members to make their voices heard. You can go to www. fb.org/vote for a link to register, to see polling locations and to find information on early voting. Let’s be ready to make informed decisions for our community and nation.
Elections aren’t decided by the people who stay home, and farmers aren’t ones to sit on the sidelines when something needs to get done. Let’s get out the farm vote this November and ensure that the issues facing agriculture remain a top priority for our elected leaders. See you at the polls!
“The midterm elections have a real impact
on the issues facing America’s farmers and ranchers and our rural communities.”
Many of our state Farm Bureaus have already been leading the charge in getting out the farm and ranch vote. The iFarmiVote campaign has been energizing rural voters since Page 3
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On the cover: Lupito Carrasco and JD King are both Eddy County 4-H members and were just two of the 20 winners in the calf scramble held at the Eastern New Mexico State Fair. This is in addition to the 20 winners from the Southern New Mexico State Fair and Rodeo calf scramble hosted by NMF&LB. Winners in both scrambles received a $500 scholarship to purchase a show animal for next year’s FFA/4-H livestock project. Look for more photos, and a list of generous scholarship sponsors for each scramble, in next month’s issue. November 2018
Legislative Outlook
By Matthew Gonzales, NMF&LB Director of Governmental Affairs Lots of “Change” This January in Santa Fe In less than three months New Mexico’s legislators will gather in Santa Fe for the 2019 legislative session. There will be lots of new faces including brand new leadership on the fourth floor of the roundhouse. With new people comes new ideas, but with so much division at our national and state level, many believe this will be a legislative session like no other. Leadership for the majority in the House and Senate is not expected to change much. We will definitely see some changes to House Republican leadership due to the departure of Nate Gentry, the former Minority Leader. Many expect Minority Whip Rod Montoya from Farmington to make a move for the leader role, but there have also been rumblings that Representative Jim Townsend of Hobbs and Kelly Fajardo of Los Lunas have an interest in leading the Republicans in Santa Fe. While most of the leadership roles are decided long before the session starts, this year could be different. With any leadership role, you need members from within your party to support and elect you to these positions. As I mentioned during several of my presentations throughout the summer, many Republicans underperformed their general election opponents during the primary (twelve to be exact, most of them urban). If that trend continues, the R’s could be in for a serious shake up. This could leave those eyeing leadership roles in a tight spot if their allies are defeated in November. This also concerns me because each of these seats have traditionally been filled by reps who are VERY supportive of agriculture. However, a loss this November would put those seats in the hands of Progressive Democrats. The Democrats still maintain a 38 – 32 majority in the House, but what the numbers don’t tell you is that three of those seats were previously held by pro-agriculture representatives turned over in the June primary because they were defeated by Progressive democrats. Two legislators in particular were Bill Gomez, House Agriculture Committee, and Debbie Rodella, House Business & Industry Committee; both of which were friendly to agriculture. They were both supportive of our initiatives, but they weren’t progressive enough for the Speaker or the caucus so the party ran primary opponents against them, defeated them, and now they’re gone. So it’s probably pretty safe to say that Santa Fe will be more progressive this January. NMFLB is non-partisan organization. We have members who are Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians and Independents. This is not a D vs. R issue. This is a Progressives vs Rural Values issue. It’s as simple as that. If progressives could have their way, they’d force us off our lands and out of our livelihoods. We can’t afford to be silent any longer; THE TIME FOR ACTION IS NOW! What’s At Stake? I hear from people all the time, “Why should I vote? It’s not like my vote matters anyway.” Unfortunately, that mentality is exactly why we’ve seen such a huge decline in pro-business/agriculture representation over the years. Low voter interest combined with out-of-state monies have swayed a number of elections in recent years; and in some instances, they resulted in horrible officials getting elected to those offices. Legislators seem like they’re always raising money, and right fully so. Elections cost money, but you won’t find a cheaper place to win elections than in New Mexico. There are statewide House of Representatives seats in other states where candidates are spending millions of dollars on advertisements, mailers and events for their campaign. But spending $1,000,000 on a house race in New Mexico is unheard of. Spending $100,000 in a NM House race happens from time to time but even those are few and far between. New Mexico is still very much a “retail politics” state. Citizens still want to look you in the face, shake your hand and ask you questions. But the recession left much of rural New Mexico vacant. Many of our youth have moved away to college with hopes of coming home after their schooling, but they find themselves moving to metropolitan areas like Albuquerque or Denver after their schooling just to seek job opportunities. We need Page 4
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NMF&LB Donates $3,000 to Galloping Grace Youth Ranch
Galloping Grace Youth Ranch (GGYR) appreciates the partnership and support of the New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau. Because of partners like NMF&LB, we’re able to educate urban youth about food production, food waste, and food insecurities. Through activities such as our Junior Livestock Show, our Junior Leaders gain agricultural knowledge while understanding its importance and purpose and are able to share their knowledge within the community to better the world around them. At GGYR, we’re cultivating healthy children today so they will harvest a healthy society tomorrow. Submitted by Jenifer Romero, GGYR’s Chief Operating Officer.
opportunities for them to return home someday and we need elected officials who will foster that. How We’ll Keep You Informed During the Session During the legislative session we will send out three types of email correspondence: Member Updates, Member Alerts and Calls to Action. Member Updates will go out two to three times per week (M, W, F) dependent upon legislative activity. These updates will be used to notify members of legislation being scheduled, heard or passed out of committee that week. The updates will also provide a bill number and title, sponsor, bill summary, committee assignments and action taken on legislation. Member Alerts will be used to notify membership when priority legislation is scheduled, heard or passed out of committee. Calls to Action will be used to activate our members to call, email and visit with legislators about priority legislation and urge their support of NMF&LB’s position. In addition to email updates, we will also host weekly teleconference calls to discuss the issues and we will use social media to keep you updated as well. As you can see, everything we know and LOVE is at stake here! You must get out and vote this November. Call you neighbors and make sure they’re voting too! Inaction can no longer be an option if we want to have a chance in Santa Fe this January. Page 5
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A Variety of Voices The upcoming election is crucial for so many reasons. Its impacts on agriculture, families, and private property rights will be monumental. Because it is crucial for those in rural communities to vote, we asked a variety of our members for their opinions on the elections, their concerns about various issues and why the vote hinges on the turnout of rural New Mexico. Thank you to the following writers for taking the time to share their perspectives with us.
Paula Sichler
The greatest threat to production agriculture in New Mexico and across America is the lack of a guest worker program, one that works for agriculture. Not a program created and implemented strictly by politicians who are creating laws and programs while at the same time considering who their future voters might be or how much money can be made in the deal. The upcoming 2018 mid-term election is critical for agriculture because unless congress does something about creating a guest worker program that works, small independent farms will fail due to the lack of a workforce. Legislators have been busy creating laws and regulations such as the Food Safety and Modernization Act which are causing American agriculture to trend toward larger corporate farms and leaving the small farms behind to fail by design. The Democrat Party has been acting entirely as obstructionists and they don’t care about the agricultural sector since there are a limited number of votes coming from agriculture. If we want to see change, have any advancement and accomplish anything pro agriculture in this election we need to vote in as many conservative republican candidates as possible. Those same Republicans that are on the side of President Trump, those are the good Americans that want to see change just like us, the ones who like the idea of Making America Great Again, and together we can do just that. We have to talk to our base, the people who support agriculture the people who understand and appreciate the amount of hours and hard work that we are putting into growing America’s food. It’s simple the democrats are out portraying us as rich farmers who are taking advantage. Attempting to create a divide… as they say divide and conquer. For those who appreciate the fact that there is a safe affordable food and clothing source grown right here in America, Ag producers appreciate you as consumers as well. Think about what the divide and conquer is suggesting “The rich farmer” suggests the farmer is getting rich at your expense. The fact of the matter is the assets farmers have are benefiting the consumer. If the farmer was “rich” enjoying his wealth he would be more like the politicians enjoying elaborate vacations, and vacation homes. Get out talk with customers, friends, and neighbors let them know how agriculture can be affected with this election and most importantly get out and vote. Paula Sichler operates Snake Ranch LLC, along with her husband Chris and son Steven. Snake Ranch is located in the Middle Rio Grande Valley about one mile north of San Antonio. They grow chile, alfalfa, corn and other grain and row crops.
Mario Trujillo
The biggest issue in Northern New Mexico is water. We have none. Our acequias are 100% reliant on spring run off to recharge our watershed and provide the water necessary to irrigate our fields. The increase of designated wilderness areas has caused the main source of our water to be overgrown. As a result, the snow (what little there was last year) never makes it to the ground and as a result never makes it to the acequia. This year we had no irrigation at the ranch. There was no water in the ditch at all. Politics have a wide ranging affect on our ranch. From the continued designation of wilderness areas, to the passing (or this case not passing) of the Farm Bill, to the endangered species act. While we are a relatively small operation, it is very important that we have Page 6
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legislation in place that will allow us to continue this way of life and sustain our heritage and culture. Politicians can help producers like me by facilitating interstate and international trade. We have a long term goal of increasing our goat and sheep operation and allowing it to grow through exporting. If we have a closed market that affects prices and also limits outlets for our animals to go to. By failing to pass the Farm Bill, increasing wilderness areas, and bowing to the will of the environmentalists, who have no deep understanding of the importance of agriculture in their daily lives, law makers make our business more difficult and less profitable. That’s why this election is so huge! The three main areas that will directly affect us are the governor, the congress (both the House and the Senate) and the land commissioner. The candidates are so different, and it is vital that every person involved with agriculture study the candidates and see exactly where they stand on ag policies. On the national level we need to elect congressional representatives who will pass the Farm Bill. There are too many ag producers that are reliant on that particular piece of legislation in order to sustain. There are laws going into effect here in New Mexico that will be reliant on the verbiage in the final version of the Farm Bill in order to be fully implemented. Mario Trujillo is from Questa, New Mexico. His family produces Boer goats and Katahdin/Dorper cross meat sheep.
Jennifer Lansford
Unpredictable weather, rising implement costs, and varying commodity prices are age-old hurdles that we face every day in agriculture. While raising crops and livestock provides countless rewards, both financially and in the joy of seeing a job well-done, it is not without its risks. The uncontrollable factors are often ones that we have to learn to take in stride, bolstering ourselves up in the good years in order to be able to ride out the not-so-good years. Although we cannot control the weather or the surging cost of equipment, and are limited in our abilities to control prices, there are certain elements of the puzzle that are governable. Politics reach deep into agriculture through policies and mandates. As the number of active farmers declines, and the average American moves further away from a production agricultural background, so does the understanding of practices and procedures on farms. Right to Farm laws have been hot topic issues, especially in more recent years. In 2016, New Mexico passed an amendment to its 1981 Right to Farm Act, in an effort to protect producers from nuisance claims. This was made possible through efforts made by local, grassroots organizations, in conjunction with politicians who heard and understood the negative effects frivolous lawsuits would have on the livelihoods and bottom dollars of New Mexican farmers and ranchers. Overreaching policies and regulations can create insurmountable obstacles and crush farmers under their weight, while favorable policies create a friendlier environment for the producer in a naturally difficult profession. Currently, New Mexico farmers and ranchers have their fair share of issues that are, or will be, mandated by policies. One matter of controversy would be that in an effort to remove the Mexican Gray Wolf from the endangered list, wolf packs have been reintroduced into the wild. Yet, the wolves natural predatory way of life has proven to be problematic to cattle producers across the region. Another pertinent topic to be versed in would the matter of immigration. Agriculture relies heavily on immigrant labor. How do we have a mutually beneficial relationship with this needed workforce, while maintaining national security? While these are just two examples of the topics our lawmakers will be facing in the coming years, farmers and ranchers deserve to have our voice heard on how these issues are addressed. According to fairvote.org, 60% of eligible voters actually vote during presidential election years, while only 40% of eligible voters turnout during midterm years. Many would argue that the midterm elections this year are just as, if not more, important than our presidential election. As you study your candidates, I would encourage you to consider this: which candidates are going to support your livelihood, not only in words, but in action? Who is going to help you navigate the governable aspects in your agriculture operation? Which candidates are going to help ensure that future generations have access to the same safe, affordable food that we are so very blessed with? We must not sit back and allow others to speak for us in this election. In the unpredictable business that we have chosen, let’s choose to control what variables we can. Do your homework, then get out and vote on November 6th. Jennifer Lansford farms and ranches in Curry County along with her husband Matthew and two daughters. Together, they produce corn, wheat, sorghum and cattle. Page 7
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Tom Wilton
Now more than ever it is important to elect officials who understand the importance of agriculture to our state. Legislators do not have to come from an agricultural background, but they do need to have an understanding of how laws affect the production of food and fiber in our state and our country. Some may not realize the economic impact of agriculture on our state with oil and gas leading the way and agriculture and hotel and tourism following. After a meeting with the President and the Dean of the Agriculture, Consumer & Environmental Sciences from NMSU, I am convinced that our land grant university is looking to modernize their facilities as well as the path of NMSU in the future as it deals with agriculture. Also of importance, the next Governor, as I understand it, will appoint three of the five members to the Board of Regents at NMSU during their term. I believe this to be critical to our land grant university and its future. Changes are also needed in the train wreck of OBAMACARE. The new regulations and requirements are at the least daunting and many times devastating for rural families. For a modest example, my family sometimes has to travel for specialized health services. My wife and I had spent 20 years seeking out and developing relationships with specialists only to be told that our new OBAMACARE insurance would not cover these physicians. We saw doctors retire from their practices because of the impact of added regulations of OBAMACARE. All this coupled with the fact that my health insurance premiums rose from just over $12,000 per year for a family of five to over $22,000 per year makes the burden especially hard for the self employed who generally can’t participate in group plans. Exports are vital to our industry. With the largest emerging middle class in the history of the world, it is essential that our industry be in a position to compete in the global agriculture marketplace. While the current trade conflicts may be uncomfortable in the short term, I believe they will eventually be of benefit. It is important to elect legislators that will stay the course and see the long term picture of continuing agriculture independence. So again, I would encourage everyone to take part in the upcoming election remembering to support those who actually understand and champion agriculture and not those who just mention it in speeches and flippant images in commercials. Please, vote as an educated citizen who sees it as an honor and responsibility. Tom Wilton owns and operates a cow/calf operation in De Baca and Guadalupe counties. His family of five lives on their third generation family ranch. Tom is a member of the NMF&LB State Board and the board in De Baca County. He has also served several terms on the local school board. He has two daughters in college and one in high school.
Anita Hand
In Catron County it is well known that we have been negatively impacted by the Endangered Species Act. Our economic base has suffered because animals have been elevated above the basic fundamentals of human rights. More wilderness designation has become a constant battle with some of our elected officials pushing for more and more wilderness. Creating wilderness designations takes those lands out of use and harms the economic stability of the county. On the San Augustin Plains our family, as well as neighboring ranches and property owners in and around Datil, has spent the last eleven years fighting a massive water mining plan that, if approved, will dry up our wells and render our family ranch worthless. Without water, our livelihood doesn’t exist. I can recall several conversations with my dad, John Hand, and neighbor, Marvin Ake on how important it is to always vote because it’s our privilege to participate in the voting process and it’s also our duty to vote as American citizens. Not taking the time to vote denies me the right to complain when things are not going my way. For so long our heads have been stuck in the sand and when we finally wake up we can’t understand what has happened to our country. I may not like the political process and not care to vote in an election but in that term, in those 2 or 4-year terms havoc can be created in the Ag Industry. Burdensome regulations that make it impossible to have a profitable year, protected predators killing livestock and further decreasing profitability, the list goes on. As a rancher we depend on so many factors to make our ranch profitable and now, more than ever, we have to pay attention to who we elect to represent us and the Page 8
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agriculture industry. In a day where urban kids believe chocolate milk comes from brown cows, our industry is not well represented in Santa Fe or in Washington DC. This election is critical, we need elected officials who will stand up for our way of life. We need elected officials who want to reach out to ag producers and learn about what we do, learn about the food we put on the family dinner table every day. Elections have consequences and what or who we vote in today will echo eternity. Anita Hand is a 4th generation rancher from the San Augustin Plains in Datil, NM. She raises black angus cross for beef production and is also the District 1 Commissioner in Catron County.
Brandy Johnson
Our elected representatives’ stance on immigration has a direct effect on our operation. Immigration is an issue with many sides. Some of the sides that affect us include strengthening border security and immigration reform. When it comes to border security, we believe that a wall is an excellent start. We live in an area where some of the border is still a 5-strand barb-wire fence. This not only affects us, but everyone in this country. Without the wall, vehicles can drive though the border which poses a huge public safety risk as they attempt to evade apprehension. There is also the bio-security risk of our cattle going south into Mexico, or Mexican cattle coming north. Immigration reform is another side of this issue. Without reform that allows for more work visas and a more reasonable path to citizenship, you will never stop illegal immigration. People will continue to cross illegally because they feel they have a better chance crossing illegally than going through the legal process. Our family has seen the changes along the border over the years. Some changes have been good, while others have been disastrous. A nation without borders is not a nation at all. We hope that our elected representatives take this all into account when drawing up and voting on policy. Immigration is not just a border issue, it is a national issue. Russell and Brandy Johnson are 4th generation ranchers in Southern New Mexico. Their family’s cow/calf operation is located along the U.S./ Mexico border. Their family has ranched in this area for the past 100 years.
Don Hartman
Another crop year is fading here in New Mexico. As of today, here in Luna County, we are finished up with green chile. We still have grain sorghum in the field to cut, but as you all know the price of grain isn’t great, but I’ve seen worse. Our onions yielded good but again, the price wasn’t the best either. Our watermelons were outstanding, and the price seems good, we had 3 good cuttings and we are officially finished with them. As I write this article, my mind turns to the current state of our country, people and politics. I see the political turmoil and the deep polarization that has developed, and it troubles me. I wish more Americans were involved or at least educated in agriculture. We all face adversity and encounter problems daily. But being the resilient folks that we are, we deal with it. People in agriculture are flexible and we roll with the punches. We face all sorts of adversity such as weather, disease, mechanical breakdowns, price fluctuations, and policy changes. We are for the most part quiet, peaceful, and hard-working people. We might complain some about our problems, but you won’t find us being destructive, throwing temper tantrums, or protesting in the streets. We have the unique ability to deal with a variety of issues that get in our way. People in agriculture are often portrayed as backwards and uneducated, which is a huge misconception! We are driven, intelligent, and technologically advanced. Our work ethic is second to none! We possess multiple skills, we are educated in everything from animal health and agronomy to welding and all other trades in between! This is the reason that agriculture is more productive today than ever before in history. Finally, we are perpetually optimistic that tomorrow will be better. If the rest of the country would focus on being a bit more productive and a little less focused on division and destruction, we would all be in a better place. We should all take time to focus and be more of an advocate for American agriculture. As people are becoming further Page 9
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removed from agriculture, educating the public as well as our elected officials, of where our food and fiber comes from, is more important than ever. Also, food safety and animal welfare are hot topics that need to be addressed openly. For this reason, it is imperative that we be more active and engaged in voicing our concerns. Some of my topics of concern are the stifling regulations, water availability and constant litigation. Representation by the PRC candidates that regulate utilities impacting our input costs. We see constant tax increases that take away from our profitability, but they always say “we are for lower taxes.” Look into their voting history or at their character. Labor shortages with the continued minimum wage increase battle, while we watch work ethic disappear, and productivity spiral in decline. Our 2nd Amendment rights are constantly being challenged, we watch commercials on TV of candidates that try to mislead you into thinking that they are pro 2nd amendment, when in fact their prior record, and associations, prove otherwise. Some of our political candidates want to destroy the oil and gas industry in our state, but at the same time they are eager to spend the money generated by those industries. You can’t kill the goose and expect to continue to receive the golden eggs! Those of us actively engaged in farming and ranching make up less than 2% of the population of the US, but we provide for the other 98%, and still export a good portion to the rest of the world. Voting is a privilege, and our duty! But, we need to go beyond just voting, but engage with our politicians, neighbors, and acquaintances, on the importance of sound ag policy. I will vote for the candidates that best represent my family values, and my agricultural interests. I will vote for folks belonging to a variety of political parties, why you may ask? Because I have engaged in personal conversations with them and have asked questions. I also consider whether candidates that are willing to work with others belonging to opposing political parties. They need to be flexible, with the ability to COMPROMISE! I beg you all to do your homework, these are very important times, with a fine tipping point in not only New Mexico, but America, and for American Agriculture. PLEASE VOTE and vote wisely! Be vocal but be respectful and choose candidates that support agriculture! Don Hartman lives and farms in Deming. He and his wife Cheryl farm vegetables and small grains.
Troy Sauble
It is that time of year when your senses and sensibilities are attacked from every direction by social media, radio, newspaper, or television ads either promising you the world or trying to scare you that everything you believe in is in danger of ending depending on which politician you vote for. In today’s setting of instant coverage it is more important now than ever before that voters look at the issues first on a local and state level with just as much if not more scrutiny than national elections and this rings even more true in rural areas. With more and more of the population set in urban areas that are far removed from rural agricultural areas it is harder and harder every year to get lawmakers from Albuquerque, Santa Fe or even Las Cruces to understand that what seems like a minor issue to them is a major issue somewhere else. The people that will be elected in just a few weeks will for better or worse make the laws for the rest of us to live by. It does not matter if you are a progressive/liberal, moderate or conservative in your political beliefs, they are just that, your beliefs unless you become engaged in the process. To become engaged you must at the very least educate yourself about where a candidate stands on the issues that are important to you, find out if the candidate is open to opposing ideas and willing to sit down and have an honest discussion about it. The candidate that is elected to office today will be in that office for at least the next 2 years, that makes it important to find open honest people that are looking to put the good of people ahead of their personal beliefs. Once you have educated yourself about the candidates the single most important thing a person can do is to show up and vote on election day. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard people grump and gripe about a politician’s stand on an issue only to find out that the person doing the grumping and griping didn’t bother to vote. It is very important that voters look beyond the ads and sound bites and look at the candidates’ positions on issues such as gross receipts and property tax reforms, water issues, wildlife, and education to name a few. These issues affect everyone in agriculture. Gross receipts tax reform has the potential to really affect ag operations if the current deducPage 10
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tions and exemptions are removed, just what would that do to a farm or ranch when it comes time to market your calves or crop and you are now faced with a gross receipts tax that is 4 or 5 percent of the sale. The other concern is the push to have a property tax rate for conservation efforts. This is a topic that has the ability to change a lot of range land that has been purchased by out of state owners that either purchased the land for a tax purposes or to have their own hunting operation. Depending on how this conservation method is formulated could start a domino effect that could see large properties pulled from the Ag Special Evaluation Method into this proposed conservation method with a lower tax rate. Pulling these lands from production agriculture means the loss of property tax from the livestock on the land, equipment needed to care for the livestock or that is used to work the land. This could cause the local school boards, towns, county commissions, the Livestock Board and any other entities that rely on property taxes to fund their operations. In todays world a person cannot afford to sit on the sidelines and watch the political process. Sitting on the sidelines means that you are giving up your voice and ability to shape laws and policies that affect your operation and way of life. Staying on the sidelines means that other people who may or may not share your values and morals will be the ones that our elected representatives will be listening to. So, to me the reason this election is so critical is that it is a chance for you, the voter, to make your voice be heard. Go vote, with early voting, absentee voting and election day there is no reason to not make your opinion be heard. Troy Sauble is a 4th generation family rancher. Located in Colfax County, outside Maxwell, Troy helps run the family ranch which consists of a commercial cow/calf operation and yearling stockers. Troy is an active member of the Colfax County Farm Bureau, the Colfax County Fair Association, New Mexico Cattle Growers Assoc. and is a member of the New Mexico Farm and Livestock State Board of Directors.
Carlos Salazar
Rio Arriba County is the root of Land Grant County. I am an heir to the Piedra Lumbre (33,000 acres) and the Juan Baustista Valdez (252,000 acres) land grant. The Piedra Lumbre is all private land and the Juan Baustista borders the northern boundary of the Valles Caldera. The Juan Baustista was whittled down to 1,500 acres during the adjudication process of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. I currently live north of Espanola, New Mexico, in a little town known as Medanales, New Mexico. I farm 20 acres of farmland and the family ranch is in Canones, New Mexico, where we winter our cattle on deeded land. Summer grazing takes place in three allotments that border the Valles Caldera north end. I graduated from Espanola High School and New Mexico State University. I currently serve as President of Northern New Mexico Stockman’s Association and am involved with other agriculturally based organizations in different capacities in this State. Northern NM Stockman’s Association is based out of Taos, New Mexico. Wilderness and National Monument designations along with the Threatened and Endangered Species Act are gradually taking away our ancestral lands where we have sustained our livelihoods for centuries. These designations are economy killers and create no jobs, and are nothing more than land and water grabs. Prime example is the Mexican Spotted Owl which decimated the economy of Northern New Mexico by halting logging. Also, NNMSA is working closely with the Sacramento Grazing Association on the New Mexico Jumping Mouse on a North/South effort. Another concern is the number of outsiders moving in. These folks are well organized and united and I feel they see our County being heavily Democrat as easy pickings to push an environmental agenda which is detrimental to our way of life. The federal agencies cater to the agenda of these outsiders like recreationalists; ranching is seen as a mere privilege, and at the discretion of the federal agencies. On the Carson and Santa Fe National Forest, from the 1940’s to the present, we went from over 2,200 grazing permit holders to less than 600. What does that say of the BLM and Forest Service agenda? They want to get rid of livestock grazing and they demonstrate this by refusing to recognize that ranchers have legal standing through valid existing rights which predate the establishment of the Forest Service and BLM. They cherry pick all those Public Land laws that satisfy their agenda and ignore those that give ranchers standing. Currently, the Carson and Santa Fe Forest Plan Revisions are underway and our voices and concerns have been ignored from the countless meetings attended, and countless correspondence submitted as comments. All this work, time, effort and cost to drive to these meetings was an exercise Page 11
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in futility. It however satisfies their agenda to say they met with local folks. We had two of the Forest Service meetings regarding wilderness designations in Abiquiu abruptly stopped because of loud vocal opposition. KDCE radio station out of Espanola, New Mexico, aired two of meetings live. This election like all others is critical. If the Democrats gain control of the House or Senate or both, I see many ranchers being put out of business. The Agencies will eventually begin putting terms and conditions on the grazing permits that are unachievable and that will eventually set ranchers to fail. If I could repeal any law it would be NEPA, which to me began the process of controlling land and water uses, then the Threatened and Endangered Species Act (T&E) which piggybacks on NEPA. Both are detrimental in terms of gridlock and not addressing economic impacts to humans in general. The passage of both laws is dismal and has cost us the taxpayers billions of dollars. Since both laws were passed, our National Forests began burning with greater intensities and landscape restoration projects take forever to initiate. Environmental activists blame global warming rather than failed management practices and environmental policies. To effect change in this country, folks have to get out and vote, I vote principles not candidates. Carlos Salazar is a farmer, rancher and President of the Northern NM Stockman’s Association.
“Future” cont. from pg 2 desire and willingness to adapt we can carry NMF&LB into the future. Thank you for all you do to help make Farm Bureau bigger and better day in, day out. I feel that the one thing that should never change is our steadfast belief in family and community. This value is the constant upon which we can rely. Thus, we are attempting to make our Annual Meeting more family oriented. So, I hope to see you and your kids there. Help us be the organization you’re proud to be part of. Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly
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New Mexico Farm & Ranch
9/25/18 3:13 PM
November 2018
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New Mexico Farm & Ranch
November 2018
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New Mexico Farm & Ranch
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New Mexico Farm & Ranch
November 2018
Non-profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Las Cruces, N.M. Permit No.2093
2220 N. Telshor Las Cruces, NM 88011
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NEW MEXICO FARM & LIVESTOCK BUREAU Since 1917 . . . a Leader in New Mexico
ISSN 0028-6192 2220 N. TELSHOR BLVD. LAS CRUCES, NM 88011 575.532.4700 • FAX: 575.532.4710 PUBLISHER: New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau New Mexico Farm & Ranch is published monthly. Yearly subscription is $24.00. New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau members receive a complimentary subscription with yearly dues. U.S. Postage PAID, bulk rate, PERMIT #31, Las Cruces, NM 88001. FORWARDING/ RETURN POSTAGE GUARANTEED, ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED. OFFICERS Craig Ogden President, Loving Larry Reagan 1st Vice President, Ft. Sumner Boe Lopez 2nd Vice President, Springer Chad Smith Chief Executive Officer Page 16
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New Mexico Farm & Ranch
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Burl Brown, Des Moines Bud Deerman, La Mesa Jim Ellett, Hope Duane Frost, Claunch Gary Hathorn, Flora Vista Leon Hemann, McDonald George Jackson, Lordsburg John Jackson, Lake Arthur Deena Kinman, Elida Matt Lansford, Clovis Donald Martinez, El Rito Tommy Ortiz, Las Vegas Linda Ritter, Socorro Troy Sauble, Maxwell Casey Spradley, Cuba John Sweetser, Deming Tom Wilton, Ft. Sumner Anita Hand, Chair Women’s Leadership Committee Andy Ellett, Chair Young Farmer & Rancher Committee REGIONAL DIRECTORS Tanner Anderson Benjie Segovia
Valerie Huerta Director of Organization Matthew Gonzales Director of Government Affairs Brenda Logan Director, Northern Region Ag in the Classroom Traci Curry Director, Southern Region Ag in the Classroom Francisco Hatay Marketing Coordinator Dalene Hodnett Director of Communications and Media Relations Cecilia Diaz-Johnson Bookkeeper Theresa Widner Director of Membership Services Eva Hernandez Executive Administrative Assistant
November 2018