February 2015 New Mexico Farm & Ranch

™ Volume 72, No. 2

Tradition, Perseverance, Vision AFBF Annual Meeting

® February 2015

by Dalene Hodnett, Director of Communications and Media Relations

They say it never rains in Southern California, but participants at the 96th Annual Meeting of the American Farm Bureau Federation were treated to several days of rain which was a welcome reprieve for the locals, considering California is in the grip of a devastating drought. In fact “Managing Water Availability for the Future” was a well-attended session at the conference as many states find themselves in the same drought conditions New Mexico and California have experienced for the last couple of years. In addition to educational sessions varying from preparing for the Food Safety Modernization Act to developing leadership skills, the conference featured excellent keynote speakers and a very popular trade show. Trade show attendees were thrilled to find the NMF&LB booth where they could sample New Mexico’s finest green chile in pinwheels, quesadillas and tamales. Also on the menu were pecans, and red chile/pork tamales. The convention will be in Orlando next year, so mark your calendar for January 10-13 and we’ll see you there!

Above, left to right, NMF&LB President Mike White during the Parade of States; Mario Trujillo and his mom Crestina Armstrong; and Kathy Reagan, Teresa Ogden and Danielle Lowry. Below, left to right, Craig Ogden shares New Mexico pecans at the trade show, and Crestina Armstrong and Anita Hand discuss WLC business before the Western Caucus.

February 2015

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issued when he was Attorney General that would allow trespassing on private lands by anglers and hunters.

IDEAS AND ELBOW GREASE

The President’s Column

By Michael S. White, President

We Need Every One of You Hello from sunny Southern California! Well not quite but I did recently return from the 96th Annual Meeting of the American Farm Bureau Federation, and it was a terrific conference.

From sessions focused on the Food Safety Modernization Act to a keynote speech by Navy Seal Rorke Denver, the gathering was entertaining and educational.

What I found most inspiring however was AFBF’s President Bob Stallman’s remarks during the opening session. He reminded us that the federal government has a huge impact on the success, or failure of agriculture and that AFBF has several policy priorities for this coming year. These include finding a solution for immigration reform to bring stability to the agricultural work force, revising endangered species rules so that they take into account the human element, amending tax laws so that families who inherit farms and ranches are not penalized with exorbitant financial burdens due to the Death Tax, eliminating barriers to trade to encourage more markets for our agricultural products, and perhaps most important – ditching the rule by blocking the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Waters of the U.S. regulation.

As the New Mexico legislative session heats up, New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau has legislative priorities at the state level as well.

These include defeating GMO labeling attempts that confuse consumers and cast some agricultural products in a negative light, amending the Right to Farm Act to provide stronger protections for New Mexico’s food producers, and curtailing potential legislation stemming from the opinion Gary King Farm & Ranch Page 2

In all of these things, we need you. We need you to comment when the United States Fish and Wildlife Service wishes to list another species as endangered. We need you to call your local lawmaker when worker’s comp laws are proposed. We need you to call your congressman when over-reaching federal agencies attempt to restrict your private property rights.

We need every one of you. Every alfalfa grower, chile farmer and dairy owner. Every rancher, winery manager and pecan producer. We need everyone on board so that we can be as effective as possible. Renew your membership, invite a neighbor to join, and recruit members at the feed store!

I’d like to close with a quote from Mr. Stallman’s speech that closely reflects the goals we have at NMF&LB: “Farm Bureau has a vision for the future. Central to that vision is a strong farm economy. That vision includes abundant, nutritious food. A vision where consumers understand modern farming is a business that includes huge risks and tough choices, and they trust you to do it right. And it’s a vision in which American agriculture is positioned to feed the billions more people who will join us on the globe over the next couple of decades.”

Tuesday, February 17th Santa Fe Convention Center Legislative Breakfast the following morning at La Fonda

THE AG AGENDA

By Bob Stallman, President American Farm Bureau Federation -------------------------------------------

Is the Tide Turning on GMO’s?

Consumers are tiring of anti-GMO rhetoric: They want facts. You don’t have to put those claims under the microscope to see how shaky the antiGMO platform is. That’s no surprise to those of us who know the benefits of GM products firsthand, of course. Now, more than ever, is a prime time for us to be sharing our stories about the environmental benefits of biotechnology and the safety of GM foods we feed to our own families without hesitation.

Research and common sense back up what farmers and ranchers have long known about GMOs, and others are taking notice. Last October, the Journal of Animal Science released the findings of a new trillion-meal study, the most comprehensive GMO study yet. Animal geneticist Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam analyzed about three decades of livestock data to compare the health of nearly 1 billion animals. Her goal: to see what effect feeding livestock GMOs for over a decade now has had. The answer?

None. No difference in the health of the animals, and no effect on the humans who eat those animals. Although this isn’t news to agriculture, the size of the study makes it a game-changer.

GMO opponents have used misinformation for too long to muddle the conversation. And the push for mandatory labeling has only confused things more. The call for GMO labels sure isn’t coming from the Food and Drug Administration, the nation’s top authority on food safety. FDA officials have declared GMOs safe and are standing their ground. In fact, GM crops have long withstood intense scrutiny, with not one documented food-safety case.

Fortunately, this charged rhetoric February 2015

isn’t enough to convince most voters.

Ballot initiatives to require labeling in Colorado and Oregon both failed last fall. Policymakers on Capitol Hill are taking notice and starting to question the “need” for labels also. Former Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) noted at a House hearing this fall that labeling would mislead the public and send the message that GMOs are dangerous. Mr. Waxman made a good point. We should allow the FDA to continue doing its job setting standards for food safety and labeling.

Consumers are more and more interested in the story of their food. This is good news for farmers and ranchers.

We’re proud of the work we do and are eager to share how food gets from the farm to the table. Feeding a growing population is a popular topic now, and “sustainability” is the buzzword. GM crops will play a big role here. Farmers and ranchers have their work cut out for them, but they are ready for the challenge and to lead this conversation.

The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance brought farmers and ranchers to the table for this discussion recently at the New York Times’ “Food for Tomorrow” event. While most of the conference pushed for administrative action, a few farmers and ranchers broadened the conversation to help attendees see what sustainability in action looks like. Julie Maschhoff, Bruce Rominger and Joan Ruskamp closed the event by explaining the hard work and careful planning that go into providing healthy food for our families, and for the generations to come.

Panels like this are just a slice of the conversation that thousands of farmers and ranchers around the country are ready for. Consumers want to know the truth about what’s in their food—and who better to inform them than the very people who grow it?

Please Plan to Join Us at the NMF&LB Summer Meeting, July 23-25 in Taos February 2015

You never know what nature will bring. Multi Peril and Crop Hail Insurance from Farm Credit of New Mexico protects you when it brings the worst. Protect your crops against low prices, low yields and adverse weather conditions like drought, frost and hail.

Consult with one of our Crop Insurance Specialists today.

Call (800) 755-6432 or visit www.FarmCreditNM.com

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Science Denial and Today’s Food Consumer

Building Trust When Science and Consumers Collide New CFI Research Cracks the Code to Informed Decision Making (Editor’s note: Charlie Arnot is CEO of the Center for Food Integrity, a national non-profit organization dedicated to building consumer trust and confidence in the U.S. food system. He was a presenter at the 2015 AFBF Annual Convention and also presented at New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau’s Annual Meeting in 2011. Below is a summary of their most recent consumer survey which points the way in building trust and confidence in today’s food system. Their research is intended to help food producers better understand what it takes to earn and maintain consumer trust.)

Overwhelming scientific consensus tells us that genetically modified foods are safe and that humans contribute more to antibiotic resistance than animals. Yet consumer skepticism about these and other issues is widespread, leaving those dedicated to improving lives through science-based technology and innovation asking, “Science says it’s so, so why is there still debate?”

“Cracking the Code on Food Issues: Insights from Moms, Millennials and Foodies,” the new consumer trust research from The Center for Food Integrity (CFI), provides a roadmap for those in today’s food system to make complex, technical and controversial information relevant and meaningful to the decision-making process of today’s consumer.

“This research provides guidance to the food system for overcoming the many communication barriers that keep consumers from integrating science-based information into their decisions,” said Charlie Arnot, CFI CEO. A key takeaway from the research is how important food issues are to moms, millennials and foodies. They help define who they are as people and shape their cultural identities. Foodies, in particular, express a higher level of concern about food-related topics than any other segment. Because these issues are meaningful and relevant to each of these groups, how technical and scientific information is introduced to them is crucial.

The 2014 CFI web-based survey was completed by 2,005 respondents who reflect the general U.S. consumer population.

To provide deeper insights into moms, millennials and foodies, those groups driving consumer thought on key food issues, the results were segmented into the three groups. Additionally, using scenarios on the topics of genetically modified ingredients in food and antibiotic use in animal agriculture, the survey tested three voices: a Mom Scientist, a Federal Government Scientist and a Peer “who shares my interest about food.”

After reading information about the two topics by each of the three voices, trust in the Mom Scientist and Government Scientist remained strong while the Peer lost trust. This indicates that once shared values have been established, having technical expertise and having credentials build credibility when communicating technical information. continued Farm & Ranch Page 4

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Further, the research also revealed respondents’ trusted sources for food system information. Websites rank highest for moms, millennials and foodies. The second choice for moms is local television stations, while millennials and foodies prefer friends (not online). Food-specific TV programs and networks are important sources for foodies.

In other words, it’s not just about giving consumers more science, more research, more information. It’s about demonstrating that you share their values when it comes to topics they care about most—safe food, quality nutrition, appropriate animal care, and environmental stewardship.

To download the 2014 CFI Consumer Trust Research report or learn more log on to www.foodintegrity.org or email CFI at learnmore@foodintegrity.org. CFI is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to build consumer trust and confidence in today’s food system. Its members represent every segment of the food system, from farmers and ranchers to universities, NGOs, restaurants, food companies, retailers and food processors. CFI does not lobby or advocate for individual food companies or brands. For more information visit www.foodintegrity.org.

Helping Each Other and Being Farm Bureau Proud

by Valerie Huerta, NMF&LB Regional Director

“Baaa” is all I hear as I make my way down the dirt road. Many trucks are gathered and children are running around. It is a cold November weekend in San Cristobal.

Crestina Armstrong, her family, and the neighbors are taking turns butchering goats and lambs for the winter months. Each weekend, families in this rural area north of Taos dedicate their time to helping each other. Crestina is no stranger to the planning and labor involved in feeding her family; she has been butchering since she was eight years old. This Labor Day, like many others over the years, she and her family are hosting a BBQ for the community. She harvests greens from her garden to make salads, coleslaw and crisp vegetable dishes. A goat and lamb are slaughtered and hung before being buried in a pit and roasted for 12 hours. Around 100 friends, neighbors and guests come to eat, catch up and join in the celebration.

The traditions practiced by Crestina and her neighbors are not unusual by any means. Many of the families within Farm Bureau take the time to help their neighbors round up, brand or ship out cattle. Others help gather the harvest, or send food or flowers as caring gestures in a time of need. Like the Armstrongs, many in northern New Mexico harvest their own fruits and vegetables, and raise livestock; these traditions, in turn, are passed on to future generations as proudly demonstrated by local 4H youth. Since joining Farm Bureau, I have seen an overwhelming sense of pride and unity in what we believe in and do every day; our fundamental principles and core values are not just slogans or mission statements – they are our way of life!

Being a part of the Farm Bureau family is so much more than what people may presume it to be: it is helping our neighbors in times of hardship, and standing together to protect our rights. It also means publicly proclaiming that we are part of this great Crestina’s granddaughter, Courtney organization and will not fold! Farm Bureau represents our history, supports our Trujillo, at the fair with her goat. present, and advocates for our future – that is why I am Farm Bureau Proud!

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New Mexico Farm Bureau Foundation

We cannot thank you enough for making our Buckles & Boots “Fun”raiser a success. Thank you to everyone that attended and supported NM Ag in the Classroom!

Game Sponsor: $500 Event Sponsors: Fuddruckers Rob Atchley “Fuddcup Round-Up” Ritchie Brothers Auctioneers Tamara Fitzgerald Ludwig Farm Bureau Financial Services • Shane Butler, Roadrunner Agency $100 Event Sponsors: • Karen McCann, Rio Grande Agency Farmer’s Electric Cooperative, Inc. of NM • Richard Murdock, NM State Office American Heritage Bank Citizen’s Bank of Clovis First National Bank of New Mexico Volunteers: Kelli Goodpasture, SW Dairy Farmers Kaye Whitefoot, Dairy Producers of NM Live Auction Donations: Collegiate Farm Bureau: Senator Pat Woods Adam Mitchell Farm Credit of New Mexico Cassidy Dawning State FFA Office Courtney Hurt Rowdy Silver Buckles J. Brooks John & Melinda Jackson Klayton Bearup Embassy Suites Kylee Rice Joe Boulware- auctioneer Lauren Wilder Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee: Danielle Lowry Donations: Matthew Harris State 4-H Office Andy Ellett NMDA Mary Esther Lucero Jim & Earlene Ellett Mary Morones NM Cattle Growers’ Association Melinda Jackson NM Beef Council Waid & Associates/ Tiny & Patty Waid Flowers by Zach-Low NMF&LB Foundation Board Members Carmen Macias All NMF&LB Staff Theresa Widner Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee Sheraton Uptown Annual Sponsors: Serene Salon & Spa BNSF Gallery Fifteen & Bistro Farm Credit of New Mexico Decorative Designs by Bonnie Gomez New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association Poor Boy’s Metal Art by Juan Carbajal New Mexico Department of Agriculture Valerie Huerta New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau

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February 2015

FBFS.com

You already count on us to protect your stuff.

But who’s protecting your life?

We can help you protect your family and plan for a future that’s financially secure. Contact your Farm Bureau agent today.

Auto. Home. Life. Ranch. Retirement.

Farm Bureau Property & Casualty Insurance Company,* Western Agricultural Insurance Company,* Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company*/West Des Moines, IA. *Company providers of Farm Bureau Financial Services M127 (2-15)

February 2015

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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 Michael White President, Dexter Craig Ogden 1st Vice President, Loving Larry Reagan 2nd Vice President, Ft. Sumner Farm & Ranch Page 8

Chad Smith Chief Executive Officer BOARD OF DIRECTORS Bud Deerman, La Mesa John Diamond, Elephant Butte Jim Ellett, Hope Duane Frost, Claunch Anita Hand, Datil Leon Hemann, McDonald Brad Houston, Roswell George Jackson, Lordsburg Janet Jarratt, Los Lunas Deena Kinman, Elida Matt Lansford, Clovis Boe Lopez, Springer Danielle Lowry, Albuquerque Donald Martinez, El Rito Tommy Ortiz, Las Vegas Troy Sauble, Maxwell Paula Sichler, San Antonio John Sweetser, Deming Jim Taylor, Albuquerque Tom Wilton, Ft. Sumner

REGIONAL DIRECTORS Joel Alderete, Roswell Benjie Segovia, Las Cruces Zach Riley, Albuquerque Valerie Huerta, Santa Cruz Theresa Widner Director of Membership Services Carmen Macias Comptroller Dalene Hodnett Director of Communications and Media Relations Traci Curry Southern Director, Ag in the Classroom Cheryl Butterfield Northern Director, Ag in the Classroom Anita Hand, Chair Women’s Leadership Committee Danielle Lowry, Chair Young Farmer & Rancher Committee February 2015