‘Whole-farm’ insurance tool on USDA blog site

AGR-Lite Wizard, a free online tool that can helps diversified crop and livestock producers gauge whether whole-farm insurance protection makes sense for their operations, is featured on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “USDA Blog.”

The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) and Montana Tech of the University of Montana developed AGR-Lite Wizard in a partnership funded by the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA). Jeff Schahczenski, an agricultural economist with NCAT, was the lead developer of the project.

Central Idaho Celebrates Ag Week 2012: Free Breakfast in Arco March 15th

ATTRA Project Resumes Full Level of Services

(BUTTE, MT)—When Mariah and Ira White began the Summer Kitchen Family Farm outside of Fayetteville, Arkansas, a couple of years ago, they knew they had a lot to learn. The young couple had kept chickens and sold eggs and produce while living in Fayetteville, but a full-fledged sustainable crop and livestock operation was something else again. 

“We sort of outgrew our garden,” Mariah said with a laugh.

For help, Mariah and Ira turned to the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service project, also called the ATTRA project.

A project of the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), the ATTRA project is a leading national provider of technical assistance in the sustainable agriculture and farm-energy arenas.

Federal funding for ATTRA was restored in the fall after being cut earlier in the year.

PNW Livestock Outlook 2012 Available On-Line Now

The University of Idaho Agriculture Extension Economists have posted the  Agricultural Economic Extension Series (AEES) paper on PNW Livestock Outlook 2012 by ag economists C. Wilson Gray, Erica Rosa-Sanko, Katelyn McCullock, James Robb, .  It is on the Ag Econo and Rural Sociology Resource page at the url below..

http://www.cals.uidaho.edu/aers/2012AEESAERSpublations/AEES1201.pdf

IBC Program Covering Crop Insurance, Grain Markets and Other Programs in Eastern Idaho March 12 and 13th

Barley Commission (Eastern Idaho commissioner Dwight Little, Industry Representative Clay Kaasa and I) would like to invite you to join us at one of these barley grower events scheduled in eastern Idaho on March 12 and 13 (we will discuss barley crop insurance, 2012 grain markets and IBC programs):

• MUD LAKE    Monday, March 12 at 8 a.m. – Breakfast at Country Café in Mud Lake

• ST ANTHONY   Monday, March 12 at 12:00 p.m. - Lunch at El Jalieciense Restaurant in St. Anthony (119 S. Bridge)

• RIGBY  Tuesday, March 13 at 8 a.m. – Breakfast at Me & Stan's Restaurant in Rigby

Kelly L Olson, Administrator
Idaho Barley Commission
208-334-2090
Fax: 208-334-2335
kolson@idahobarley.org

FARMER TAX-TIPS, 2011

By Paul Gutierrez and Patrick Sullivan, Extension Economist, NMSU

Tax time is here and it is a good time to step back and take a look at your business. Successful tax planning requires the taxpayer to examine the “big picture” of their operation.

Qualified farmer: Special rules exist for the payment of estimated tax and filing deadlines for individuals that are “qualified farmers”. For 2011, a qualified farmer is an individual that derived at least two-thirds of their gross income from farming in 2010 or 2011 (Publication 225).

Colorado State University's Temple Grandin to be Inducted into Colorado Women's Hall of Fame

March 8

CSU News Release
March 5, 2012

FORT COLLINS - Temple Grandin, Colorado State University's pioneering expert in livestock behavior and welfare, will be inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame on Thursday, March 8, when she and nine other honorees will join the ranks of innovators whose ideas and persistence have elevated Colorado women and shaped the world.

"I'm really honored," said Grandin, a professor in the CSU Department of Animal Sciences. "I'm hoping some of the things I've done will inspire young people to go out there and do some really good things. That's what makes me really pleased.

Idaho Home Garden Variety Trials

Ever wonder which of the many different varieties grow best in our area. You’re not alone… Bonneville County Extension is sponsoring a study to determine which varieties offered through the commercial gardening catalogues are best for Idaho, but we need your help!! Grow the “tried and true variety” next to the “up and coming varieties” and help us determine what does best in our area.