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  • Yuma, Arizona is the winter lettuce capital of the world.
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What's News In Arizona's $9.2 Billion Agriculture Industry

Groundbreaking Food Safety Efforts

Food safety is a number one priority with Arizona farmers and ranchers. Agriculture members of Arizona Farm Bureau will get to find out just how important it is to the organization and farmers and ranchers in the next issue of Arizona Agriculture. Additional information can be found here.

Now It's Peanuts  Editorial by Kevin Rogers

 

Carbon Becomes a Crop for Some; But a Cash Crop?

Arizona Agriculture completed an in-depth investigation on carbon credits and whether it becomes another revenue stream for agriculturalists. The article also investigates a cap and trade environment, called by some a cap and tax. Arizona grasslands (photo nearby) can only earn 0.4 carbon credits per acre per year compared to Iowa and wetter states that can earn 1.0 carbon credits per acre per year.

Carbon Credits and Cap & Trade Don't Help Arizona agriculturalists

AZFB's Official Position

And, What the Arizona Chamber is saying about Climate Change

Heritage Foundation Shows that Cap & Trade is an Energy Tax in Disguise

Arizona Farm Bureau Helps Send Hunger Packing

With summer at hand, and the current economic climate serving as yet another hurdle to feeding the hungry, St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance relies on events like “Send Hunger Packing 2009” to keep its shelves stocked during Arizona’s hot dry summer and Arizona Farm Bureau wants to help!!! 
 
“Summer is especially harsh on families with children who have to replace the school lunch with a meal at home,” St. Mary’s Food Bank President and CEO Terry Shannon said.  So Arizona Farm Bureau members can help by donating whatever amount you're able to give. Hickman Family Farms will match our donations in eggs. So donate today by clicking the link below!
Donate Here

Arizona Agriculture Video Tells Our Story

Arizona Farm Bureau recently updated its video "Today in Arizona Agriculture." If you are wanting an informative and colorful way to tell the Arizona agriculture story send viewers here.

The Aggiehood of the Traveling Banner

Arizona Farm Bureau's  “The AggieHood of the Traveling Banner" continues to travel the state. Currently if you're out and about, you'll find it in Yuma and Waddell.

If you want to host the Banner, here's how it works:

  • AZFB provides the 9’x 15’ full color banner and ties.
  • AZFB field staff delivers and picks up the banner.
  • Farm Bureau Ag members volunteer to display the banner. This needs to be a high traffic area and located were the banner is highly visible.
  • Farm Bureau members will place the banner on a cotton trailer, stock trailer or silo for four (4) weeks.
Marketing gurus advise organizations build a branding effort that combines billboards and direct mail. Your participation in this effort will help Arizonans become advocates for Arizona agriculture. To help promote Arizona Agriculture from your farm or ranch, contact Peggy Jo Goodfellow at 480.635.3609 or Julie Murphree at 480.635.3607. You can also email Peggy Jo at peggyjogoodfellow@azfb.org or Julie at juliemurphree@azfb.org.

Arizona Farm Bureau 87th Annual Meeting Highlights

Arizona Farm Bureau hosted its 87th Annual Meeting November 5th through 7th in Carefree, Arizona. Some highlights follow.

Talk Show Host Ankarlo Apologizes to Arizona Farm Bureau

KTAR's Talk Show Host Ankarlo recently got the facts wrong on Joe Sigg and Arizona Farm Bureau. Host Ankarlo cited Joe Sigg as being part of a group going to Washington D.C. for congressional hearings. Additionally, Ankarlo suggested Arizona Farm Bureau supports cheap labor. (He mentions Joe Sigg 18 minutes and 49 seconds into the podcast ... hyperlink above.)
Joe Sigg's response:
Hello Darrell,  
My name is Joe Sigg or Joseph Sigg or Joey as my mother calls me. Nevertheless, I am clearly one of the folks whose name you read on your April 3rd program from your “list” of fly-in participants to D.C. for congressional hearings on the 287 (g) program.
D.C. is nice in the spring but I was neither invited nor did I make this trip, so perhaps you should check your “list” before you recite it on the airways. By the way, I have my own “list” of folks who have a microphone and are loose with the facts.
I heard a marvelous quote the other day to the effect that the rare periods of silence in some people make for a wonderful dialogue. Talkie shows are just the opposite, but its great there are so many ways to make a living in this country.
So much for being nice:  I am more than slightly peeved that you indicate Arizona agriculture does not pay honorable wages or infer we lack respect for our labor. We are nothing without our employees. We have consistently advocated for border security  and legal & reliable labor pools well before public commentators realized they could exploit peoples’ fears for  ratings and advertiser dollars.  
    
You indicated you did not have much regard for us. As to your views, positions and incorrect on-air statements, be assured we have the same warm levels of regard. 
Joseph Sigg
Arizona Farm Bureau
(480) 635-3603    
And like Ankarlo, Arizona Farm Bureau wants a secure border. Those convictions, never need an apology.

Employers: Another New I-9 Form (as of April 3), and More!

Use of E-Verify is the law in Arizona. If you are now hiring do a careful review of all links below. Remember, it is against federal law to use E-Verify on existing employees. Additionally, you cannot use E-Verify to pre-check the legal status of a new hire. You only use E-Verify once you have hired the new employee.

If you sign up for E-Verify (Basic Pilot) you must do so online here. You will be required to take an online tutorial - it can take up to two hours. You will be required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding. You must comply with all of the requirements of the I-9 process and complete an I-9 for each new hire.

Labor Issues: When ICE or Other Government Agencies Come Knocking ...

Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll LLC, provides careful instructions on your rights as an employer and procedures to follow when a government agency visits or calls regarding Social Security MisMatches, including how you should respond if non-governmental third parties contact you seeking information. The law firm encourages you to carefully follow certain steps in order to protect your company and your employees. The three memos below spell out procedures and processes.

Why Does Visa Reform Remain A Priority?

The two documents below might help us understand why Visa reform remains a priority. This information is provided by ImmigrationWorksUSA

TALKING POINTS: Economic arguments for immigration

TALKING POINTS: Why we need immigrant workers even in a recession

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