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LAWSUIT SEEKS RECONSIDERATION OF BLM SAGE GROUSE RULES FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016 VOLUME 89, NUMBER 51 Page 5 WWW.CAPITALPRESS.COM $2.00 Vilsack: Dems need to jump urban-rural divide Secretary thanks farmers ‘for what they do every single day’ By ERIC MORTENSON Capital Press The urban-rural divide, al- though glaringly visible during the presidential election, is “not so diffi cult to jump over,” out- going U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. In an exit interview with the Capital Press, Vilsack said the desires of people living in urban centers are precisely what ru- ral residents want. They want a country they’re proud of, he said, and they want to make a living, give back and take part in their communities. Vilsack, wrapping up eight years as USDA secretary under President Obama, has been bang- ing that message since Hillary Clinton was beaten in the elec- toral vote by Donald Trump. The Democratic party took its worst shellacking in rural areas, where 80 percent Trump votes weren’t uncommon, and Vilsack main- tains the party had it coming. The Democrats ignored rural issues and it cost them, he said. “We as a party have not spent enough time in rural areas,” he said. If the Democrats are per- ceived as the party of govern- ment, he said, they need to do a better job of explaining or mar- keting what various agencies do and how they can work with peo- ple to solve problems. The tactic might not win rural areas for Democrats, he said, but they wouldn’t lose so badly. At the time of the Dec. 12 Cap- ital Press interview, the Trump ad- ministration had not yet chosen a Turn to VILSACK, Page 12 Courtesy USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said urban and rural dwellers share many of the same desires for the country and their families. Final analysis recommends deregulation of modifi ed bentgrass By SEAN ELLIS Capital Press Turn to BENTGRASS, Page 12 Sean Ellis/Capital Press A genetically engineered creeping bentgrass plant is shown Oct. 10 during an out- reach meeting in Ontario, Ore. Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. experts showed farmers and others how to identify the plant. A container ship departs Seattle earlier this year. Trade matters U.S. farmers rely on overseas customers to buy their crops, boost domestic prices “We realize that we have a good product. We’ve spent money for decades building a relationship and reputation. I think we’re pretty well- respected.” By CAROL RYAN DUMAS For the Capital Press ike Miller knows how important foreign trade is to agriculture. For Miller and Washington state’s 1,900 other wheat farmers, exports are the economic lifeblood. They ship more than 90 percent of their crop to overseas customers such as bakers in Japan and noodle manufacturers in the Philip- pines and South Korea. The customers were hard-won. “We realize that we have a good product. We’ve spent money for decades building a re- About half lationship and reputation. I think we’re pretty well-respected,” of the U.S. Miller said. wheat crop Those customers are vital to the industry, said Miller, who in is exported, addition to growing wheat near Ritzville, Wash., is chairman of making the Washington Grain Commis- international sion and vice chairman of U.S. Associates, which pro- markets key Wheat motes U.S. wheat overseas. Washington farmers are not to wheat alone. Overall, about half of the growers U.S. wheat crop is exported, mak- international markets key to across the ing wheat growers across the country, Miller said. country Trade is also critical to other U.S. farmers and ranchers. U.S. agricultural exports to- taled $133 billion last year, representing 23 percent of all U.S. ag production and 31 percent of the gross farm in- come for the nation’s 2.1 million farms, according to an analysis by the American Farm Bureau Federation. That’s why any discussion of trade by politicians gets farmers’ full attention. President-elect Donald Trump has said he would scuttle the new Trans-Pacifi c Partnership trade agreement, which includes Japan, Mexico and Can- ada, three of the largest buyers of U.S. agricultural products. For some states and crops, exports are the main source of farm revenue. In Washington, for example, 90 to 95 percent of the wheat price farmers receive is attributable M Turn to TRADE, Page 12 Mike Miller, chairman of the Wash. Grain Commission and vice chairman of U.S. Wheat Associates Capital Press fi le Mike Miller stands in one of his wheat fi elds last spring. He is chairman of the Washington Grain Commission and vice chairman of U.S. Wheat Associates. Northwest, California ag exports, 2014 Total value of ag exports by state, 2014 Regionally, California led the way with more than $21 billion worth of agricultural commodities exported in 2014. U.S. exports totaled $150 billion that year. Wash. Top 10 ag exports by state, 2014 California Value Rank Item 1. Almonds 2. Dairy 2,425 3. Walnuts 1,448 $4,532 Item $21.6 billion Calif. $8.3 billion Idaho $2.2 billion Ore. $2.1 billion ($ millions of dollars) Washington Value Idaho Oregon Item Value Item Value Dairy $460 Seeds/hort. † $955 Plant products 700 Wheat 392 P. fruit* 681 P. vegetables* 263 Wheat 209 179 Vegetables 141 Fresh fruit $759 Fruits/nuts 366 4. Wine 1,392 Wheat 489 Beef 5. Pistachios 1,125 P. vegetables* 301 Feed 143 Dairy 94 138 Beef/veal 86 68 6. Table grapes 890 Dairy 233 Vegetables 7. P. tomatoes* 776 Vegetables 158 Hides/skins 75 Feed/fodders 56 Animal products 40 8. Rice 714 Animal products 125 Corn 9. Oranges 575 Feed/fodder 100 Poultry 17 Grain products 35 83 Pork 8 Hides/skins 10. Raisins 410 Beef/veal Sources: USDA; state departments of agriculture; University of California *Processed † Horticulture/related 27 products Carol Ryan Dumas and Alan Kenaga/Capital Press EVER WONDERED WHAT TO DO WITH THAT OLD, WORN OUT COMMODITY TRAILER? Our Rebin Program can turn your old trailer into a new trailer! We will remove all working mechanical parts, and replace the bin with a new Stainless Steel STC Bin on your existing running gear. All parts deemed reusable are reinstalled on the new bin. All of this at the fraction of the cost of a new trailer! WWW.STCTRAILERS.COM 494 W. Hwy 39 Blackfoot, ID 83321 208-785-1364 51-7/#16 ONTARIO, Ore. — The Center for Food Safety has blasted a fi nal environmental impact statement that recom- mends deregulation of a ge- netically engineered creeping bentgrass that escaped fi eld trials in 2003 and has taken root in Malheur and Jefferson counties in Oregon. It was being developed by Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. and Monsanto Corp. for use main- ly on golf courses. Since the escapes, Scotts has been re- sponsible for controlling and eradicating it where possible. Scotts and Monsanto pe- titioned USDA to deregulate the bentgrass, which was ge- netically engineered to with- stand applications of glypho- sate, the active ingredient in Monsanto’s popular Roundup weed killer. A fi nal EIS released by USDA Dec. 7 recommends deregulation of the genetical- ly engineered creeping bent- grass because it “is unlikely to pose a plant pest risk....” Some farmers and water manages in the affected coun- ties worry that because the bentgrass is resistant to gly- phosate and diffi cult to kill, it