Arizona Farm Bureau Interviews USDA's Second-in-Command

Kathleen Merrigan, Ph.D, is the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Working alongside Secretary Tom Vilsack as second-in-command, Merrigan oversees the day-to-day operation of USDA’s many programs and spearheads the $149 billion USDA budget process. Serving on the President’s Management Council, she comes to USDA from a decades-long career in policy, legislation, and research.

Overall, Arizona Agriculture Experienced a Successful Legislative Year at the Capitol.

Arizona Agricultural issues flew under the radar at the legislature this year – if you compare these issues to those making headlines. Media-wise our issues left little footprints, but they were important to us.
 

Celebrating the Centennial: Check Out Arizona Farm Bureau's series on Arizona's 100 years of statehood and our Agriculture History!

Arizona families continue to talk about the recently launched series of articles in Arizona Agriculture on Arizona’s Centennial and our state’s agriculture history called “Celebrating the Centennial.” So far, four articles have run on Arizona’s agriculture history as we celebrate the state’s 100th birthday.

If you have not had a chance to read the articles or don’t get a copy of Arizona Agriculture, the Centennial Series will be regularly posted on azfb.org.

The nearby photo is by Scott Baker "100 Years A Hundred Ranches"

Arizona Food Prices Down by 1%

Arizona retail food prices at the supermarket are down slightly in the first quarter of 2012, according to the latest Arizona Farm Bureau Federation Marketbasket Survey. The informal survey shows the total cost of 16 basic grocery items was $50.79, down 60 cents or about 1% below the fourth quarter of 2011. Comparatively, the American Farm Bureau Federation’s national survey was $52.47, up $3.24 or 7% higher compared to the fourth quarter of 2011.

Arizona Ag Women on the Jan D'Atri Show!

Arizona Farm Bureau's "AZ Ag Women" were on the Jan D'Atri radio show recently. This time the focus was on Arizona agriculture women and Food Check Out Week. They were a hit. Jan's listeners said they never knew there were so many great Arizona farmers and ranchers!

Arizona Ag Women!

Young Guns!

Food Production: The Facts and Faces of Arizona's Farmers and Ranchers

Recently, Arizona farmers and ranchers came out in force to present their stories on how they raise healthy and productive animals for Americans in a caring and sustainable way. Since we recorded their presentations, you can view what they said on YouTube. Select link below to view the video clips.

Pictured in photo nearby: From left to right: Jim Boyle, Sharla Mortimer, Bas Aja, Glenn Hickman and Donald Davidson. Julie Murphree kneeling in the forefront.

Back to Constitutional Basics

Arizona Farm Bureau Board of Director's member Rock Cramer presents the case for Americans to get back to constitutional basics. It's time to insist that our political class go "Back to Constitutional Basics" to perserve this nation and our constitution! "Back to Constitutional Basics" was adopted as policy on November 13, 2009 by Arizona Farm Bureau at its annual convention of 110 delegates representing every county in the State of Arizona.

THE H-2A VISA PROGRAM: MEETING THE GROWING NEEDS OF AMERICAN AGRICULTURE

 

Also ...

American Farm Bureau Federation testified before Congress regarding the H2-A program.

View File

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.

New H-2A Rules

Employers: Another New I-9 Form and More!

Use of E-Verify is the law in Arizona. If you are 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.

 

Let's Eat Video Now Available

Arizona Farm Bureau, in conjunction with the Arizona Department of Agriculture and USDA, recently completed an educational video encouraging Arizona families to eat more fruits and vegetables. The Boelts family from Yuma is featured in the video

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.