December 2001

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Fall 2001 Idaho Agricultural Outlook Idaho Farmers Seldom Differ From Counterparts Nationally Survey Finds By Bill Loftus, University of Idaho The prospects for the next farm bill appear uncertain as Congress and the Bush Administration wrestle with global issues. When the time comes, however, Idaho's agricultural producers know what they want, says University of Idaho agricultural economist Neil Meyer. In a survey, Idaho farmers and ranchers, as well as those in 26 other states, supported preserving agricultural support programs, saying federal payments allowed them to stay in business. Meyer is UI Extension public policy and rural economic development specialist at Moscow. He was one of five lead authors on the project, which involved more than 80 agricultural specialists and statisticians nationally. The survey was conducted last spring and was designed to explore policy issues most likely to be pivotal in this year's farm bill debate, Meyer said. Idaho producers' opinions fit the national trends with few exceptions, Meyer said. In one particular area, 71 percent of Idahoans endorsed price supports for program crops such as wheat, soybeans and corn, exceeding the national average of 69 percent and topping by 10 points producers in other western states. That surprised Meyer because potatoes, Idaho's most famous crop, is not among the crops that qualify for federal supports, nor are many others in Idaho's diverse agriculture. Among other differences of opinion shown by Idaho producers, Meyer said those most notable include a willingness by Idaho farmers to adopt soil and water conservation programs if the public shares in the costs of such changes. The hitch is producers do not want federal regulators to tell them what to do to achieve those improvements. Idaho farmers were also loud and clear that they support international trade and do not want to see the U.S. impose unilateral sanctions. Idaho wheat and split pea growers have seen important markets like Pakistan and Iraq disappear overnight when trade became a diplomatic tool. And on the farm bill itself, Meyer said, farmers signaled both support and unease with fast-track negotiations. In the fast-track scenario, lawmakers agree to negotiate a package that is then subject to a simple yes or no vote. The Idaho perception is colored by aftershocks from the North American Free Trade Agreement, Meyer said. The new farm bill so far shows a couple of dramatic departures from work on the present law enacted in 1996. "The idea then was let's get the government out of farming," Meyer said. A glut of major farm commodities on the world market cut the heart out of commodity markets since then, however. Without federal price supports many producers wouldn't have survived. The preference is for baseline funding that will boost agricultural support prices to near those allowed by the World Trade Organization. That would cushion agriculture from the full impact of market conditions, Meyer said. "Idaho respondents favored government intervention," Meyer said, noting 71 percent support. "The real discussion is about how the government should be involved." Least favored were fixed payments, subsidized insurance and disaster insurance. The Bush Administration prefers a conservation approach to farm bill programs. "In the conservation arena, Idaho producers are fans of the Conservation Reserve Program with 59 percent favoring continuation or expansion," Meyer said. That multi-year program offers annual payments to producers to idle cropland, planting it to grass, shrubs and trees to reduce erosion. More than 80 percent supported financial incentives to protect water quality, reduce erosion, encourage biofuel production and preserve farmland. Some 67 percent also supported efforts to protect the environment by managing animal waste. The animal waste issue reflects wariness toward a regulatory approach, Meyer said. On the trade issue, most Idaho farmers, 65 percent, believed they benefited from free trade. Nationally, 75 percent saw a benefit. Some 84 percent of Idahoans surveyed supported including labor, environment and food safety issues in trade negotiations as well. On food labeling, most Idaho farmers, 61 percent, supported labeling products that had been altered through biotechnology even if scientific tests confirmed there was no difference, Meyer said. That put Idahoans exactly in line with the national average on the issue. Ninety two percent of Idahoans supported labeling if the biotech product contained differences that could be demonstrated with scientific testing. Ninety eight percent of Idaho farmers, and those surveyed nationally, supported labeling the country of origin, giving consumers the ability to buy American, Meyer said. The national study surveyed nearly 70,000 farmers in 27 states. More than 14,000 responded, a 20 percent return. Idaho producers posted the next-highest response rate, 33 percent, with 988 of 2,990 surveys returned. Oregon topped the list with 39 percent response, 1,166 surveys returned of 2,999 mailed. The study was sponsored by the Farm Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Oak Brook, Ill., and published by Kansas State University. The survey findings are available on the Internet in the 2002 Farm Bill Section on the Farm Foundation website at www.farmfoundation.org. Fall 2001 Idaho Agricultural Outlook Dairy Prices Souring With Travel Slump; Recession Jeopardizes Strong Beef Prices By Marlene Fritz, University of Idaho This fall's terrorism soured milk prices, as institutional demand for dairy products by airlines and restaurants slumped right along with travel, says C. Wilson Gray, University of Idaho Extension agricultural economist. Even though September cheese stocks were down 7.25 percent from year-ago levels and American cheese production was off 1.7 percent in August's cow-sapping heat, prices for block cheese tumbled 30 percent&emdash;to $1.21 per pound&emdash;between Sept. 4 and Oct. 30. Continuing worries about the economy also contributed to softening demand, reports Gray in the UI's Fall 2001 Idaho Agricultural Outlook. The futures market&emdash;near $11 a cwt. for Class III manufacturing-grade milk for November and December&emdash;hangs below $12 a cwt. until May. Gray projects milk prices at $12.10-13.25 for fourth-quarter 2001, and $11.10-11.95, $11.80-12.55, $12.10-13.00 and $12.00-13.00, respectively, for the four quarters of 2002. Fortunately, "demand and supply for cheese are quite close, so any improvement in consumer attitude or economic conditions should bode well for better prices," Gray says. At 724 million pounds, September cheese stocks were lower than last year's, though still 33 percent above the 1990-2001 average. Milk production per cow is continuing to trend up nationally at an average 1.3 percent per year, but it's swelling at more than three times that rate&emdash;4.25 percent annually&emdash;in Idaho. The Gem State now ranks sixth in milk production and fourth in cheese output. Despite a brief up-tick in 1998-2000, U.S. dairy cow numbers have declined at an annual rate of 0.83 percent since 1988. The Idaho cow herd, however, expanded 6.2 percent a year between 1988 and 2000 and is now standing at 372,000 head, although Gray notes that the growth curve is showing signs of slowing. The rapid expansion of dairy facilities in Idaho and other western states, along with more aggressive culling and shorter expected herd life, drove heifer prices to an average $1,541 at Jerome for the first nine months of this year&emdash;about $200 more than in 1999 and 2000. That's making replacement heifers the "cash cows" of the dairy industry, Gray says. Hearty Beef Prices In Peril Prices for beef calves are also high. According to Gray, both beef calves and feeder cattle are likely to bring record or near-record prices during the 2001 calendar year, and fed cattle prices earlier this year were the highest they've been since their 1993 peak. At just over 26 billion pounds, U.S. beef output in 2001 will be about 2.8 percent below 2000's and the smallest since 1998. Indeed, at 105.8 million head on July 1, the U.S. beef herd is now the smallest since 1990, and Gray expects another year-to-year decline on Jan. 1. "Even though the economic signals are telling producers to expand, drought has cut their ability to do it," he says. During the first eight months of 2001, imports of live cattle were up 33 percent from Canada and 10 percent from Mexico, and imports of beef were up 4 percent overall. But export tonnage was off 16 percent, falling prey to weaker foreign markets, a stronger U.S. dollar and Japan's September encounter with "mad-cow" disease. Last summer's drought sent unusually high numbers of cattle to feedlots, and lackluster sales are keeping them there while feedlot owners await the next price bounce. The number of cattle in feedlots is at a five-year peak, but Gray expects the backlog to begin eroding by January. Weakening economies in the U.S. and in key beef-buying countries are raising questions about beef demand and about next year's prices. Gray believes consumer confidence will rebound later this year and next and anticipates " the same or a tad better" beef prices through 2002. According to Gray, Pacific Northwest choice steers should bring $66-69 per hundredweight for fourth-quarter 2001, $73-77 for first-quarter 2002 and $70-75 for second quarter 2002. He estimates that 800- to 900-pound steers will bring $74-79, $76-80 and $76-80 over the next three quarters and 700- to 800-pound steers to command $80-84, $82-86 and $82-88, respectively. The UI's Fall 2001 Idaho Agricultural Outlook is available in its entirety, with supporting tables and graphs, on the Web site of the UI Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, http://www.ag.uidaho.edu/aers. Once on the home page, Internet users should click first on Publications, then on the Fall 2001 outlook. Value Of 2000 Ag Commodities Washington's 2000 value of agricultural production totaled $5.41 billion, a 2 % increase from the 1999 value of $5.32 billion. This continued an upward trend for the second year. The total crops value at $3.27 billion was more than double the livestock and livestock products value of production at $1.52 billion. Field crops were still the leading crops category with $1.67 billion and fruits were second with $1.18 billion. Field crops showed an increase of 9 percent, while fruit showed a decrease of 5 percent from 1999. Commercial vegetables and seed crops both registered increases from 1999. Commercial vegetables were valued at $320.1 million, an increase of 7 percent. Seed crops were valued at $46.9 million, an increase of 11 percent. Berry crops showed a strong decrease of 29 percent and were valued at $47.2 million. Specialty products of forest products, Christmas trees, floriculture, nursery and other horticultural products, and mushrooms had a combined value of $623.7 million, an increase of 6 percent from the 1999 value. Apples remained number 1, with a value of production at $760.2 million, a decrease of 11 percent from 1999. Milk also retained its number two position in 2000 with $715.9 million value of production. The value of milk showed a 13 percent decline from 1999. Cattle and Calves were ranked third with $560.7 million, followed by wheat with $458.6 million. The cattle and calves value was 23 percent more than 1999. The wheat also showed an increase of 33 percent. Potatoes were the fifth ranked commodity with $446.3 million value of production, a decrease of 6 percent from 1999, and a fall from the third ranked commodity. The combined value of the top five commodities (apples, milk, cattle and calves, wheat, and potatoes) is $2.94 billion or 54 percent of the total value for 2000. The comparable value for 1999 was $2.96 billion and the 1998 value was $2.87 billion. The 2000 value for the top five commodities shows a slight decrease from 1999 and an increase of 3 percent from 1998. The increase in value for cattle and calves and wheat offset the declines in apples, milk and potatoes. The combined value of the commodities ranked in the top ten was $4.13 billion for 2000 compared with $4.02 billion for 1999 and $3.94 billion for 1998. The top ten commodities accounted for 76 percent of all agriculture and was slightly more than last year. Another way to evaluate each crop is the value per harvested acre which reflects both the yield and price. Sweet cherries were the highest ranked commodity with a value of $8,596 per harvested acre, compared with $6,437 for 1999 sweet cherries. Peaches were the second ranking crop with a value of $8,438 for last year compared with $9,061 for 1999. Non-storage onion, fresh carrots, and blueberries round out the top five commodities based on the value per harvested acre at $7,293, $6,440, and $5,508 respectively. Funding Our Own Destruction? Reprinted from WAWG's Green Sheet Information From Liberty Matters News Servke The U.S. taxpayer, through the generosity of federal agencies, is providing money to fund the conservation projects of 20 major environmental groups. In 2000, $377,000 a day went to organizations whose mission is to wrest control of property from private owners. The biggest winner was The Nature Conservancy, which last year received $37.5-million. The Forest Service granted $30,000 to The Lands Council, a group that favors a ban on commercial timber sales on public forests. The Forest Service also bank rolled the activities of the National Forest Foundation to the tune of $82,700 to pay consultation fees to a retired Forest Service employee and $123,500 spent to recruit new members. Their efforts only garnered $13,000 in new membership fees. A Web site dedicated to erasing "urban sprawl," wwwsmartgrowth.org, is written and funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The same day the National Wildlife Federation sued the EPA over water quality, it applied for a $70,000 EPA clean-water grant, which was granted. The federation won its lawsuit and even got the government to pay its legal fees of $14,000. The flow of taxpayer dollars is not confined to U.S. borders, either. Last year, more than $37-million flowed to environmental projects in foreign countries to pay for sustainable farming projects and eco-tourism events. Maybe the Bush administration needs to be asked why we are funding organizations that seek to destroy our liberty. Dormant Sprays Can Help Reduce Pests In Home Orchards By Peg Herring, Oregon State University Prevention is the first step in controlling diseases and insect pests in home orchards. Many problems can be avoided by choosing fruit tree varieties that are resistant, and providing them with proper care. That care includes removing all dropped fruit and leaves that might be harboring pests. But even the most vigilant gardeners may need to spray their trees during the dormant season to reduce over-wintering disease organisms. Spraying fruit trees during the cool seasons, November through March, can help control pests that take up residence in the cracks and crevices, according to Ross Penhallegon, horticulturist with the Oregon State University Extension Service. Such dormant spraying is more effective than waiting until the weather warms and pests become active. Below are some least toxic sprays and treatments for fruit trees. These products are widely available at garden centers. Always follow label directions. Dormant Oil: Apply when trees are dormant, November through March, after all the leaves have fallen. Mix with water as directed and spray to all surfaces of the trunk, branches and twigs. Apply when the temperature is expected to rise during the day; temperatures below 35 degrees can damage the bark. Dormant oil controls aphids, scale, spider mites, and many other insects by desiccating or smothering eggs and larvae. Lime-Sulfur: Spray to control fungal and bacterial diseases such as peach leaf curl, fire blight, scab and anthracnose. Do NOT apply sulfur sprays to apricots. Fixed Copper: Spray on apples, pears, cherries, peaches, and plums to control canker. Allow two weeks between applications of copper and any sprays containing sulfur. Add a spreader-sticker product to help copper adhere to the tree surface. Latex paint: Coat the trunks of young trees with white latex paint mixed half-and-half with water. The paint reflects strong sunlight that, once the leaves fall, can cause cracking, a favorite place for pests to over-winter and can cause substantial winter damage. Here are some tips for specific fruit trees: Apples: Spray copper before fall rains; dormant oil once or twice from January through March; lime-sulfur in January or February (just before buds open) and wettable sulfur just after petal fall. Apricots: Spray copper before the fall rains and dormant oil in February. Cherries: Use wettable sulfur or lime-sulfur applied weekly during blooming for brown rot. Information on synthetic sprays to control cherry fruit fly is available from your local county office of the OSU Extension Service. Pears: Spray copper before the fall rains; spray lime-sulfur two to three times beginning in fall, again during winter, and finally in March just before buds open; spray dormant oil in early spring before buds open and wettable sulfur just after petal fall. Peaches: Spray copper or a good dormant fungicide three to four times between December and bud break. Spray copper or lime-sulfur before fall rains and in spring just before bud break; apply sulfur weekly during blooming and again after all petals have fallen.

Large China Imports Unlikely Until Late 2002 Reprinted from WAWG's Green Sheet China's purchase of 33,100 metric tons of U.S. wheat last week got traders excited, as they speculated that China was shopping to sample qualities. Speculation that the purchases are due to interest by the government or private buyers is just that&emdash;speculation&emdash;in the opinion of USW regional vice president Matt Weimar. Weimar, who directs USW's market development activities in China, reports that there are still no clear signs of increased imports for the immediate future. "At this point I am optimistic for increased import demand in the second half of 2002," Weimar says, "but many observers, including me, doubt that we will see substantial action in this marketing year (which ends May 31, 2002)." Most imports before the marketing year ends are likely to fulfill private sector quota under WTO tariff rate quota requirements, and "expectations are these will be higher quality wheat demanded by processors." Weimar reports that it appears that the recent purchases are basically "add-ons" to prior buys. "We expect that imports of wheat will increase by the latter part of 2002, as domestic stocks dwindle," he says, "but ample domestic availability will likely dictate the market in the first half of the year." Fall 2001 Idaho Agricultural Outlook Tighter Supplies Mean Better Prices For This Year's Harvests Of Grains, Beans & Hay By Marlene Fritz, University of Idaho The law of supply and demand is working its magic for Idaho's grain, bean and hay growers: they're enjoying the higher prices that smaller crops normally bring. In the University of Idaho's Fall 2001 Idaho Agricultural Outlook, agricultural economists say world wheat markets are showing definite signs of turning around. Supplies are adequate but tightening, and farm-level prices for the 2001-02 marketing year should average $2.85 per bushel&emdash;23 cents more than last year and a nickel above the five-year average. The U.S. Department of Agriculture expects that a worldwide wheat harvest that is slightly below the five-year average will leave global ending stocks smaller than they've been since the late 1980s, says UI agricultural economist Larry Makus. Similarly, an estimated 1.958 billion bushel U.S. wheat crop&emdash;under 2 billion for the first time since 1991&emdash;should erode domestic stocks to their lowest levels in five years. Nevertheless, Makus says disappointing exports and disturbing political and economic problems are keeping wheat prices in a holding pattern. At an anticipated 232 million bushels, the U.S. white wheat crop is 18 percent below the five-year average and 23 percent below last year's crop. That pushed the average price at Portland to $3.54 between July and October&emdash;a half-dollar over last year&emdash;and to $3.75 during October. But Makus believes this price rally "may be tapped out" and expects the average marketing year price to settle at about $3.60 for 2001-02. Unless events occur that prompt concerns about the adequacy of current supplies or of the 2002 crop, Makus says significant price rallies "seem unlikely." Shrinking Feed Grain Stocks Support Higher Prices The USDA projects a 2001 barley crop of 250 million bushels, down 22 percent from last year and the smallest U.S. barley crop since the early 1950s. The corn crop should come in at about 9.43 billion bushels&emdash;roughly the five-year-average&emdash;and the grain sorghum crop at a generous 536 million bushels. Although total U.S. feed grain production is expected to be off more than 5 percent, big increases in production in eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union should nudge up world production slightly in 2001-02, Makus says. But higher use should slash U.S. stocks by 22 percent and trim world stocks by 15.5 percent to 1995-96 levels. That helps 2001-02 farm-level corn prices, which are projected at $1.90 to $2.30 per bushel&emdash;above last year's $1.85 mean&emdash;and feed barley prices, which should average $94 per ton compared with last year's $88. "Given the unusually low level of production for U.S. barley, feed barley prices could be stronger relative to corn, especially if export prospects pick up in the next couple of months," Makus says. He expects Portland feed barley prices to hold at about $10-a-ton more than last year's $80 to $90. Bean Prices Respond to Steep Production Drop If export demand holds at a moderate 8.25 million cwt. during 2001 and 2002, UI Extension economist Paul Patterson projects an average composite Idaho dry bean price of about $23 per cwt. for the 2001-02 marketing year. That's up a healthy amount from the five-year average of $18.80 and last year's $17.35. The stronger prices are direct beneficiaries of a 19 percent drop in U.S. planted acreage and an 11 percent decline in yields. Currently, the USDA is forecasting the 2001 U.S. dry bean crop at 19.4 million cwt.&emdash;the smallest since 1988. If exports reach expected levels, Patterson estimates that the carryover stocks that have been undermining prices will erode by 10.6 million cwt. during the 2001-02 marketing year. Idaho growers did their part in reducing supplies: they planted 15,000 fewer acres in 2001 than in 2000. Indeed, Idaho's 75,000 planted acres were the fewest since 1925, and the Gem State's estimated production of 1.35 million cwt. is off steeply from the five-year average of 2 million. Projected exports, at a lukewarm 8.25 million, are rebounding slowly from last year's 7.86 million but will probably still fall short of the 8.71 million five-year average, Patterson says. He expects domestic use to increase by 350,000 cwt. during 2001-02, based on steady per-capita consumption and an increasing population. "Something to keep in mind is that when commodity prices hit extremely low levels&emdash;like we've seen with dry bean prices the last two years&emdash;they don't always respond as rapidly as a positive change in the fundamentals would suggest," Patterson says. Nevertheless, he expects that higher prices will induce growers to plant more beans in 2002. Hot Hay Market Continues Tight hay supplies are getting tighter, and Idaho hay growers can expect continued price premiums this fall and winter of 20-40 percent over last year for high-quality hay and 10-25 percent for feeder-quality hay, says Neil Rimbey, UI Extension range economist. "If we have a prolonged winter, there's a potential for another 10-15 percent being tacked onto prices before spring turnout," he says. If USDA's estimate of Dec. 1 hay stocks is less than 2.2 million tons, Rimbey advises producers to "hang onto your hat, as hay prices will be increasing significantly through the rest of winter and early spring." Drought and power buyback programs clipped Idaho's 2001 alfalfa production to 4.1 million tons&emdash;600,000 fewer than in 2000&emdash;and trimmed other hay production to 480,000 tons, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Yields were down a half-ton per acre&emdash;to 3.7 tons for alfalfa and 1.6 ton for other hay. That left Idaho hay supplies at 4. 9 million tons, 12 percent less than last year. Idaho's dairy herd was up another 17,000 cows over year-ago figures by late summer, and the beef herd continues to grow slightly. Combined with earlier return of livestock from rangelands, higher cattle numbers are pressuring demand. Although the USDA Farm Service Agency has authorized emergency haying and grazing of Conservation Reserve Program lands in selected counties, Rimbey says the timing of harvest and grazing on this acreage should not compete with traditional hay markets. He anticipates private grazing lease rates of $10-15 per animal-unit-month during 2002 and says continued drought could push these rates another 10-30 percent higher. The UI's Fall 2001 Idaho Agricultural Outlook is available in its entirety, with supporting tables and graphs, on the Web site of the UI Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, http://www.ag.uidaho.edu/aers. Once on the home page, Internet users should click first on Publications, then on the Fall 2001 outlook. WA Potato Production Down 10% The first production estimate of potatoes for Washington's 2001 crop is 94.4 million cwt. Production at this level is down 10 percent from the record 2000 crop of 105.0 million cwt. Harvested acreage is estimated at 160,000 acres, a reduction of 5,000 acres from the preliminary estimate in July and down 15,000 acres from last year. Yield is forecast at 590 cwt. per acre, down 10 cwt. from last year but 30 cwt. more than the 1999 crop. Similar changes in production were estimated for Idaho and Oregon. Idaho's crop is estimated at 127.98 million cwt., 16 percent less than last year. Harvested acreage in Idaho is estimated at 368,000 acres, a decrease of 11 percent from last year and unchanged from their July estimate. Yield is forecasted at 348 cwt. per acre, down 21 cwt. from last year. Oregon's harvested acreage is estimated at 44,500 acres, a decrease of 1,500 acres from the July estimate and 12,000 acres less than the 2000 crop. Yields for Oregon are also down from last year's level of 543 cwt. per acre to 470 cwt.this year. The combined potato crop for the Pacific Northwest is 243.28 million cwt., a reduction of 15.5 percent from the 2000 crop. Reduced acreage and yield in all three states contributed to the reduction. Production of fall potatoes for 2001 at the National level is forecast at 401 million cwt., down 14 percent from last year and the smallest fall crop since 1993. Area harvested, at 1.09 million acres, is down 8 percent from last year. The average yield is forecast at 367 cwt. per acre, a drop of 25 cwt. from last year. Farm Bill Proposal Contains Competition Title Far West This Week, Far West Agribusiness Association The American Crop Protection Association reports Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) has proposed a Competition Title for his farm bill. The Competition Title, which contains a producer contracting/anti-concentration provision, is expected to be considered by the Senate Ag Committee in the near future. Chairman Harkin is now saying that he intends to wrap up Farm Bill Committee votes by the end of next week. ACPA and many other trade associations believe that existing laws already promote a fair business environment, and that imposing new restrictions on agri-business will only undermine vital practices and hurt agriculture in the long run. They are encouraging you to contact your Congressional delegation, informing them of your opposition to this legislation. NMFS Won't Appeal Coho Ruling Far West This Week, Far West Agribusiness Association The National Marine Fisheries Service will not appeal federal judge Michael Hogan's ruling that de-listed Oregon coastal coho salmon as an endangered species. Instead, NMFS has opted to use that decision as a springboard for re-evaluating as many as 23 other West Coast listings and its own artificial production strategy. The agency says the process will involve a comprehensive public review of their hatchery policies and a stepped-up effort to support local initiatives aimed at recovering salmon populations. Protections for listed salmon and steelhead "evolutionarily significant units" will remain in place during the course of the review. NMFS and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials held a telephone press conference this morning in which they announced their decision and said NMFS would work closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to review and finalize its hatchery policy regarding the inclusion of hatchery-bred salmon as part of populations listed under the ESA. That review is to be completed by September 2002. It will include an intensive effort to solicit public input both on the related science and local impacts of NMFS' decision. Heart Of The West Reprinted from WAWG's Green Sheet Information From Liberty Matters News Servke The Nature Conservancy bas embarked upon a campaign to raise money to "protect" over a half-million acres of "imperiled" habitat in Colorado. TNC is accepting cash and real estate to generate $75-million to implement conservation easements and leases, land exchanges and management agreements to make sure private property is handed over to the proper authorities. "The Heart of the West" campaign will take the message to rural communities to "educate" the locals with the aid of government agencies. TNC spokesmen say they must strike now before any more land and critical ecosystems are lost to development. "We're looking beyond county, state or even national boundaries to set our conservation goals, as Colorado's ecosystems are co-dependent with other natural environments around the world." This supports and corresponds directly with the Wildlands Project, the stated goal of which is to turn 50% of the country back into wilderness. (Farmers not welcome&emdash;ed. note.) Don't Get Burned Buying Firewood From the WSDA Before the pleasant image of family gathering around the fireplace clouds your judgement, make sure you get what you pay for when you buy firewood. Many Washington residents are defrauded by firewood sellers every year, losing an average of about $100 each, according to Jerry Buendel, manager of the Weights and Measures Program at the state Department of Agriculture. The only legal measure for firewood sold in Washington is the cord or a fraction of a cord. Sellers may not legitimately use terms such as "unit," "truckload," "face cord," "rack" or "pile." These terms have no legal definition and cannot be used as a measure for the amount of firewood being sold. Only packaged wood, such as kindling or a very small bundle of firewood, may be sold by the cubic foot or a fraction of a cubic foot. To protect yourself, insist the seller provide a receipt. Washington law requires wood sellers to provide an invoice that shows the name and address of both the seller and the buyer, and the date the wood was delivered. The invoice should also state the price, the quantity delivered and the quantity upon which the price is based. Finally, there should be a statement on the type and quality of the wood. Consumers need to take precautions to avoid being cheated. Some complaints cannot be resolved because consumers do not provide enough information. "If possible, get the seller's phone number and write down the license plate number of the delivery vehicle," Buendel said. "If a wood vendor balks at providing a receipt, it could be a hint that things aren't right" Buendel said some consumers invite trouble by leaving checks or cash outside for the wood delivery driver while the homeowners are away from their residences. Another problem is paying in advance without seeing how much wood you're receiving. Others do not venture outside in cold weather to observe the amount of wood being delivered and simply accept the word of the seller that a full cord has been delivered. A cord is 128 cubic feet. To be sure you have a cord, stack the wood neatly by placing the wood in a line or a row, with individual pieces touching and parallel to each other. Make sure the wood is compact and has as few gaps as possible. Finally, measure the stack. If the width times the height times the length equals 128 cubic feet, you have a cord of firewood. If there is a problem, contact the seller before you burn any wood. "The wood should be stacked with the pieces parallel to each other," said Buendel. "While wood stacked in a crisscross or log cabin fashion is secure and will stand freely, it does not meet the legal definition. Most likely the stack will contain less wood than one that is stacked by the legal parallel method." "You can estimate a cord by visualizing a four-foot by eight-foot space filled with wood to a height of four feet," said Buendel. "Most one ton long-bed pickup trucks have beds that are close to the four-foot by 8-foot dimension." The Weights and Measures Program is one of the agency's consumer protection activities. It deals with products that are packaged and sold by weight, measure or count. Inspectors test commercial weighing and measuring devices such as gas pumps, grocery store scales and price scanners to ensure consumers get what they are paying for. For information, call the state Department of Agriculture at (360) 902-1857. Christmas Humor What do reindeer say before telling you a joke ? This one will sleigh you ! Why is a reindeer like a gossip ? Because they are both tail bearers ! Why do reindeer wear fur coats ? Because they would look silly in plastic macs ! How do you make a slow reindeer fast ? Don't feed it ! Why did the reindeer wear black boots ? Because his brown ones were all muddy ! How long should a reindeer's legs be ? Just long enough to reach the ground ! Which reindeer have the shortest legs ? The smallest ones ! Where do you find reindeer ? It depends on where you leave them ! What do reindeer have that no other animals have ? Baby reindeer !

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