UDAF Employees Show Backman Elementary Students the Many Uses of Water During National Agriculture Day Celebration It helps seeds grow. Fish and shrimp live in it, and if we don't protect it, we could eventually run out of it. We're talking about Utah's water supply. Water was the theme of a series of demonstrations presented by Utah Department of Agriculture and Food employees to nearly 60 Backman Elementary School fourth grade students on Tuesday, March 22, 2005, as part of National Agriculture Day celebration. The fourth graders are part of a teaching project headed by the Division of Conservation and Resource Management's Information Officer, Jack Wilbur. Wilbur and department volunteers W.D. Robinson and Larry Lewis are presenting 12 lessons on water and watersheds to the students. The AG. Day demonstration helped the students see the direct and indirect connection between water and their world. Fish Health Specialist Mark Martin teaches students the fine points of fish anatomy by dissecting a real trout. Students thought it was both the grossest AND most interesting demonstration presented. UDAF employees presented five displays showing students how water is an important part of their lives, and how the Department helps protect our water supply. Utah has 21 commercial fish growers who sold 175,000 fish that were 12'' in length or longer in 2003. Many of the fish are sold to restaurants and end up as "the catch of the day". Bill Rigby, the Department's Metrologist, shows Backman students how much a one-gallon jug of water weights. Any guesses? The answer is located at the end of this article on AG. Day 2005. Bill shows how the Department uses scales and other measuring devices to make sure consumers get what they pay for at the story. Here, each student was able to add small amounts of weight to this balance scale until they found the water's exact weight. The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food and a local non-profit organization, the Utah Federation for Youth, are piloting a new 4th grade watershed education curriculum as part of UDAF's ongoing partnership with Backman Elementary School, three blocks north of the Department's main building. The set of 12 interactive lesson plans covers most of the five core elements of the required 4th grade science curriculum for Utah public schools. The curriculum, customized for Salt Lake City Public Utilities, watershed section, focuses on the Jordan River Watershed. The lessons can easily be customized for other parts of the state. Students learn about the water cycle, plants, animals, soils, water pollution sources, and diverse water users. Water users in the Provo-Jordan River watershed includes agriculture, wildlife, communities, power generation, mining, and various industries. UDAF employees Larry Lewis, W.D. Robinson and Jack Wilbur have been teaching the watershed activities to the two 4th grade classes an average of one day a week since January. They will continue through the end of April. Utah Federation for Youth intern, Tara McPolin, and Shelly Quick, Utah Division of Water Quality, have also been participating in the project. Answer to water weight question: A gallon of water generally weighs 8 lbs. 5.44 oz.

Clair Allen Named Plant Industry Director

Utah Commissioner of Agriculture and Food, Leonard Blackham, named Clair A. Allen the department's new director of Plant Industry. Clair had been a program manager within the division for the past 12 years. He accepts the new position following the retirement of Dick Wilson, who has been the division director since 1990.

"Clair is the right person to carry on the excellent work that is being done by Plant Industry," said Commissioner Blackham. "Clair brings with him the background and expertise to move the division forward."

	Clair Allen accepts congratulations from UDAF Commissioner Leonard Blackham after being appointed Director of Plant Industry. Allen has been a division program manager since joining the division 12 years ago.

I am honored to have been selected for this position," said Clair. "I am anxious to serve the public and keep the department attuned to important national issues," he added. Clair said he plans to tap the experience of his managers to help review ongoing programs and respond to future challenges.

Clair has supervised several programs for the department prior to his selection including; fertilizer, fresh fruit and vegetable, pesticide registration, State nursery, USDA Recordkeeping and the pesticide disposal.

Clair has been with the department for 12 years, coming from production agriculture, where he and his wife and family owned and operated a small dairy in Cache Valley. Prior to coming to the UDAF, Clair worked in the pesticide and groundwater program for the Nevada Department of Agriculture.

Clair and Judy have nine children and 23 grandchildren and live in Sandy Utah. Clair is a native of Tremonton and was born and raised on the family farm that his parents homesteaded back in 1928.

Dedicated UDAF Employee Dick Wilson Retires After
40 Years of Service

The year was 1965. Lyndon Johnson was president. "The Sound of Music" won best picture. The price of a first class stamp was five cents, and G. Richard "Dick" Wilson began a career with the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food that would span 40 years.

"I have enjoyed the work very much, and am surprised at how fast the time passed," said Dick today on his last day on the job as director of the Division of Plant Industry.

In 1965 the state's agricultural output was about $200 million, less than one-fifth of the $1.2 billion it generated in 2004. Onions sold for $2.80 per 100 pound sack in 1965, in 2004 they sold for about $10.00 per sack.

Things change over the years.

Business technology of the 1960's was much different than it is now, he remembers. "We kept track of everything with manual typewriters then. We were really impressed when they introduced those IBM Selectric typewriters with the ball where you could change font types. Then the computer age hit with WANG computers that were simple word processors…and only a few people had them. Now everyone has the latest and fastest computers that perform many functions."

Dick served as the supervisor of the Seed Lab and Inspection Program from 1965 to 1978 when he became the manager of the Grain, Seed and Feed Program. He held that position until becoming the division director in 1990.

"I think I will miss the people the most," he added. "Both the employees and our customers have been remarkable. The people from the farms and ranches of rural Utah have something special about them that I am going to miss."

During the past 40 years Dick has held leadership positions of various agricultural related boards and associations such as: Chairman of the State Weed Committee; Board of Directors for the Utah Crop Improvement Association; Chairman of the Gypsy Moth and Cricket and Grasshopper Decision and Action Committees; and the Western and American Associations of Seed Control Officials.

How did Dick manage to stay with one employer for 40 years? The simple answer is that he enjoyed the work. "My recipe for happiness in the workplace is to position yourself so you enjoy your work. Find work that is pleasing and rewarding."

Dick was paid a visit during his office retirement party by Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. who wanted to personally think him for his years of dedicated service. The Governor presented Dick with a letter that read, in part, "As you reminisce on your years of dedication, may you feel a sense of satisfaction for a job well done. It is with my warmest regards and most sincere wishes for happiness and success throughout the years to come."

Governor Huntsman congratulates retiring UDAF Plant Industry Director, Dick Wilson, during a party honoring Dick's 40 years of service with the State of Utah. The governor presented Dick with a personal letter of thanks.

Commissioner Blackham also congratulated Dick. "We are going to miss Dick Wilson and what he has added to the department," said the Commissioner. "He has been a very organized, extremely responsible and professional leader throughout his career. I wish him a very enjoyable retirement," he added.

How will I spend my time now? He asks. "I have a few gardening projects to complete around the house. I like to be out of doors working with plants. I think I will also work on a family history project and organize a family reunion." Dick will also have more time to spend with his wife Jocile and their seven adult children.
Eventually I would like to offer my experience to help with some form of humanitarian assistance. I would like to serve a mission for the LDS Church, rendering assistance anywhere I can in the world. "

See pictures of Governor Huntsman's March 10 visit at: www.utah.gov

Utah Farmers in Three Counties Eligible for Relief Following Arizona Disaster Declaration

On February 17, 2005, President Bush declared a major disaster for six counties in Arizona. Eligible family farmers may qualify for a Farm Service Agency (FSA) Emergency (EM) loan due to damages and loss caused by severe storms and flooding that occurred December 28, 2004 - January 12, 2005.

In addition, Kane, San Juan, and Washington counties in Utah; and Clark County in Nevada, were named as contiguous counties where eligible family farmers may qualify for EM loan assistance, pursuant to Section 321(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act.

Emergency loan applications will be received through October 17, 2005, for physical and production losses, and applications pending on that date may be processed and completed. This designation is coded M1581.

For the purpose of establishing security values as set forth in Handbook 3-FLP, the following date is provided:
Beginning date of the incidence period: December 28, 2004.

 

2005 Mormon Cricket and Grasshopper Season Underway- Landowners Offered Pest Control Assistance 50/50 cost-share again offered to landowners They're Heeeere. Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) field inspectors report the first hatchings of some of the countless number of Mormon crickets that are expected to infest 2.8 million acres of Utah range and farmland this year. The 2.8 million acres is the third year in a row that the cricket infestation exceeds the two million acre mark. The 2005 Spring grasshopper infestation is estimated at nearly 770,000 acres, down from the recent record high acreage of 1.4 million recorded in 2001. Assistance Offered The UDAF is again offering to assist agricultural landowners in protecting their crops. Under the department's cost-share program, landowners can be reimbursed for half of the costs of purchasing and applying protective bait and pesticides on or near their property. To signup for the program contact the Division of Plant Industry, at (801) 538-7123.   Mormon Cricket Infestation by County Grasshopper Infestation by County Tooele 691,000   Duchesne 230,000 Juab 680,000   Sanpete 119,000 Millard 548,000   Uintah 101,000 Box Elder 277,000   Rich 69,000 Beaver 258,000   Summit 34,000 Sevier 177,000   Iron 27,000 Utah 124,000   Cache 26,000 Iron 71,000   Morgan 26,000 Duchesne 21,000   Wasatch 25,000 Cache 8,000   Sevier 23,000 Washington 5,000   Utah 16,000 San Juan 4,000   Garfield 14,000 Summit 3,000   Kane 14,000 Garfield 2,000   Juab 8,000 Sanpete 300   Daggett 8,000 Box Elder 7,000 Piute 6,000 Beaver 4,000 Millard 4,000 Tooele 3,000 Washington 3,000 Carbon 3,000 Emery 2,000