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Show CJUnctsY PANGUITCH • PANGUITCH LAKE • HATCH • BRYCE • TROPIC • ANTIMONY • HENRIEVILLE • CANNONVILLE • ESCALANTE • BOULDER Thursday, April 29, 2010 • Issue # 266 EVERY DAY IS EARTH DAY FOR UTAH'S FARMERS 6 RANCHERS ELECTRONIC FIELD TRIP National Park Foundation brings students across the country into Bryce Canyon National Park through Electronic Field Trip. By Leland Hogan – President, Utah Farm Bureau Federation As we celebrate Earth Day, let's not forget all of the contributions farmers and ranchers make to protect our environment. From planting hundreds of thousands of trees on their farmland to providing habitat for wildlife and increasing wetlands, farmers and ranchers across the nation and here in Utah practice conservation efforts every day of the year. Farmers have always been the primary caretakers of the land. In fact, I would make the argument that farmers and ranchers are the world's first environmentalists. Greener Pastures Protecting the land, water and air is a top priority for farmers and ranchers. It always has been. Unlike other jobs, farming is also a way of life usually passed down from one generation to the next. It only makes sense that farmers would try to take the best possible care of their land. As the old proverb goes: We did not inherit this earth, we are only borrowing it from our children. Farmers not only do a great deal to protect their land, they strive to make it better. Aside from planting trees, protecting wetlands and providing wildlife protection, farmers prevent soil erosion through conservation tillage and improve environmental quality by The National Park Founinstalling conservation buffers on their farmland. Funding provided by the farm bill em- dation is inviting schools powers farmers to take part in additional conservation programs to preserve and restore across the country to exwetlands, clean the air and water and enhance wildlife habitat. plore the unique geology of In Utah, many farmers and ranchers have participated in a salinity project with the US- Utah's Bryce Canyon NaDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to reduce salinity concentrations tional Park in an Electronic in the Colorado River. The project in Ferron, Emery County, has resulted in a reduction Field Trip (EFT) on Tuesof 48,000 tons of salt from entering the Colorado River by switching from flood irrigation day, May 18th, 2010. The to a pressurized irrigation system. program, which includes Habitat for Livestock & Wildlife interactive lesson plans and Farmers are at the forefront of producing clean, renewable fuels that provide for a games leading up to the healthier environment and a wide array of green jobs. Through biotechnology, farmers EFT, is free for participatare also able to reduce the use of pesticides and are working toward a future where they ing schools and is targeted can produce more food on less land with even fewer impacts on soil and water resources. to elementary and middle Farmers and ranchers in Utah have also led efforts to improve their rangelands and school youth. pastures in order to benefit livestock as well as wildlife. In recent years, the Sand County "The Electronic Field Foundation (one of the country's leading conservation groups) teamed up with the Utah Trip to Bryce Canyon is Farm Bureau, Utah Cattlemen's Association, and Western AgCredit to recognize farmers turning one of America's and ranchers who make superior contributions to conservation and environmental stew- most stunning national ardship. An example of such efforts was found in last year's Leopold Conservation Award winner, Butch & Jeanie Gibson who operate the Tavaputs Ranch in Carbon County. Their use of rotational grazing has helped promote greater vegetation on their ranch. It also provides for a significant sage-grouse population as well as other wildlife. Jensen's CONSTRUCTOON CO. efforts are characteristic of many others involved in Utah agriculture. Ken and Ren are now giving bids on: Unfortunately, the many environmental contributions - New Construction - Remodeling - All Types of Roofing - Concrete made by farmers don't get recognized too often in the news - Doors and Windows - Insurance Work or elsewhere. Critics are all too quick to point their fingers - Plumbing & Electrical - Backhoe Work at farmers for environmental problems. Often, there's no OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE scientific data or research to support these claims. But, America's farmers and ranchers recognize that they Let Ken and Ren help you with all your are the primary caretakers of the land. They are the world's construction and home improvement needs first environmentalists. It's a huge weight to carry, but one that is taken on with honor and pride. I W I ' ° E3ggC) Farmers and ranchers don't celebrate Earth Day once a year. They live it every day. It's because of their many environmental contributions that we all can enjoy greener pastures. Happy Earth Day. Garkane Energy Cus- Due to tomers in Western Garfield the rugCounty and Cedar Moun- ged and tain experienced a power inaccesoutage Wednesday after- sible terTHURSDAY noon, April 21, 2010 due to rain of HIGH: 43 a rock slide. the area, LOW: 25 SCATTERED T-STORMS Power was off to the a helicoparea for approximately four ter will be FRIDAY hours from 3:00 pm to 7:00 brought HIGH: 37 pm. The outage occurred in to set LOW: 27 due to a large boulder, the pole. RAIN/SNOW SHOWERS which fell off the rim of a peak in Red Canyon. The "It is GarSATURDAY boulder was the size of a kane's HIGH: 42 pick-up truck and took out goal to LOW: 28 RAIN/SNIM SI WM/FRS one of the poles from a two- provide pole structure. reliable SUNDAY A temporary fix was put power to HIGH: 54 in place to re-energize the all our LOW: 32 SCATTERED T-STORMS line. However, a scheduled customers. We are in the outage to correct the prob- business of providing low MONDAY 44, 1" lem will be made Thursday, cost, reliable power. We HIGH: 60 : April 29, 2010 at 12:00 take this responsibility very LOW: 35 FEW SHOWERS Noon. Power will be off seriously. Unfortunately, to Western Garfield County unforeseen circumstances, TUESDAY and Cedar Mountain un- such as this make it difficult til approximately 2:00 pm. to guarantee uninterrupted HIGH: 63 parks into one of America's most interesting and exciting classrooms," said Neil Mulholland, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation. "At a time when school budgets nationwide have been cut to bare bones, the National Park Foundation is proud to partner with the parks to connect students around the country to their parks – this is a tremendous free resource for both students and educators." EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage. Free Registration and participation are an important value to schools and teachers as education budgets continue to shrink. For instance, in Utah, where Bryce Canyon National Park is located, the state education budget was cut by $9 million for next year, and no additional money was allocated for an additional 11,000 new students entering the school system. The Bryce Canyon Electronic Field Trip will focus on the unique elements of the park—its geological and paleontological resources—which have been shaped and etched by millions of years of water, temperature extremes and plenty of additional natural dynamics. The program will consist of an hour-long live broadcast from Bryce Canyon and will offer participating students a chance to ask questions of park rangers and other experts, including the age-old question, "what's a hoodoo?" An online curriculum including interactive games and lesson plans for teachers is available now to help students prepare for the event. The materials are available at www.brycecanyoneft.org. To date, schools in 46 states and Japan, Canada, Germany, Cuba, Italy, and Switzerland have already signed up to participate in the program. Educators wishing to sign up to participate can visit www.brycecanyoneft.org ROCK SLIDE CAUSES POWER OUTAGE TO WESTERN GARFIELD COUNTY 8 CEDAR MOUNTAIN WEATHER - LOW: 34 SHOWERS WEDNESDAY HIGH: 64 LOW: 36 SUNNY * * *** Member of: lor Utah Press . IFPA. * *: OF AMERICA AfCp Best wide-angle lens? Two steps backward. Look for the `ah-ha'. Ernst Haas THE GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER is owned and operated by Snapshot Multimedia and is distributed weekly to all of Garfield County. Its purpose is to inform residents about local issues and events. Articles submitted from independent writers are not necessarily the opinion of Snapshot Multimedia. We sincerely hope you enjoy the paper and encourage input on ideas and/or suggestions for the paper. Thank you for your support. power. We appreciate your patience and support and we will do everything we can to keep power flowing." Stated Rob Wolfley, Garkane's Garfield Area Manager. Garkane reminds its cus- Multimedia tomers to plan ahead for weather-related power outages. Choose an easily accessible closet or cupboard for an emergency supply of flashlights, batteries, blankets, and other needed items. Phone: 435-676-2621 Fax 1-888-370-8546 PO BOX 472, Loa, Utah 84747 snapshot@scinternet.net ALL content for THE GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER must be submitted on FRIDAY BEFORE 5:00 PM to be included in the following Thursday edition of the paper. BOXHOLDER PRE-SORT STANDARD PAID LOA, UTAH PERMIT No. 5 J |
