Farmers, ranchers urged to get into politics

ST. GEORGE — Utah's farmers, ranchers and others who depend on the state's agricultural heritage must either "get into politics or get out of business," a Utah Farm Bureau official said during a review of the group's top issues at a midyear conference held in St. George this week.

"Agriculture impacts every business," said Todd Bingham, vice president of the statewide group that met to discuss politics, water rights, legal issues and other items of interest. "Silence gives consent, and we must bring up the issues that mean the most to us. In the last couple of years, agriculture lost five active agricultural producers in the state Legislature. That caught us off guard a little bit."

Bingham hosted a panel discussion on the future of agriculture and politics with Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab, and Sen. Dennis Stowell, R-Parowan, during the meeting. Both politicians agreed that the state's agricultural industry must be its own cheerleader if it wants to be heard on the Hill.

"I think agriculture needs to sell itself. We have a good cause," said Stowell, a sheep rancher who served two decades as an Iron County commissioner and mayor of Parowan before his election as a state senator in 2006. "People in the Legislature are really supportive of agricultural issues, but we have to speak up."

Noel, who has a cattle ranch near Kanab and serves as executive director of the Kane County Water Conservancy District, said legislators with an agricultural background are vital if the state's rural areas are to be represented fairly.

"We do have an active cowboy caucus and have formed some strategic alliances," said Noel. "But when we lose the agricultural-based people in the Legislature, we lose a voice. There is still a great feeling and love in the state of Utah for people who farm, it's still there, but we need to build on that."

One politically sensitive topic that chafed Noel, Stowell and several ranchers in the audience was the issue of global warming and climate change. Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s decision to sign the Western Climate Initiative that calls for Western states to set limits on greenhouse-gas emissions was bashed by several at the meeting.

"I believe this is a critical issue for us. I have no idea why the governor went down that road on renewable energy," said Noel. "It will increase the cost of power. It could be devastating to the state. This is poor policy."

One rancher in the audience asked Noel if legislators would vote for a resolution that states they are firmly against the governor's position on global warming and climate change.

"I have gotten more phone calls on this issue than on any other," Noel said. "They're worried about the impact on the consumer. It's the wrong direction to go."

He added that he thought such a non-binding resolution might find favor with Republicans, although he did not believe Democrats would sign on.

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