03/26/07 Dairymen meetings

The Idaho Dairymen's Association plans a full week of meetings to bring producers up to date on several important issues. It all starts tonight in Kuna at the Creekside Steakhouse. Dairymen's executive director Bob Nearebout says other sessions will follow tomorrow and through the rest of the week. NEAREBOUT "On Tuesday in Jerome at the Sawtooth Inn and the other one is in Burley at the Best Western. Wednesday we move into eastern Idaho and then Friday we're coming back to the Treasure Valley and we're going to be at Nichols Restaurant in Fruitland." State vet Doctor Greg Ledbetter will talk about efforts to reinstate Idaho as a brucellosis free state. NEAREBOUT "Marv Patten the Dairy Division Director will be talking about phosphorus. We'll also be addressing legislative issues that passed this year and we'll be spending quite a bit of time on the Idaho Center for Livestock and Environmental Studies that's going to be going up in the Magic Valley." Producers will also get an update on the water mitigation plan negotiated with surface and spring ground users that will cover the livestock issues. Nearebout says they plan to hold similar meetings this fall in advance of the annual meeting so that producers are up to date on issues that will affect them. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott