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WL FEATURE Do political action committees work While political action committees are as pungent sounding as lemon juice, they do work. The passing of last fall’s Initiative 1183 by almost 60 percent is simple proof. The measure called for closing state liquor stores and allowing state licensing of private parties. The initiative called for a 17 percent fee from retailers on all liquor sales, as well as other fees from distributors. The state office estimated that the 2011 initiative could generate an extra $42 million a year for the state and $38 million for local government over the span of six years. According to proponents, the proposed measure would generate $200 million more than the current system for both state and local governments in the measure’s first two years of enactment. Supporters included Costco Wholesale Corp., the Northwest Grocery Association, Washington Restaurant Association, Washington Retail Association and Attorney General Rob McKenna. The opposition argued that the vague wording in the initiative would lead to minimarts having the ability to sell hard alcohol. They argued that it would lead to more alcohol availability and the ruin of small liquor store businesses. Opposition included the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America, Rosauers, the Washington Food Industry Association and Governor Christine Gregoire. By the end of the campaign, voters heard a smattering of television ads with local public safety officers on both sides of the argument. Both sides were disputing the others’ “facts,” and voters were ultimately confused on who Top Political Action Committees in Washington (monies raised as of December 2011) Washington Education Association ..........................$1.1 million Washington Beer & Wine Distributors Association ..............$846,700 Realtors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$683,400 Washington State Dental ......................................$383,200 Service Employees International Union Local 925 ..............$291,400 Stand for Children Washington ................................$263,500 Help Us Help Taxpayers .......................................$250,200 Farmers Employees and Agents ...............................$236,200 Washington Teamsters ........................................$234,500 Washington Restaurant Association ...........................$219,200 The race for governor: Who’s got more money (as of December 2011) Rob McKenna (R) .............................................$3 million Jay Inslee (D) ...............................................$2.5 million was telling the truth. In the end, the overwhelming passage may have had more to do with the amount of money behind each campaign and whose message was heard more often. Supporters of I-1183 raised more than $22 million and the opposition raised about $12 million. “Flex Frame” = Smoother Ride and Durability “ ruggedly simple, dependable and profitable “The Apache is in a class of its own. I’ve never ridden in a sprayer that’s got a better ride than the Apache.” Jarod Barker, Barker Farms, Puryear, Tenn. Flex Frame consists of C-channel flex frame rails and a pivoting front axle Pivoting front axle and oscillating joint keep all wheels on the ground at all times. The flex frame means: Lower wear and tear on machine and operator Reduced stress on accumulators and shocks Less maintenance, less downtime Increased durability for a longer life Smoother ride Colfax, Washington (509) 397-4371 TOLL FREE TOLL FREE in WA, in ID WA, & OR ID & 1-800-831-0896 OR Service: Greg Mayer Parts: Casey Jones 1-800-831-0896 Visit us online: www.jtii.com Terry Largent 509-336-1344 • Dan Helbling 509-336-1346 Service: Bob Kerns Greg 509-336-1342 Mayer Parts: Casey Jones Visit us online: www.jtii.com Terry Largent 509-336-1344 Dan Helbling 509-336-1346 Bob Kerns 509-336-1342 Learn Learn more about the 2012 Apache Sprayers at at www.ETsprayers.com Learn more about the 2012 Apache Sprayers at www.ETsprayers.com 26 WHEAT LIFE JANUARY 2012
WL FEATURE Global Demand, Local Impact What CAuSES FERTILIzer PRICE VOLATILITy AND WHAT TO exPECT THIS yEAR By Kara Rowe It’s not news that 2012 fertilizer prices will not only be volatile, they’ll most likely be higher than last year. Put simply, because commodity prices have remained relatively good, farmers throughout the nation have not cut their production or their demand for inputs. Demand for fertilizer is high, so prices remain high. 2011 was higher than 2010, and experts don’t expect that to change for 2012. In 2011, ammonia prices increased 24 percent, urea was up 40 percent, liquid nitrogen rose 32 percent, phosphorus was up 18 percent and potash leaped 38 percent according to Ag Economist Barry Ward of Ohio State University. Ward told Farm and Dairy that he expects a slight to moderate increase this winter and spring in the price of fertilizer if demand continues at the same rate. Fertilizer manufacturer The Mosaic Company agreed Cranes unloading a ship of urea. that the demand for fertilizer, particularly potash, reflects an effort among the world’s farmers to increase yields as crop prices remain relatively high. Their 2012/13 crop year estimations indicate that global wheat acreage could rise 4 percent from last year. Farmers throughout the world need some type of nutrient base to increase productivity. While we tend to think locally, in actuality, a farmer in Prescott, Wash., is not only competing with his neighbor for the best fertilizer prices, but also with a farmer in Punjab, India. This demand is profiting well for the manufacturers. Mosaic received an average of $446/metric ton of potash in its first 2012 fiscal quarter, up from $331 in the same period a year ago. The company estimated potash prices for the second quarter at $440-$465/metric ton. For its phosphate products, Mosaic received $576/metric ton in the first quarter, compared with $431 in the same period a year ago. Phosphate prices for the second quarter were predicted to be at $600-$625/metric ton. Bill Bienapfl of WestLink Ag Cooperative Corporation agreed that the future prices of fertilizer go well beyond the local co-ops and fertilizer shops. “I look at what’s going on globally. Are there major fertilizer suppliers down Are major countries, such as India, taking what they normally buy or are they holding back And what are the reasons You have to look at all that,” he said. WestLink is a nonprofit corporation which helps source fertilizer and chemicals for their 31 members, including Ag Enterprise of Eastern Washington. “As a group, we can compete with the bigger outfits, like CPS, Wilbur-Ellis, McGregor.” Bienapfl graduated from Boise State and has been in the chemical industry since the 1960s. He’s seen input markets rise and fall over the years, but he said one thing remains 28 WHEAT LIFE JANUARY 2012
Page 1 and 2: W L HEAT IFE The official publicati
Page 3 and 4: WAWG President’s Perspective 2 WA
Page 5 and 6: Why in-pLace BeTTer coVeraGe. incre
Page 7 and 8: TIME FOR A LITTLE PAYBACK This just
Page 9 and 10: DC agenda set Washington’s wheat
Page 11 and 12: CUTTNG CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY YOU
Page 13 and 14: Quality Fuels & Lubricants Prompt,
Page 15 and 16: Transition Planning - Asset Protect
Page 17 and 18: Industry, work, character, honesty,
Page 19 and 20: POLICY MATTERS WL Jetties at top of
Page 21 and 22: The Washington, D.C., hand FEATURE
Page 23 and 24: MACHINING • FABRICATION • REPAI
Page 25: 2011/12 Senate Committees Senate Ag
Page 29 and 30: WL FEATURE Where does our fertilize
Page 31 and 32: At the Wheat Marketing Center in Po
Page 33 and 34: PROFILES WL “I decided that in li
Page 35 and 36: PROFILES WL as part of a living tru
Page 37 and 38: and were driven to get the job done
Page 39 and 40: WASHINGTON GRAIN COMMISSION Apply h
Page 41 and 42: WASHINGTON GRAIN COMMISSION WL WGC
Page 43 and 44: WL WGC REPORTS EPORTS RWASHINGTON G
Page 45 and 46: WL WGC REPORTS WASHINGTON GRAIN COM
Page 47 and 48: WL WGC REPORTS $MARTPHONES FARMERS
Page 51 and 52: WL WGC REPORTS Belt tightening at F
Page 53 and 54: WL WGC REPORTS Table 1. Worksheet f
Page 57 and 58: WIDE WORLD OF WHEAT Photo by ANDREW
Page 59 and 60: WL FEATURE Getting the word out A c
Page 61 and 62: WL FEATURE Mitchell & Lewis Co. Dur
Page 63 and 64: WL FEATURE Raising the roof on an o
Page 65 and 66: WL FEATURE project. The use of the
Page 67 and 68: Your wheat life... Two-year-old Jac
Page 69: CIH-PF-02 Advertiser Index A & L Su

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