What's News In Arizona's $9.2 Billion Agriculture Industry

2008 4th Quarter Food Prices Slightly Down

Retail food prices at the supermarket decreased in the fourth quarter of 2008, according to the latest Arizona Farm Bureau Federation Marketbasket Survey. The informal survey shows the total cost of 16 basic grocery items was $54.75, down 4.7 percent or $2.71 from the third quarter of 2008. Comparatively, the American Farm Bureau Federation’s national survey was $48.19, down about 1 percent or 49 cents during the quarter. Full Report

Down In Price in the 4th Quarter of 2008:

  • Apples 
  • Ground Chuck
  • Sirloin tip roast
  • Pork Chops
  • Bacon
  • Chicken
  • Milk
  • Cheddar cheese
  • Eggs
  • Mayonnaise
  • Toasted Oat Ceral
  • Bread and flour remained the same

AZFB Gives Advice on Stretching Your Food Dollar

Arizona Farm Bureau 87th Annual Meeting Highlights

Arizona Farm Bureau hosted its 87th Annual Meeting November 5th through 7th in Carefree, Arizona. Some highlights follow.

Farm Animal Appreciation Day a Big Hit!

Nearly 200 commuters on 83rd Avenue and Broadway stopped by Dutchview Dairy for a free breakfast on Farm Animal Appreciation Day.

The day was highlighted by dairy tours by David Van Hofwegen, owner of Dutchview Dairy, and his family. TV 5 and TV 10 covered the event. (Nearby picture is TV 10's Cory McCloskey with Dutchview Dairy owner David Van Hofwegen.)

The Aggiehood of the Traveling Banner

Arizona Farm Bureau recently launched a banner advertising campaign called “The AggieHoot of the Traveling Banner. And, our first Banner is Up! Michael Brooks is hosting the first banner Arizona Farm Bureau is looking for farmers and ranchers ready and willing to promote Arizona agriculture by placing a large colorful “Fill Your Plate” banner on a cotton trailer, stock trailer or silo.
 
Here is how it works:
·         AZFB provides the 9’x 15’ full color banner and ties.
·         AZFB field staff delivers and picks up the banner.
·         Farm Bureau Ag members volunteer to display the banner. This needs to be a high traffic area and located were the banner is highly visible.
·         Farm Bureau members will place the banner on a cotton trailer, stock trailer or silo for four (4) weeks.
 
Marketing gurus advise organizations build a branding effort that combines billboards and direct mail. Your participation in this effort will help Arizonans become advocates for Arizona agriculture
 
To help promote Arizona Agriculture from your farm or ranch, contact Peggy Jo Goodfellow at 480.635.3609 or Julie Murphree at 480.635.3607. You can also email Peggy Jo at peggyjogoodfellow@azfb.org or Julie at juliemurphree@azfb.org.
 

TV 12 Promotes AZFB's Ag in the Classroom Program

The Arizona Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom program visited TV 12 studios to talk about the program and the Oh Yuck Education Fair (held August 30th at Changing Hands Bookstore). For more information about the statewide program, contact Katie Schmidbauer-Aikins at 480.635.3608 or email her at katieaikins@azfb.org.

Get ready for an exciting school year with AZFB's Ag in the Classroom

TV 12 Interview

Employers: E-Verify Compliance, The New I-9 Form, and More!

As of January 1, 2008, you must comply with the new employer sanctions law.  You do not need to sign up for E-Verify (identified in the law for new hires) until you consider hiring new employees. If you are now hiring do a careful review of all links below. Remember, it is against federal law to use E-Verify on existing employees. Additionally, you cannot use E-Verify to pre-check the legal status of a new hire. You only use E-Verify once you have hired the new employee.

If you sign up for E-Verify (Basic Pilot) you must do so online here. You will be required to take an online tutorial - it can take up to two hours. You will be required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding. You must comply with all of the requirements of the I-9 process and complete an I-9 for each new hire.

Arizona Agriculture Video Tells Our Story

Arizona Farm Bureau recently updated its video "Today in Arizona Agriculture." If you are wanting an informative and colorful way to tell the Arizona agriculture story send viewers here.

Labor Issues: When ICE or Other Government Agencies Come Knocking ...

Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll LLC, provides careful instructions on your rights as an employer and procedures to follow when a government agency visits or calls regarding Social Security MisMatches, including how you should respond if non-governmental third parties contact you seeking information. The law firm encourages you to carefully follow certain steps in order to protect your company and your employees. The three memos below spell out procedures and processes.

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