Governor Re-Appoints Joe Anderson to Idaho Wheat Commission

Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter reappointed Joe Anderson of Potlatch, to the Idaho Wheat Commission.  Joe will continue to represent the wheat producers of district one, which includes Boundary, Bonner, Kootenai, Benewah, Latah, and Shoshone counties. 
 
Anderson, has been operating the family farm since 1967. He and his son Cody grow wheat, barley, lentils, canola and blue grass seed on over 3400 acres near Potlatch.

Anderson holds a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture and a Master of Accounting from the University of Idaho.  Joe and his wife Pam have been married for 49 years and have three children and five grandchildren.

Commissioner Anderson is involved in a number of leadership positions including the Dean’s Advisory board (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences), the National Wheat Foundation board, the National Association of Wheat Growers and liaison to the Idaho Grain Producers Association (IGPA). 

Improving Idaho’s wheat research opportunities and infrastructure is vital to Anderson, “We’ve seen cutbacks in State funding for agricultural research in Idaho due to the economic slowdown.   It’s a high priority for all of us at the Idaho Wheat Commission to get back on track,” said Anderson.  “An aggressive business plan has recently been implemented to restore programs and infrastructure that will help Idaho wheat growers be more competitive.”  The elements of this plan are:

• Establishment of endowments to attract and retain valued scientists.
• Restoration of research and education infrastructure.
• Encouraging and supporting appropriate public-private partnerships.
Creating opportunities for work study for undergraduate students in programs that benefit wheat growers.
• Working with IGPA at the Federal, State and local levels to restore public investment in agricultural research and education programs.

The new wheat research endowments have already been established to fund a wheat breeder and wheat agronomist professorship, each located at the university’s Aberdeen Research and Extension Center.  The public-private partnership with Limagrain Cereal Seeds is also underway, as well as several others that are currently in the works.  In addition to encouraging appropriate public-private partnerships the IWC is working, along with other commodity commissions, to encourage and support collaborative efforts with both public and private research universities for the benefit of Idaho wheat growers.

“Our next priority is working with CALS and other key Idaho wheat researchers to rebuild infrastructure through investments in equipment and facilities,” said Anderson.  “It’s imperative that we not only have cutting edge technology, but we have to attract the best and brightest future scientists to Idaho.  This is why we’re developing a work-study program for undergraduates focusing on plant sciences.”

Putting public and private funding to work on behalf of Idaho’s wheat farmers will help ensure the next generation who want to continue in agriculture is able to do so.  These initiatives are the first steps needed to keep the wheat industry healthy.