MINUTES OF THE UTAH GLCI STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
UTAH FARM BUREAU FEDERATION BOARD ROOM
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
JANUARY 15, 1999

Howard Johnson (UACD, rancher), Chair
Roger Banner (USU Ext.), Secretary/Treasurer

1. Call to Order - Chairman Howard Johnson called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone. Howard asked everyone to introduce themselves.
   
   
2. Minutes - The minutes of the November 23, 1998 meeting were read and approved as corrected.
   
   
3. Budget - Roger reviewed the budget proposed by the Budget & Finance Committee and reported in our first quarterly report to NRCS on use of funds. Jake Jacobson made a motion to approve the budget as proposed and Tim Munns seconded. The motion passed.
   
   
4. GLCI Demonstration Projects - Jack Soper presented information on potential GLCI-sponsored demonstration projects in Kane and Garfield Counties. He identified six possibilities at present and answered questions. Tim Munns discussed the need for a demonstration and education project on Broom Snakeweed control and impact on forage production. Blake Walbeck also pointed out the issue of salt cedar invasion and known control technology. The group agreed that demonstrations we fund for implementation should address grazing and grazing land issues and demonstrate knowledge already gained from research. Also, GLCI demonstrations should partner with producers and utilize US Extension resources (people, equipment, expertise, research-based knowledge, etc.).
   
   
5. Kim Chapman discussed reorganization in US Extension associated with merging Coop Extension and Continuing Education. He also described his appointment as Extension animal scientist in Richfield and US Extension sheep specialist for the state. He also described his responsibility related to livestock production economics and as co-chair of the Utah WIRE Team.
   
   
6. Roger discussed the need to select the demonstrations we are going to fund as soon as possible so that we get the projects planned or on the ground this year. Tim moved that the Budget & Finance Committee perform the function of announcing the program, determining the criteria for projects, determining the format for project requests, and selecting projects. Jake seconded the motion and it passed. Bonnie Young mentioned that it might be possible to do a simple survey of producers to help determine their needs.
   
   
7. Outreach - Jake Jacobson passed out a report on committee discussions, tour options, and committee recommendations. The group decided to try and sponsor a tour with key US Congressional agriculture and natural resources committee heads, members and staff if we have the resources to do so and consider a state elected and appointed officials tour as a fall back position. Fee Busby mentioned that Congressman Joe Skeen, Chair of the House Agricultural Appropriation Committee, will be key to increasing GLCI or any other funding in Agriculture. Tim Munns moved that we follow the committee recommendation and Al Dustin seconded the motion. The motion passed. In all of the excitement, John Fairchild volunteered to serve on the Outreach Committee.
   
   
8. Home Page - Jerry Chatterton passed out copies of our Utah GLCI web page. Members of the group voiced their approval. The address is http://www.usu.edu/~utahglci/grazing. In our conference call earlier this week, Karl Kler had mentioned that he was unable to locate our site in a search. Apparently, there is a registration procedure that we must follow for search engines like Yahoo be able to locate our site. Jerry will look into it.
   
   
9. Ranch Land Protection. Howard reported on the Ranch Land Protection program held December 18, 1998 and sponsored by The Nature Conservancy, Utah Open Lands and others. Well over 100 people were in attendance. There are more opportunities for conservation easements and other approaches than there is money to fund them. However, interest is growing and some environmental organizations are vigorously promoting protection of farms and ranches. Our coalition contributed $200 to support of the program.
   
   
10. John Fairchild announced that he will be the coalition representative from UDWR. John is habitat specialist and offices in Salt Lake City. He indicated that John Kimball, UDWR Director, is supportive of the coalition and recognizes the contribution of private lands to wildlife habitat in Utah. We welcomed John Fairchild.
    
    

11. Blake Walbeck discussed his new appointment as Regional GLCI Coordinator (along with his other responsibilities. The group indicated their satisfaction in having Blake as GLCI Regional Coordinator to keep us informed and to participate in our activities.
    

12. Jake produced the letter to UACD Zone Directors that he had drafted for Howard's signature. Howard will be meeting with these directors next week.
    

13. The coalition decided to schedule THE 3RD THURSDAY OF EVERY OTHER MONTH as our routine meeting time. We will meet AT 0930 AT THE UTAH FARM BUREAU FEDERATION BUILDING unless otherwise notified. That means that our next meeting will be Thursday, March 18 @ 0930 @ UFBF, 9865 S State Street, Sandy (SLC), UT.
    

14. Roger mentioned that the Nevada GLCI Coalition had expressed some interest in learning how our coalition became active and functional. He proposed that the Utah GLCI Coalition invite the Nevada group to join us in an activity. The group agreed that we would like to help other GLCI groups if we can and that we would make a point to invite the Nevada group to join us this year.

    
    

15. Howard adjourned the meeting and we had lunch sponsored by the UCA and UWGA. We watched the video on Ranch Land Preservation that was given out at the program in December.