IFBF Farmers' Market - Free Listings!

Last year, the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation started a new program called the IFBF Farmers' Market, giving free advertising on their website and in their magazines to Idaho Farm Bureau members who sell their produce locally.  This free advertising is once again being offered to current Idaho Farm Bureau members.  All members have to do to receive their free listing is send an email to Joel Benson, Member Benefits Manager, at jbenson@idahofb.org with the following information:

Name:
Membership Number: (ex: 043432-01; or you may list your Farm Bureau Insurance agent) *This information will not appear on the published list.*
Produce/Meat products being sold: (ex: Sweet Potatoes July-Aug, Pumpkins Mid. Oct.-Mid. Nov.)
Location/Address: (ex: 112 S. Baker St. - turn south at Baker & Hwy 45 intersection, go 1/2 mile)
Phone Number:
Email: (if applicable)
Special Instructions: (ex: Please only visit between 9:00am and 5:00pm, or call ahead)

Please note, at this point in time only produce and meat products that are human edible may be submitted for listing.  Things such as hay, crafts, and tractors will not be listed. A current list of producers listed in the IFBF Farmers' Market may be found here.

A two-page spread run in this year's August Farm Bureau Quarterly, including all listed producers in the IFBF Farmers' Market.  If you are an Idaho Farm Bureau Member, or know of a member, who would enjoy getting this free advertising, please submit your information either by fax or email no later than Monday morning, August 1st. Any submissions after this date will not be in the Quarterly magazine listing.

For more information, please contact:

Joel Benson, Member Benefits Manager
Email: jbenson@idahofb.org
Phone: 208-239-4289
Fax: 208-232-3616
Mail: Idaho Farm Bureau Federation
         Attn: Joel
         PO Box 4848
         Pocatello, ID  83205

Notice to Idaho Farm Bureau Members: Be sure to check with your insurance agent to see if your existing policy covers the direct sale of your farm products to consumers.  Additional coverage may be needed for certain types of retail sales.

Reduce Your Risk of Interior Water Damage

Water damage can be costly and it doesn’t take a lot of water to cause major damage to floors, furniture and cabinetry – not to mention valuable electronics. Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company of Idaho and the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) offer the following information to help you reduce your risk of interior water damage.

IBHS conducted a study of closed water damage insurance claims and used that information to identify the leading causes and develop the following solutions.

1.   Plumbing Supply System Failure

This type of failure costs homeowners time and money more often than any other source of water loss, according to the IBHS study. In fact, the average cost of an incident was more than $5,000 after the insurance deductible was paid. A little maintenance can go a long way toward prevention since the majority of insurance claims were caused by corroded and rusty pipes and frozen pipes.

Ways to Reduce Damage

• An increased monthly water bill, banging pipes, rust stains, moisture in the walls or on floor, and signs of wet soil erosion near the foundation are all potential indicators of a plumbing problem.
• Setting the thermostat to at least 60 degrees in winter months, letting faucets drip and insulating pipes are all ways to reduce the risk of frozen pipes.
• As a backup, let technology pay attention for you by installing a house leak detection system.

2.   Toilet Failure

The sour look on a homeowner’s face is not only from the smell of a toilet failure, but also from the price tag that comes with it. Toilet failures in the study cost more than $5,500 per incident after the deductible was paid. One-third of all toilet failures in the study resulted from an overflowing or clogged toilet.

Ways to Reduce Damage

• Be patient after you flush and wait for the valve to completely finish refilling the tank and bowl. If an overflow looks imminent, turn off the supply valve.
• Twice a year, inspect a toilet’s components, such as the fill, supply and flush valves and the supply line.

3.   Water Heater Failure

We all enjoy a hot shower; keep the enjoyment going by giving your water heater some much needed attention. A simple inspection by a plumbing professional at least once every two years – and annually after the warranty expires - can save you thousands of dollars in potential water damage. The most common causes of water heater failures in the IBHS study were a slow leak or a sudden burst in the tank, followed by supply line failures.

Ways to Reduce Damage

• Check the life expectancy and warranty for your water heater and replace accordingly.
• Proper maintenance, such as flushing sediments and inspecting the heater’s anode rod, can increase life expectancy.
• Inspect valves to ensure proper operations, and use ball valves in place of gate valves whenever possible.

4.   Plumbing Drain System Failure

A backed up sewer drain has the potential to ruin your whole day. The IBHS study found more than half of plumbing system failures were the result of sewer backups. The problem was more common in southern states and on average cost $4,000 per incident after the insurance deductible was paid.

Ways to Reduce Damage

• If your home’s sewer system is connected to the city’s sewer system – a particular problem for older homes – or if you are located downhill or below street level, contact a plumbing professional to install a backflow prevention assembly into your sewer system.
• Plant your trees away from lateral drain lines to prevent roots from damaging piping.
• Never pour grease down the drain.

5.   Washing Machine Failure

Sometimes the smallest components cause the biggest headaches. In the case of your washing machine, those rubber hoses that come with every new machine put your home at risk of water damage. More than half of the claims in the IBHS study were linked to washing machine hose failures. Replace these hoses with reinforced braided versions and save time and money in repairs later. Washing machine claims in the study averaged more than $5,300 per incident after the deductible was paid.

Ways to Reduce Damage

• Inspect your supply hose annually and replace very five years.
• When you leave the house for an extended period of time, turn off the hot and cold water supply valve to reduce failure risks.
• Don’t try to cut corners by overloading the machine, and use it only while someone is at home.

Pocatello-Inkom Deer Fence Funds Matching Program Ends This Week

Donations to Farm Bureau Insurance’s Pocatello-Inkom deer fence fund matching program are at the halfway mark with less than one week remaining before the program’s end.

Farm Bureau Insurance will match up to $5,000 in individual monetary donations made to the fence project before Friday, July 1. A $100 donation was recently made by a Three Forks, Montana resident after his car struck a deer on I-15 between Inkom and Pocatello. The deer smashed through the passenger side of the windshield and hit his wife in the head. She recovered after spending several days in the hospital.

Each year, according to Idaho Fish and Game estimates, at least 100 deer are killed on the section of Interstate 15 between Pocatello and Inkom. These deer-car collisions also cause hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage and personal injuries.

To make a donation to the Pocatello-Inkom deer fence or for information about volunteer opportunities, please contact Jim Teare, Wildlife Staff Biologist and Mule Deer Initiative Coordinator at the Idaho Fish and Game’s Pocatello office, at 208-232-4703.

To report a wildlife collision observation or for more information about wildlife collisions in Idaho, please visit http://www.fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/wildlife/manage_issues/collision.

"On Guard" by Ernie T., Arco, ID. From www.reasonstoloveidaho.com

Member Benefits - Salt Lake Express

Do your summer travel plans involve flying out of Salt Lake City?  If so, this week's Member Benefit* may help you save on travel costs from Idaho to Salt Lake City!

Click the van for complete program details.

When traveling between a city in Idaho and Salt Lake City, Idaho Farm Bureau Federation members who book a round trip or one-way trip using Salt Lake Express will receive a $2 - $4 discount if booking ONLINE.  (Members may call 208-656-8824 to make a phone reservation, but will not receive the Farm Bureau discount.)

For complete program details and a list of promotion codes, please click on the Salt Lake Express Van above, or visit Idaho Farm Bureau Federation - Salt Lake Express.


*Not every policy qualifies for member benefits. Please see your local county office for more details.

Lightning Safety Week: June 19 - 25

Not only does June 21st mark the first day of Summer, it also begins the peak season for one of our nation's deadliest weather phenomena - lightning. Last year (2010), there were a total of 29 lightning related fatalities in the United States - one of which was Idahoan Michael Haslett, who was struck by lightning while herding cattle on his horse.

Hundreds people who are struck by lightning each year are left with a variety of long-term, debilitating symptoms, including: memory loss, attention deficits, sleep disorders, chronic pain, numbness, dizziness, stiffness in joints, irritability, fatigue, weakness, muscle spasms, depression, and more.

The good news is: there are safety precautions that you and your family can take to stay safe during a lightning storm! The National Weather Service has provided the following Lightning Safety Tips:

Lightning: What You Need to Know

• NO PLACE outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area!!
• If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you.
• When you hear thunder, immediately move to safe shelter.
• Safe shelter is a substantial building or inside an enclosed, metal-topped vehicle.
• Stay in safe shelter at least 30 minutes after you hear the last clap of thunder.

Indoor Lightning Safety Tips

• Stay off corded phones, computers and other electrical equipment that put you in direct contact with electricity.
• Avoid plumbing, including sinks, baths, and faucets.
• Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches.
• Do not lie on concrete floors, and do not lean against concrete walls.

Last Resort Outdoor Risk Reduction Tips

NO PLACE outside is safe when lightning is in the area, but if you are caught outside with no safe shelter anywhere nearby the following actions may reduce your risk:

• Immediately get off elevated areas such as hills, mountain ridges or peaks
• NEVER lie flat on the ground
• NEVER use a tree for shelter
• NEVER use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter
• Immediately get out and away from ponds, lakes and other bodies of water
• Stay away from objects that conduct electricity (barbed wire fences, power lines, windmills, etc.)
• UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should ANY of the above actions be taken if a building or an all-metal vehicle is nearby.

If Someone Is Struck - CPR

• Victims do not carry an electrical charge and may need immediate medical attention.
• Monitor the victim and begin CPR or AED, if necessary.
• Call 911 for help.

Member Benefits - 10% Discount at Commercial Tire!

Before jumping in the family vehicle to head out on your summer vacation, there are a few items that you should check. AND, a Farm Bureau Federation Member Benefit to help you save on any services needed!

1. Brakes. Make sure your vehicle's brake pads are not worn down, making any vibrations, griding, or squeeling. Also, if you brake and your car pulls to one side, this is a good sign that you need to have the brakes replaced on your vehicle.
   
   
2. Hoses and Belts. Check under-the-hood to make sure there are is no obvious damage or cracks to the many hoses and belts that keep your vehicle running.
   
   
3. Vital Fluids. In addition to visually inspecting hoses and belts, it is a good idea to have a look at the spot where you normally park your vehicle. Is there any fluid or are there any dark spots on the garage floor or in your driveway? If so, this could be a sign of a vital fluid leak. These fluids include oil, coolants, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and windshield washer fluid. Should you notice any leak, it is always best to have the problem checked before you head out on the open road. And, as always, it is best to have your vehicle's oil changed if it has not been changed in the last 3,000 miles.
   
   
4. Battery. While most batteries are maintenance-free, you should visually inspect your vehicle's battery for cracks or holes in the outer casing. Also, if your battery is over 5 years old, a replacement would be the best idea - as older batteries tend to overheat.
   
   
5. Tires. Making sure your tires have the proper tire pressure will not only mean safer driving, it will also lower your fuel bill. Also, check for proper amount of tread left and any damage. If you have had your tires for over 30,000 miles, or you live in an area of rough terrain and changing seasons, take your vehicle into the nearest tire store where they will be able to inspect your tires for you.

If you need service on any of the items listed above, there's a Farm Bureau Federation Member Benefit* available for you! Idaho Farm Bureau members receive 10% off almost all products and services at participating Commercial Tire locations in Idaho. (Some farming specilized products are not included.)

For complete program details, please click on the poster below:

Be sure to check back next week for another Member Benefit Thursday!

*Not every policy qualifies for member benefits. Please see your local county office for more details.

Member Benefits - Adventure & Lodging Discounts at Silver Mountain Resort!

If you and your family are making plans to visit Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg, Idaho this year, you are in for a treat! A new Farm Bureau Federation Member Benefit* was announced this week, allowing members to receive a 10% discount on adventure and lodging.

For complete program details, please click on the poster below:

Be sure to check back next week for another Member Benefit Thursday!

*Not every policy qualifies for member benefits. Please see your local county office for more details.