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Show Page 4 UTAH FARM BUREAU NEWS February, 1970 Hi ! . .. CITY PATRONS WHATS RECREATION FARM (OP THE CARRY THE MESJA6E INDUSTRIAL SACKTO rj! 6000 Beef Goes a Long Way ISTS AND THE HldH- - p DEPARTMENTS WORD . ? By Ed A. Thomas Sevier County Banquet Meet Just twenty-nin- e years after Columbus discovered America six heifers and a bull took the long trip to this country. The Jamestown colony first Imported cattle in 1611 and by the end of 1618 there were 300 head here. Then in 1624 one bull and three cows were shipped from Devonshire, England. Then as early as 1769 herds appeared grazing In the Texas grasslands. These herds increased and branding was Introduced as a means of Identifying each owners cattle. In the eastern part of the United States the human population was growing rapidly. More and more meat was needed. Two thousand miles away ranchers were raising enough beef for those hungry people In the east. But, of the difficulty In because those wilderness miles a spanning 750 pound steer was worth less than $10 in 1833. As early as 1842 cattle-po- or ranchers faced with the problem of surplus began to drive small herds to Shreveport, Loulsana, and loaded them on flat boats to be floated down the river to New Orleans. The markets there were small and were called Hide and Tallow factories because only the hide and tallow were used. In order to market their cattle a group of Texas stockmen decided to deliver cattle on the hoof. And in 1842, 1500 head were driven to Missouri. Moving huge herds along those dusty trails at the rate of 12 to 15 miles per day became a highly developed business. Texas cattlemen soon found a profitable market in what is now the Corn Belt, and it became a stopping off place for cattle a place where they could be fattened before going to market. Meanwhile the railroads began pushing deeper into the cattle growing west and southwest. For cattlemen this meant a closer link with the meat hungry east. In 1865, the year the Chicago Union Stockyards began operating, the first train load of western cattle reached the Windy City. By 1880 the demand for western dressed beef had reached new heights and was soon followed by a demand for fresh lamb. Yes, the quality of cattle and quality of beef have come a long way and so has livestock Marketing of livestock has been considered by many as being simple, but It is a complex business, due to the fact that two thirds of the people live east of the Mississippi River. The average pound of meat travels about 1,000 miles from open range to kitchen range. The change in marketing is almost unbelievable. At present there are three ways In which most cattle and calves are marketed In the United States; Terminal Market, Direct Country Buyers, and Auction Markets. About 28 of cattle and 13.7 of the calves are sold through auction markets. Our own Farm Bureau has always been aware of the need of better marketing of all farm commodities and done something to Improve the situation. They spearheaded organizing the livestock people in Southern Utah and worked with them to build an AuctionCom-ple- x in Sallna as one project to improve the marketing of livestock In southern Utah. By way of report: The sale has now been completed at a cost of $200,000. 2. 210 Livestock men are stockholders, also 42 hold debentures. 3. This most modern sale Is now being enjoyed by the livestock men and Producers Livestock Marketing Association who operate It. 4. 16,839 more animals went thru the Sallna Marketing Service Sale in 1969 than in 1968, representing a 38 Increase. 1 . Water Runoff Discussed at By Neil D. Sumslon Under the direction of Gerald Johnson, President of Sevier County and member of the Utah Farm Board of Directors, Sevier County Farm Bureau held their Annual Banquet and Social in Richfield, January 19, 1970. Attending Farm Bureau Mem- bers heard Ruel Christensen, President of the Mantl Temple, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-da- y Saints, discuss the problems Midwestern Farm Bureaus Falling Apart? A report reached the editor's desk that Indicated that the large, powerful farm bureau states of the Midwest and upper Midwest, were coming apart at the seams and losing members hand over fist. A shocking report! To find out just how many members had left these highly agricultural states we checked the AFBF membership report for 1969. Membership In the American Farm Bureau Federation increased 69,213 In 1969 bringing membership In Farm Bureau to an all-tihigh of 1,870,500 members. Increases were noted In all parts of the nation. xThe Southern region led the march with an Increase of 43,810. The Midwest had an Increase of 20,887, the Northeast increased 3,106, and the West 1,410. Listed below are the Increases In membership for the Midwest, and for informations sake, the Increase shown In Utah: me This shows that this cooperative type of sale can be successful. If you have used this sale you will agree that we have come a long way in the marketing of livestock and I am sure more improvements will come. and challenges related to water development and utilization. President Christensen referred to a study primarily centered In Sanpete County, Involving water runoff and the relation of various forages that Influence runoff and water conHe lndcated greater sumption. quantities of water could be available downstream provided shorter root depth forage could be used on range areas. Mr. Christensen cited as a number one problem, the replacing of livestock back on the Improved range areas. Of further Interest to the group were his remarks about our, Profit System Is the Incentive. Our poor InAmerica are better many of the rich In other of the world, he said. parts Education Is one of our greatest assets. Six million people are off than full time students. Thats 30 of our population. we have faults aplenty and we know it, but they will be our blessing in disKnowing our faults, guise. we are willing to work he said, for something better. Sister Christensen said, while addressing the group prior to President Christensen, that young men should not be ashamed to say they are from some small farm towns because farm boys who have learned to work make the best mis- sionaries. Tom Christensen conducted the evenings activities which were enjoyed by the capacity crowd In attendance at the Richfield 3rd Ward TOTAL ANIMALS SOLD THRU SAUNA Chapel. MARKETING ASSOCIATION AUCTION Cattlemen Have Best Year Since Early Fifties Cattlemen had a good year in 1969 not good as though theyre a but like getting rich, good soaking rain after a long drought, said Ned Madsen, President of the Utah Cattleman's Association, in summing up the beef cattle year In Utah. The cattle business continued as the third biggest contributor of value to the state's economy, following petroleum and cooper production. Cattle sales accounted for well over $50 million In Utah last year," Mr. Madsen said. Most consumers noticed higher of cattlemen in this state for many beef prices In the markets,' the years occurred during 1969, Mr. livestock leader noted, but this Madsen said. The Utah Beef was simply a long overdue adjustCouncil, authorized by the 1968 ment in the beef market picture. legislature, was established. The For years cattle prices have been Beef Council, supported by the far lower than they should have contrilmtion of 10? per head marbeen, and this past years prices keted, is engaged In the active have succeeded only In matching promotion of beef through advertthe live beef prices we last had ising programs. The Beef Council In the early 1950s. Actually, has also set up a telephone InforIf beef prices had kept up with the mation service on live beef prices. seen RanA increases other and cattleman can simply dial a proThe annual Utah Farm Bureau Young Farmers by price ducts and on the we'd probably number and get a run-doservices, chers Training Conference will be held Friday and Satur- be paying around a for $3.00 pound latest market situation. This is a big help In finding more efday February 27 and 28 at the Ramada Inn in Salt Lake round steak. Mr. Madsen the that he ficient marketing patterns, explained City. The conference to which all Farmers and Ranchers better seen by beef prosaid. prices and wives under 30 are invited, will feature presentations ducers resulted mainly from adPointing out that the beef cattle of a made by cattlemen. on Legal problems, budgeting and finance, business in Utah Is still growing, justments report Stockmen have been Mr. Madsen said that since 1949 marketing will feature activities of the recent Legislative session and their animals at lighter weights, beef cow numbers have increased a speaker from the American Farm Bureau staff. The averaging about a thousand pounds, from 174,000 to 329,000, an InWe've had our plans for herd crease of 89. program is being prepared for the Utah Farm Bureau and making better and so that in the cattle development Industry, problems Young Farmers and Ranchers committee with Ken Ashby large numbers of feeding, livestock didnt but were solving them and are of Delta as chairman. Mrs. Barbara Whitlock, chairman arrive at the market, driving the looking for better things In the of the Utah Farm Bureau Women's committee will also prices down, he said. future, the cattlemans president One of the big achievements concluded. conduct a session for the wives in attendance. YF&R to Meet wn . Stewart Johnson of the State Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee Introduced the talent find numbers who performed at the Farm Bureau affair. These numbers were enjoyed and appreciated by all In attendance. The members were all encouraged to come back In the Fall to take part In their annual business meeting. Farm Bureau Mutual Fund, Inc. Net Asset Values (NAV) For Week ending January 28, 1970 NAV DATE Thursday, January 22 Friday, January 23 Monday, January 26 Tuesday, January 27 Wednesday, Jan. 28 Boy $10.83 $10.70 $10.57 $10.50 $ 0.4 1 1 Scout Week Scouting marks its 60th anniversary during Boy Scout Week (February 7 throuoh 13). Rural membership of the Boy Scouts of America has increased every year since the program was organized by the national organization in 1924. In 1969, there were more than 1.25 million rural boys and adult leaders enrolled in nearly 36,000 Scout units. Thousands of other rural boys are members of Scout units meeting in suburban or larger communities. |