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Show -- AAarch, 1973 - rvU AKSlLL Utah Farm Bureau News Page Winter Damaged Fruit Crop Wafer Users Be Prepared Be prepared to defend all water diversions to the amount practices is the message coming beneficially use. (3) Cancel water rights that have not been beneficially used for five years. (4) Establish a water charge that encourages that an irrigator rights, water uses or water from the National Water Commission's four public hearings and the Commissions studies and report. Undoubtedly, the biggest one concern to irrigators is the Commissions proposal recommending that a charge be made for water. This proposal, if adopted as national policy, would change the basic water allocation procedures of the west. If a price were charged for irrigation water, the Commissions studies estimate it would reduce irrigation by an estimated 6 million acres. The results, according to the Commission, would be that only 46 percent of the available water resources would be required for irrigation, which would result in adequate water supplies for all of the arid areas of the nation, with the exception of the ot $30.00-per-acre-fo- 9-2- Gulf-Tex- as Region. Other recommendations in the Commission's draft report also merit careful study. Saving Water The Commission zeros in on agriculture as having the greatest potential, as well as the greatest need, for saving water. Its studies found: - 80 percent of all consumptive use of water is by agriculture. - 50 percent of consumptive frugal rather than - Transfers This highly controversial issue was studied by the Commission. Under the commerce clause, the Commissions draft report says that the Congress of the United States has authority to make interbasin transfers, even if the state of origin objects. The basis for this conclusion is an 1899 Supreme Court decision upholding the Rivers and Harbors Act. This federal authority to make inter-basi- n transfers according to the report was confirmed again in Inter-Basi- 1963 considered (for Congress has not yet authorized) a transfer from a river basin in one state to a different basin in another state where the source river does not cross or form the border of the two states; however, if Congress should authorize such a transfer it is believed the Supreme Court would uphold it and support it regardless of the lack of consent of the state of origin. diverted to irrigators than can be beneficially used. (1) States should establish standards that quantify beneficial needs and "reasonable efficiency. the ap(2) Enforce propriation principles of the law by limiting water in the Supreme Courts It is true that the Supreme Court has not yet evaporation. facilities." The Commission's recommendations for saving water in agriculture include the following: n decision on the Arizona versus California decision. The Commissions tentative transfers is position on inter-basi- n summarized by this paragraph: That more water is The draft copy of the report states, No one knows the amount of water presently diverted in excess of need or the amount lost by inefficient transportation ex- cessive water use. use is due to transpiration and-o- r can Reservation Doctrine reserved federal lands, as well as to Indian Water Claims, constitute two of the very serious water rights issues facing irrigators. The Commission has developed a very simple and direct approach to the reservation water claims and their recommendations appear to and sound reasonable propose solutions to both of these problems. People of the State have been much concerned about what is happening to the fruit trees as a result of freezing. Since the trees were not hardened sufficiently cold spell when the record-settinhit in December, growers have been even more concerned. We have examined many orchards over the State and found damage The Commission pinpoints a ranging from none to near 70 deviation from the established percent of the buds, Dr. Alvin appropriation process. The Hamson, Utah State University Reservation Doctrine permits the Extension horticulturist, stated. creation of a water right by the lie said. From present inmere reservation of land for a dications, we could have a fairly confederal use without good crop of peaches on the Orem temporaneous initiation of a water Bench, at Pleasant Grove, North use. Many land reservations were Ogden and some orchards in made between 7 and 100 years ago we could have a but the water has yet to be diverted Payson. Actually, good crop of peaches anywhere if onto the reserved land. Meanwhile, only three percent of the buds uses have been made But there are so many under appropriation doctrine of the produced. chances of losing them that we do The water. Commission's not expect to see a crop when too n is recommendation that many of the buds have been killed. federal reserve water rights should For example, since less than five take their priority from the date percent of the peach buds are still the use is initiated, not from the good in Cache Valley, we do not date of the reservation. This apexpect any peaches there this year. proach would almost eliminate the With so few buds remaining in n claims. some areas, this could controversy of really be a The Indian water right claims is disastrous year if we should have a more complex problem. The another spring frost, such as last that year. indicates Commission This winter-kil- l does have us the cannot determine Congress extent nor the value of these water really concerned. We see some rights for they present judicial damage on the fruit buds and spurs Commission on peaches, sweet cherries and The questions. recommends that Congress can pears. Wesee quite severe damage and should offer to buy the Indian on peaches, less on apricots, sweet rights at the fair market value. In cherries and sour cherries and the some damage on apples. The where cases those congressional offer is not accepted, damage is in buds that are killed there would remain the problem of and fruiting wood that is g destroyed. The buds turn black and large investments of n would which users dry up and the tender branches die by from damage occuring in the comto without loss be subject cambium layer between the bark pensation when Indian uses are and the wood." initiated. Dr. Hamson explained that it is The Commission suggests that to generalize the situation, to hard solution the. least unsatisfactory since to be this would damage is so spotty. Each compensate when grower must check his own or- water users injured the Indian initiates use. The n water rights damaged would be compensated only if the use was established prior to the Arizona-Californi- a decision of June non-feder- al non-India- non-India- long-standin- non-India- non-Indi- Though some of the Commissions basic findings are damaging to irrigators who have made substantial investments in good faith under existing water laws and procedures, there is potential benefit to irrigators from some of the Commissions recommendations. The Reservation Doctrine, as it applies to "THE VOICE OF UTAH AGRICULTURE" RADIO FOR THE FARM AND CITY . . . PARTNERS IN AMERICA'S PROGRESS KBLW 12:25p.m. Logan Weekly Monday KDYL & Wednesday 8:30a.m. Tooele PRODUCTION OF THE UTAH STATE .FARM BUREAU A RADIO FEDERATION Neil Sumsion is your host Tune in, you'll be glad you did. an 3. 1 under-prunin- rather than g over- pruning. Growers would be better off not to prune at all than overprune on a critical year. The fruit growers face a delemma in their decisions in this critical year. Pruning normally is done to envigorate the wood, produce large quantities of fruit, improve the quality and size of fruit, get the fruit to bear in close where the limbs are larger, and generally to increase the vigor of the trees. Growers realize that if they do not prune, they could have poor fruit and may not have a good potential for next year. But if they prune loo much, it could damage the trees this year. The fruit grower faces a real problem when he gets winter damage because he can't change readily. Trees are so expensive to establish that he can't just pull them out and start over without involving a terrific expense. This year there will even be a shortage of nursery stock because quite an amount of it was winter-killeDr. Hamson pointed out that Utah is not alone with these problems. There has been some tree damage from freezing in Idaho, Washington and Oregon. He noted that the survival of the fruit industry in Utah an the West will hinge on solving some of these problems. He said it is encouraging to note that this critical problem has brought about a lot of excellent d. between cooperation climatologists, biochemists, plant scientists, plant physiologists and others concerned. 963. Various studies of the mission assembled Com- facts that support the basic concept that federal funds should no longer be used in water development projects: the only deviation from this position by the Commission is for .recreation or projects to protect or restore values. The American Farm Bureau, after reviewing the 1,000-pag- e draft report, requested an extension cf time from February 15th through July 15th in order to make a thorough and complete examination of the Commission's findings. That request for an ex-- , tension of time was denied. In the limited time which was provided for public comments, a statement of AFBF views was prepared. Clifford G. Mclntire, legislative director, presented that statement to the Commission at its Washington, D.C. hearing. He said AFBF recommends as strongly as we can that this nation proceed cautiously in adopting any water policy changes that fail to continue the wise conservation and non-econom- ic equipment takes big money .. .Your Land Bank Association knows the field. Bring your plans for equipment and other farm or ranch requirements to your Land Bank Association office. You'll talk with people who know agriculture and how to finance it. Long-terconvenience, flexible repayment options and more than experience in putting agriculture first are some of m 50-yea- water the advantages you will Whether the National Water recommendations Commissions are ever formally adopted as 1390 He suggested, Do not do any pruning until the extent of wood damage is determined. Delay pruning on peaches until as late as possible before the trees blossom. This means a change in practice, since the big growers normally prune all winter. This year, it would be better to take a chance on non-India- development of the resources of this nation. Weekly Wednesday g national policies, the Commission's work should make it clear that all established water uses, water practices and water rights will be subject to review and those that cannot be defended will undoubtedly be subject to alteration. The clearest single message communicated by the Commissions comprehensive work is: Water users be prepared. rs enjoy. Visit the association office near you Richfield Logan Millard V. Owens, Mgr. Rodney S. Nyman, Mgr. 7 East First North 1M 752-214- 5 Blaine D. Hales, Mgr. 172 South 100 Norh Main St. m-44- Salt Lake City Provo East Harold M. Thompson, Mgr. 22S West First South Ul-41- lf 3711440 Tremonton ' Keith H. Anderson 14S 5 chard to access the damage. He advised growers to be careful at this point on how they prune their orchards. If they have winter tree damage, severe pruning could kill the trees. West Main 2S7-531- S |