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Show Page 4 FARM BUREAU yflTAH rin the federal government has led us far into socialism which is the stepping stone to communism. That such plannedeconomy concepts as socialism, fascism, communism, and other forms of totalitarianism should be opposed wherever and in whatever form they 1 z-- NEWS v1 may be found. That candidates for public office and employees of government at all levels should state their beliefs with respect to capitalism, socialism, and communism. That individual freedom and opportunity must not be sacrificed in a quest for guaranteed 'security.1' That the exercise of monopolistic power in any form whether by government, industry, labor, or agricul- ture jeopardizes freedom and self-governme- nt. In government bylaw, impartially administered, with- out special privilege. That government propagandizing of the electorate threatens the maintenance of That establishment by the government of organizations of citizens which may in any way remain under its political Influence or control threatens the continuation of That secrecy in government affairs should not be tolerated except as actually essential to national security. In strong and responsible state and local units of government and in protection of state laws against self-governm- ...just til the government raises the poverty level to $10,000. self-governm- federal Official Policy voluntary organization of farm and ranch families united for the purpose of analyzing their problems and formulating action to achieve educational and social improvement, economic opportunity, advancement and, thereby, to promote the national welfare. Farm Bureau is local, statewide, national, and international in its scope and influence and is non-secr- et in character. FARM BUREAU BELIEFS We, as Farm Bureau members, believe: In our Constitutional form of government and its division of powers. In freedom of speech, press, and peaceful assembly. In separation of church and state and in the right of each individual to worship according to the dictates of his own conscience. That is a precious heritage which can be preserved only by the active, intelligent assumption of basic citizenship responsiblities by all people. In the American competitive enterprise system, in which property is privately owned, privately managed, and operated for profit and individual satisfaction, and in which supply and demand are the ultimate determinants of market price. That efficiency of production and maximum per capita prodctlon are primary elements in determining standself-governm- ent ards courts. Federal Lands PURPOSE OF FARM BUREAU Farm Bureau Is a free. Independent, and by the favor the multiple use of public lands. supported federal legislation establishing the Public Land Law Review Commission. We hold that a comprehensive review of administrative practices, regulations, policies and statutes relative to public lands is vital to the sound and effective use of these resources. We recommend that, as this study is conducted, full recognition be given to established state The conclusions and recommendations water laws. of the Commission are of vital concern to farmers and ranchers. We believe the Congress and all federal agencies administering public lands should withhold any changes in t)aslc policy, fees and regulations for use until the Commission lias completed its report. We recommend that basic changes in established public land use be subject to Congressional approval. Users of Federal grazing lands should be given greater security of tenure as an incentive for improving them. Mandatory management practices designed to improve grasslands should first l)e proven and, if necessary, modified to meet local conditions. We urge cooperative action to eliminate undesirable vegetation for the purpose of Improving grazing capacity, reducing fire hazards, Increasing water yields, and improving wildlife habitat. We feel that many Isolated, small plots of federal land could be better managed if they were sold to priMost of these lands are now used vate individuals. for grazing by the ranchers who own the adjoining land. We recommend that these ranchers be given the first chance to purchase them at the fair appraised value. We We Utah Farm Bureau House of Delegates November 22, 1969 at Salt Lake City, Utah an, ed pre-empt- ed NATIONAL ISSUES As approved by the non-sectari- on. pre-empt- be Resolutions For 1970 an, pre-empti- That farm people have the right and the responsibility to speak for themselves through organizations of their choice without coercion or government intervention. That the powers not specifically delegated to the federal government by the Constitution are reserved to the states or to the people and that such powers cannot be by federal statutes and must not Utah Farm Bureau non-partis- ent. That property rights cannot be separated from human rights and are essential to the preservation of individual rights guaranteed by the Constitution. That the exercise of free will, rather than force, is consistent with the maintenance of liberty. In' the right of every man to choose his own occupation; to be rewarded according to his productive contribution to society; and to save, Invest, and spend, or convey to his heirs, his earnings as he chooses. That the centralization of power and authority in the federal government, the movement to socialize America, the apathy of the American people toward this trend, and the apparent lack of responsibility on the part of individual citizens are among the greatest dangers threatening our republic and our system of private competitive enterprise. That the Constitution is the basic law of the land and that changes in long established interpretations should be made only through Constitutional amendments. That the trend toward Increased centralization of Wool Act We favor the extension of the National Wool Act. Farm Bill support the principles contained in the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1969 as proposed by the American Farm Bureau. We Sugar Act Sugar production contributes substantially to the economic stability of agriculture in the United States. We reaffirm our support of the Sugar Act as a means of dealing with problems peculiar to the sugar industry, a number of which stem from the fact that most of the sugar moving in world trade does so under controls imposed by the various nations. The primary provisions of the act relate to the use of quotas to regulate marketing of both domestic and imported sugar in this country. The act is basically financially and should not cause a drain self-supporti- ng on the treasury. We shall support legislation which will protect the interest and productive capacity of the domestic industry. Whereas many families who work in agriculture have young people who are capable of doing acceptable work, and many young people are seeking work on farms. We propose a change in the age of those permitted to work In the sugar beet fields from 14 years of age to 12 years of age. We favor an amendment to permit the reallocation of domestic deficits to domestic areas. Chemical Residues We recommend that the state and national Farm Bureau research the restrictions on chemicals, insecticides and antibiotic tolerances used in agriculture to determine whether present tolerance levels are reasonable. The Federal Food and Drug Administration should also work with our people in this field. Lamb Purchases Whereas the sheep Industry has long been a vital of the economy of the western states and whereas our mountain and desert lands are to in and of the number the whereas United sheep sheep one-thi- rd State that of former years, part well-adapt- ed nabout December, 1969 now therefore be it resolved that the Farm Bureau use its influence to persuade the United States government to purchase more of its supplies of wool, lamb, and mutton from this country and less from foreign governments. Importation of Livestock andor Red Meats The pressure of importation of livestock and red meats is becoming increasingly alarming to the point of serious damage to the domestic livestock Industry. Excessive imports of any one class of meat at a lower price jeopardizes the sale of all classes of domestic meats. We urge the American Farm Bureau to Increase its vigilance with respect to this problem. Imports of beef, lamb, mutton and pork should be further controlled by reduced quotas together with reasonable duties to prevent depressing the market. Foreign meat brought into U.S. should be labeled as such. We insist that foreign countries shall not be allowed to use our market as a dumping ground for meat. . Import Quotas Farm Bureau commends those members of the Utah Congressional Delegation who have supported efforts to have all import quotas reviewed. In the past unfavorable quotas of agricultural and Industrial products have depressed the domestic markets and placed undue hardships upon American Agriculture and other industries. Water and Air Pollution The ideal of clean water and air is in agreement with farm Bureau philosophy and the Farm Bureau supports action to attain this goal by preventing new sources of water and air pollution and abating existing pollution as rapidly as economically feasible, with recognition of livestock, irrigation, and Industrial needs. Regulations for open agricultural burning must contain provisions that will allow rural areas to be given a blanket exemption without the necessity of individual permits. Water Policy of the West as well as all other areas makes it necessary to establish sound water policies. We believe that federal agencies should abide by state water laws and that Congress should pass legislation requiring such compliance. should be regarded Water rights and rights-of-was property rights. Neither the proprietary functions of the United States derived from ownership of public lands, nor the exercise of its powers relating to Interstate commerce and the general welfare should be permitted to Interfere with prior rights to the use of water or the orderly acquisition of such rights in the future. Water being the life-blo- od ay Antiquities Act We believe that in order to promote the beneficial application of water both private and public funds must be invested. Security of water rights once established must be protected in order to encourage such investment. We recommend that the American Farm Bureau continue its efforts to secure the enactment of federal legislation to preserve the state control over water rights. The president of the United States under the Antiquities Act has the power to withdraw almost unlimited amounts of Federal Lands for National Monuments and other recreation without public hearings. We recommend the ammendment of this act to limit the amount withdrawn, and to provide for public hearings before any withdrawals are made. Grazing Rights and Water Yield from Federal Lands In some of our mountain valleys our whole economic climate is built around the livestock industry and the water we receive from the forest watershed. The Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management with their vast powers can greatly Influence the economic stability of these areas. The removal of livestock from the public lands, takes away some of the means of these areas to earn a living, pay taxes, support churches, and community development. In addition to these, studies Indicate our water supplies are being reduced which further inhibits the ability of the people to live and support the economy. In many Instances Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management administrators have cancelled or reduced permits without regard to the economy of the people who live in the area, even though by testimony of people who have lived on the range for many years and by former administrators that the range has Improved substantially and is still improving. We are encouraged by results observed so far in intensive management studies being carried on by the Utah State University and the United States Forest Service designed to develop practices and procedures that will obtain maximum water yield and utilization of We hope these studies may continue until a forage. full evaluation of present experiments can be obtained. Furthermore, we believe that for a department of government to have such powers over people without any recourse of people, except to the department Itself is against the philosophy of our democratic form of we believe that when grazing permits government, are reduced or eliminated, the producers affected should have recourse to decision by jury. We also believe that if it is necessary to reduce or cancel permits, the individual should be reimbursed at fair market value. We commend the action of the Public Land Law Review Commission to review all public land laws and make . recommendations for their Improvement. Capitol Reef We favor the bill proposed by Senator Bennett; That |