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Show NON-CIR- Volume XIII, Number 7 SALT LAKE LATIN'S C'J wry CTY. UTAH tfTr, AjnorhviO Op ' iStw. July 1967 vft , Constitutional Amendments Draw Support &t' Fish Lake Conference Committee Reports Focus on Problems for 1967 Policy?: Development Speaker of the Utah House of Representatives, Franklin Gunnell, of Cache County, told the assembled Farm Bureau leaders at Fish Lake that the five proposed constitutional amendments for the 1968 ballot are very important for the continued growth and progress of the state of Utah and it was his hope that the Farm Bureau would support all five. Representative Gunnell said that would really be impossible to separate the inventory tax poposal from the agricultural tax proposal. We passed the Freeport law. This law gave certain benefits to businesses who manufacture equipment which is kept in the state for a year, and then transport it out of the state. As a result, if the Freeport law is good for those businesses who come under its provisions, then it logically follows that we should give our established businessmen who have been in the state, who dont come under the Freeport provisions, the benefit of the Inventory Tax relief. This will put business on an equal footing, whether they are under the Freeport law or a regular business enterprise. Mr. Gunnell said. Now, you must follow this one step further. Farmers have as their inventory, their land and their machinery and their livestock and their buildings, and this is inventory. Then it logically follows in the thinking of the legislature that if were going to have the Freeport and say that its fair then we would logically say it that the Inventory tax for businessmen is fair, then to change the tax basis for farmers and tax them on the basis of productivity would also be fair. They should all be talked of in one voice, Speaker Gunnell said. Mr. Gunnell said he hoped that the Farm Bureau would-suppor- t all five of the proposed amendments. He explained that, in addition to the proposed amendment to change the taxation of agricultural land from a system of valuing the land for tax purposes on the market value to a system of taxing it on its productive ability, there are four other proposed amendments. One is to repeal the inventory tax, a measure which is discouraging to business. It was noted that several large firms have shown interest in locating warehouses in Utah as distribution centers but are waiting for repeal of the inventory tax. A third proposal would be to permit the legislature to meet every year. The regular session would be offset every other year by a (Continued on page 7) Board Acts on Proposals Made by Committees The Board of Directors of the Utah State Farm Bureau Federation met Wednesday, the 12th of July in a regular business session. High on the list of important items considered was the stand to be taken on the proposed constitutional amendments. The Board unanimously voted to support all five of the propositions. Reports from the various committees meeting at Fish Lake were heard in addition to the report from the Farm Bureau auction committee under the chairmanship of Olaf George who told of progress in developing the livestock auction facility plans for Salina. The Farm Bureau Membership 3. Term of office of officers Committee with Don Allen as and a Board told the that directors. Chairman, 4. Associate membership new Early Bird program was 5. Economic services, including recommended. The Board approved the idea which wlU place names supply program and Insurance of all members who renew their companies. 6. Association with commodity membership by a certain date, in a box for a drawing. Six prizes organizations. 7. Farm Bureau womens progwill be drawn, one for each district. The prizes, which will be ram. 8. Young People's program. worth more than $25.00 each, wlU 9. Review of staff sturcture and be awarded at the state convention. The program will begin with requirements. The Board of Directors voted to the 1968 membership drive. The Committee on Structure and appoint the county presidents as the committee to study these items chairmanthe Organization under to comply with the direction of recommended of Child Jay ship of the areas the following voting delegates. Assignments study by the committee designated in the among the numbered areas will be resolution adopted at the 1966 made for study prior to the convention. A county presidents convention: meeting will be held during the 1. County and State articles of coming Winter to consider these Incorporation. areas. 2. Structure: Representation on The National Legislative ProExecutive Committee and Board gram committee, also under the of Directors by district. Greatest Story Never Told KSLs Farm Director, Lynn A -dair, told the group who were assembled to hear discussion of the amendments, that if the amendment Franklin W. Gunnell, Speaker of the House, recommended support of the five proposed constitutional amendments. chairmanship of Don AUen recommended a number of issues for consideration in the Policy Development process. They recommended that Farm Bureau at all levels investigate the effect on price of chain store buying of red meats. They also recommended support of the Curtis BiU which would do away with acreage allotments and certificates; to set C. C.C. sales at no less than 125 of parity and continue cropland i retirement program, They further recommended that Farm Bureau study the possible need for more appropriations for conservation projects. They also recommended that local agricultural leaders provide leadership to Soil Conservation District boards to keep as much control at local level as possible and to recommend a program to utilize SCD staff on a more profitable year-rou- nd to change taxation of farmland is not passed, then you and I are out of a Job. Mr. Adair noted that this is the most important challenge to face agriculture in this state in decades. If the amendment isnt passed, every year will see more and more farmers go out of business. Soon there would be so few farmers that agricultural salesmen could visit them all personally and Im out of a job. Your challenge, be told the group, is to teU your story to the man in the city. It's the greatest story never told and you're going to have to start telling it, the Farm Broadcaster said. Summer Conference Draws Good Group of Leaders The 1967 Farm Bureau summer conference held at Fish Lake, July 10, 11 and 12 saw Farm Bureau leaders from most counties gathered to discuss pressing problems, many of which will be taken back to the counties to be included in the 1967 policy development process. Special hearing were held concerning problems on a national level, state level and concerning natural resources. Among the representatives of other organizations who presented statements on problems they thought Farm Bureau should consider, were: Utah Cattlemens Association; Newell Johnson Ray Tyer of the Boyd Sunderland president of the Utah Woolgrowers association; Norm Hancock of the representing Soil Conservation Districts; state Fish and Game Department; Max Kerr of the Utah Tax Commission; Calvin K. Sudweeks, Utah State Department of Health; John Barnard, U.S.U. Extension Dairyman; Agriculture Commissioner Joseph Francis; Ruel Christensen, Natural Resources Committee; Leonard Johnson, AFBF Assistant Director of Natural Resources and Dan Manning, President of the Se- Young People, the Membership Committee, the Wildlife Committee and Dairy Com- Farm Bureau basis. mittee. vier County School Board. The committee's final recomTuesday morning an open on the proposed constitutsession mendation was that Farm Bureau Standing committees met on was held amendments ional continue its efforts in discouragMonday the 10th to consider buson unionization of labor. farm page 2) ing iness. Meeting were the Liveto should also make efforts r They stock Committee, the Field Crops (Continued on page 8) Committee, Farm Bureau Women, ued a a LeGrand Jarman. U.F.B. Field Services Director, tells Farm Bureau Women at Fish Lake the importance of their work in support of the Agricultural Tax Amendment. a rv sa |