OCR Text |
Show Co---' WESTERN AMERICANA .Salt Lake City, Utah Volume XIX No. 3 AAarch, 1973 SMV Bill Becomes Law Utah Legislature has g bill a providing for passed on emblems vehicles designed for speeds under twenty The 1973 slow-movin- five miles per hour. Federal regulation, under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, required the use of- SMV signs on vehicles designed for that speed. The sighs were only required on vehicles operated by employees. It was further noted that law enforcement officers didnt police the - ' enforce the Trouble only regulations. in an accident after developed roadways to which SMV signs were not in use. Utah Farm Bureau has made available SMV signs and components for mounting for a year or two as part of farm safety. These signs will still be available through county Farm Bureau offices and leaders, to insure that safety can be maintained, as well as compliance with the new Utah act. The essential elements of the law are as follows: g Section 1. All vehicles operated, moved or drawn on public highways, slow-movin- roads or streets at speeds of miles per hour or less 25 shall display a slow-movin- g vehicle emblem. Such emblem shall be mounted base down, on the rear of the vehicle, as near the center of the vehicle as practicle, at a height of three feet or more from ground to base, and shall be maintained in a reasonably clean and reflective condition. g A (1) vehicle includes all farm f arm equipment, machinery, implements of husbandry, highway construction and maintenance slow-movin- vehicles, public utility vehicles and all other similar vehicles designed to be and which are operated, moved or drawn under ordinary circumstances at speeds of 25 miles per hour or less. (2) A vehicle shall consist of a slow-movin- emblem g truncated equilateral triangle, having a minimum height of 14 inches, with a red reflective boarder not less than 1 inches in width and a fluorescent orange center. The Utah State Road Commission shall have power to promulgate and adopt further standards and specifications in conformity with those used in other states for the uniform g identification of slow-movin- vehicles. Section 2. This act shall take effect on September 1, 1973. Compliance with the new law will reflect an improved safety record for farm operators using and slow-movin- other g equipment. Other states have experienced dramatic reductions in accidents both for night and daytime incidents. Farm Bureau Requests Predator Hearing Utah stockmen have experienced great economic losses from coyotes killing lambs, ewes and calves throughout Utah. Reports are coming in that some stockmen are selling out and changing to other interests to avoid great economic loss. The Commerce Committee of the U.S. Senate announced hearings to be held February 28 and March 1 on predator control. The shortness of the notice evoked a telegram request for additional time and a protest of the short notice. We strongly protest such short notice. Predator control is vital livestock industry. Totally inadequate time to prepare testimony, C. Booth Wallentine, executive vice president of Utah Farm Bureau said in the telegram to Senator Warren G. Magnuson, Chairman of the Senate Comto-Uta- mittee. Wallentine requested Commerce Committee, that hearings have been cancelled. Farm Bureau has been successful in obtaining a delay for these important hearings. Senator Cotton didnt indicate in the communication when the hearings would be is up to the Chairman, Senator Warren G. Magnuson. We expect Senator Magnuson will advise as soon as a ng time has been arranged for hearings on predator control. Stockmen would be well advised to gather pertinent information that would be helpful whn word is received of hearing schedule. Insurance Meeting March 21 President Elmo W. Hamilton, announced annual policy holder meetings will be held for Farm Bureau affiliated companies on March 21, 1973. Country Mutual Life will convene at 10:00 a. m. and Utah Farm Bureau Insurance Company at 2:00 p.m. Both companies will meet in the Farm Bureau Board Room. insurance Policy holders interested I id a shou nies nnua hea r the attend, compa reports and otherwise take part in these two important company Multi-count- y sessions were held Farm Bureau Leaders Find District Meetings Successful Farm Bureau leaders district attending meetings during February demonstrated keen interest in legislative activities at County the Capitol. As usual, bills were presented to the law makers that would affect agriculture in a variety of ways should they become law. The meeting agenda did not allow time for thorough discussion of all bills or even those just related to agriculture. Land use planning legislation provoked considerable discussion. Included in the land use subject matter were bills to regulate subdivision construction, control of streams, land tu&ted vfe mile on either side of highways, including Interstate and other major roadways to be controlled by law, and the broad area of land planning as may be required to conform to federal statutes. Concern was expressed that supervision and enforcement of land use provisions would be left to state and federal agencies removed from the conditions and problems of the local areas. The consensus was that acceptability of such land use programs would depend on regulation on a county or local level. It was felt necessary to work with legislators to ammend and revise legislation into such form as would be acceptable. Discussion of national indebtedness, inflation, and related programs sparked interest of farm leaders in attendance. C. Booth executive vice Wallentine, of Utah Farm Bureau president reviewed the composition of the new Congress. It was suggested that few congressmen will not have any major interest in solving or avoiding problems that may come to agriculture. It appears that the number of of (House congressmen Representatives) that actually represent farmers by virtue of in affiliated meetings. a minimum of six weeks delay. Such short notice will not allow time for adequate presentation of testimony on this growing problem to Utah stockmen, he continued. Similar telegrams were sent to Senator Norris Cotton and Utah Senators Wallace F. Bennett and Frank Moss, encouraging them to intervene in the interest of Utah livestock producers. Word has just been received at press time from Senator Norris Cotton, member of the Senate County leadersmeet in department work in Ogden. Similar over the state. is only five, Wallentine said. About 25 report they represent farmers in their districts. There are 99 who have no farmers in their districts. Also significant is the 69 new members which is a good portion of the 435 constituency total in the House of representatives. Having 13 new members of the Senate is quite unusual also. With a view to the composition of Congress and related success with the Agriculture Act, of 1970 Farm Bureau anticipates supporting a continuation of the present law with appropriate ammendments instead of seeking a completely new farm act. Impounding of funds imposed by President Nixon was discussed at the leadership meetings, and AFBF and state resolutions were reviewed. Farm Bureau members across the country, speaking through voting delegates defined the most pressing need as one of balancing the federal budget. In this connection leaders recognize that farm and ranch people will have to accept their share of cuts to accomplish this goal. Across the board cuts have been indicated and more are forthcoming. In this light the importance of REAP and other funds seemed less important to main- image favorable to Farm Bureau and activities agriculture generally. Information people establish a good will relationship with newspaper and radio media people. In this capacity acceptability of news items for publishing is enhanced. Farm Bureau members are entitled to learn about organization activities and what is being done to improve the economic climate in our raral areas. Having equipment available for taking pictures to accompany news stories will enhance the readability of farm stories, Sumsion reported. Efforts to get access to such equipment will proe rewarding. In addition to land use planning, Jake Fuhriman reviewed activities of Utah Farm Bureau Service Company during 1972. It is through this corporate affiliate of the Federation that the tire, seed corn and other programs are conducted. They have proved beneficial to members and efforts are being made to improve and expand such tain. activities. Federal deficites have grown rapidly in the immediate past year or two and the groups in each of the district meetings concured with the need for greater fiscal of the meetings held in the seven Refreshments or lunch was served during the session at most districts. The meetings were rated successful and very worthwhile by mem-ber- s responsibility on the part of the ..county officers and board attending. federal government. It is apparent as as hard that agriculture is hit any major industry from inflationary budgeting. 3 In addition to fiscal and legislative activities, instructions 15 a for county secretaries and inZ S3 formation directors were given: 12 1 Secretaries were helped in making the change that occurs in remitting membership records and funds. Changes are made to make procedures easier and more current. This year was a year of major change in the method of handling funds and the instruction a. x-appeared to be helpful. Information directors were eager to learn how they could be Z J' most effective leaders in the county structure. Neil D. Sumsion, 0 state director of information explained the information directors role as one of establishing an is? s gel bb: |