Show Drought Relief Solutions Rep Hep Henry Aldous Dixon stated last week that bat the drought nC effecting affecting much of the West and South is as disastrous as a major flood hurricane or earthquake Congress must go even further than it has already gone in legislating help to the adversely affected livestock industry i Dr Dixon stated in his speech on the floor of the House of Representatives To illustrate the extent of damage Rep Dixon pointed out that in the Southern South South- em ern em third of Utah only about 50 per vel cent of the normal cattle and sheep are grazing on Federal lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management according to toa toa a M. estimate This reduction was not forced by the Bureau of f Land Management Management Manage Manage- ment mont but was accepted voluntarily by the stockmen because they knew that there was not enough feed to sustain their flocks or herds he ho added Many of these stockmen must sell part or all aU of their foundation herds oven even though market prices are terribly low Dr Dixon eaid The market prices of beef cattle calves lambs sheep wool and poultry were wert i 72 64 72 62 2 7 74 85 Per per e cent nl df if t as aiM M tf 16 IG mt OM tt tl rm T rIde t of or Stole Stull tite Agnelli tUil colM t d Elated ted 1 Ito Ho la comp compared r d these thue with vUlt cotton etton wheat rice a and arni peanuts which sold old for tor 87 84 82 and 82 per pel tent rent of parity at the same time What other major domestic industry has been so hard hit ho he asked Drought relief loans and assistance to Utah during the tho past three and a n half years total almost 4 4 4 trillion millon with 1 million of this received during the past six months Dr Dixon asked Congress to consider a program of benefits for tor deferred grazing grazing graz graz- ing on Federal and private range lands This would mean offering a financial inducement in to stockmen to reduce their theft herds on overgrazed land while it is being being being be be- ing restored for future use This could save many producers from ruin rutn while at atthe atthe atthe the same time protect precious watersheds water- water sheds and assist in a more orderly and profitable marketing of livestock The Utah Representative furth further r stated that he intended to submit two other bills which would assist th the livestock live stock industry The first would authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to dispose of million bushels of milling low-milling quality wheat annually for feed The second bill would exempt livestock and poultry producers producers producers pro pro- from marketing quota penalties Incases Incases in incases cases where th too the o wheat grown on th the trie farmIs farm farmis is used entirely on the farm These possible solutions to the crippling crippling crippling crip crip- pling drought which has affected our Western lands are welcome indeed The Tho livestock industry seems to have been overlooked during luring this drought producers of farm products receiving the most attention attention attention at at- and aid One point which seems es especially es- es good is the plan to give rangelands range rangelands lands lunds a chance to recover after aCtor the dry spell Valuable sods which even in dry years remain to protect the top soil are fast disappearing in our area It will take several Beveral good years to bring them back to their normal conditions |