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Show Farmers Asked To Raise Not Slaughter Their Hogs Says Schmutz A plea for a reduction in the slaughter of hogs by Washington county producers was voiced today by Wilford A. Schmutz, chairman of the Washington County USDA Defense board. Mr. Schmutz said the slaugter should be reduced 12 per cent in line with the decrease asked of Utah growers in the nation na-tion "Food for Freedom" program. He pointed out that this de-creaes de-creaes is one of slaughter and not one of production. Utah does not produce enough pork for home consumption, although she posses-es posses-es all the necessary means of being be-ing self-sufficient. By decreasing slaughter for 1942, the State US-DA US-DA Defense board hopes to effect ef-fect a material increase in the number of hogs in the state which will provide for increases in slaughter in ensuing years. Sheep Adequate for '42 The maintenance of this year's sheep numbers, augmented by this year's carry-over will prove adequate ade-quate for the 1942 supply and still leave a comfortable margin of safety. The increase in quality is required from both the standpoint of the consumer and production efficiency. The county board urges an increased vigilance in the predatory pred-atory animal program and added protection in line with detection and control of diseases. Such actions ac-tions will do much to assure the keeping of production numbers. Another essential part of the sheep program calls for the plant-(Continued plant-(Continued on page six) USDA Report (Continued from first page) ing of more rye on spring-fall ranges. Rye is an excellent cover crop, grows readily, and is a satisfactory sat-isfactory livestock feed. Farmers throughout the nation are being asked to recognize the possibility of a beef surplus and the low prices which may result; and that by increasing the slaughter slaugh-ter of beef, farmers can meet these two problems and at the same time benefit through high returns and improved herds. It has been estimated that 25 per cent of the beef cattle on Utah ranges are of an inferior quality. Old breeding stock should be marketed instead of the younger stock of better quality. And to receive the best returns under present price conditions, more yearlings and two-year-olds should be sold. Utah needs to conserve its rangeland. It should be remembered re-membered that the forage crop was above average on the range during the past year and that fture livestock numbers should be kept in line with range capacity. Poultry A Major Problem Poultry products form a major item in the foods this country is sending and must continue to send Britain in her crisis. However, this does not mean that a permanent perm-anent increase is needed. Poultry-men Poultry-men are urged to utilize all the coops, runs and brooders they have now, but not to go into debt for new equipment. A marked advance ad-vance in both quality and quantity can be effected through proper feeding. Improved feeds mean better layers and better quality chickens for meat. As far as egg production is concerned, any increase in-crease made during the first half of 1942 will have to be brought about through better care, man-agment, man-agment, and feeding of the hens and pullets already on hand. Hens held over for another year's production pro-duction should be carefully selected selec-ted so that only the low producers are marketed this fall. "America needs more dairy products for her boys in service," declares Mr. Schmutz, "and for the democracies of Europe who are helping to defend America. Even our own vilivian population needs three-fourths more milk in order to bring out diets up to a healthful standard. A 13 per cent general increase in ' milk production produc-tion in the state calls for anly a 2 per cent increase in the number of cows in the counties. The balance bal-ance of the set-up may be achieved achiev-ed through better care and man-agment man-agment of the cows we now have. The increase in number can be obtained the curtailment of the sale of good cows out of the county and by breeding well- grown thrifty heifers to freshen some two months earlier than commonly recommended. Farmers Asked to Comply Farmers of the county have been asked to comply with acreage acre-age allotments in wheat and in potatoes, and a 6 per cent reduction reduc-tion in oats. There now exists in the United States a 2-year supply of wheat, and potato supplies are reaching an all-time high. The reduction in the planting of oats is asked to aid in a 14 per cent increase in the planting of barley. A study of these two crops indicates indi-cates that barley is far superior to oats in yield and feed value. Increases have been asked for in dry beans, corn for silage and grain, pastures and all hay, as well as in barley. The barley, corn pastures and hay are needed for the increase in livestock and poultry production sought in the defense drive. These feeds will form the foundation of the programs pro-grams involving beef, sheep, pork, and poultry products. Vegetable Acreage Needed "The production expansion for vegetables can, of course", states Mr. Schmutz, "be reached through the planting of more acreage. The new goals for fruits, however, must be obtained through better care and management. Too much of Utah's annual fruit crop is lost through negligence. Proper spraying, spray-ing, pruning, watering and harvesting harv-esting are very important in obtaining ob-taining higher yields of fruits. "It is our patriotic duty to comply com-ply to our Government's request to make this increase. Farm prices are good. The financial return that farmers will realize on their investment of time and money will be ample compensation for , their effort". |