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Show Mt. Pleasant Pyramid Farm & Ranch Prairie Dog removed from endangered list Federal officials have removed the prairie dog as a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act. A revised census of the black-tailed prairie dog led the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine deter-mine that the animal is not likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future and no longer meets the Endangered Species Act definition of threatened. threat-ened. In addition, the Bush Administration teamed up with Utah State officials to announce a plan to control prairie dogs on federal lands adjacent to private lands by establishing a one-mile buffer between federal lands with prairie dog habitation and private lands. Both the state and federal government govern-ment made additional funds available avail-able to control dogs in response to complaints received from landowners. landown-ers. In 2000, the black-tailed prairie dogs habitat was estimated at 676,000 acres. Data gathered since that time raised this estimate to more than 1.8 million acres. Using an average of 10 animals per acre, officials believe there are over 18 million black-tailed prairie dogs in the country. David Smith, deputy assistant secretary for fish, wildlife and parks for the Department of Interior remarked, "These numbers simply do not warrant listing under the federal Endangered Species Act." Secretary Norton's decision to remove the prairie dog from the Endangered Species Act candidate list is lauded as a positive move that will help keep public lands available for use by wildlife and livestock grazers graz-ers alike. "The Public Lands Council (PLC) is grateful to the Bush Administration for listening to ranchers and responding respond-ing in a manner that will both help ranching operations and sustain prairie dog populations at reasonable levels," stated Jeff Eisenberg, executive execu-tive director for PLC. Meat Processing for 37 Years Custom Slaughtering & Processing Retail Sales Carcass Beef $1.89 per lb. Selling grain-fed beet we have f personally finished. A 12 of beef will average around $600-$650. Carcass Pork $1.39 per lb. Selling locally raised pigs, with a maple sugar cured ham and bacon, A 1 '2 of pork will run around $125. 609 West Arrowhead Trail, Spanish Fork (East off Exit 256) 801-798-3081 Fax 801-798-8671 CONCERNS Continued from Page 10 ter wheat. This would not have been as big of a problem had grain production produc-tion been limited in other areas of the United States. However, many areas of the Midwest have had abundant precipitation which resulted in near record levels of production and prices that have not increased as much as fanners in Utah hoped. Dairy farmers in Utah have faced a different problem. Milk production increased rapidly following the high prices that occurred in 2001. As a result, milk prices plummeted plum-meted in 2002 and much of 2003 to levels that were lower than had existed for more than two decades. This, coupled with record .high prices for hay during the winter of 2002-03, resulted in low net returns. Government milk loss payments provided pro-vided some relief for producers pro-ducers when milk prices were especially low. The increased prices for milk that have occurred in the last part of 2003, however, have been September 2004 Page 13 especially welcomed. The increase in the prices for cattle will likely result in record incomes for beef producers who have been able to maintain herd numbers and normal calf crops. Unfortunately, these prices have not been able to offset the losses that occurred as a result of reductions in herd size that were brought about by the drought. These reductions have particularly affected producers in the southern part of Utah and it will be some time before these producers pro-ducers will be able to recover. Courtesy of the Governor's Council of Economic Advisors 't ; - to! t , . . - if Viz- , . - sCT .-V jt V ! f " v Family Fc?st Fe((eGieM(jfi(m Our Family Helping Your Family Since 1947 Services ShareSavingsAccounts Free Share Draft Checking New & Used Auto Loans Mortgage Loans 1st Mortgages Home Equity Loans Construction Loans On-LineRA.L (Personal Access on Line) www.familyfirstcu.com Free On-line Banking NCUA Locations Main Office 175 East 200 South Orem, UT 8405a Vineyard Branch 99 North Geneva Road Orem.UT 84057 Pleasant Grove Branch 366 East State Road Pleasant Grove, UT 84062 Springville Branch 1750 West 645 South Springville, UT 84663 (801) 225-6080 (801)224-7618 (801) 785-6647 (801) 491-4270 LENDER |