| OCR Text |
Show TheSalt Lake Tribune NATION Saturd: May22. 1999 Besieged Sheep Ranchers Await Clinton’s Decision Protection from imports sought by declining industry THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CONRAD, Mont. — Edward Jones always has run cattle on his have a domestic industry anymore that can standupforitself.” ranch near Conrad. Butfirst and The turning point came when Congress decidedto phase out the foremost he is a sheep man ‘Sheep are closer to humanity Wool Act starting in 1992, industry leaders say than anyother type of animal ones, who owns one of Monlargest remaining sheep tang ranches, “A sheep man’salittle more down-to-earth than a cattle man.” Established in the early 1950s. the act was paid for by a modest tariff on imported wool. It includ- ed perks for sheepranchers, such as an incentive payment to en- courage growers to produce more Earthy heis. as heleans out the open windowof his mud-splat- competitive wool. The Wool Act also helped pay for educational tered pickup. It’s lambing season and and Jones, 74, bellows ordersin a thick Scottish burr as fast as cluding marketers who promoted domestic lamb. and shuttle themintothestable eral budget fund and debate arose as to whether the Wool Act was ranch handscanpluck theshiver ing newbornsout ofa birthing pen Che holes in his red plaid work shirt are deceiving. Sheep have made Edward Jones a wealthy man. . But thesedaystheflock is bare- ly breaking even. Prices paid to lamb producers nationwide slipped 40 percent between spring 1997 and December1998. Three years ago, lamb was about $1.05 a pound. Now it’s hovering just below 90cents, up froma low of about 60 cents last month Wool prices are so poor that promotionai activities, in: But at somepoint thetariff rey enuewas channeledinto the gensupported by tariffs or coming out of taxpayers’ pockets. Con gress decided to ax the program e fought that tooth and nail. but we're actually so small now and werepresent so few voters and such a small part of com- merce in the United States that we were unable to accomplish it,” Meanwhile, sheep ranchers were struggling with decreased funding for predator control Jones’ son Llew says he some- tougher environmental _pretec- business. and a strong U.S. dollar that is times wonders whyhe’sstill in the In the past year alone, at least 200 Montana sheep ranches have folded or replaced their sheep with other livestock, according to Bob Gilbert, secretary-treasurer of the Montana Woolgrowers Association che main culprit is Down Un- “Since 1993. cheap imports from New Zealand and Australia have grabbed nearly a third of the domestic lamb market. Theflowof imports has become a flood since 1997, about the time the industry lost its team of na- tional lamb marketers. “Costco nowcarries Australian Wagne Arnst Th Ranch handJulio Palomino of Peru carries newborn lambs froma cold, wet corral to a lambing shed at the Edward Jones ranch near Conrad., Mont. In the past year, at least 200 Montanasheepranchers havebeenforced out of the businessbyfalling prices Hibbard said tion regulations on grazing land making it easy for imports to un: ers. 1995. The influx continues. Aus. trade action is tralian and New Zealand produe- dercut American farm produets ers are expected to boost their Ranchers could do little about most of those setbacks, Hibbard percent to 30 percent in 1999 said, Marketing efforts paid for bythe Wool Act had been one of the industry's onlytools. “There were a whole bunch of things happening out therein the sheep industry,” Hibbard said ‘When welost the Wool Act it was kind of the crowning blow.” Alarmed, the industryfiled a case with the International Trade Commission in September 1998 The ITC voted unanimously in lamb exports an additional 20 As imports flooded in, prices began to drop in 1998 Although lamb has recovered to just below 90 cents a pound. Gilbert expects the price to drop again when lambs are ready for cal way of controlling weeds. ‘Thefamily runs 1,200 ewes on its 7,000-acre ranch. Ten years ago, Montanahadupto 250 sheep ranches with 1,000 head or more. And even sheep ranches are highly diversified. The Joneses alsoraise cattle and the ITC's recommendation are about The Jones’ ranch is also among the state's oldest “We've put generations into pened yet. Jones, taking shelter from a growers’ hands. Gilbert estimates Hibbard attributes the slight Even though it hasn't hap: the president hasn't decided, it’s having « that’s very good news for grow: ready, a psychological e Gilbert estimates. Today there planes werecargocarriers and the inspections could of all US-registered Boeing 727s late Friday. after mechanics found severe wear on wires running Wecertainly hopethe impactwill be limited, but wecan't be sure,” said FAA spokesman Les Dorr The FAA ordered similar inspections last May of the 727’s cousin, the Boeing 7 That order cameafter hanies f posed wires and holes in the conduit chafing was believed to havebeen cat vibration and the holes werebelieved t The “telegraphic airworthiness directive” issued by the agency gives airlines five days to make the air andelectricity could spark an explos inspections on airplanes with more than 50.000 hoursofflight time. On planeswith less flight time the inspections must be madewithin 10 days or be fore a plane accumulates 30.000 hours of flight time. whichever is later. Theorder affects 1,052 airplanes, whichareflown by the major passenger carriers and cargo compa nies such as FedEx and UPS. FAA officials were unclear what effect the order would have on the powerlines through the fuel tar caused byelectrical sparks Officials were concerned that the mix that which downed TWA Flight 800. Investigators still do not know what plane. a Boeing 747. to explode o} N.Y. in July 1996. They suspect f fuel lank wereignitedby electricity Since then. the have been examining the wiring configuratior sin lar planesand orderinginspectior k-to-F aris The blast, whichoccurredon a New flight, killed all 230 aboard Urgent spring snowstorm in a barnbuilt in 1912 by his grandfather. who came from a sheep-ranching Magnificent lake front home & assets will besold at auction open to the 5 1 site at 6300 N, Iceland, Saratoga Springs, Utah (25 Ail household itemswill be sold regardless of value bids accepted on house are subject to confirmation, original asking price 1,500,000 million. Finding good ranch hands is equally daunting. Most large Whereas expensive chemical weedkillers lose their effective. ness about three years after a spray. sheep keep munching They also return the farmer's in- vestment with lambs and wool, Kott said But it’s unlikely they ever will return to their former numbers. a @ELEcTRONIcS | Come See The Broadcast Premiere | of DISH Networks igh Definition Television Link-up! Once again, ULTEMATE brings you the furniture Television technology! Weinvite you tostop by any MOVABLES INCL Friday May 21* ¢ 7:00 pm. Saturday May 22” « 11:00 am. FURNITURE # Fine t ss ones collectables “Out Sheepare the most economi- Kott said verylatest in High Definition House y. One of the reasons I still farm is myparents,” Jones said. of respect to my parents And the sheep's voracious ap: petite for weeds such as leafy spurgeandspotted knapweedwill thout Notice of * Fine ments his incomewith a computer business anda fitness club bespread between five and 10 da cal sparking around the wires. which could trigger a fuel tank explosion This condition, if not corrected, could result in ignition of fuel vaporsin a fuel tank and a fuel tank grain. Unlike his father, Jones also supple. producing a fine wool,” said Llew traveling public, because about one-third of the WASHINGTON — TheFederal Aviation Adminis- the FAA told 727 operators. Kott, extension sheep Montana State University tana profit until it reaches about $1.40 FAA Orders EmergencyInspections on 727s explosion,” The animals brought such high of the state whereshort grass and poor water make sheep better survivorsthancattle lion head of cattle. Most growers can't make a decent percent between 1993 and 1997 Theagencysaid mechanics found signsof electri although not always, brought higher prices in Moniana, comparedto 2.6 mil- ering around 50 cents a pound record 70.2 million pounds through the fuel tanks on twoairplanes. wool has traditionally, guarantee their future in Mon- recovery in lambpricespartly to THE ASSOCIATED PRESS country’s best wool. Only Texas No matter low tough things get, sheep ranches always will survive in the southeastern part ulation peaked in 1910 at 5.3 mil. lion Today there are 380.000 sheep hasuntil June 4 to accept or deny the committee's recommendation The commission found that U.S. lamb imports increased 47 tration ordered emergencyinspectionsof the wiring state soon boasted some of the ing Clinton's decision lamb and Safeway carries New Lambimports in 1998 reached a Sheep were made for Mon tana’s arid landscape. and the Americans don’t want hard. lonely work tending sheep a pound. Wool meanwhileis hov- anybody in the industry on a constant basis to get out and make sure domestic producers are rep- growers Association. “(The mar- state ago, growers wereenjoying $1.05 cent of the 1998 wool clip is still in ket] is wide open because we don't ready 3.7 million sheep in the prices that ranchers named them mortgage busters” and the pop- orderfour years of restrictions on imported lamb consisting of tar- resented,” said Chase Hibbard president of the Montana Wool- Clinton's Cabinet likely will re mindhimthat Austraba and New Zealand are excellent trading partnersandallies, Hibbardsaid If it isn't [approved], import ers will say hurrah and pound their chests and be back herein full force,” Hibbard said. “It will have profound effect onour mar seale ranches hire help {1 m Peru and other countries because The Jones familyis among the ranches that are anxiously await Three years Between30 percent and35 per- iffs, quotas or both. Thepresident baekground in Seotland. When the Jones family arrived in Montana in 1896there were al- slam-dunk ket slaughter this fall. Marchto ask President Clinton to Zealand lamb and we don't have Hibbardsaid en 0. he doesn’t believe the That's 30 percent « 1997 figure and a71 percent hike from 4 ULTMATE location to see HB© d'shi a live HDTVBroadcast SOIR MUCH MUCH MORE from DISH Network & HBO. Saturday May 22, 1999! This Estate is located on the North shore of Utah Lake Affording one of the most spectacular views, A person would wish to see. The home Is Victorian Gothic & nothing has been sacrificed in its construction & finish. There is # formal grand staircase, Trompe L'oeil Paintings, Hand Painted wash Basins, A Juliet Balcony, Alabaster LightItalian Marble Floors, Cherry Wood Cabinetry, Murals & Outstanding Lighting Fixtures. This 6200 | $Q Ft. Home has 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 3 ae 3 tios @ Unparalleled ¥ 6 tall Goddexs of Justice Ot on conves sittife 2 Hi (SR 2 1-15 From DIRECTION: From 1:15e852 > 6 mies 7 saratoga drive Go ‘Auctioneer M Tabel #7308 « Phone 1-800-903-22 560 yds & twin Fight c SR 73 to SR 68 4.2 miles arenirance pets. torn toh go 50 west sland deve signs from junction of 68 Terms Chech wi More Channels. More Choices> Salt Lake City Be nape 466-7766 1130 E. Brickyard Rd Orem i 225-2211 1375 S. State St lO, Visa, MC. Amex. Discover —o- Murray , 2 6248 . tate St. Layton : 543-3313 879 W. Hillfield Rd. ELECTRONICS BIG NAMES.LITTLE PRICES. GUARANTEED. rT - |
