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Show Messenger-Enterpris- 4. Home and School: Utah agriculture outlook is 'promising', says USU marketing BY JOHN DE VILRISS Utah State University Considering the present bleakness of the U.S. economy, Utah agriculture for 1992 looks fairly promising, said a Utah State University Economics department head. In general, improvementin this sector should continue through most of 1992, said DonaldSnyder.USUExtension marketing and specialist economics department head. The economics professor was one of eight speakers during a special meeting forecasting Utahs agricultural condition for 1992 at the State Capitol Building in Salt Lake City Nov. 12. During his presentation, Snyder said areas of concern that could hamper Utahs agricultural outlook for the coming year include lingering the problems, drought controversy surrounding grazing on public lands, wilderness issues and the U.S. economy in general. Although drought conditions have been alleviated around most of the state followingaheavier-than-norma- l precipitation this past fall, he said given the length of the drought, it will take several moisture years of above-averag- e to replenish depleted water supplies. He questioned the impact newly declared wilderness areas will have on the ranching industry in the state. What will be the status of grazing in those areas, he asked. What about areas adjacent to wilderness lands -wilderness buffer the areas. Will grazing be allowed to continue under a grandfather clause or will the establishment of wilderness areas effectively exclude grazing activity? Snyder said he is also concerned about the weak U.S. and world economy at present. This has serious implications for the United States and Utah agriculture. The United States relies on world markets to purchase more than of its production. The following briefly summarizes how U.S. and Utah agriculture is expected to fare over the coming year. - While crop production in the United States and worldwide is lower than the previous year, livestock and poultry production one-thir- d Vital Links by specialist items. This indicates food is becoming an increasingly good deal for consumers since a smaller percentage of disposable income will be required to buy food in 1992 than 1991, Bailey said. -- - Almost 70 percent of cash receipts received by Utah farmers and ranchers are derived from cattle, milk, sheep and hay. The USDA forecasts for 1992 suggest that profits will be equal to or slightly lower for most of these commodities in 1992 compared to 1991, Bailey said. Consequently, one must conclude that net farm income realized by Utah farmers, as a whole, will be slightly lower in 1992 than 1991, he said. However, net farm income in Utah has been at a relatively high level since 1988 and farming and ranching will remain only slightly less profitable in Utah in 1992 than in 1991. - The dairy industry has suffered through unstable prices for milk at the farm for the past few years, said Jay Andersen, USU Extension public policy specialist. Present programs to stabilize prices have been relatively ineffective. Recent price increases since probably will lose their punch by early 1992, so that prices for 1992 may be near the average -- mid-199- 1 for 1991. overcapacity in Long-ru- n production agricultural continues to dominate U.S. agriculture, Andersen said. About 60 million acres of 300 million cropland acres in the United States have been removed from crop production, Prices are still he said. sufficiently low to cause concern. Thus, a 20 percent excess capacity hangs over any possibility of price increases in the crop sectors. - Cattle prices in 1992 are expected to be slightly lower and production costs about equal to those experienced in 1991. While competition between meats for consumer dollars will be intense, John Ginzel, agricultural economist with the USDA, predicts the keenest competition will be between pork and -- chicken. Per capita beef consumption is expected to remain relatively constant in 1992. -- isexpandingandwillreach new record levels for total meat production in 1992, said James Donald, chairperson of the U.S. Department of Agricultures World Agricultural Outlook Board. The USDA projects U.S. agricultural exports will increase from about $37.5 billion in 1991 to about $39 billion in 1992 - an increase of about 4 percent. - While wheat supplies are expected to be tight going into 1992, the size of the 92 crop is still uncertain since it depends most on weather conditions during the spring and early summer. However, the stocks-to-us- e ration suggest that U.S. wheat prices should remain relatively strong in 1992, said DeeVon Bailey, USU Extension marketing and outlook specialist. The USDA predicts milk prices will increase by about 5 percent in 1992. - The USDA projects total U.S. farm receipts (gross income) will be slightly higher in 1992 than 1991. However, farm expenses will be higher in 1992 than in 1991 because of increased acreage planted and higher prices for fuel, fertilizer and pesticides. - Increases in food prices are again during 1991 to be less than price anticipated increases for other non-foo-- - -- -- - -- -- d Utah sheep herders have experienced one of the least profitableyears in the industrys history. As a result, a number of operators have gone out of business. Despite a large reduction in supply, an increase in lamb prices is not expected because of an increase in the supply of other meats, said Bruce Godfrey, USU Extension farm management specialist. -- - - While the turkey i ndustry continues to experience strong growth in production and consumption, this does not bode well for turkey producers in Utah. meat Increased production in all sectors, coupled volume of with a record-settin- g storage, will ha ve turkey a chilling effect on turkey prices during most of 1992, Godfrey said. on cold Bumper yields in 1991s apples and tart cherries kept a number of Utah producers from going bankrupt, said Anthony -- - Hatch, USU Extension fruit specialist. The peach and sweet cherry harvests do not look promising in the near future because so many of these trees were killed or heavily damaged by cold temperatures in December of 1990. Replanting will be necessary. - Prices the past three or four years have been very good to cattle producers. However, there is some evidence the expansionhas reached the point where prices may be adversely affected, Snyder said. -- 4 LILY f A ESKELSEN President, Utah Education Association The television and I have a classic relationship. Some time back, I seriously contemplated a divorce from the T. V., but I realized that it would probably get custody of my, children. So Ive learned to cope. My Trivia ... X i !Ji i jI Webster's definition: trlvkr. Insignificant or Inessential matters, that which comes from the street, of little Importance or significance, trifling, ordinary, commonplace. inane show with my children. Using even these shows as lessons is an art form. Im getting love-hat- e rather Beth's definition: trivia: hogwash. good. My definition: trivia: balderdash, but a lot of fun. Whos the smart-aleckid whos so rude to everyone? What do you think Id do if you talked that way to me? k by Max relationships with the networks. didnt have a television in the early years. It was a radical concept, but my husband and I real aloud to each other for the first two years of our marriage. ' Later, we allowed Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers into our home. . Still later, we tried to limit boob- -' tubing to two hours a day, then to programs of which parents had prior approval, and even to paying for television time with minutes of reading. Currently, were doing the whine until your parents give in method. My children find it most effective. One thing I have done, however, is force myself to sometimes sit and watch some Call E. Wheres my red sweat shirt? I snorted last Saturday as I reluctantly decided to go outside and do some late (very late) yard clean up. I dont know where it is, but surely you can sniff it out, Beth snorted back. I bought this red sweat shirt over 40 years ago when I lived in Wyoming. Back in those days the color of hunter orange hadnt been invented yet and the law said a hunter had to wear red. So I bought this bright red sweat shirt. I found it to be comfortable and warm to wear, so I began to wear it every Saturday. But after a bit it began to fade and I finally convinced Beth she was washing it too much. She and quit washing it altogether. But I slipped it acquiesced into the laundry every couple of years whether it needed it or not. It eventually got a hole in front and the sleeves got quite frayed. I liked it. I think every man deserves to go unshaven and wear disreputable clothes occasionally, especially on Saturdays. It kind of buoys us up and helps us to accept the fact that we have to wear a tie on Sunday - or even on other days if youre a lawyer or school teacher. But I think every lawyer and school teacher - and newspaperman should have a faded red sweat shirt to wear on his day off. That shirt was an old, old friend of mine, and I didnt want family has gone through, They turn the laugh track countless evolutions in our. on whenever she makes a joke about her fat friend. And the friend laughs, too. How do you think her friend really feels? The detective is breaking into that office to get evidence. In real life, he wouldnt be able to use that evidence in court. We Page 2 Thursday, January 2, 1992 e, See that policeman shooting into the crowd as the bad man escapes. Would a real policeman do that? Even with reasonable rules for television, your kids are still going to choose some pretty dumb things to watch. Learn to live with it, but also, learn so use such shows to teach your children to be critical viewers -not victims of the networks vast -- wasteland. -- Letters to the Editor to lose it. Ignoring Beths sarcastic Lttr to th Edrtor from our roodtr. Lotttro mutt bt grd, bo in good tssto, not titndorout, and limttod to SOO word. Wt rotorvo tht right to withhold ntmtt with outticwnt cauao. Alto, on Ittltr ptr ptrton por month. pteaao , W invr Can you afford to shop at home? To I do believe in the shop at home and keep our tax money at home theory. However if you live in Sanpete and especially in Manti, you cant afford to do so. The price some of the merchants charge for goods, are way out of line. The price of drugs, vitaminsor even a flower for the wife is just out of reach for most folks. If you make a list of the things you need every couple of weeks, you can drive up north or down to Richfield and get all of the items on your list and save more than the price of gas it takes to get there and back. I would like to be able to I became suspicious. I knew Beth didnt like it and might even take steps to assure its demise. But I didnt dare come right out and accuse shop at home. But like a lot of people around here I dont have alotofextra money to give away. I hope you dont get me wrong. I love Manti and Sanpete County. I was born and raised here, but if we are going to make the Editor: everything her of shirticide. When did you wash it last? I asked hopefully. I think it was Eastertime , she said, and then added as an afterthought, 1986 that is. You didnt give it to Deseret Industries or tear it up for rags, did you? I asked accusingly. I should say not," she said haughtily. Nobody in his right mind would want it, and its a cinch DI couldnt restore it to decency. As for using it for rags, I can get cleaner ones at the office after Lloyd has cleaned the press with them." work out the merchants are going to have to help us out. A few of them, will ha ve to get a grip on real jty and price merchandise accordingly. I was somewhat miffed, but not surprised. I knew shed be happier when the shirt had gone to its great reward. Well, I cant work outside without it, I said firmly, turning on the TV again. realize that a letter to the Editor will not change things, but I feel better now. Maybe the Grocery store will help us out. Thank you, I also : About 30 minutes later, she appeared, the sweat shirt in her hand. Guess where I found it? she said as she stood it up on the floor. Where? I gasped. On the floor of the hall closet, under that box of old gloves, she announced. A likely story," I said foolishly. Listen, you old goat, get smart with me and Ill wash it again," she blurted. Anything but that," I mumbled as I slipped into it and went outside. Neil Hall News stories in 1991 (Continued from Page 1) Salt Lake man, Stanley Williams, dies when his plane Canyon. crasheshigh up Governor Norm Bangerter makes Sanpete County Capital for a Day". Governor spends day in Sanpete. School Manti High Cheerleaders win Best Award" in national competition. Senate strikes down grazing fee increase. The proposed fee would have severely impacted Sanpete County livestockmen had it been enacted. proposal for a fee to improve Manti streets. Three overdue hunters rescued by Sanpete Search and October Department is organized. A Thanksgiving Day fire destroys Valley Furniture Store 12-Mi- le Id like to make a couple of corrections in the recent story we ran about Carl Braithwaite, who is retiring as a school bus driver after 20 years service. Rescue. Snow enrollment sets new record of 2,158 students. We said Carl had driven his bus up the sheep trail and down Canyon. Not so, Carl says. He did drive a Farm Bureau group all over Sanpete and up to the Round Knoll and back. Ephraim City Council OKs 12-Mi- le dance hall license. Ephraim City receives All-Arou- awards in Salt Lake Tribune Civic Beautification Program. We also said that Carl had driven his bus a distance equal to five times around the earth. That figure should have been 15 instead of five, which is quite a few more miles. Sanpete Valley Hospital installs new telemetry system. Central Utah Academy graduates three. Sanpete Former Ephraim Mayor, L.R. Burr, is honored on his County The single accident Carl had was when his bus was broadsided by a truck in Ephraim, not Salt Lake as reported. Weve given Bruce Jennings 40 lashes, and want to wish Carl many happy retirement years. In addition to being a super bus driver, hes a nice guy. Fire I in Gunnison. 90th birthday. Kim Bateman, Ephraim Contracts are awarded to doctor, is honored by University upgrade Ephraim Citys of Utah School of Medicine as a utilities. Medical December; Distinguished Alumnus. Highly lauded presentation November; of The Nutcracker is New city council members ; ! performed in Mt. Pleasant. were elected in Manti, Ephraim ' Fire destroys mobile home and Sterling. In Manti Barbara in Sterling. Wintch, Kay Peterson and Galen Jackson Ogden wins Christiansen were named as National Geography Bee. City Council members. New ( New grocery store opens irT council members in Ephraim included Cliff Birrell, Barry Manti. Yule Candles are presented Baker and Mark Anderson. In t Sterling, new board members , to Jeanette Hatch, Manti, and are Tim Denton, Mary Hanson, j Hazel White, Ephraim. Bernice Ottosen and Helen Retail sales for last year were Thomas. up 6.7 in Utah, but down 6.2 Manti voters rejected a j in Sanpete County. remarks about its odoriferousness, kept looking. After checking my closet, hers, the two guest rooms (we call them that because it sounds high class), I still couldnt find it. I These two women were discussing reincarnation. I dont know if I would rather come back wealthy or gorgeous," said the first. Well," replied the second, either way change." itll be a drastic Not so trivial: The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated. -- William James r b , mm i Glen K. Lund, MD Ear Nose Throat Monthly Clinic at ! Emergency Phone Numbers MantiSterling: 911 Ephraim: 45 Sanpete Valley Hospital Call A Field Service Officer from the Veteransof Foreign Wars will be at the Ephraim Job Service Center on: Jan. 13, 1992 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. He Is available to assist In understanding andapplylng for VA benef Its.Thls Is a free service and Is available to all, whether VFW members or not. |