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Show Food for thpught Commodify briefs The Nixon Challenge One morning this month we woke up and found that a new president had been elected. Next January will see the first Re- publican president in the White House since the Eisenhowers moved out in December of 1960. Kind of reminds me of a story they tell about Calvin Coolidge. Seems he was standing with a companion on Pennsylvania Avenue. "Who lives there? asked the friend indicating the White House."Nobody," says Coolidge. "They all just come and go." It may be a transient housing unit, but its residents are some mighty powerful people and the passing events of months and years make it even more important every day. President-elec- t Nixon will move into the White House in to face a host of problems. We will almost certainly January be still embroiled in a major war inSoutheast Asia - - the most expensive and frustrating war we've ever been involved in. Nixon's new administration will also be facing a critical situation for the American dollar. Our gold drain still continues to weaken the position of our money in the intenational market They will also be faced with the dilemna of trying to keep voters happy while attempting to check the unprecedented rate of inflation stemming from massive government spending. The new administration will need to come to grips with the major divisions in American life - - the unhappiness, distrust and outright revelliousness of many groups within our society. Nixon will have to deal with the problem of riots that won't go away by themselves, increasing crime and the other challenges that have perplexed the best efforts of the present administration. America's farmers are looking eagerly to the arrival of the new president and his cabinet in Washington, hoping for a new direction in federal farm programs. A little more than a month ago, Congress finally approved a one year extension of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1965, making it effective through December of 1970. It was to expire at the end of next year. This one-yeexpension was no victory for the administration who had asked Congress to make it permanent The fact that it was only extended for a year, strikes many observers as a dear sign that the House of Representatives intended only to push the matter on the other side of the election with a resolve by many of them to have another look in January, when the new pattern of leadership would be made clear. These farm bills, of course, come from the Congress and not the White House, yet a strong president can wield a tremendous amount of influence in the halls of Congress. Farmers are hoping that Mr. Nixon will point out to the nation just how poor these programs have been. Last year's farm programs cost more than 3.8 billiondollars and have resulted in even lower wheat and feed grain prices for the farmers. For the month ending October 15, prices paid by farmers rose three points to 358 percent of the 1910-191- 4 base period average. This is 14 points higher than a year ago. Prices received by farmers fdl five points during the month to a level of 262 percent of the 1910-191average. This combination resulted in a parity ratio of 73. This is 50 points below the all time high established in October 1946. The farm support programs have been around for more than 30 years in one form or another and have never achieved parity - - the original goal The simple fact is that supply management on this scale doesn't work. The farm programs are a failure that Mr. and Mrs. Citizen have to pay for. Many of this country's farmers are hoping for a change and positive leadership by Mr. Nixon. This was pointed out by the heavy Nixon vote in farming counties in the Midwest and in many other farm states including Utah, which gave its four electoral votes to Mr. Nixon. ar 4 Don't let it be you! vember 1 Utah was Officially declared hog cholera free in February, 1966, but lost that status a year ago because of a hog cholera outbreak. With Utah, there are now 10 states which are hog cholera free. They are Alaska, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, Michigan, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. Forty states are now in the final stamping out phase of the eradication program. LIVESTOCK: first c The meat inspection branch of USDA is also stepping up its efforts to detect residues in meats. This year, USDA meat inspectors plan to randomly check 5,000 beef, hog, and sheep carcasses. This is five times more than they checked last year. In addition, USA inspectors have sharpened their eyes for suspicious signs of residues during routine inspections. Any suspect carcass is pulled off the packing plant line and a sample is tested for drug residue. If the carcass contains residues, it may be condemned and is then a loss either to the packer or to the feeder. The actions by FDA and USDA are all part of the governments increasing concern for the safety of the publics health. It comes on the heels of a new meat inspection bill passed last year and in the midst of a new poultry inspection bill this year. And with continuing emphasis on public safety by such critics as Ralph Nader, this is not likely to be just a temporary concern. Whether or not you agree with the critics, FDA, USDA, or other concerned individuals, is not the most important point. What is most important, is the fact that you as a livestock feeder or producer, could help determine what future residue action FDA and N.Y.K. Lines completed its first trans-Pacifvoyage on October 4, it chalked up two other firsts also, USDA has reported. It carried the first container shipment of U.S. cattle to Japan 70 bred Holstein heifers and inaugurated the world's first livestock contaic service. The 70 U.S. Holsteins were picked up at Oakland, California, in along with 55 Polled Hereford heifers from iner-ship mid-Septem- Canada. They traveled in special containers designed for six head of cattle. All arrived in excellent shape. I I The Hakone Mara carries 752 containers. At a cruising speed of 23 knots, it reached Yokohama from Oakland in only 9 Vi days, compared with two weeks or more for conventional shipping. Though ocean freight per animal was the same as the conventional rate, $161, total costs of feed and care were substantially less than for the longer trip. Japans imports of U.S. Holsteins for 1968 almost all bred heifers are expected to total about 800 head; its imports of U.S. beef cattle (also mostly bred heifers), about 300 head. January-Jun- e imports of brth kinds added up to 377 head, against 412 in all of 1967. SOYBEANS: U.S. exports of soybeans in August totaled 17.3 million bushels, slightly more than 16.2 million exported in August a year ago, USDA has reported. During the September-Augumarketing year exports reached 266.6 million bushels up five million from last year. st OFFrrTn DIRECTORS e arton nJ V u i bSS"?, Gfcnn n Dr Wynne Thorne t problems. When Japans ship, the Hakone Mara, Published each month by the Utah Farm Bureau Federation at Salt Lake City, Utah. Editorial and Business Office 629 East Fourth South, Salt Lake City, Utah. POSTMASTER: Please address P.O. Form 3579 to 629 East Fourth Lake Ciw, Utah 84102. Subscription cents per year to members is included in memSou, Salt price of twenty-fiv-e bership fee. Entered as second class matter March 24, 1948 at the Post Office at Salt Lake City Utah under act of A1l Contaminated pork pulled BEEF HARMUL TO HUMANS! market! off the If youre a livestockman, the thought of reading such headlines should make you break out in a cold sweat. And, before you cross off the whole idea as something that cant happen, stop and think. As we reported last month in our Washington Report, page 7, both the Food and Drug Administration and USDAs Meat Inspection Division are taking a get tough line on meat residues. FDA has already requested a ban on all injectable streptomycin and certain penicillin products. FDA says they cause residues that pose a potential hazard to the health of man. While a final ruling hadn't been made at press time, there are good indications this is only the beginning of further FDA investigations into drug and residue . UTAH FARM BUREAU (Tl NEWS March 3, 1879. UTAH FARM BUREAU FEDERATION OFFICIALS Elmo W. Hamilton, Riverton, Utah President S. Jay Child, Clearfield, Utah Vice President Mrs. Willis Whitbeck, Bennion, Utah Chairman, Farm Bureau Women V. Allen Olsen Executive Secretary Kenneth J. Rice Editor (Reprinted from Successful Fanning magazine) By Dick Hanson Editor, Successful Fanning HOG CHOLERA: Utah has regained its hog cholera free status, USDA reported on No- Salt Lake City Salt Lakc City J an Logan Logan DIRECTORS Mrs. Willis Whitbeck, Farm Bureau Woman; Mrs. Paul Nelson, Farm Bureau Women; Ken Ashby, Young Farmers & Ranchers; Frank Harris, Beaver, A. Alton Hoffman, Cache; Lloyd Olsen, Cache; Ferris Allen, North Box Elder; William C. Da use, Carbon; S. Jay Child, Davis; Carl Van Tassell, Duchesne; Kenneth Brasher, Emery; Lowell Henrie' Garfield; Richard Nelson, Iron; Roy Bowles, Juab; Graydon Robinson, Kane; Thurman Moody, Millard; Mark Thackeray, Morgan; Ambrose Dalton, Piute; Roy Hoffman, Rich; Elmo Hamilton, Salt Lake; Arion Erekson, Salt Lake; Elmer Sanders, Salt Lake; Ashton Harris, San Juan; Lee Barton, Sanpete; Gerald Johnson, Sevier; D. O. Roberts, Summit; Jack Brown, Tooele; Roland Merkley, Uinfah; Don T. Allen, Utah; Glade Gillman, Utah; Eldon Money Utah; Emer Wilson, Wasatch; Don F. Schmutz, Washington; Hugh King, Wayne; William C. Holmes, Weber, Carl Fowers, Weber; Lorin Hardy, Weber; John P. Holmgren, South Box Elder; Rcy L. Allred, Utah Horticultural Society; John Roghaar, Intermountain Farmers Assn.; Virgil Peterson, Utah Sugar Beet Growers Assn.; Tom Lowe Utah Canning Crops Assn.; Joe I. Jacobs, Producers Livestock Marketing Assn.; J. R. Garrett, Norbest Turkey Grwn! ers Assn.; M. E. Carroll, Country Mutual Life. I USDA take. One thing we dont need is a "cranberry scare in the meat in- dustry. Can you imagine what a poisoned meat scare" could do to livestock prices? The best way we can help avoid such a scare is for every livestockman to make sure he doesn't misuse drugs and pesticides. Don't make any of the following simple but dangerous mistakes that could cause carcass condemnation of one of your animals: (1) Don't use an overdose. Follow directions. If one dose is called for, don t use two. The right amounts have been carefully calculated by the manufacturer and approved only after exhaustive tests by FDA and USDA. The amount stated on the product label is enough j any more is too much. (2) Dont risk condemnation by carelessness. If youre putting anti biotics or drugs in feed, make sure theyre thoroughly mixed. Otherwise, one animal may get too much while another wont get his share. If you re giving an injection, make sure its exactly the right amount in the right place at the right time. Take a few extra minutes to make sure you do the job the way it should be done according to the product directions. (3) Don t move ahead faster than nature allows. It takes time for an animal to get rid of all residues. The period of time required for every drug to pass throught an animal's system has been determined y the manufacturer and the . regulatory agencies. These withdrawal times are printed on every package of a drug or additive. If you send an animal to market without observing the proper withdrawal time, you're asking for trouble. Make sure you don t jump the gun! Much of the burden of responsibility for safe use of feed addi-ive- s and other livestock drugs is on your shoulders. One livestock-ma- n one bad mistake could cause trouble for the entire inmaking dustry. Dont let it be you! (Copyright Meredith Corporation 1968) I never got off the ground.... |