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Show '.February 1972 Utah Farm Bure" Page News Growers IT'S AN OLD, HISTORIC TRUTH To Vote " Qhe On Plan ... sins of the fathers gods visit' the 'jpon the children a mail referendum on the proposed Potato Research and Promotion Plan. Voting will be by mail and will take place between February 1 and USDA has announced 7 I1 10. The check-of- f plan finally approved by USDA is essentially the same as the one on which hearings were held last summer. It is contrary to Farm Bureau policy because it is a nation-wid- e checkoff program which would be subject to the veto power of the Secretary of Agriculture. Producers growing five or more acres of potatoes in the 48 states would be included under the plan. To become effective, the plan must be approved of the by at least two-thirproducers voting, or a majority of con-tinguo- us ds the producers voting if they or more of the produced two-thir- ds potatoes grown by those voting. The proposed plan would be administered by a National Potato Promotion Board, made up of producers selected the by Secretary of Agriculture from nominations made by producers. Each state would be entitled to one board member for each five million hundred weight of production, with at least one member per state. At the hearings on the plan-he- ld in July, Bureau objected to it for these reasons: (1) The proposed plan overlaps the state promotion plans which are already in effect ih a number of states. (2) On the basis of 1970 potato Posing for the picture are from L to R: Larence Lee, Don Walker, Ray Searle, A. DeMar Dudley, Wallace Church and Asael Manwaring. Lawrence Lee, President and board members meet to discuss matters of interest to Uintah County Farm Bureau members. Don Walker, County Assessor attended to assist Board members understand the implications of the Farm Land Assessment Act Uintah county expects new assessments on farm property will go into effect during the coming tax year and members should be fully aware of the implications. Other matters discussed at the meeting was the appointment of committees to do the Farm Bureau work during 1972. Such committees that were felt important included a political education committee, since this is an election year, a local affairs committee for any matters of local interest, information director and committee, policy development committee and perhaps natural resources. Action on official appointment of members was reserved until the next meeting. A young man new to Uintah county was introduced as the man who would handle any insurance matters of the members in the county and extending west to Roosevelt. The young man, Wallace Church has just served a hitch in Uncle Sams Army and is a graduate of Southern Utah State University, Mr. Church hails from Panquitch, Utah. - represent. The proposed plan still provides for proxy voting at board meetings. (5) The plan would still permit the board to enter into contracts (4) for work promotional with which engage organizations legislative activities. Concessions toward in Farm Bureau policy amounted to the USDA calling the initial meetings for the nomination of persons to be appointed to the Board and that refund forms should be readily available in most producing areas, or in case of isolated sections, they could be obtained by writing to the board. QUALITY DISCOUNT PHOTOFINISHING KODACOLOR 12 EXP. - $2.97 20 EXP. - $4.49 Dev A Printing KODACHROME 8 MM Super 8 20 Exp. Slide $1.49 BLACK & WHITE 12 EXP. .99 Dev A Jumbo Prints JUMBO KODACOLOR REPRINTS .19ech Black A White Copy Copy Negative .35 3Vx3Vi or 3Vix5 .08 Hank's Photo Service P.O. Box 9099 Salt Lake City, Utah 84109 Utah residence add 4V percent sales tax No. CO.D. situation, the proponents of this optimum must stress be done by those who are qualified, that philosophy planning such who as institutions and foundations those can be objective, which are sufficiently insulated from local economic and political influences that they can be objective. Areas of Concern National legislation proposes a carrotstick approach. Agriculture is concerned about loss of local control, as well as potential federal domination in the use of federal monies to motivate state and local governments. The nation is already in the process of staffing expanded water quality, air and environmental quality agencies. These developments have created a manpower shortage in administrative skills and some professional capabilities. To launch another national program on any type of an accelerated basis, as some legislation appears to propose, when the manpower skills are not available could be disastrous. land-planni- 1971-Fa- rm production the procedure proposed for the selection of the National Potato Promotion Board would result in an initial board of 93 people. A board of this size would I be costly and unwieldy. (3) The plan still provides that the votes of board members are to be weighted on the basis of the production of the states they To achieve this Natural Rosourees Opportunities In 72 The accusing finger of the environmentalists will still be pointed at agriculture in 1972. While many of the accusations lack facts or even reasonable logic, they are difficult to refute. Easier to place a stigma than it is to erase one. ' Developments throughout the year indicate the environmentalists are being constructively challenged from at least two significant areas : First, citizens are developing a questioning posture as predictions of environmental disaster continually fail to materialize. The of the experts is also being questioned Identical professionalism factual data analyzed by supposedly qualified scientists produce diametrically opposite results and recommendations. A confused public wonders who to believe. Second, members of the scientific community are now speaking out in greater numbers and with a firmer voice of objection. From a foundation of tested research data they challenge the emotionalism, the misinterpretation of facts, and the unprofessional ethics of some members of their profession who are making public statements which are unsupported by researched data. The confusion is producing numerous questions which demand answers. Responsible scientists from the various disciplines seek redress and opportunity to set the record straight. Thus, one challenge of 72 is to provide leadership in finding answers and giving a listening ear to the body of aroused scientists. Some of the key natural resources issues are in the following four broad legislative and regulatory areas: (1) private land use planning and zoning, (2) public land planning and development, (3) water rights, water resources planning and development, (4) environmental pollution, waste management and use of agricultural chemicals. Planning and Zoning Issues Historically, ranchers and farmers have taken the position that they should be individually responsible for the management and planning the use of their private agricultural lands, including the freedom to sell their lands for the high dollar. However, confiscatory property taxes, undesirable rural sprawl, and environmental problems are now causing its individualistic approach. There is inagriculture to creased interest and support for land-ownprotection through planning and zoning laws. Agriculturalists are shifting from a position of modest involvement to aggressive involvement in planning and zoning at aU levels of government. The next step is preparation to make effective leadership inputs in land use planning and zoning if the industry is to represent and to protects its interests. re-evalu-ate er Land Use Planning Land use planning is already moving rapidly ahead, on paper, in many states. Few people on the land are fully aware of the plans which have already been programmed in this area. There are two broad basic land-us- e philosophies: (1) Regulatory approach. This approach proposes to identify the best use of land resources and to zone accordingly. In this type of planning, there are provisions for open spaces, green belts, and of limited land resources for particular uses - such as scenic rivers, wildernesses, historic points of interest, etc., with the private sector providing land management and the public agencies working in the area of technical assistance and administration of the overall development plan. set-asid- es (2) Optimization approach is the second broad philosophy of land use planning. This philosophy takes a more academic and intellectual approach to land planning. Its thrust is to leap ahead, towards what some would term our great national destiny. It proposes to the blunders and mistakes which accompany the typical rural land development. by-pa- ss ng Coordination . There is need for some coordination of planning on a multi-stat- e ' basis. Agriculture maintains that successful coordination requires participation by voluntary association. Appeals Procedures Planning and zoning can create political and economic imbalances. This demands the development of appeals procedures to provide equitable redress to agricultural land-owner- s. Financial Sanctions The power of Financial Sanction can be extremely dangerous. Agriculture urges Congress to spell (nit carefully the guidelines for agencies use of Financial sanctions in forcing compliance with federal standards. Federalization Dangers The need for land use planning and zoning cannot be denied. However, when the nation starts down the road of a national approach it crosses a bridge that my eventually lead to federal management of all land resources. Such a change would design a new world for future generations. Agriculture has a major responsibility of providing leadership to achieve understanding of the potential consequences of the decisions this nation is making when it adopts national land-us- e policies. Ventura, California Study A land-us- e research study in Ventura County, California reveals that if the current land development and taxation trend continues there will be a $44 million dollar deficit by the year 1980 in the Ventura County governments budget. The Ventura County study confirms that residential, commercial, and industrial properties are not paying their proportionate share of public service costs. Lands retained in agricultural use would pay in taxes in 1980, $15,321,000 more than the cost of public services. The study projects that if all land in the county were developed in uses there would be a $297 million dollar deficit in the Ventura County budget. If maintaining county governments financial solvency and environmental quality is important, this study indicates it will be necessary to consider agriculture as more than a residual land use. 1972 should be an Opportunity Year for the silent minorities such as agriculture to speak out. There should be greater interest and acceptance of the private sectors environmental recommendations. The challenge of 72 is who will provide leadership, resolve the confusion, and find answers to environmental questions. non-agricultu- ral TH E AUTHOR Leonard H. Johnson, assistant director of the AFBF natural resources department, is a veteran of 18 years staff service in Farm Bureau. He primarily serves natural resources interest in state FBs west of the Mississippi. He is a Brigham Young University graduate with an economics degree. |