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Show July 1975 Utah Farm Bureau News Weevil takes on weed control job Economist advises locking in good cattle price with future Reprinted from Kansas Farm Bureau KSL newsman Gint Warbys son, David, does his part in placing new weevil, Rhinocyllus conicus , on musk thistle in Wasatch County. About 100 of these weevil that destroy immature musk thistle seeds but do not harm crops have been released in Utah with hopes that they wifi multiply and become an effective biological deterrent to this serious weed. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Utah State University Extension, Utah Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Reclamation and Provo River Water Users Association cooperated in release of the weevil in Utah. News Livestock feeders, with cattle going into the feedlot the next couple of weeks may want to take a close look at hedging on the futures market, says a Kansas State University Extension economist. With an upturn in the number of cattle going on feed the past two months, Joe Kropf sees an end to the surge that has carried recent slaughter cattle prices above the $50 level at several major markets. Cattlemen may be hard pressed to beat the prices they can lock in with October futures, he says. Placements of cattle on feed were down sharply in January and February, but turned back up in March and April in response to higher cattle prices. That indicates feeders are viewing the future a little more optimistically, the economist says. Kropf says higher cattle-on-fetotals translate into larger fed cattle marketings, and lower prices 4 to 6 months down the road. Thats why current futures prices justify a close look at hedging, he says. Pastures are bound to be heavily stocked with cattle, he warns. Hot, dry weather would cut the capacity of pastures and force movement of cattle to market. If this happens, prices could range, he says. drop to the $36-$3- 8 Favorable growing weather may sup- ed -- State announces new rules for custom livestock slaughter New regulations on slaughtering livestock on farms and ranches go into effect on July 10, 1975. Commissioner Joseph H. Francis of the Utah department of agriculture has announced the rules which resulted from the passage of House Bill 204 in this years state legislature. The state department of agriculture will administer the program. Past law required that animals be killed in a licensed slaughterhouse or by an individual butchering his own animal. The passage of H.B. 204 made it unlawful for any person to slaughter livestock or poultry as a business out r " Page 5 side of a licensed slaughterhouse unless he holds a valid farm custom slaughtering permit issued to him by the Utah Department of Agriculture. After July 10, individuals who possess a valid permit can butcher livestock and poultry for another person, provided the customer slaughtering is done on the property to which the animal owner has title or is a tenant operator. Accurate records and identification of each animal butchered will be kept by the department of agriculture. The meat must be properly tagged, stamped and identified, Not for Sale so that it will not enter into commerce. This same identification, Not For Sale, port slaughter cattle prices at pear the $45 range. Kropf says there is no magic formula to tell feeders exactly when they should or shouldnt hedge. Based on 38 cent feeders and $4.50 grain, the $40.40 recent October futures price quoted appears to be close to a breakeven figure, he says. So the decision must be made on the basis of each individuals operation. Co-o- p bank opens SLC office With the recent opening in Salt Lake City of a new branch office for the Berkeley Bank for Cooperatives, elegible borrowers now have a nearby source of credit available. Manged by Gerald C. Drew, a Utah-Arizo- of the vice-preside- nt na California-base- d organization, the new office in the Farm Bureau Center at 5300 South 360 West, Salt Lake City, will finance agricultural processing, marketing, supply and service cooperatives. It will handle present accounts in the two states and offer service to new. borrowers. Utah and Arizona borrowers now represent 15 percent of the banks cooperative accounts in five states Utah, Arizona, Nevada, California and Hawaii. Drew has 14 years experience in non-payi- ng The regulations stipulate that before an owner can have his animal butchered by an individual holding a farm custom slaughtering permit, the owner must notify the county sheriff of his intent to slaughter, except in an emergency. He will then be required to provide proof of ownership and other pertinent information at least 24 hours before the animal is to be butchered. Applications for permits are now available from the Utah Department of Agriculture. s s a Gerald C Drew tives, which are in turn owned by farmers. No federal funds are used for making loans; the money is raised through the sale of securities to investors by a New York City fiscal agency. The Berkeley bank has about 200 farmer cooperative borrowers in its five-stadistrict. Outstanding loans recently reached a peak of nearly one-ha- lf billion dollars, a 48 percent increase over 1974. te HYGRO-SYSTE- FARMING THE WAY OF THE FUTURE IS HERE AND NOW You can learn Hygroponic (soil-les- s) production of gourmet type fresh nic ss off-seas- A 1500-wa- tt d. 30 ft. x 1 24 Hygroponic greenhouse owner-operat- ed 16 years growing experience has gone into the development of the Then theres the dependable 2R1. Weighs 181 pounds, produces 1750 watts of power. 14.6 amperes at 120 volts. Briggs and Stratton 4 hp engine. Not or quiet running as the Vacationer, but excellent for operating as power tools for field repairs, spray painting in remote areas, and other uses. Just one in stock. Special price to Farm Bureau members: $227. good-looki- on growing system (costing approx. $7,500 complete) can now produce $20,000 gross income per year, with operating costs less than $3,000 in units. Vacationer unit. Its lighter to carry and muffled for quieter operation in camping areas. Provides 12.5 amperes at 120 volts. Five hp Lists for $447. engine. Now in stock, unused but slightly weather-damageA tremendous buy at the Farm Bureau member price of $260, FOB your home. Take the M succulent tomatoes, deliciously crisp culettuce and premium burp-lecumbers and supply the quality market. starved alternator, complete with dependable Briggs and Stratton engine, will add more pleasure to camping out, and a lot more speed and convenience to field repairs and maintenance. Ag-Tro- cooperative finance. He previously served as assistant vice president of the Central Bank for Cooperatives in Denver. He was also a business analyst with the Spokane bank. He earned B.S. and M.S. degrees from Montana State University, majoring in agricultural economics. All 13 banks in the United States are owned by the borrowing coopera- - must remain on the meat until it is finally consumed by the owner, his immediate family, regular employees or guests. A public hearing was held on May 21, 1975, where testimony, comments and discussions were taken into consideration before the final rules and regulations were established. Take the convenience of electricity with you in the field, at camp, on a picnic. . .wherever you go A portable To use futures successfully, the feeder needs to take a business approach to cattle feeding. That means knowing production costs, the basis or difference between the local cash price and the futures contract price, plus the return necessary for the feeders labor and management. Then its up to each feeder to decide if the return that can be locked in by a hedge will be higher than what he expects without hedging. However, unless he can buy cattle and lock in a profit with a hedge, the feeder usually is better off to ride along with the cash market, or simply not buy cattle at all. ng UTAH FARM BUREAU SERVICE COMPANY 5300 S. 360 W. Salt Lake City, Utah 841 07 Phone (801) 261-2424 Hygro-- (patent pending) System. Free training provided at our factory. For free complete information, call or write John Marshall, (801) 723-763- 4, Route 2, Box 466-Brigham City, Utah 84302. A, FINE CUTLERY .AND EXPERT GRINDING L LORENZ Largest Selection of FINE QUALfTY STOCKMENS KNIVES 29 E. 4th So., Salt Lake City, 363-2821 |