Show ' j h r f “ ' "Right conclusions us non Skaly to be gathered out of s multitude of tongues than through any kind of UUUAjfttaUVB WlWIUh r A jjSv ' —Judge Learned Awricn uW Hand (1173-100- The Herald Journal Logan Utah" P15 Thursday March 2 2000 I Guosl commentary continue to overcome obstacles By Steven ArchtoaM ' T he American Farm Bureau Federation declared Feb 9 “Food Check-ODay" Food Check-Ou- t Day is a celebration of the bounty from America’s farms and ranches and how that ut bounty is shared with American con- sumers through the lowest food prices in history Food in America has never been more affordable! American families spend on average just 109 percent of their disposable income on food It New on the scene is the use of biotech foods or genetically modified foods Oddly those who are so worried about the impact of genetically modified foods seem completely unconcerned about biotechnology in medicine Biotechnology is already demonstrating that it is the most powerful tool for good that agriculture has ever had Biotech "Golden Rice" will prevent severe malnutrition for culbillions of people in tures The new rice is genetically modified to contain beta carotene which the body readily converts to Vitamin A Some 400 million people currently suffer from Vitamin A deficiency including millions of young children who go blind every year The "Golden Rice" also includes new genes to overcome die chronic iron deficiency suffered by 2 billion cultures Such women in women have always been at risk from bird! complications because of anemia Factory fortified foods could not have solved these problems quickly because of a lack of infrastructure and capital but biotechnology has just done it What horrible risks have we found in biotech food that would warrant Minding children by the mil- is noteworthy that in 40 days the average household will have earned enough disposable income to pur-food for tl chase comparison the average American works 130 days to pay federal state and local taxes In the 1930’s when my grandfather Hillard Archibald was growing wheat in Clarkston and my other grandfather James L Nuttall was producing milk in Benson die average American worked 91 days to earn enough disposable income to pay for their annual food supply The ability to produce sin abundance of safe quality convenient dr 1 rice-eatin- women in rice eating cultures to birth complications? The last IQS months have been the longest uninterrupted growth of the United States economy in history America’s farmers and ranchers have not been partakers in this unprecedented growth Historic low prices for all segments of the agriculture industry have been die norm All is more affordable to more people Precision fanning practices boost crop yields and reduce waste by using satellites and computers to match seed fertilizer and crop protection applications The use of fertilizers crop protectants advances in genetics tillage practices and irrigation has helped bring a quality product to more and more consumers Of course these great strides in productivity haven’t been achieved without concerns Over the past few years farmers have dramatically reduced erosion of precious topsoil by "implementing new tillage techniq ues that keep crop The rcdue by water on US cropland has been reduced by 24percent during the past 17 years Agricultural land provides habitat for 73 percent of the nation’s wildlife Deer moose elk waterfowl and other species have shown significant population increases during recent years pro-Farme- ed to use not well on America’s farms and crop : contributed to fowproduct prices gfiBSMSSESffi away the use of crop protectants and other tools necessary to produce safe affordable and quality food are threatening the very fabric of the famify farm Had die EPA been pre- sent when God wanted to create this beautiful Cache Valley we would still be waiting for an Environmental ' Impact Statement! However I am optimistic about the future of agriculture in America and in Utah Although my father and I still operate my grandfathers’ forms we do so in a very different landscape than die ones they knew America’s tanners and ranchers are resourceful hardworking committed and look at change as an opportunity They will continue to provide this country and rs protectants responsibly First we have respect for the laws and regulations governing crop protectant use Second a personal commitment to protect consumers and the environment from reckless chemical use Third an economic interest in reducing chemical costs Much hysteria has accompanied the use of crop protectants bkause its use might cause cancer Bid since the broad use of modern crop protectants was introduced the public has had eight yean added onto their life expectancy non-smoki- il ranches The price spread is at a record high! Suffering export sales sagging economies overseas embargoes that dry up our markets and allow the competition in have farm-reta- erwrate and quality of the foods are strongly motivat- g lions? Or deliberately subjecting food at a lower price makes food iftfcM : rice-eati- ng the world with the safest most affordable and neatest variety of food ever known! We only hope that consumers will appreciate that effort at least three times a day ng Steven ArcNbald is the Cache County Farm Bureau sacrataty Call us ‘Cattle Grazers Anonymous’ By Chris Frasier Hi Writers My name is Chris and I'm a cattle grazer Not anymore of course I’ve been clean since ‘03r and the Prohibition But once you've smelled green grass opened a gate to fresh pasture or seen a wobbly calf take his first steps you’re npver folly cured Hut’s why I need tins type of support and a chance to share my sad familiar on the Range -- but tiu commanded an air of authority I remember her jumping up on a fence swinging at electric insulators ami wailing "Uneconomic! Unsustainable!” I saw die light Donahue opened our eyes to the evil foreign influences that led to our addiction Cattle came from Europe crested wheatgrass from Russia and our popular grazing methods from southern Africa A man named Allan Savory — a foreigner by the way — brought seductive new grazing ideas story had been our from Zirnbabwei-HIt took' years talk eiubleii'Woofeff ‘with'tpKMth to admit my problen£‘Af flrttll just lahd foe HolisalKi with inRtViiig When didn't know any better turned out cows on tic Management Universities had ms homestead it got into our blood tried to warn us about him saying The family tried wheat fanning once that he was a backslider who didn’t until the dust bowl choked than out really believe in science but we After that disaster we depended on ignored them Savory had pictures hundreds of them showing land having a native perennial ’ where the grazing was done holistisoil hold the and us support Before we knew it we were cally Concentrate your livestock move them often and allow plants warned Not that we hadn’t been Circuit-ridin- g time to recover hie would say It all would cone preachers their seemed so natural occasion on spreading through is end near "The He was most convincing when of gloom message cows!” and they disperse thy ungrazed land Everywhere showing repent cned but in vaim Most of them were from Chaco Canyon to the Nebraska ignored or even mocked When we sandhills to central New Mexico he refused to heed their warnings they had pictures where livestock had were followed by an even more been fenced out for 50 yean or more These areas always had less grass could conjure 19 lawsuits id will We than neighboring cattle pastures went on blindly somehow convinced Total rest is as dangerous as no rest that we could control our appetite for he’d say As if we needed any encouragement to pursue our disgusty there was a woman from ing habit Laramie named Debra Donahue She Sure there were some good times more or Ins scared me into quitting We were getting more pounds of beef Maybe it was die unnerving look in off of the ranch cutting our costs and her eye or the hatchet in her even measuring thicker stands of a e ' ' grass and more plant species The cows handled easily I spent time horseback and neighbors would tell me that my grass was greener than foe in was Who knows how long I would have kept indulging myself if Congress hadn't rescued me Now our children are safe from the demons of livestock grazing in the West No more seedy peddlers of cattle saddles and ropes pickups and trailers or fenceposts We can set our minds on things above like whole-some Internet commerce and the building of secluded second homes Our West is becoming better each day as enlightened people from far places settle in valleys foot were once just open meadows They bring new ideas like body piercing and clothes Mg' Enough for cows to wear We hardly even miss the old days About foe only drawback to the peaceful prosperity of our time has been the growing number of unemployed lawyers But enterprising folks like these will always fold new ways to apply their skills Yes I’m a cattle grazer but I’m so happy with my reformed life There was a little sadness today when I smelled green grass on foe breeze Maybe I should take a little walk to feel better I’ll go check on that spring in the bluffs and take along my cowdog Oh I’m sorry I mean my instinctive hading companion I want to see how my calves are doing — rather my experimental shrub oxen They were here before the bison you know Chris Frasier is a contributor to Writers on the Range a service of High Country News (wwwhcnorg) He hasn't been turned out to pasture yet on the family ranch in Umon Colorado Your vlow decided he couldn't support his large family on the carpenter's wage of $10 per hour while struggling to pay his $3000 property tax assessment on his $60000 home His survival solution was to move back to Payson Utah where he could hammer nails for $10 per hour live in a $60000 home and use die savings to pay the necessary family bills I have good friends neighbors and family members that have been and are teachers tremendously dedicated to their profession There can be no higher calling than those that work a lifetime for that one noble purpose and not one chose foe work because of the siren Call of generous salaries I do not nor do any of us wish to see any of these fine individuals suffer Vhenismore enough for schools? To foe editor Richard West’s lengthy HJ article advocating more money for education requires comment He tells us we pay the same amount here for our necessities of life as in other areas where educational budgets are higher which brought to mind memories of some recent experiences in Western New York Heating pil costs were much higher than our natural gas gasoline prices were higher because the folks in that section of foe country won’t allow oil refineries rents were higher: Then 1992 a nice average guy we became friends with ' needless financial hardships because of their dedication Many of us however are becoming deeply offended by the boisterous few that choose that profession knowing foe limited mon- etary benefits and now piously preach to and scold us via print and television how we are spending too little on their world We all wish they could enjoy salaries for the welfare of the dedicated ones among them There is one problem with that: Every dime in their paycheck comes from foe public Many Cache Valley families are not living in a manna that they can afford more in taxes of any stripe they are burdened with school clothsix-figu- re ing costs and fees Mothers are forced to work now as'never before because of foe various taxes deducted from the family wage earner’s take home pay The answer given is to take it from some otha budget item a practice in every level of government as we see salaries escalated twice the rate of inflation Works fine perhaps if the budgeters have resources they can manipulate But what happens when foe economic pie shrinks as it certainly will? Tax increases would be inevitable as these thresholds are cranked up Any level of budgetary salary commitments must be made in relation to dependable resources available to continue that funding through good times and bad "Education” has become the magic word Be careful how you use it or you can offend legions We have however confused "school housing” with education The school houses are larger more grand than ever before Children are fed entertained transported Streets are closed for them arguments entered over their every perceived need! but they just aren't being properly educated because we are told we don’t spend enough money on them! When is more enough? Is there such a thing as enough in the eyes of single focused advocates? 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