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Show UINTAH BASIN STANDARD. March 24. 1998- - Page 9 Duchesne County beef producers use grassroots knowledge to promote industry With about 97 percent of U.S. cattle ranches, and farms it's no wonder that most beef producers think of their business as not just a job, but as a way of life. Many beef producers in Duchesne County and across the country are finding that the best way to promote their lifestyle and industry is simply visiting with others about what they know. Cattlemen and women everywhere are speaking to urban and rural school groups, writing letters to the editor at their local papers nd visiting with others about what they do for a living. One ofthe ways some beef producers extend this grassroots industry support is with the help of a beef checkoff-funde- d Spokesperson Development pro gram. Founded in 1991, Spokesperson Development trains and equips beef producers and industry partners to be positive ambassadors for the cattle industry. In its seven-yehiato-V- ft the program has trained more than 2,000 spokespeople who have ar delivered more than 3 million positive impressions about beef. To be part of the Spokesperson Development program, participants attend a two-da-y training program and agree to conduct at least 12 activities promoting the beef industry in the year following their training- In turn, the program offers presentation and media techniques and keeps spokespeople armed with the most information. "Since only 2 percent of the population raises food for the rest of us, its no wonder that theres a lack of knowledge about the beefindustry -especially among the urban population," says Brent Tanner, Executive Director, Utah Beef Council. "When you can put a free on the industry and show consumers that te March 25 Visitor Center. This evening lecture is free of charge, and refreshments will be served. Guest speaker Clay Johnson will about Rock Art present a slide-sho- w and the various influences, such as what impacts the Solstices, and key days of the year have on Rock Art. Who made these amazing images? two-thir- -- and why where they made? This is a great program for anyone interested in learning about petroglyphs and pictographs. Also guest speaker Wayne Prokopetx, Archeologist from Dinosaur National Monument will speak about how fragile Rock Art sites are, and what laws are used to pro- tect them. Learn the best ways to admire and protect these sites so that they remain unimpaired for future generations to see. Come learn about the Fremont people who used to live in this re- - tions found in the Uinta Basin. In addition, some iff the finest panels in the state are found within the Uinta region, and most of it is done in what is called the "Classic Vernal Style. So come explore, and learn mine about where YOU live, and the legacy that was left from those who came before us. The Northeastern Utah Visit-o- r Center is a nonprofit organization working in cooperation with local federal and state agencies to provide the public with educational information about northeastern Utah. This presentation is part of a lecture series. monthly outdoor-lif- e For further information please call 4 any day of the week. 789-789- Get involved now by planting trees at home, school or in the community www.freetrees.com. "This way we process requests electronically, we save paper and indirectly trees, which is consistent with our mission," Wright said. Of course, traditional postal methods are also available for people to get their free trees, send a seladdreaaedatempsd-eB-velopto: Arbor Day USA, P.O. Box 980, Washington, DC 20044, a form will be promptly returned. Households can get trees each. Schools can get up to 250 for their Arbor Day or Earth Day celebrations, while anyone who has sustained damage from El Nino or oth-e-r winter storms, can get as many as 25-7-5 to replace trees that were trees arrive lost The 5-- pre-treat- ed Taxes consume nearly 35 cents of every $1 earned The average Utah family will contribute nearly 35 of their income to federal, state, and local taxes, according to information compiled by the Utah Taxpayers Association. According to the study, an average family of five earning $44,671 a year would have paid $15,350 in taxes in 1997. "That equates to winking two hours and 43 minutes of a standard eight hour workday simply to pay the familys tax burden, said Association Vice President, Greg Fredde. By using Utah's average family size of five, an average family income of $44,671, and calculating family consumption patterns based on census information, the combined impact of the property, sales, income and other taxes were determined. Household taxes consist ofthose taxes that are paid directly by the family such as income, social security, property and sales taxes. These "household taxes comprise 25 of the familys yearly income or $11,284. Of the household taxes $3,326 are from federal income tax, $3,417 from Social Security, and $4,585 from state and local taxes. One of the household taxes paid by the Utah family is the real property tax. "While property taxes may be the most hated tax, it is clearly not as large a financial threat as other taxes," noted Fredde. In fact, in 1997 the Utah family paid $906 in property taxes, or only 6 of their total tax burden, in comparison with $1,365 in sales taxes and $1,566 in state income taxes. The other portion of the Utah familys tax burden, employment taxes payed by employers, total $4,066 for social security, unemployment insurance and workers compensation. Although employment taxes do not make up a direct component of the average familys income they can be viewed as lost the wages since this is the cost of worker-memployer must incur for any oney that might otherwise go to the employee. m Businesses also pay "hidden or business "indirect taxes on their same income, as well as many ofthe taxes individuals pay, such as fuel, property, and sain tax. "Some people believe that employer and business taxes are not a part of their personal tax burden," said Mr. Fredde. "However, in the final analysis, all taxes are paid by people the people who own the business, those who work for the business, and those who purchase its services or products, he said. Rural co-ofamily farms get $100 million boost from USDA ps Agriculture Secretary Dan from a local lender in their area, use B&I loan guarantees to help Glickman announced that the U.S. and the lender in turn seeks a guar- pay for stock in a start-u- p cooperative that processes their agriculturDepartment of Agriculture will al- antee from USDA. USDA will guarantee up to 60 al locate $100 million this year to supcommodity into a value-adde- d port the creation or expansion of percent of a loan for more than $10 product. Cooperatives must apply for a cooperatives in rural areas. This million to $25 million, 70 percent of a loan for more than $5 million to B&I loan guarantee in the next sevaction underscores the Clinton Administrations belief that coopera- $10 million, and up to 80 percent for eral months. After June 30, 1998, tives will play an increasingly vital a loan of $5 million or less. Local any portion of the $100 million not role in the nation's rural economy lenders are more willing to finance used to finance a cooperative will and that can help preserve rural business proj ects because their revert to the national reserve ofthe the importance of family farmers in risk exposure is reduced when B&I program and will then be availUSDA guarantees a business loan, able to any type of eligible rural the 21st century. "For more than 200 years, Amer- and they also have their lending business for the remainder of 1998. limits extended, Long Thompson For more information on the proicans have worked together in cooperatives to meet challenges and explained. gram, contact your nearest USDA solve problems that were too big for Existing or new cooperatives in Rural Development office, or the them to overcome as individuals," rural areas may use the B&I loan national office of USDAs Rural Glickman said. Today, a major chalguarantees to invest in machinery Business-CooperatiService in and equipment, real estate or for Washington, D.C. at (202) 7204)813. lenge facing formers and other rural people is the transition from the working capital. Family formers can production of raw commodities to production ofvalue-adde- d products, thereby keeping more iff the profits from their labor at home. For many, the best way to accomplish this will be through a cooperative they own and direct This will benefit not only the producers, but also the rural .communities inwhich. they five,., Hi l lurmn Jill Long Thompson, USDA under secretary for rural development announced details ofthe effort in an address to the annual meeting of the National Farmer's Union in Albuquerque, N.M. She cited several examples iff small, value added cooperatives USDA and formers are working to develop. These projects include a cooperative ofTexas dairy formers who hope to produce their of own specialty cheeses, a p Michigan farmers who want to process their own soybeans, and a p of Pennsylvania ranchers who hope to market their own premium, branded beef. "Not only will cooperatives grow in importance in agriculture as fedbe-gi- n eral income support programs wind down, but I believe they will also rural secgrow in many non-fortors of the economy - from health care, to housing and credit, Long Thomson said. "Secretary Qlickman and I both see the cooperative way of doing business as a good way to address the problems and challenges of agriculture and rural Americo-o- FreeTrees In a move to make 1998 the biggest tree planting year ever, an environmental group is giving away more than 12 million trees nationwide, the largest, single distribution ever attempted The nonprofit group Offers the trees free of i "charge So anyone who wants some iff them. "Planting a tree is one of the easiest and most ppsitive things we can do for the environment, but also it serves as one ofthe best teaching tools we have for our children," said program coordinator Col. David Wright. The organization is operating two Internet sites to help with the distribution - www.arbOTday.com and authentic Irish leprechaun (alias Laurel Asay) suiprised A VISIT FROM ONE OF THE "WEE FOLK"--Thi- s students at Roosevelt Middle School and East Elementary on St. Patrick's Day. gion and what they left behind. Fremont Rock Art is abundant in Utah, with one of the greatest concentra- Petroglyphs and pictographs of the Uintah Basin area A special evening program about Rock Art ofthe Uintah Basin will be presented Wednesday, March 25, 7 p.m. at the Utah Field House of Natural History. The program is sponsored by the Northeastern Utah beef producers are their friends and neighbors, it builds trust not only in the person but also the product" Efforts to improve attitudes to--. ward cattle producers are paying off. As part of an ongoing research project funded by the beef industry, Peter D. Hart Research Associates in 1997 found that (65 percent) of adults folt favorably toward cattle ranchers and farmers - 7 points higher than in 1994. The most often cited reason people admire cattlemen and women is their dedication to their job. Among other reasons cited are the good care they give their animals and the fact that they provide food for the United States and the world. "Building confidence in the people that provide our food supply is important, says Tanner. Thanks to Duchesne County beef producers, we can continue to do that." complete with planting instructions, fertilizer and a guarantee. Recipients pay no more than the program's shipping and handling costa to get the young plants to their home; no memberships are solicited or required. "All the trees are state USDA-APHinspected and in top condition, said Pennsylvania tree former, Dwight Johnston. Five different kinds iff trees are available, the type of people receive depends on their growing zone. The plants come from tree farms all over the UJ3. that have extra on hand, this is because they anticipated stronger markets and grew too many. "If we don't get these trees out to the public or get them planted they'll go to waste," Wright said This giveaway is a win-wisituation. We have great opportunity to make a nuyor impact on our ecology, better our landscapes and improve our urban forests. The program will be releafing storm damaged communities and prevent the waste iff surplus plants. The giveaway starts now and accepts registrations through April 11 for delivery this spring. Later requests will be honored for the foil planting seaI8 son. So for, 1998 appears to be well on it's way to becoming the largest tree planting year ever in the US. The program has signed up over 1000 schools to receive trees from Maine to San Diego. Arbor Day USA recently developed alliances with the Nickelodeon Big Help McDonalds promotion, the National Wildlife Federation, Tree Musketeers, Kids For A Clean Environment, and Earth Day, among others to plant many more millions of trees nationwide this year and through the millennia. ve HELP STOMP OUT . vl c-V-l It co-o- co-o- r--l As spring takes to the air, most of us our spring m cleaning. Please take ca. The $100 million is being allocated from USDAs $1 billion Business and industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan Program budget for 1998. This program works with the private sector to boost the nation's rural economy bysupporting business-e-s that produce or preserve rural jobs. Borrowers first seek financing . extra precau- tion this year while weedburning, make sure you don't make a BURN VIC- InDucbesne y i' New Owners? will be taking over on March 30v S' . v" 1 998 y" We are having an Inventory Reduction Sale All Week. Many items will be reduced in price PLUS we will give an additional , 1 5, Off total purchases over $50.00. TIM out of transmission line poles. These poles are costly to replace, at our members We have some dated merchandise that we can send back for cost that we would let our customers have at cost PLUS the y 1 5 discount off total purchases over $50.00. y ' .y Be aura and cheek out our Floral Department y f whett fou drop In. y ,y . y y y y ' MOON LAKE ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION |