Iron County Record | 1976-04-08 | Page 5 | Garn Opposes Federal Grazing Fees

Garn opposes Federal Grazing fees .1 . hi "The increase in grazing fees from $1 to $1.51 per Animal per month is a difficult burden for the small producer to bear when beef prices are down," stated Senator Jake Garn (R-Ut). "Two years ago the National Cattlemen's Cat-tlemen's Association agreed to the increase in fees, however; that was when beef prices were up. But livestock producers and feed lots in other parts of the country won't be hurt by the 51 percent price increase; it is the small Utah father-son operations that will feel the fee impact. "Presently grazing fees are charged according to each animal grazing on Federal land. The quality of the pasture land is not taken into consideration in this formula. It is obvious that the grazing value of all public land is not the same. In Utah it may take 100 acres to feed one steer, while in Oklahoma five , acres might serve the same purpose. Therefore, it isn't fair to impose a flat fee. Fees should be charged according to cost of production and market price. "President Ford indicated that he understood the economic hardhsips suffered by the Utah producers and said he would