OCR Text |
Show Farm Conservation Report Conservation Fays The Consumer The investment the country is making in conservation is paying pay-ing off, and a substantial share of the dividends is going to the consumers of the country, says Douglas H. Bertoch, chaijman of the Duchesne County Agricultural Agricultur-al Conservation committee. The Agricultural Conservation Program is a consumer, as well as a farm program. The major objective is to maintain antf improve im-prove the productivity of the land so there will be enough food and fiber to meet all needs. As the chairman points out, the people of cities and towns are dependent upon the land for food and fiber. They have a vital vi-tal interest in keeping the land productive. And, says the chairman, the work being done under the program pro-gram is paying off. While the conservation work completed by farmers cooperating in the ACP caanot be credited wholly with the tremendous increase in production pro-duction since the "30s," the improved im-proved productivity of the land has made increased production possible through better cultural methods, chemicals, and field crop strains. This increased production during dur-ing and since the war represents consumer dividends from the investment made by the government govern-ment in conservation in the last 13 years, the chairman pointsF out. But. further than that, the soil has been built up and is being be-ing built up to continue to produce pro-duce abundantly in the future. The very fact that allotments are needed to bring production into balance with needs, is in part due to the effectiveness of the Agricultural Conservation Program. And there are other direct consumer dividends which should not be overlooked, the chairman explains. The increased productivity of the land, plus price supports adds to the farmer's farm-er's buying power and increases activity in the transportation and merchandising of farm commodities. com-modities. It means more business for Main street and the market places in big cities. Conservation Way to Balanced Abundance It is fortunate that the nation's farmers can produce enough wheat, corn, cotton, potatoes and similar crops on fewer acres, says, J. Vern Hopkin, chairman of the Utah PMA committee. By using less land to produce currently cur-rently needed crops, farmers can build up more of their land as a reserve for the future. The reduced emphasis on cash crops also opens the way for a belter balanced production for present needs, the chairman points out. The need for more livestock and livestock products opens the way to a better deal for people generally and at the same time assures farmers of an income from land taken nut of adjustment crops and put into pasture and hay. These crops, in turn, build up humus and plant food reserves for future production. Mr. Hopkin estimates that between be-tween 112,000 and 135,000 acres will need to be taken out of allotment crops in Utah as the stale's share in bringing about a balance in production for the country as a whole. Naturally, Mr. Hopkin said, each farmer faces problems in adjusting his production program. pro-gram. Even though he realizes that excess production brings lower prices and less income, his farm is geared to a particular production pattern. His machinery, machin-ery, labor and the way the land is being handled fit into that pattern. pat-tern. But, despite difficulties, shifts in production must be made to bring about a better balance. When bins, cribs and warehouses are full excess production wastes soil fertility and depresses depress-es farm prices. Price support efforts ef-forts without adjustments to changed needs place an unnecessary unneces-sary and expensive burden on the government. In answer to critics of adjustment adjust-ment efforts. Mr. Hopkin states. "Those who look upon allotment as curtailing freedom somebody some-body telling farmers what they can grow and what they can't fail to recognize that allotments are for the protection of both the farmers and the conspmer. The program is merely an orderly means of adjusting production instead of bringing it about through depression and a market mar-ket crash." |