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Show Wie ws From Farm-Ranch THROUGH THE COMMERCIAL BANK OF UTAH BY WES DICKERSON Cattle numbers are building up rapidly. Present estimates show an increase of almost 10 million head in the last two years. Practically all of this has been in beef cattle. All is well so long as there is high consumer demand for meat, large crops of feed grain, and good over-all pasture and range conditions. The number of feed consuming animal units is already al-ready beginning to out run feed supplies. The carry over of feed grains will be reduced again next year. There is the strong possibility possibil-ity of beef controls bein.T abandoned aban-doned within a few months. It seems that regulations cannot produce meat or force it through legal market channels. Long-time outlook comparisons compari-sons indicate a lower price trend for cattle. However, the pressure pres-sure of population will prevent any prolonged period of low cattle cat-tle prices, according to some authorities; and some are worried wor-ried about where the meat will be coming from to feed our people. peo-ple. Doane Agricultural Digest advises: ad-vises: (1) Whittle down your debts so that annual payments can be met more easily; (2) Improve Im-prove your ranges through sase brush removal, reseeding, water control, and good grazing practices. prac-tices. (3) Establish productive meadows by leveling, irrigating, using fertilizer and good seeding. mixtures. (4) Avoid over-stocking your range. It is easy to carry herds in good years. Conditions will not always be so ideal. This was proved by the Southwest's drouth. (5) Take sure profits rather than speculate. Government Govern-ment controls keep cattle prices from going up, but do not prevent pre-vent them from going down. (6) Cull out old cows which could not stand a severe winter or long drouth. Build as strong a herd as possible. |