Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current, February 13, 1975, Image 8

Historic Oregon Newspapers

Heppner gazette-times., February 13, 1975, Page Page 4, Image 8

Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR

About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 13, 1975)

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Newspaper Page TextPage 4 livGsttocEi grazing oca public lands isvitfal By NED CLARK In 1972 there was 118 million head of cattle in the United States. In the 17 western Range states we had 61 million head of cattle. During the same period there were 15 million sheep in the western states out of a total count of 18' million. These animals produced an annual income of $9.5 billion to the livestock industry. And boosted the United States economy as whole by $27 billion. There is a lack of knowledge among the citizenry as to the importance to every person that grazing of public lands play in the United States. Over 5 million head of cattle and over 8 million head of sheep and goats graze public lands in the 11 western states along. Without these lands the live- High lifi irrigation in Morrow County By KEN TURNER A concerted effort to bring Columbia River water over 20 miles to at least the 1200-foot elevation is showing good potential. The recent preliminary study by the state engineer shows feasibility at present costs with today's market prices. Good long-term financing is critical. A feasible project requires at least 40 years at 5 per cent or less. Annual water delivery costs of $80 per acre would be a maximum. With this cost range in mind, the Morrow Irrigation Steering Committee has sought the long-term, low interest financing along with a unique engineering concept. A combination of two or more districts working together along with two or more financial sources may pro duce feasible water up to 1300 feet. A certainty is that the high elevation land must be tied to either the Ordinance-West Umatilla project or the Navy Bombing Range project when these materialize. Action going on now centers around Hadley Akins, a well known area man who is working full time to put together the Ordinance-West Umatilla project. This con sists of 30 to 40 thousand acres below 650 feet elevation. A group of farmers above 650 feet with at least another 30 to 50 thousand acres are forming a separate district. The upper area consisting of middle Buttercreek and into Morrow County could purchase water from the Ordinance district. Carefully analyzing feasi bility to farmers plus comput ing economic impact in the two-county area is a farm management team from OSU. They will also document negative effects of deep well pumping curtailment in the critical water table area. For The Ranchers I I - j curator ' 5 dUock feet If you work hard on your feet all day, you'll really appreciate the comfort of Red Wing work shoe. And besides their famous fit and lasting comfort they're built to stand up to the toughest work you do. Try a pair soon. stock industry could not pro duce the red meat that the housewife is buying In ever increasing amounts. Accord ing to recent projections per capita consumption of red meat in the U. S. will increase by 24 pounds by 1985. Most of this will be beef. Using the above projections for red meat consumption, and assuming a projected 10 per cent increase in popula tion, the cattle numbers will need to be increased by 13 to 14 million head in the United States by 1985, if demand is met. The forage requirement for this number of cattle would be approximately 70 million additional acres, but little if any new forage land is expected to come into produc tion. With the great emphasis on world hunger, more grain that has been fed to livestock will be needed for human con sumption. This will increase the need for range lands to provide the world with animal protein. In lands that are unsuited for farming, like our western rangelands that are too rocky, steep, and have less than adequate soil, cattle and sheep are the only means of produc ing a food product from these acres. As the., everincreasing demand for our agriculture lands, both farm and range, to produce more, we must keep a continued awareness of good management and conserva tion for the years ahead. Multiple use of our private and public lands are desirable and ecologically sound. The game benefit from water developments for livestock, salt and minerals put out for cattle and sheep are used by the deer and elk. Dual use grazing provides efficient croping of the forage re sources. Deer and elk often use plants not Important to livestock. In recent study of big game grazing habits, the game animals moved off range left solely for their use, and went to areas where cattle had grazed. It should be remembered that continued use of public range will also benefit the consumer by adequate red meat supplies In years to come. lumtiiiiiiiuiiiu B and C Repair EQUIPMENT DEALERS Cleo Chllders lone, Ore. UrY" U Xi Good soil conservation techniques work like a watchdog In the fields, guarding against erosion-the natural enemy of farm and forest. Stop soil depletion in the beginning before it robs the land of farm production . . . threatens your personal prosperity and your community's growth. Conserve, maintain, improve land today with soil conservation for a prosperous to morrow. GUARD THE FUTURE OF YOUR FARM, FOREST AND COMMUNITY. J