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ARO U N D
THE FARM
Arab world.
By
Don Coin Walrod
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The many variables affecting farm
production, including problems o f
weather, labor, and various pests,
plus market fluctuations not only
make heavy demands upon the ingen­
uity of the farm manager but they
also introduce more variation into
year to year farm incomes than is
common for other enterprises.
While farmers have more problems
keeping their incomes on a steady
even keel, they also have more op­
portunity to shift income from one
period to another by shifting the time
marketing. When growers specialize,
as in the case of dairymen or straw­
berry growers, this choice of time of
marketing is frequently lost or at
least minimized.
By making purchases of produc­
tions items or selling crops, live­
stock, or capital items before the end
of the year, farmers can change their
income tax picture. By making cash
purchases of feed, seed, fertilizers,
fueloil or supplies; buying small tools
or other deductible items; or making
repairs adjustments in the 1964 tax­
able income can be made.
Farm management, as contrasted
to ordinary matters of straight pro­
duction, is becoming more important
in the business of farming but many
opportunities are overlooked unless
same real attention is given to tax­
able phases on a year-round basis.
Wool growers have only until Jan­
uary 30 to file with the county ASCS
office, St. Helens, for wool incentive
payments, but all sale for this year
must be made before December 31.
Because of the vital importance of
wool as a strategic material to our
country, the government, through the
USDA, has offered incentive pay­
ments to encourage greater wool pro­
duction.
Ever since its inception several
years ago, the incentive price has
been pegged at a national average of
62 cents per pound. Growers are paid
the difference between the national
average price growers receive ana
the 62 cents. Funds used to make
these incentive payments come from
duties charged on wool imported into
the country.
Also on the subject of wool, its
worth noting that a new treatment
for wool makes it shrink-proof and
mat-proof even when machine wash­
ed. The WURLAN process, so called
because it was developed at USDA’s
Western Utilization Research Labor­
atory at Albany, California, provides
for treatment of wool before its man­
ufacture into yarn or treatment of
woven fabric.
Two mills in Rhode Island and one
in Pennsylvania began using the
WURLAN process for making shrink-
proof yam earlier this year. The Ag­
ricultural Research Service reports
enthusiastic reception from industry
and consumers for the shrink-proof
woven or knitted woolens.
T h e three companies producing
WURIANized yam say it is depend­
ably washable by any normal method
and is truly resistant to shrinking and
matting. Fabrics knitted from the
yam have the look and feel of natur­
al wool and the easy-care qualities
of fabrics made from synthetic fibers.
The choice of a farm enterprise for
individual arms depends upon many
factors, not the least of which is the
personal likes and dislikes of the op­
erator. Economists, of course, point
out the very important factor of com­
parative advantage that one farm
might have over another for the pro­
duction of any given commodity, al­
though this factor is more apt to be
of area concern. In some cases, the
l e a s t c om parative disadvantage
might determine whether a commod­
ity could be produced economically.
Ijunb and wool production are par­
ticularly well suited to our area for
a good many reasons. From the
standpoint of lamb production, our
normally mild climate is well suited
to early lambing. Lambs are then
ready for market as milk-fed lambs
at the end of May or early in June.
These lambs are in the market at a
time when no other area of the na­
tion is supplying lambs gives us
some advantage. In addition, neigh­
boring California is a major lamb
consuming area.
Returns, on a dollar invested basis,
are better in the field of lamb and
wool production than most other live­
stock production enterprises. Labor
requirements are relatively low with
the heaviest demand coming during
Demonia Caqfe
8
THURSDAY, DEC. 31, 1964
task, this is a long-term proposition.
What does seem likely is that, if
the five succeed, the economic union
will expand to include much of the
lambing. Given high quality rough-
age, little else in the way of feed is
required, although a small amount
of supplement may be justified in
some instances.
In a general discussion of live­
stock enterprises with Jess Lewis,
Clatskanie, a few weeks ago, Jess
indicated his belief in the ability of
a flock of sheep to give a greater re­
turn with less effort than most other
livestock enterprises. Certainly, they
are well adapted to some of our small
farms and part time operations.
Woodland owners planning to make
plantings of forest seedlings during
this planting season should be get­
ting orders into the state nursery to
be assured of having the species
wanted. Supplies of incense cedar
and Chinese arborvitae are already
depleted. Order blanks are available
from state farm foresters or county
Extension agents.
Government payments to farmers
amounts to relatively small amounts
of the total gross income farmers re­
ceive. For the 1963 marketing year
the total was $13.4 million or about
3 percent.
Conservation Practices, u n d e r
which the farmer normally pays
more than half the cost, came to a-
bout $4.1 million. Wool incentive pay­
ments came to almost an even mil­
lion dollars. Cost of this program is
covered by wool import tariff fees.
Soil bank payments, totalling $2.8
million in 1963 paid diversion of land
to conservation purposes. Feed grain
diversion programs brought in $1.8
million, and the Wheat program, in­
cluding diversion payments and price
support brought Oregon farmers $2.5
million.
Farmers receiving such payments
need to list them, along with any
windstorm damage payments, as in­
come received when making up in­
come tax forms. They can also de­
duct the expenses incurred in under­
taking such practices. How to handle
such income expenses connected with
various practices is covered in some
detail in the “1965 Farm er’s’ Tax
Guide” which can be obtained free
from county Extension offices.
Bob Reed, new president of the
A new alfalfa variety nursery es-
Western Oregon Livestock associa­
tion and a livestock operator of the some marked differences, Ron re­
Warrenton area of Clatsop county, is ported to us while at a meeting last
well known among livestock circles week. Since we have not put signs on
in Columbia county, particularly in the plot for this year, Ron was curi­
ous as to varieties. Without going to
the Clatskanie area.
Jack Wood, secretary of the Clat­ see, we are confident that they will
sop association, recently indicated be same of the French varieties sim­
to us that they probably would be ap­ ilar to DuPuits. This will be some­
proaching Columbia county for sup­ thing to watch next year.
Alfalfa acreage in Columbia county
port on the year’s program and pos­
sibly co-sponsorship of next year’s has more than doubled in the last ten
years, but we won’t know just how
convention to be at Gearhart.
much more until the results of the
Common markets are getting com­ current farm census are published.
moner every year, as a marketing
While acreages have gone u p,
idea reports.
there’s little doubt that similar pro­
Five Arab nations are now setting gress has not been made with yields.
up their own economic union, effec­ Using figures of crop reporting ser­
tive the first of the year. The five, vice and all other sources, in addi­
clustered at the eastern end of the tion to our own estimates, the best
Mediterranean, are the United Arab we can come up with is an average
Republic (Egypt), Jordan and Syria, of 3.4 per acre on all fields.
largely agricultural, plus oil-rich Iraq
Actually, most alfalfa growers do
and Kuwait.
an excellent job at the time of estab­
The Arab Five have undoubtedly lishment of the crop-primarily be­
taken note of the success of the six cause a full treatment of lime and
nations of European Economic Com­ fertilizers required under the pro­
munity often called European Com­ visions of the cost-sharing program
munity. Intra-EEC trade has doubled of the ASCS office. Many fail to real­
ed, from $7,030 million in 1957, the ize that annual fertilizer treatments
year before the market was set up, to are needed since a three ton per acre
$15,491 million in 1963.
yield of alfalfa will remove about 115
Younger and less closely organized pounds of nitrogen, 30 pounds of
than the EEC, two trade groups in P2O5, and 45 pounds of K2O per acre
our own hemisphere have seen busi­ annually.
ness move ahead, too. Founded in
A soil test is the only accurate key
1961 the Central American Free we have as an indication of the a-
Trade Area (CAFTA) doubled trade mounts of these materials needed.
among members, from $32.7 million However, we do know that every al­
in 1960 to $67.6 million in 1963.
falfa field in Columbia county needs
Nearly the same thing happened, an application of 30 to 40 pounds of
on a larger scale, in the Latin Amer­ sulfur and one to two pounds of boron
ican Free Trade Area (LAFTA) applied this fall. This can be done by
founded in 1960. In 1961 trade among the addition of 200 pounds per acre
members came to $360 million. By of borated gypsum. However, if phos­
1963 intra-LAFTA business was up phorus is needed in the fertilizer pro­
to $525 million.
gram, it may be more economical,
Other going concerns are the Eur­ and easier, to use a borated super­
opean Free Trade Area and the East phosphate. It will supply the needed
African Free Trade Area. The first sulfur and boron as well if the appli­
group includes most of Western Eur­ cation is at least 200 pounds. On al­
ope outside the EEC. The second is falfa, all applications of fertilizer
comprised of Kenya, Uganda and should be made in the fall except in
Tanganyika-Zanzibar.
the case of heavy applications of pot­
The new Arab Common Market ash which should be split into two or
provides for a lowering of trade bar­ more treatments.
riers by each member to the pro­
ducts of the other members. There
Much is being said these days a-
will be free exchange of currency bout poverty and unemployment. Un­
and skilled labor. And transportation employment situations on the farm
facilities will be cooperatively shar­ may be masked. Under the current
ed.
method of reporting, unemployments
The Five have much to offer one rates are about twice as high off the
another. Egypt, Jordan and Kuwait, farm as they are on it. However, the
which exist on a marginal level of figures are no measure of the rela­
farm production, must depend heav­ tive well-being for the two segments
ily on food imports. Conversely, Iraq of the population.
and Syria in most years produce a
Self-employed farmers may, for
surplus of major food items. With a
instance, struggle along with not
combined population of some 30 mil­
enough work to do and too little in­
lion, Egypt, Jordan and Kuwait could
come. Furthermore, the part-time
absorb the surplus grain, livestock
farmer is still listed as employed
and livestock products of both Syria
when he loses his off-farm job, even
and Iraq. In exchange, Syria, for in­
though he may have relied heavily
stance, might well take more Egyp­
on such work for his income.
tian rice and some citrus.
Because we are in a period when
As the most industrialized of the
Five, Egypt could also process Syr­ the interests of urban dwellers are
ian hides and skins into leather goods very likely to shove the interests of
for export to Western Europe and rural dwellers further down the list
for legislators, it is important that
other world markets.
Free movement of people would do more effort be put into developing
much to even out the peaks and val­ the kind of intelligent understanding,
leys in the skilled labor market. on both sides, that could produce
Egypt is said to have more skilled strong and effective working relation­
techincal personnel, both in agricul­ ships.
If agriculture and the food proces­
ture and related industries, than it
can place. Syria anti Iraq are shon sing and distributing industries con­
tinue to do as good a job of provid­
of skilled manpower.
The new union will have little effect ing the variety and high quality of
on U. S. farm exports to the area in goods now available to Americans,
the near future. Most of our ship­ it is doubtful that homemakers, who
ments, chiefly wheat, aren’t dollar are usually the family food purchas­
sales but government-sponsored ex­ ing agents, are going to rise up and
ports. Only if the trade union spurs revolt. At the present time it ap­
members to up farm output signifi­ pears. from whatever studies have
cantly could U. S. markets be affect­ been made of this subject, that most
ed. By the very magnitude of the women are quite happy with the food
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industry and do not feel that food second car or a motorboat.
prices are out of line any more than
Vera Kohlstrand, McNulty, was one
any other product or service. (Mo6t
people w i l l readily suggest that of thirty-three dairymen and wives
everything is over-priced, except the from Oregon to visit the headquart­
product or service he is selling of ers of the All West Breeders at Bur­
course There is no evidence to sug­ lington. Washington. This organiza­
gest that food prices get more criti­ tion is a cooperative resulting from
the merger of Oregon Breeders As­
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The very fact that families today sociation and Evergreen Northwest
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each dollar for food, on the average, serve cattlemen in Oregon and Wash­
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Dairymen on tour saw the 62 dairy
more concerned about the cost of a
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