The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-03-11
Governor
Signs 20
Farm Bills
BY Harry Carlson


legislature of interest to the farm
ers and ranchers of Montana.
Besides the legislative measures
which with the governors sigma
ture, became law, Gov Ford APP
proved a number of senate and
house joint resolutions and memo
rails TO Congress and high federal
authorities asking that action be
taken on vital problems facing the
Montana farm industry.
Chief among these was a resolu-
ton originating in the senate ask
ing that legislation be enacted in
Washington which would fix sugar
beet allotments of acreage on the
basis Of 1912 as a minimum to as
! sure Montana beet growers that
postwar allotments may not be
measured on the basis of wartime
orders. Designed to maintain Mon
tana's beet production in the fl
ture. the resolution also asks that
penalties for underseeding during
the coming war years be substan-
TALLY lessened.
Other memorials and resolutions
which have now been signed rY
the governor ask Congress to en-
act legislation assuring farmers
reasonable profits over costs includ-
ing labor, ask rationing authori-
ties for increased canned food al
lotments for Montana farmers and
ranchers who subsiSt on canned
foods on extended sheep and cattle
drives. request extension of time
for ratification of the Yellowstone
River Compact; request that great
er allowances be made for farm
machinery and deferment of farm
men for production Of food, and
asking that mustard be designated
as an essential war crop.
Three bills passed by both houses
and signed by the governor are
aimed at further control of preda-
tory animals which have taken a
heavy toll of Montana crops during
the past year
Most far-reaching of these up
propriates $4,000 annually for state
control of predatory animals, $40
900 more than has been appropri-
ated in the past The others would
permit county-sponsored campaigns
for predatory animal control and
would allow the state fish and
game commission to dispose of an
telope when damaging property.
The federal food distribution ad-
ministration has approved the ap-
plication of the Bitterroot Cannery
at Hamilton for establishment Of
dehydration plant for Ravalli
County, according to word received
early this week from Sen. James f,
Murray.
The FDA had previously denied
the application on the ground that
the department of agriculture had
no record of Bitterroot Valley farm
production which would substan-
tiate the cannery's claims that it
could obtain sufficient farm prod
ucts to operate dehydration plant.
Sen Murray said he presented
evidence before the FDA showing
that the Valley could produce
enough farm products TO provide
SO tons day to operate the plant
from $50 to 200 days year.
Establishment of the cannery
will provide farmers within a So
mile radius of Hamilton with new
local market for vegetable crops.
1t is understood that potatoes,
which require smaller amount Of
labor in dehydrating, than other
vegetables, will be the chief prod
uct processed for the duration Car
rots may also be included in the
near future, it was said
The index Of prices received bv
Montana farmers for crops, live
stock and products advanced four
! points from jan Is to Feb. Is, ac-
cording to a report of the u. S.
Bureau of Agricultural Economics.
J, G.. Diamond, chief statistician Of
the bureau, said the primary rea-
sons for the increase were advances
in grain and meat animal prices.
Wheat advanced tWol cents Der
bushel, while feed grains advanced
from one to two cents. Beef cattle,
lambs and hogs all advanced from
go TOTO cents per hundred, while
calves and sheep showed small in
cleas1s. Eggs declined srasoauiiy,
while wholesale milk, butterfat ard
turkeys also showed declines. Flax
seed advanced IL cents per bushcl