OCR Text |
Show returns are only a fraction of those produced on irrigated land. In addition to these acres that are completely - without developed water supplies, a large percentage of lands presently being irrigated receives only a partial water supply. The latest United States Census of Agriculture shows that during 1969 the 12 counties discussed in paragraph A^ d which are within the Central Utah Water Conservancy District produced agricultural products having a sale value of $ 109 » 8l8,000. Of this amount only 15 percent represented cash crops sold; the balance, or 85 percent, comprised livestock and livestock products marketed in the form of meat, milk, and wool. Beef, Grade A milk, and lamb are the primary products produced by farmers in this area. Farm management surveys by the Bureau of Reclamation show that along the Wasatch Front area the production of beef cattle is the principal farm enterprise, followed by dairying, cash crops, and fruit. Principal cash crops are sugar beets, corn for grain, small grain, alfalfa, and miscellaneous vegetable crops. Fruit is grown mainly on the benchlands of the Wasatch Front area and includes apples, peaches, pears, cherries, apricots, and berries. Most full- time farmers specialize in livestock, Grade " A" dairies, or fruit production. The livestock and dairy farmers usually produce their own feed in the form of alfalfa, grain, and corn silage. Table Br3 presents the farm sales by county in the Central Utah Water Conservancy District. The data are for farms with annual sales of at least $ 2,500. In Heber, Duchesne River, and central and lower Sevier River areas agriculture is the leading industry. Cattle and sheep farms are the most prominent, followed by Grade " A" dairies and farms which operate with a combination of livestock types. Summer grazing for both cattle and sheep is provided on nearby National Forest lands. In the winter the large sheep herds graze the desert lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management. Irrigated crops in the order of greatest acreage are hay crops ( mostly alfalfa), pasture, small grains, field crops such as sugar beets and potatoes, vegetable crops, corn, and orchards. Under the Public Works and Economic Development Act Congress created the " Four Corners Regional Commission" in 19& 5• The Commission was created to draw up plans and programs to develop an area designated " Four Corners Economic Development Region." The region is comprised of 92 economically depressed counties in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. The nature of the economy of this area is evidenced by the low per capita income, the high unemployment rate, and underemployment. Utah counties designated " Area Redevelopment Counties" by the U. S. Department of Labor in 1971 are shown in Figure B- k, 168 |