| OCR Text |
Show WATER FOR UTAH potatoes, canned vegetables and a small amount of fresh and processed fruit. With few exceptions, these are products which, even in normal times, are needed by the Nation in greater quantities. There will be less wheat produced in Utah, although a greater proportion of its production will be used for local consumption. The 1945 Census of Agriculture reported 26,322 farms in the State. Many of these were part- time farms, the operators of some of which work regularly in industry. However, there are other farm operators who normally have no regular work except on a farm which provides only a part- time job. Many farms are large enough to provide essentially full- time work for the operators but are too small for efficient operation. The supplemental water to be provided and part of the new lands should be used to increase the size of these existing farms. An estimated 7,500 additional farms might well be established on new lands which will be brought under irrigation. If this were done, there would be an increase of approximately 10 acres of arable irrigated land per farm, or about 48 acres as compared with 38 at present. The change in the total gross agricultural income would be about the same as the over- all net increase in production, which is estimated at 60%. The prewar income was approximately fifty million dollars, which on the basis of the same price level would result in an income, after development, of at least eighty million dollars. However, by using 1947 price levels, which resulted in a gross agricultural income of slightly more than one hundred fifty million dollars, the agricultural income for the State after development should be about two hundred forty million dollars. The change in the average income per farm would depend largely upon the change in the number of farms. However, the average income of the existing farms should be materially advanced by supplemental water supplies. By assuming that the number of farms will increase by 7,500, and that the total income will grow to two hundred forty million dollars, the average gross income per farm would be augmented from $ 5,700 to slightly more than $ 7,000. The increase in net farm income should be greater in proportion. However, this is an average for all farms, including those that are now of adequate size and which have a full water supply. Inasmuch as the major part of the total advance would accrue to probably one- half of the total farms, the increase would be double the average for all farms. The same relative increase can be expected regardless of whether the general level of prices were as high in 1947 or has dropped to prewar levels. The total farm population in Utah, on January I, 1945, was 113,000. The development of additional water supplies as contemplated would provide for a farm population of about 145,000 people. The hoped- for- increase in the size of farms will necessitate more farm labor. This will require more efficient and more complete use of labor. The augmented need for farm population will thus enable the local farm youth to remain on the farm instead of seeking work elsewhere. It is further estimated that, for each additional person of farm population, two will be needed to provide supplies and services required by enlarged agricultural production and farm population. This would mean an estimated total increase of about 96,000 persons in the State, resulting directly from expanded water supplies and irrigation development. ... More Water ... More Security ... More Stability ... The favorable changes which would be brought about by increased supplies of water would prove most profitable to the State's agriculture and to its entire related economy. An upward change in the average income of the rural people would result and a great deal of uncertainty and anxiety concerning their security would be removed. Most of the increased income would be used for improving living conditions, thus expanding market demands for those goods which provide comfort and a high standard of living. In some areas greater use of medical and dental services would occur, raising the health level of the population. Many community facilities would be bettered. The widespread influence of these changes would be great throughout Utah and substantial in the West and the Nation. Increased wealth would mean an increased tax [ 33] |
