Page 4/The Battalion/Monday, October 17,1983 High beef prices foreseen because of Texas drought By Debbie E. Warren Battalion Reporter Beef that costs $ 1.50 a pound this week will cost about $ 1.80 a pound this spring, says an eco nomist with the Texas Agricul tural Extension Service. Economist Richard A. Ed wards says the drought in west Texas is forcing cattle ranchers to sell or slaughter their cattle because they can’t afford to feed them. “Right now we’re seeing rela tively low beef prices,” Edwards says. “The projections say we’re going to see beef prices not only go back to what they were, but to a higher level. These cattle that would normally be going through the cycle on a consistent basis aren’t going to be there. Edwards says consumers will be faced with a 20 percent in crease by spring. That figure is based on government projec tions of the number of cattle in the system. The only crops effected by the drought are corn, soybean and cotton, Edwards says. “In essence, we’re going to have a shortage of cattle and therefore, the prices will be bid up on the lower amount coming There has been no govern ment aid for the cattle industry, Edwards says. Government aid has gone primarily to farmers producing crops. “Of course corn and soybean are used so much in feed grains in our animal industries that they will have an effect on ran chers,” Edwards says. THE UNDERGROUND „ Sbisa Basement Popcorn Special Monday, October 17 - Friday, October 21 450 16 oz Bag OFFER GOOD TO THE LAST BAG “The Best Food. The Lowest Price.” “The drought has been signi ficant enough that it has dried up a lot of the normal grazing,” Edwards says. The drought has injured the grain crop so much that the price to feed the cattle has gone up significantly. The farmer is faced with a double-edged sword, Edwards says. Cotton has been effected as well, but when you consider how much cotton goes into a $25 shirt, the effects of the drought are rather insignificant. It will make a big difference to the cot ton farmer, but at the consumer level, a 10 cent increase per pound of cotton is not going to effect the price of retail gar ments too much, Edwards says. Get Your Xerox Copies “He can’t maintain the cattle on his own ranch and to feed them would cost so much that he almost has no alternative other than to get rid of them, or get rid of a number of them anyway,” Edwards says. He says the drought will effect poultry prices also be cause the industry is dependent on feed grains. When feed prices go up, poultry farmers will be in the same position as cattle farmers, but on a smaller scale. He says the cattle ranchers who must sell their cattle will have limited options as to wh^t they can do with their land. Edwards says the best way the consumer can prepare for the price increases is to buy beef and poultry products now at the re duced prices and store them. at Northgate Above Farmer's Market “The land they are ranching on doesn’t have many alterna tives,” he says. “It’s basically ranch land in terms of Texas people. The type of soil and the neat is not conducive to raising anything but cattle.” “If you see a really good buy at the meat market or supermar ket, buy substantial quantities and put them in your freezer,” he says. “That would be just ab out the only thing you can do now. Those prices are going to be going up.” New, lower rates for large numbers of copies per origin al. We now offer both high-quality Xerox® copying and offset printing! Also: Self-service copying, typing, reductions and enlargements, binding, resume writing, editing, business cards, wedding invitations, stationery and many other services. One stop service for reports and dissertations. 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MSC CAMERA COMMITTEE TRUE REDD speaks TONIGHT TRUE REDD - Top Dallas Illustrative Photographer His Advertising Clients Include: Coca Cola, Neiman Marcus, Horchow, Exxon, Schlitz True Redd Speaks Tonight in 601 Rudder 7:00 p.m. The De on “Rape: 308 Rudd security av rosecutio ie present The Braz driving co j held from i [is $18, and pre-registe A&M-‘ Loading logs tuff photo by Gt,; The Ti (announced Jist Univers: [“Switch-of responsibil Members of Company N-l manhandle logs onto a bonfire loading truck at the cutting silt this weekend. Beef, swine industries fear dairy legislation United Press International TOPEKA, Kansas — If dairy men are paid to reduce milk pro duction, an estimated 1.5 mil lion additional cows will be slaughtered in the first half of 1984, creating an economic “dis aster” for beef and swine pro ducers, the executive vice presi dent of the Kansas Livestock Association savs. notnic impact and that makes it everybody’s business. This proposal is indefensible." John Meetz said the dairy legislation passed Oct. 7 by the Senate is a “rip-off of consum ers, taxpayers and livestock pro ducers.” He is especially displeased with the paid diversion provi sion of the legislation, he says. The dairy legislation is attached to a tobacco subsidy bill already approved by the House. The bill now goes back to the House, but a House Agriculture Committee spokesman says Rep. Kika de la Garza, D-Texas and chairman of the Agriculture Committee, plans to move this week to bypass House debate and go straight to a House- Senate conference on the final version of the bill. “It makes absolutely® nomic sense for the eoven j/vertisinc to continue subsiaiziiifK nnsrin ^,,.1 prices at above market creating huge surpl costing taxpayersbilliod lars and, at the sametimt, di/e dairymen to reducelk j] ie y e . Worksl Texas A groups will their audie sponsored The wor designed tc ^messages. From “The ions on wri he local m Pardcip; rutstandinj. organi/.atio plus," Meetz said. .... , r j L Registra Furthermore, 'f air Tues( f (( r#»niirp minf nr( u .. . “It’s simply not fair to expect livestock producers to bail out the dairy industry,” Meetz said. “While the beef and swine in dustries have historically stayed on the sidelines relative to dairy subsidies, the paid diversion program will have a serious eco- The legislation would attempt to reduce overproduction that cost the government $2.7 billion during the last fiscal year by paying dairy producers to re duce their milk output. It would also assess them 50 cents for ev ery 100 pounds produced and slightly reduce the price support level. ,uc paid to reduce m,lk P r indiv ^ u; tion, livestock economist! E ; n m, mate that 1 to 1.5 millicm F' p” tional cows will be slaiijk 1 during the first halfofl® I said To submit i “That will be a disasic in 21 beef and swine product: cost them millions < ’ red need market prices fo animals," Meetz said. “B swine market prices areil Jacl depressed and even with I creased dairy cow slaiij ijr-x meat supplies are approit IVy X A ly 3 percent higher main f ago.’ Reagan authorizes committee sets ’84 campaign in motion United Press International WASH INGTON — President Reagan legally becomes a candi date for re-election today with a multimillion-dollar political machine already running and advisers “100 percent con vinced” he will run. In a late morning Oval office meeting with Sen. Paul Laxalt, R-Nev., Reagan plans to sign a letter authorizing a “Reagan- Bush ’84” campaign committee to open for business. Although Reagan could still back out, and has insisted he is not ready to say yes, all his key advisers believe he is in the race United Pi DALLAS - son has pron cratic suppoi by the enc whether he dent in 1984 Jackson i about 200 I to stay. “I’m 100 percent convinced the president is going to run,” Edward Rollins, Reagan’s chief political adviser, Said Sunday. Asked what the effect on the Republican Party would be if Reagan chose not to run, White House chief of staff James Bak er said flatly, “That’s not going to happen.” Bblitical acti Laxalt, national 51115,000 neede chairman of the Republ: lot in the 19 ty, told reporters last»« ! He told sup Reagan’s intention to I Immunity 1< the document establish the “final staj committee, a formalityttf F by the Federal Elections 1 L mission. We ai When Reagan puts his! the letter to the FECj said, “He will legallyk> date.” SPECIAL OF THE DAY ALL YOU CAA EAT FARM RAISED CATFISH OR CHICKEN FRIED STEAK ONLY *5.95 Also, Plate Lunch Specials! 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