—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 3.1977
26
Californians seek support for land controversy
By JOYCE BUPP
Staff correspondent
GREEN BAY, Wis. - They
call it the 160-acre “big lie.”
“They are family farm
operators in 17 western
states, especially California,
affected by the, new in
terpretations of Department
of Interior regulations on
ownership of “excess
property” within federal
water districts. California
women attending the recent
convention of American
Agri-Women in Green Bay,
Wis. briefed delegates on the
controversial Bureau
changes and asked for
nationwide support from
affiliated organizations in
contacting representatives
regarding the 160-acre
limitations.
Approximatley nine trust are prohibited, except
million acres come under the when a direct family
water district laws, with relationship exists among all
640,000 acres alone in members. That family
California's Fresno and relationship includes only.
Kern Counties. Growers persons in a direct lineal
there view the federal descendant relationship,
crackdown on large family children either natural or
land holdings as a prelude to adopted, and their spouses,
increased strangleholds by Property owners must live
the bureaucracy on on or within a 50-mile radius
established American* of the property; however the
farming practices. ' Secretary of the Interior has
Under the new in- the discretion to impose a
terpretations of the ” 1902 more stringent residency
Reclamation Act, no person requirement, if deemed
or legal entity receiving necessary to create a
purchased federal water for populous living on the land,
agricultural uses may own The 160-acre limitation
more than 160 acres and applies to all federal water
lease more than 160 acres, districts; an owner receiving
Water is the lifeblood of the federal water may not
region. Rich and productive possess any property in
with abundant moisture, the more than one district,
land remains arid and Sellers of the excesslands
nearly useless when would be prohibited from
deprived of life-giving water leasing land back from the
supplies. Some ground wells buyer. On future recordable
are available for irrigation the 10 year
purposes, but federal disposal time has been
irrigation waters have shortened to five years,
enabled the land to bloom But perhaps the in
and produce an impressive terpretation that has
array of table vegetables property owners most upset
and fruits. Because of the ts the decision to dispose of
nature of farming carried on excess lands by lottery,
in the Westland valleys, Excess property owners not
growers cite the need for at selling lands within the 10
least 1000 acres of land to y^ rs on present contracts
constitute a basic bare- will find the government
minimum farm unit. taking care of that probelm
New operating regulations
devised by the department of
the Intenor are a drastic
change from previous in
terpretations of the
Hearing time extended
PARK RIDGE, 111. -
American Farm Bureau
president Allan Grant has
claimed an important first
round victory for farmers
fighting federal moves to
restrict their acreage
holdings to 160 acres.
Grant cited developments
of November 14, in a U.S.
District Court in Fresno,
California that effectively
hold up application of 160
acre regulations imposed by
Interior Secretary Andrus
until a determination can be
made whether en
vironmental impact studies
will be ordered for affected
areas.
The Andrus regulations
issued August 25, would limit
individual farm ownership to
160 acres where federal
water is used; apply new
standards to selling off lands
m excess of that, with buyers
determined by public lot
tery; and require owner
residency to within 50 miles
of the farm.
The regulations were to
have taken effect around
legislation and leave the fate
of exising contracts for
federal water between land
owners and the government
hanging in the air.
When land owners signing
recordable contracts had
been originally notified that
they would have to dispose of
excess lands over the 160-
acre limits, they were given
10 years to sell. The land
price and choice of buyer
was to the seller’s discretion.
Many planned to sell to
relatives, friends and em
ployees, then lease back the
land and continue their
present type of farming
operations.
Under the new in
terpretations, sales to
multiple ownerships, such as
partnerships,' family cor
porations, joint tenancies or
for them. Selling price to
lottery winners is set at a
cost approved by the
Bureau, estimated by the
property owners to be ap-
November 28 conclusion of
current public hearings. But,
in legal action filed by the
American Farm Bureau
Federation and the
California Farm Bureau
Federation, Andrus has
agreed to extend the hearing
period to December 31, and
to defer final rules until
March 1, 1978. And, it is a
delay that could be further
prolonged if the Court
decides favorably on the
environmental impact
study.
Try Gouda
Cheese
Add Gouda cheese to the
shopping list next time
groceries are bought. It’s a
great lunchtime treat served
in wedges with soup and
crackers Extension con
sumer specialists at Penn
State University say that
Gouda is a milk cheese that
youngsters like. It can also
be used as an appetizer,
shredded in a salad, over a
vegetable or in a wedge with
proximately one-half of the
land’s actual value.
Government funds will help
lottery land winners finance
their purchases through
loans.
California area growers
have taken the lead in
protesting the drastic
changes in interpretation of
the federal water district
regulations, with California
Women for Agriculture
spearheading testimony and
letter-writing efforts. Many
of the farm wives involved
represent family corporate
farms, working land owned
or leased for several
generations.
“We simply have to just
get out of farming,” says a
resigned and upset Carol
Harris, of Coalinga Rl,
Fresno County, California.
“It’s a purge of the most
efficient and best
operators.”
The Harris’ are involved in
a family farm encompassing
20,000 acres, with 20 per cent
of the land owned and the
remainder leased; their
grape and cotton operation is
one of the largest falling
under the Department of
Interior winners, deter
mined at random, for the
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SHOWROOM DISPLAY
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Mon thru Thurs. 10 A.M. - 5 P.M.
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Bureau-established figure of
$750 per acre.
“Farming as we do
requires many acres and
large equipment to do it
efficiently,” adds Mrs.
Harris. “The land is already
supporting as many families
through our operation as it
efficiently can. When lottery
winners, buying with the
help of our tax monies, end
up not being able to make a
living off acreages too small
economically, we’ll find
ourselves then supporting
them through other
government-aid programs.”
SOYBEAN ROASTING ON YOUR FARM
“Someone has arbitrarily
decided that it’s not a family
farm any longer when you
hire more than two people,”
concluded the California
farm wife.
Mona Telles, of-
Pirebaugh, Cal., is another
Fresno County farm resident
hit by the
regulations. Pari; of a family
farm corporation, she t
_ represents 17,000 acres in
cotton, cantaloupes, and
lettuce.
“We employ 150 people
full-time, year round,” she
feeding value have your soybeans roasted,
dr Sale in small lots or trailer loads.
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YOU/? SECURITY AND ENERGY CENTER
HIESTAND DISTRIBUTORS INC.
MARIETTA, PA 17547
Phone 717-426^3286
BOX 96
See Us At Root’s Every Tuesday Building No. 5
Green Dragon Every Friday Building No: 3
noted. “If that isn’t keeping'
the use of our land to the best
possible efficiency, what is’
All those people will have to
seek new areas of em
ployment when we have to
close down because we’re
cut to fanning 320 acres.
Where will they go?*’
The women urged all farm
owners across the country to
contact their represen
tatives with background
information and comments
on ways the proposed
revisions may affect their
individual future farming
rights.