Utah farmers, ranchers hope for brighter future

LOGAN — Utah's farmers and ranchers are just beginning to shake off the effects of the global economic meltdown, but like the harvests yet to come, hope appears to be just around the corner.

"Even though we are going through economic challenges, agricultural production in the world economy continues to be important," said Kyle Stephens, deputy commissioner of Utah's Department of Agriculture and Food.

"Hopefully, tomorrow will be a brighter day," Stephens told a crowd of ranchers and farmers gathered Thursday for the Utah Farm Bureau's 2010 Midyear Conference.

The crisis that has haunted the pocketbooks of consumers and industry has been at the forefront of a drastic decline in the billions in terms of cash receipts in 2009. At the same time, equity in farms and ranches that took decades to accumulate dipped from historic highs in a just a short period of time, Stephens said.

The economic pressure, in turn, has underscored the importance of "off-farm" income so farmers and ranchers can cover living expenses.

Walt Schulthess, a cattle rancher in Rich County's Woodruff, knows all too well the financial pain of the last few years.

"I really don't know of any segment of (agricultural production) that has not been hit," he said.

At the same time as costs went up to run an operation — such as fuel — the revenue from agricultural goods declined, he said. "The only bright spot has been that land prices are higher."

That boost has allowed farmers and ranchers to sell off smaller parcels of land to ride out the crest of financial trouble, Schulthess said.

A fifth-generation rancher, Schulthess said 2001 may have been a tough year, but the last two years have eclipsed that downturn.

While he says he recognizes the reality of some farmers and ranchers having to pursue "off-farm" income, the idea grates at him.

"Personally, I have a hard time with that," he said. "Not only are there not a lot of off-farm jobs, this is what I know, this is what I do."

e-mail: amyjoi@desnews.com