Deseret News | Turkey grower facing layoffs

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Turkey grower facing layoffs

samhill | 7:01 a.m. June 29, 2008

Please remember folks, it is primarily the Democrats in congress who have been pushing the idea of using food (corn) for fuel.

While there are alternate sources for producing ethanol (a very questionable source of energy in any case), corn was chosen for the sole reason that increasing demand for it would, inevitably, increase the price the farmers (and we are mainly talking corporate conglomerate "farmers", i.e. ADM, etc., here) get.

The farm lobby has benefited from government subsidies for decades, almost always to the detriment of the rest of the economy. This is one more, slightly obtuse, example.

Find out who in congress approved the corn-for-fuel subsidies and other farm subsidies and VOTE THEM OUT!

Another view point | 7:23 a.m. June 29, 2008

Over the last few years I have heard the cry "We cann't get enough workers for all the jobs and Americans will not do them"

People used this for a rational for looking the other way on our emigration laws and hiring many illegal aliens.

It was to their employers economic advantage. They would work for sub standard wages. Construction, Hospitality, Agriculture and many other industries exploited their cheap labor.

I told my friends what is going to happen to these workers when the economy turns down? Are they going to return to their country of origin or are they going to take advantage of the social support net works that exist here in the United States?

A good example would be post war Germany. Many Turks flooded into the country when the economy was booming had lots of children and now that the economy is stuggling guess who is paying for everything? The German Tax Payers.

Now that our economy is constricting these same employers will cut them loose and most will not return to their country of origin and Utah tax payers who are already straining under the yoke of taxation will support them.

True or False

Anonymous | 7:25 a.m. June 29, 2008

As a former resident of Moroni, my heart is heavy with this news. It will be a huge blow to Moroni, Sanpete County and the State of Utah. The Moroni Feed and Processing Plant have been in business for as long as I can remember.
My heart goes out to the ones who will be unemployed. You can bet the Thanksgiving Gobbler will cost more if they are available.
God bless us all.

Comments continue below

Bart | 8:45 a.m. June 29, 2008

To samhill - I have to just shake my head and wonder. What are you thinking? This administration had complete control of every aspect of our government and have screwed everything up so royaly and you dare to blame the Democrats. This takes partisan blindness to a new level. Shiiiish!!

Clare | 10:50 a.m. June 29, 2008

If we need the corn here, why are we selling it to other countries? I don't think it should be allowed, unless we have a surplus.

larry | 3:10 p.m. June 29, 2008

i read once that sanpete alone produces 9 or 19 percent of turkey to the country. could be wrong but if not thats a significant difference. gas goes up and everything goes with it.

OmahaMan | 3:23 p.m. June 29, 2008

I grew up in Ephraim and this news concerns me. I can see how this news will effect many of the minorities who live in the area and work at the processing plant. Will the WHITE collar management suffer?

On the larger issue, I am with Bart. There is enough blame to go around as to the root cause of our economic crisis. I have also seen the flooding of corn fields here in the Midwest. What is needed is fast action by a slow government. Good Luck!

Anonymous | 4:17 p.m. June 29, 2008

Give me a break. Why are people trying to spin this to their own agenda? This is horrible news. This is more than 1,000 people's lives here.

Spinning this into an immigration issue? Blaming the democrats?

Give me a break.

Tragedy | 6:07 p.m. June 29, 2008

I grew up in Sanpete and feel for the whole county who are suffering and will suffer much more if the turkey growers go out of buisness.

Fact is though that this is occuring for one reason and that is that the cost of corn is outrageously high. This is because of two reasons: First because Thanks to our lawmakers mainly the democratic side we are waisting corn using it as a fuel, which by the way it takes 1.5 units of energy to produce one unit of ethanol via corn.

Second the floods have further depleated corn for human and animal consumption. We can't do anyhting about flooding but we sure can put an end to ethanol mandates. Unfortunately it takes too long for the government to act. I feel it's probably too late for Sanpete

Ridgerunner | 6:33 p.m. June 29, 2008

I lost my job once and I found a better one! Computers put thousands of typewritter manufactors out of business but created tens of thousands of new jobs! Go equip yourselves with greater marketable skills and offer them on the free market! Never be satisfied with lowest common denominator! This is the greatest country in the world because of freedom to improve ourselves and to be rewarded for our efforts! The value the world puts on you is identical to the value you put upon yourself in terms of skills and abilities. There are a few exceptions but the vast majority of those living in poverty in America are poor because of personal choices. I was poor once, but because I finally figured out how to get wealthy, I did! And no, I am not bragging whatsoever and it had nothing to do with "luck". I found that the harder I worked, the luckier I got. God Bless these people to move ahead in their lives.

sanpete man | 7:20 p.m. June 29, 2008

Do you realize the extent of this through-out the entire nation! If a business as big as Norbest and Moroni Feed has to shut down due to high energy and feed prices, what is happening to the rest of this nation and the agriculture businesses? My cousins and family have been apart of Moroni Feed for three generations. We have seen bad times and weathered through though times, but we have never had to take these drastic measures to try and survive economic hard times. Just some thing to think about!!!

hey Bart | 8:07 p.m. June 29, 2008

The liberals in Congress and the Senate have been pushing this environmental crap down out throats. Only a moron would think that making fuel out of food would be a good idea. It takes more than a gallon of gas to make a gallon of biofuel. We need to drill for and produce our own fuel not put it in our tanks. I can't stand liberals.

wrz | 8:16 p.m. June 29, 2008

Anonymous | 7:25 a.m. June 29, 2008:

"My heart goes out to the ones who will be unemployed. You can bet the Thanksgiving Gobbler will cost more if they are available."

Then, as Queen Marie Antoinette said, "let them eat cake."

arizonan | 9:53 p.m. June 29, 2008

Isn't it interesting that Utah continues to be the most "red" state in the entire U.S. and still the staunchest supporters of the most inept,corrupt President and Republican administration is history? And you Utahns still have your heads in the sand if you are so naive as to beleive that so-called "liberals" got us into the mess we're in! Get real, it's the Republicans who have been "in charge" for the last 8 years and their inept/corrupt "Bushie" cronies (like Hatch) and their fiscal irresponsibility, who have literally destroyed our country and who have brought all of us to our knees?

re: ridgerunner | 9:56 p.m. June 29, 2008

You just don't get it. Turkeys are an icon of this area. You can look down on those growers and those that process these turkeys, thats alright.

I'll just remind you you wouldn't have a thing to eat without men and women like these. But you keep looking down on these people.

The rest of the world will appreciate what they do. The rest of the world will understand the impact.

There is no such thing as a replacement for the food you eat.

Bush = Ethanol | 12:08 a.m. June 30, 2008

Anyone can google "President Bush Ethanol" and easily see that Mr. Bush has been a staunch advocate of Ethanol. Mr. Bush signed the Ethanol legislation. The Republicans CONTROLED the presidency and the legislature for 6 years!

Stop putting all the blame on the Democrats...(you're agenda is easily seen).

Also, If no corn was being used to make Ethanol, gasoline would likely be that much higher ($5.00 per gallon, $6.00 per gallon???), and these turkey farmers would have the exact same problem (too high of expenses) only through a different path. (i.e., Gas prices would eat into their bottom line, and/or the High cost of gas would cause people to spend less money on their products).

Oblivious Ridgerunner | 12:43 a.m. June 30, 2008

Ridgerunner,

You remind of the people on the deck of the Titanic who thought that they would be safe while the people in steerage were drowning. Don't you worry, tough times will get to you too. Your business/job doesn't exist in a vacuum and your arrogant patronizing tone is not appreciated.

OmahaMan | 2:28 p.m. July 3, 2008

hey Bart;

We can always grow more corn. Oil is NOT a renewable resource. I would rather breath air with ethanol exhaust than gas/deisel. Plus, 15% ethanol fuel here in the Midwest costs 10 cents less than 100% petroleum fuel. Look at the big picture. And, as long as we are exchanging mindless jabs, I can't stand conservatives with blinders on.

tillie | 11:27 p.m. July 15, 2008

I am so tried of hearing about the poor turkey farmers in Sanpete County. They have money they just want a handout. I know homes would sell better in Moroni, if we didn't have the smell of the Turkey Plant and all the turkey feathers along the sides of the roads what a mess. I don't feel sorry for them, all things must end.

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