Northen Log, The (Newspaper) - November 23, 1977, Bemidji, Minnesota A North Country NEWSpaper Published in combination with THE PIONEER Bemidji Mi WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 23 1977 On the inside Wood chips Cancer answers EPS program children Appetizers are easy party hit the road Alternatives p 4 p 10 p 11 Featuring correspondents from the outlying communities Payments in lieu of Public An asset or liability OF STATE LONG RANGE PAYMENTS IN LIEU OF TAXES FOR NATURAL RESOURCE LANDS FISCAL By JERKY DOGGETT Editor Editor's This is the last In a three-part series reviewing the efforts to pass payments in lieu of taxes legislation Our whole argument is that bur tax base is eroded by the huge amounts of federal and state lands in our said Rep Irv Anderson International one of several northern legislators pressing for payments in lieu of taxes legislation But there are a number of rebuttals to that argument including special payments that are already being made to local governments and benefits that occur through tourism and governmental employment Which is For those counties affected are public lands an asset or a The Phase I study of the Commission on Minnesota Resources the reference authority for those considering payments in lieu of axes legislation has arrived at these Principal observations and resource lands which attract people bring with them increased governmental service demands However these increased activities also enhance the local economy hence tax base and tend to increase private property values principal governmental services commonly provided to public natural resource land include road construction and maintenance fire protection and police protection These service costs are at least partially compensated for through direct payments direct services service contracts and indirect categorical state and federal aid dependence on governmental employment as an economic base appears to be directly increased by the existence of state and federal natural resource lands Those lands which are recreationally oriented also increase employment in the tourist industry these impacts are not quantifiable local communities benefit from stale and federal natural resource lands a increased recreational opportunites b public land management and c preserved amenities Many of these benefits defy accurate measurement However local governments are receiving some direct payments in lieu of taxes from the Game and Fish Fund the Consolidated Areas Fund Hie Slate Forest Fund mining royalties on lands See map Beltrami County appears in a uniquely favorable status being the only county in the slate to receive monies under all four of funds But that's a deceptive uniqueness the total of those four accounts amounting to only a year for he more lhan acres of stale and lands The bulk of thai figure of it comes from the Consolidated Areas Fund which is divided 40 per lo Counly school districts 30 per cent lo the county development fund 20 per cent lo the general fund and 10 per Continued on page 2 Stale Forost Fond Game Fish Fund Mineral Land Unique status On this map a purl of the study County appears In a uniquely favorable status being the only county in the state to receive monies under all four funds now established by the slate But that totals only Ibc county's more than acres of state and lands Growing corn in Beltrami County may not be such a corny idea Pioneer photo by Greg Booth shows some of tlic corn he grew for Davis much of his corn is wailing to he harvested due to unexpected blizzard which prohibits driving in the field By Staff Writer Corn will never replace hay as Hie staple crop in Beltrami Counly But it is making headway Corn isn't so noticeable around the city limits since the sandy soil makes growth prohibitive But out about miles north away from the sandy deposits left by a glacier there arc more Fanners trying their luck at it Hum ever before said Jim adult Farm management instructor whose job is lo assist Farmers in all phases of farm management is especially pleased with the corn crop this year Sacked estimated the corn crop in Beltrami County this year nearly tripled what was grown in 1973 when acres wore Sacked says one of the major reasons For the boost in corn production is the improved varieties of hybrid corn which matures earlier in a short growing season Sackett says one of major reasons for the boost in corn production is the improved varieties of hybrid corn which matures earlier in a short growing season Another contributing factor is that low oat and wheat prices and the high cost oF purchasing corn motivated Farmers to try growing their own corn In addition Sacked said farmers are seeing the benefits of using more commercial fertiliser and chemical weed control And farm implement dealers are noticing that more farmers in the area are in VPS I ing in planting and harvesting equipment Many fanners in the area are just dabbling with a corn crop oF acres or enough lo feed livestock over winter But others like John Davis are going Davis grew 340 acres of corn this year hoping to cash in on what looked like a good corn price this spring But com price plummeted from per bushel in spring to less than per bushel this fall And to make things worse 320 acres are still in the field waiting for frozen ground so heavy equipment can harvest it I'm completely satisfied with my corn crop this year Davis said I think we ran raise corn and Although unsure of this year's corn crop Davis said we'll gut her eventually Davis who lasl year grew ISO acres nf corn also expressed surprise at number if people raising corn in Beltrami County 1 think people are using fertilizers a little nmrc and the overall farm management of the farms is Davis said George Koch who last year was named Beltrami County dairy of the year raised acres of corn this year Although hardly matching he amount of corn grown in sou Minnesota it is an abnormal amount for Beltrami County Besides having suitable farmland for growing corn Koch's new high moisture corn silo which is another reason for growing more corn Koch previously stored his corn in a cement silo However the corn didn't ferment properly in thai structure With the high moisture unit Koch said he is a little more confident of his corn crop paying making high protein food for his cat lie Another farmer Bob Paine increased his corn product ion by 30 per cent over last year Paine is raising corn lo feed his hogs Paine also has a high moisture unit which retains corn nutrients while speeding lip the Fattening of his hogs Possibly we weren't growing the right type of corn in the Paine said in explaining why he thinks the corn crop is higher this year in Beltrami Counly While noting the corn crop year Sackett cautioned farmers that growing corn in a northern climate is still risky Sackett said the worst enemy corn faces in County is lack of moisture Bui be said more irrigation would greatly enhance future corn crops Sacked said Belli ami Counly farmers should expect bushels per in a normal year Partners who do not do a good job of planting corn or fail to fertilize or fail lo control weeds will not sec yields Mini he said Farmers are coming to realize that RO bushels per acre of corn is better than BO acres per bushel of oats because livestock eat pounds not bushels he Contained on page 2 JUV Pioneer photo by Greg Booth Inb examines his corn roller mill which cks the corn and delivers it to the hogs
