OCR Text |
Show p n InJ Arizona Strip Ranchers and Farmers Get Help From Soil Survey by Kirk G. Heaton The soils of the Arizona Strip are being mapped by soil scientists. Farmers or ranchers dont have time or money to spend on elaborate agricultural research or experience, or on mapping and studying the soils. Interest is high In the results of such studies because they help land users manage more profitably. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has contracted to pay the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) to map these soils so that the information will be available for better manage- ment. Ranchers want the greatest amount of high quality forage from their range. Because forage yields depend in large part on soil properties, detailed know- ledge of the soils on a ranch can help ranchers manage their range more efficiently. The SCS has agreed with the Fredonia Natural Resource Conservation District (NRCD) to map on the private and state lands in connection with mapping the BLM lands. Ranchers like soil surveys because they can help estimate the likely benefits of management practices. For example, soil in an area of Black Greasewood or Snakeweed may have such low potential productivity that the cost of mechaniai or chemical treatment may not be worth the yield in forage. On the other hand, there may be areas where the soils are capable of producing more forage if properly managed. Soil surveys help relate the kinds of soil on a range to the descriptive kind and amount of vegetation each soil can support. Soil texture, depth, available water, slope and topographic position, are the soil properties that affect range production. Deep loamy soils on bottom lands may produce the most desirable range plants. On uplands where rainfall is moderate, medium textured soils that take in water readily may produce desirable plants tf grazing is controlled. In some dry areas, sandy soils are more productive than clayey soils. Grouping the soils on a ranch according to their decrease and less desirable gives information that can plants may take over the site. help them manage land for A soil survey helps identify wildlife habitat or identify soils that are 'producing at less areas suitable for recreation than their potential. development. Soil surveyors identify the The soil survey can help soils and receive assistance ranchers and managers plan from range specialists in wise use of private and federal identifying the main species of range land. Soil maps and soil desirable and undesirable descriptions help identify prorange plants that grow on the blem areas, select suitable soils and these specialists areas for stock ponds and estimate the forage yields that establish schedules for grazcan be expected under favoring and proper use of soils on able and unfavorable condithe range. tions. Farmers like to know When completed, the Soil which soils are suitable for Survey will be public information and will contain detailed pasture, hay and other important crops grown on the maps and descriptions of soils Arizona Strip. The soil survey ' with interpretations of soil helps determine which areas properties for ranching and productivity helps ranchers will be most productive for farming where such land use is practiced. Data for other plan the kind of management this use. needed to increase forage Ranchers may use their land land uses will also be yields. If the range is for fee hunting or other kinds contained in the final report. overgrazed, desirable plants of recreation. The soil survey Among the soil properties that affect the use of ranching and farming are the content of sand, silt, and clay, acidity and alkalinity, flood hazard, depth to water table, soil depth, natural drainage, credibility, organic matter content and general fertility. These and many other properties described in soil surveys provide basic information in managing soils on a ranch or farm. Certain areas have been mapped and the Information ,can be obtained by contacting the SCS office in Fredonia. Soil scientists, range planners and technicians will welcome an opportunity to discuss conservation management of soils with anyone who Harkm Joeobp, Set Sdeetiet, uses power eager whUe stops by any SCS office. mapping eettt etke Arizona Strip. d , F amily Farming Has Changed Over Years By Doyle J. Matthews Dean of Agriculture and Director, Utah Agricultural Experimental Station, USU themselves from fulltime farming with the same level of sustenance would require 100 dairy cows or 450 range beef cows or 2,500 range sheep or 2,500 acres of dryland wheat or 200 brood sows or 50,000 hens or 640 irrigated acres to constitute economic units. Agricultural research is Anyone who is trying to farm at a level which was a family unit in 1930 is now a hobby farmer. To live he must derive most of his income from other sources. shifting its emphasis in Tremendous numbers of peo- response to new situations. It or will remain the single best ple compose this part-tim- e device the family farmer can farmer 50 hobby group (nearly percent of farm residents have use to get a handle on his non-faremployment), yet problems. their contribution to the food Agricultural research will basket of the nation is not very probably never neglect ideas significant. The largest 17 for increasing efficiency. But percent of the nation's farms new research demands are for produce 80 percent of the farm better ways of keeping the sales. The smallest 61 percent farmer informed of the agriof farms have only 5 percent of cultural scene, especially the market. Most agricultural farm sales. or marketing s antiquated and People choose part-tim- e hobby farming primarily for works to the producers' its social values. We must disadvantage. New methods, recognize that before that kind possibly involving the coopof farming could become erative approach, are needed. profitable again and supply We should see a flurry of the bulk of our nations food, research in this area. At Utah State University we grocery costs would go out of serve half would the nation be primarily the family sight, hungry and our standards of farmer as the basic unit of food quality would become a agricultural production. Our research attention is focused memory. Times have changed from mainly on enhancing the the 1930s. For a farmer and productivity of economic famhis family today to support ily farming units. |