Show OUR SOIL OUR STRENGTH By Carl Wilker Unit Conservationist Soil Conservation Service Last Six Months 1 Here is a brief report to you taxpayers on what the technicians technicians technicians tech tech- have been doing in Sanpete Sanpete Sanpete San San- pete this past six months New cooperators applying for assistance and signing district t agreements totaled 24 covering g acres of land This brings a n total of covering Z acres of private land in t the h e county We wrote 32 new basic conservation conservation con con- plans with the farmer r covering acres seres These Thes e plans contain the farmers farmer's decisions deci deci- decisions I on what c conservation wor work k he plans to install in the forsee forsee- able future We serviced a total of c cO- cO o- o since July and 17 farmers farmers farmers far far- mers who were not cooperates s with the district Our Soil Scientists completed complete d 0 a survey on acres of land g giving i v i n g texture permeability depth slope erosion salinity alkalinity etc referrals were serviced serviced serviced ser ser- in cooperation with th the e ep office These are the applications applications ap applications ap- ap p- p wherein farmers apply appl y for monetary a assistance on conservation conservation con con- practices from the AS C office Planning and engineering assi assistance assistance as as- as- as si tance was also provided fo for r 23 irrigation companies and tw two o ro drainage companies Here are a few of the m major a j o 0 r l' conservation practices installed Contour farming fanning acres improved water application by adjusting length of runs lan land d leveling checking rate of penetration penetration penetration pene pene- etc acres Stubble mulching on dry land lan d I Iwas was acres This practice in involves involves in- in wolves tilling the soil soH but leaving leaving leav leav- ing fag the stubble on top th the e ground to prevent prevent runoff Conservation crop rotation t to o build guild soil fertility totaled 2 acres and assistance with fertilizing fertilizing fer fer- fertilizing covered 2361 acres Proper tillage to prevent com con compaction compaction and deterioration of soil soi structure covered 1337 acres Planting on new pastures cow cov covered coy coy- ered acres and new seeds seeds' seeding of grass on range land covered acres Range utilization checks wit with h I I farmers showed acres acre s properly grazed and farmers farmer n were wre properly fertilizing irrl irrigating irrigating gating rotation grazing 77 acres of small pastures Farmers Farmer s were also deferring from graz grazing grazing grazing ing 2512 acres and cleared brush brus h such as sage and nd ce cedar ar on 8 acres This work was all carrIed carried car car- ried out on private land Wet weather this fall curtailed curtail curtail- cd ed our construction program program an and d only acres were leveled an and d feet of canals were lined with concrete New overnight ponds constructed constructed constructed con con- were 13 one pond was enlarged and 5 S were lined with Small installed were and large concrete structures structures structures tures needing special designs and plans were 9 Locations were checked with farmers on 7 new wells and rods of fencing for rotation rotation rotation rota rota- tion grazing or to protect n new new w grass seeding 0 We in the wish to to thank farmers irrigation companies our local newspapers oth other r federal fed federal fed fed- eral cral agencies and local county and state officials for t the their h e i 1 r very fine cooperation during the past Pst year |