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Show SUMMIT COUNTY NEWS PAGE A4 4NRcs Conservation Corner The importance of plants BY CRAIG MCKNIGHT District Conservationist NRCS As you follow our articles in the conservation corner you may have noticed the theme to the crop producer and the resources of concern, energy, soil and organic matter, water, bugs and their benefits to rename a few. This week my thoughts are on the importance of plants and more specifically the benefits of Conservation Crop Rotation. Crop Rotation is a planned order of specific different crops planted on the same field. The planned rotation can be two years or longer and some of the purposes are to improve soil fertility, reduce erosion, reduce the build-up of pests, reduce risk of weather damage, reduce dependence on agricultural chemicals and ultimately to increase net profits. The increased complexity of farming requiring more planning and management skills may have dissuaded some from crop rotation. One immediate economic benefit of crop rotation is improved yields. Rotating to a different crop such as wheat on barley ground usually results in higher grain yields when compared to continuous cropping of wheat. Even greater benefits are usually obtained by rotating to distinctly unrelated crops, such as a small grain seeded into land where the previous crop was a legume. This is a very common rotation containing alfalfa and small grains. One reason for the increase is legumes in rotation can be used to increase the available soil nitrogen. Symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria called rhizobia form nodules on the roots of legume plants and convert or fix atmospheric nitrogen to organic nitrogen. The amount of nitrogen fixed varies with species, available soil nitrogen and many other factors. Fixed nitrogen not removed from the land by the harvest cycle becomes available to succeeding crops as the legume goes through microbial decomposition. Alfalfa for example can fix over 170 pounds of nitrogen annually however only approximately 50 pounds of nitrogen credit would be available for the succeeding crop in rotation. Crop rotation combined with recommended tillage practices can play an important role in reducing wind and water erosion of the soil. No till and minimal till farming are essential as conservation practices but crop rotation must be used in conjunction to reduce build up of insects, disease and weed pests. Solid seeded crops such as small grains provide more protection against erosion than row crops. Permanent crops like pasture or hay provide even more protection. Management of crops to provide residue throughout the year is essential to sufficiently control both wind and water erosion. The reasons for improved yields due to crop rotation are not completely understood. Researchers have attempted to reveal some of the unknown factors including those named above but also other terms such as phytotoxicity (chemical toxic to plant growth), allelopathy(inhibit another species) and autotoxicity (inhibit same species). Even with the unknown, the important beneficial effects that can be obtained from a well planned crop rotation are known and can have a positive effect on the profitability of crop production. The NRCS has staff available to help you on your land for improving your resources for all types of sustainable agriculture. Whether you want to improve plants and implement crop rotation, or your bottom line come visit your local NRCS staff to help evaluate your operation. The NRCS does not charge for these services and we have many programs available for technical and financial assistance for those eligible. Contact (801) 629-0575 for Davis, Morgan, and Weber counties and (435) 336-5853 for Summit County. The NRCS is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Tree planting in Peoa Park and Peoa, citizens have planted more than 160 trees in less than two years. And it's a commitment that recently gained the city of Oakley nationwide recognition, when the National Arbor Day Foundation recognized Oakley as a Tree City U.S.A. earlier in April. The goal is to plant 22 new trees at the Peoa park. However, volunteers will be entertained by a live band, Dirtbags Don't Die. Also, courtesy of the Kamas Valley Nursery, all Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands Deputy Director volunteers will receive a free Tim Garcia, Oakley City Council Member Ron Bowen, seedling to plant on their Kamas Valley Lions Club Community Forestry Director A. own. Five of the trees to be planted May 1, were doJason Barto nated by Rocky Mountain Power. (Full article in the JEFF STEVENS Between the communities Summit County News last Special to the News of Oakley, Kamas, Francis week, April 22, 2010.) SUMMIT COUNTY 2010 VISION STATEMENT The Summit County Council envisions Summit County, Utah as a national leader in stewardship, effectiveness, and constituent service. We encourage innovation, creativity, and a can-do" positive altitude of teamwork to make Summit County an example of outstanding local government. We recognize that Summit County is both economically and culturally diverse and we aspire to move forward with unity of vision and purpose. IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THIS, SUMMIT COUNTY MUST: IMMEDIATELY: • Bolster economic development and create a variety of initiatives including green energy, green agriculture, recreational open space, and a Summit County "brand" for locally produced products. • Develop and implement a State governmental relations program involving the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches of State government. Subscribe To The Summit County News 336-5501 APRIL 30, 2010 Summit County inmates Go Green The Summit County Sheriff's Office is pleased to announce a new program implemented in the Summit County Jail which has greatly reduced paper usage. On April 20, the new inmates Kiosk's were installed in each pod inside the Summit County Jail. The Kiosk system is a computer terminal which is used for commissary, legal issues and medical needs. An inmate can use the terminals to check the balance on their commissary, request assistance from their legal counsel and email the medical staff. The computers do not have internet access, they are strictly intranet based. The medical requests go directly to the medical staff which reduces the liability with HIPA laws. The program was paid for by inmate funds which were generated from commissary revenue. Each inmate has an account set up upon arrival at the jail to purchase name brand hygiene products, extra underwear and socks, writing materials, art supplies, holiday cards, over the counter medication, snacks and phone cards. The Summit County Jail provides the necessary items needed during a jail sentence, but if an inmate desires additional items, they are required to purchase the items with their own money. The funds are usually provided by family and friends. The new system also allows family and friends to use the system to apply money to the accounts of the inmates from their home computers. The system was implemented in an effort to reduce the paperwork used in the commissary process. The system will reduce staff work load and will make it easier for auditing by the County Auditor Med Drop-Off at Recycle Utah for Earth Day Last Saturday, April 24, three pharmaceutical students from the University of Utah, Logan Kelly, Brock Bates and Heather Killian, volunteered to man the booth at the Recycle Utah Center in Park City for people to come and drop off their expired or unused meds safely. They assisted people in disposing of their meds in the right containers. Summit County Sheriff's Office will provide a secure permanent drop box where citizens can drop prescription medications for safe disposal. Studies have shown that pharmaceuticals and over the counter drugs are present in our nation's water supply and certain drugs may cause ecological harm. Outdated or unusable drugs that are disposed of by flushing or pouring down a sink, enter the environment because wastewater treatment facilities are not designed to remove them. Storing unused or outdated prescriptions creates an opportunity for illicit use. One in five teens report intentionally misusing someone else's prescription drugs to get high. Nearly half say they get the medications from friends and relatives for free, often by raiding the medicine cabinet or by attending "pharming parties" where teens barter legal drugs and get high. The laws governing the handling of prescription drugs are stringent. Take-back collection programs are legal only under the jurisdiction of law enforcement agencies that have received approval from the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and only for households. The Summit County Sheriff's Office collects and processes the drugs using their evidence department and protocols, which include destruction of the drugs through incineration. This method has been proven successful in protecting public health and the environment. The drop box will be available Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., except holidays, in the lobby at 6300 N. Silver Creek Drive in the Sheriff's Office lobby. Check out the website: www.medicationdisposal.uta h.gov for more information and drop-off centers in your area. TL Lawn Care & andscaping 1 877-789-0055 Serving Northern Utah and South Western Wyoming Get your Lawn Power Raked & Aerated TODAY! Just $60 • Encourage and foster effective growth strategies in conjunction with the Council of Governments. • Maintain open and accessible government in all functions of Summit County government. • Promote exemplary fiscal stewardship and accountability. • Develop a capital facilities plan to include highly efficient and sustainable infrastructure. • Develop effective weed abatement and control strategies. • Enforce existing codes, ordinances, and policies with consistency and fairness. • Foster excellence in customer service and communication between constituents and departments. OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS: • Continue to set local and regional transit goals that include public transit, connectivity, and non-motorized connections. • Promote and encourage sustainability. LONG-TERM MEASURES: • Improve mental health programs including more effective drug abuse treatment and a Drug Court. • Explore and develop greener waste management options. • Maintain our ongoing legacy of heritage and cultural assets. • Pursue housing and employment options for the diverse community of residents. Summit County 2010 Vision Statement This plaque will be posted in each of the Summit County Buildings for all to see. Their message is a result of many hours of discussion and input from the Summit County Manager Bob Jasper and the Summit County Council members, Claudia McMullin, John Hanrahan, Chris Robinson, Sally Elliott and David Ure. 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