Show How Do You Stretch Out Water L L. Darrell Stokes Davis Daws County Agent has come up with a point four-point program to help farmers and any small area gardener too stretch the limited water supply that the county seems to have available this year HE liE SAID he had just received received re re- re- re the time Soil Conservation alion Service survey and forecast for for- or stream flow loW for Cor 1963 1903 This forecast indicates that the Weber River will flow acre feet at Coalville compared ared to a norm normal l average aver aver- agg ag age of acre feet he said sald This is only 38 percent Of C normal lorma And East Canyon Creek near Morgan is flowing flowing flow flow- in ing only 17 percent of normal normal normal nor nor- mal he added On the tile brighter side Echo Reservoir has acre feet feet- of water compared to an aver average average av av- av- av I er ge of East Canyon I Reservoir r has acre feet compared to the normal storage storage stor store age of pC ALTHOUGH the run runoff 0 ff from flom Farmington Creek is expected expected expected ex ex- to be 55 percent of its normal flow all other small streams on the Wasatch Front will willbe be below this figure Those areas serviced by the Ule Weber Basin Project will re receive receive re- re a near normal supply this year ear because the R RockPort Rock RockPort ck Port Reservoir has acre feet fact of water stored there Sec See Water on Page 4 I Water Continued from firm front page However water conservation under this project is still important important important im im- im- im inasmuch as w e should anticipate a need for water next year car Mr 1 Stokes warned THESE FACTS point to a year when water will be in short supply the count county agent said The amount of oC rainfall during the spring and summer months could partially partially partially par par- offset this present pic pic- ture tUle However if the year progresses progresses progresses pro pro- on a normal basis it itis itis itis is anticipated that the amount of oC water delivered under the Weber Davis-Weber irrigation system will be 60 to 65 percent of oC normal he warned We must do everything within our power to utilize this water supply to the best advantage Mr 11 Stokes said Then he listed these points in his stretch the water supply recommendations Plan your yom crops to fit the amount of water available Put irrigation systems in top shape now Save moisture through improved improved im im- im proved farming practices Control weeds and insects IN DETAILING each of or these points he said Begin by cleaning your ditches repair repair repair re re- pair pair- and anti turnouts install needed equipment and make needed changes in your yom irrigation system Choose crops with short season season sea sea- son irrigation requirements such as barley wheat oats peas etc Plant early maturing maturing maturing matur matur- ing varieties and weed free seed Plant the most important import import- ant crops on the most productive I live tive soils and crops that will I bring you possibilities of the highest net nel return from Crom the water ava available lable HE lIE POINTED out that late water is imperative for Cor beets corn and potatoes but returns are usually higher for these crops if iC they Uley can be successfully successfully success success- fully carried to maturity Concerning improved farming farming farm- farm ing ng practices he advised Uniting limiting Uni Um- ting land preparation operations operations opera- opera ions as much as possible Plant all crops early Utah State University experiments show that farmers lose about one bushel yield of oC spring grain per da day for every even day of delay in planting after April April April Ap Ap- ril 1 l. SELECT A feasible and practical method of irrigation which gives suitable water control Consider furrow bordel border bor bor- der del corrugation and sprinkler methods Try to avoid wild flooding Cultivate to control weeds but avoid unnecessary Stirring the soil usually usually all ally wastes moisture FERTILIZE according Uthe U to to the water available Corn cash crops small grains and pasture respond to heavy nitrogen nitrogen nitrogen ni ni- ni- ni trogen applications When water water water wa wa- ter is limited limit t the nitro nitro- gen Mr 11 Stokes warned against over Use a soil augur probe or shovel to determine determine determine de de- termine how deep the water has soaked into the soil Then apply water to the most productive productive productive pro pro- soils and restrict the acreage irrigated to the area you ou can irrigate fully with least waste he said IN SPEAKING of improved irrigation practices he advised advised ad ad- using the largest non erosive streams possible to get the water over the land then Ulen cut time the stream down for soaking Provide for Cor water control with good head ditches ditch ditch- es es canvas dams siphon tubes turnout structures gated pipe or sprinklers Be prepared to use the water from flash storms and combine streams where practical practical practical to reduce seepage and evaporation losses TO CONTROL weeds along ditch b banks Mr 1 Stokes advised ad ad- wised sed killing the first crop of weeds before planting crops Then keep them free from Crom weeds by spra spraying ng or burning during dUling the growing season One of oC the peskiest situations situations situa situa- lions to battle is the insects There are usually more insects insects in in- sects following a mild dry winter such as weve we've experienced experienced experienced exper exper- this year A constant battle must be waged to stop their damage to crops oc oc- oc- oc curs Publications on insect control are available free of charge at the county agents agent's office in the courthouse at Farmington bf bC |