Show inspector reports on basin agriculture during past year summer drought teaches need tor water storage systems on farms by clyde larsen district agriculture inspector A benevolent autumn was ushered in on black rolling ra ram in clouds which opened theia wings and let an ample supply 0 01 no iture geet the parched earth and farmed it was tor for it hay hari been a hot dry summer with week atter alter week passing in one bright dull duli parade ol of sun stars and ana just with never a refreshing drop ot of moisture to break the deaden ng ing spell continuing her benevolence old mother nature per the warm days and cool nights lights which followed the rain 0 to o sup by until we again find ourse ourselves ives preparing to remember the birth date of the creator in weather that reminds us of the rust days of september but let us awaken from this mental lethargy and take stock of the past seasons happenings perhaps there are a few points that we c have forgotten while under the influence of natures sedative water if there was one point that was driven straight to the very heart of everyone of us merchant doctor labye blacksmith and farmer it was the value of stored water and the benefits enjoyed by those whose farn farns s were protected by stored water even yet we shudder when we recall that during july and august those people living on land not covered by a sufficient storage system had to stand helplessly by and watch their thear crops cropp heat of old saul their grain burn and shrink and their alfalfa fall fail to make another cutting one great lesson was learned from this years experience the growth of the uintah basin la Is securely tied up in the bundle of an adequate water supply and reservoirs are the ribbons which hold the bundle together another secret old mother nature whispered to us was that perhaps once again we might bable to raise a little alfalfa fiech aeed there was no section of the basin that I 1 know of producing product rig normal yields of alfalfa but there was some seed grown over the entire basin many people interested in the production of alfalfa seed interpret this as a sign that the growing of alfalfa seed in the future might be possible with improved farm practices turkey raising calsing for the first ume time in several years turkeys were grown on a commercial scale in the uintah basin it is estimated that some birds were raised in the two counties turkey growing is an enterprise ter prise which has no limits in the ustah basin if farmers raise sufficient feed and use a certain amount of care in raising the birds livestock Av estock the dairy industry was hit hard by the drought drought heat and generally low p alce ices prevailing juring during the first part of the year but in the late summer prices strengthened strengthen cd and the early fall fal rains although too late to give maximum benefits on perennial forage plants did help to stimulate growth of feed in the pastures beef had a fairly successful year dought D ought on the ranges burned up the feed so that the tha cattle did not do as well as usual but they came through in bem fem baisly ly good shape prices have been reasonably good sheep like cattle suffered from dry ranges but a fairly good price was paid for them hog prices were good until fall when pork got on the greased price skids and an d evidently is still on but we believe that hog prices have reached the bottom of the hill new crop cropf i experimental work has been carried out with new crops such as vetch austrian winter peas canning ilag peas and potatoes for seed purposes an increased planting in these new crops is anticipated next year tar although kilthou h a temperamental lass to say the least there have been many benefits administered by the year 1939 and we do wish her happy times in the place where all years go after their too brief sojourn with us |