Show bean goal for utah set at acres utah farmers called on to grow a record breaking crop of dry edible beans this year to help fill military and leni lease needs will have to use every soil conservation practice at their command if 1 they are to meet production goals and avoid damage to the land carlton S fonfe fone district conservationist vat of the soil conservation service declared today I 1 the 1943 bean goal for utah is set at acres an increase of 96 over the acres planted last year san juan county is asked to plant acres of beans during 1943 as compared with acres in 1942 the soil conservation service will assist farmers in every way to boost per acre production and protect their land against water and wind erosion 11 mr fonte said farmers are being urged to meet 1943 quotas by planting more beans at the expense of less vital crops he explained however extreme caution should be exercised in the breaking out of new land when native sod is broken in an area having less than 15 inches of annual rainfall failers f aimers are running the risk of not getting a crop and of having their 1 land blow awaya ariy instead instep cl of breaking sod it would be better to cultivate fields that have not been in crop production recently if it is absolutely essential to break out native sod to meet war goals extra precautions should be taken trees or brush should be left around the field to break the wind strips of grass should be left on newly plowed fields and in drain ways to minimize erosion hazards technical specialists of the will assist farmers in selecting continued on page civo five BEAN GOAL FOR UTAH continued from page 1 fields that will give highest yields without resulting in severe erosion 1 losses this is in recognition of the need to maintain top production as long as the war may last and to leave the land in the best possible condition for peace time production farmers have learned that wind erosion can be largely controlled and that moisture saving practices will increase bean production often as much as 25 per cent all sloping land should be cultivated on the contour if the slope of the land is very steep terraces terrace s should be used in connection with contour tillage contour cultivation and terraces retard runoff run off of water thereby preventing soil loss and permitting moisture to soak slowly into the ground diversion ditches often built in conjunction with terraces may be used to carry away excess flood water or to divert water onto small fields for irrigation strip cropping at right angles to the prevailing wind will definitely lessen wind win d damage leaving crop residues on the land instead of burning them likewise is of value most farmers no now w leave stubble during the winter months since stubble holds soil and adds some organic matter A planned crop rotation will tend to improve the structure of the soil and build up fertility usually beans are rotated with wheat barley oats and other small grains farmers interested in conservation measures on their farms are invited to call at the san juan county soil conservation district office in the court house |