The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1912-03-14
WHAT HAS DRY-FARMIAG
DONE FOR CACHE COUNTY?
Continued from Page 1.

| cnanBe In the snort space Oh ABOUT
a half generation. Such illustra-
tons might be multiplied from all
parts of the Valley, and with the
same conclusion.
Let me simply summarize what
dry-farming has done for Cache Val.
ley, by telling you that the average
annual wheat production for the last
few years, of Cache Valley, has been
100000 bushels, and ninety per cent
of which, or 1,0S0.000 was raised ON
the dry-farms. Computing this at
an average of soc per bushel we have
an item of s65O.OOO annually brought
into the hands of the farmers from
Cache Valley lands, which little
more than half a generation ago VIC
looked upon as almost worthless
| Wheat, however, is not the only
crop grown without irrigation in our
valley, and a number of other crops
are being tried, and some have been
fairly successful. Lucern seed espe.
cially where ever 1t has succeeded,
has been exceedingly profitable. 1t is
estimated that close on to 100000
pounds of lucern seed are produced
annually on the dry.farms of Cache
Valley. This has been sold at an
average price of about l2c per pound,
L
or $4,000 for the crop. The annual
crop of hay is not worth any less, 80
we have an item OF 100000 from the
dry-farm fields OF our Valley. when
you take into consideration the var.
ious other crops that are crown with
out irrigation in this Valley, 1t can
not be far from the truth to say that
the dry-farming area in this Valley
produces annually in the neighbor.
/ hood of 81 ono OOOs ta" rct
may be allowed to say also that
the indirect benefits of dry-farming
have been very great. The sugar beet
Industry, which is producing 100000
annually In this County. has been
made possible In large measure by
the success attending dry-farming OPP
erations Dairying IL, Cache County
produces sl.250,000, and is also an in
direct result OF dry-farmipg. AS long
as the farmer grew all his crops IN
Ter irrigation, he found 1t difficult to
specialize and the valuable irrigation
water was not used to the best advan-
tage think l may safely repeat
what | said at the beginning OF this
talk, that Cache Valley has been very
largely made by dry-farming.
trust you may not think me ego
istcal If say that twenty years ago.
|, myself, used my homestead right
on the dry section of Cache Valley
1t Il time when 1t was not believed
that living thing could be MADE
from such lands. spent my life on
, this farm, and simply wish to say,
: that during these years have sue.
ceeded in getting from my dry-farm a
. comfortable income, and the pros.
. pect of an old age that will not be
harrassed by want
May l, in conclusion, be allowed to
utter a word Of prophecy, that with
! all that has been done by dry-farmins
for Cache Valley. firmly believe that
we have just begun to realize what
may be done under dry-farming con
ditions. Undoubtedly the yield oi
grain may be increased, other crops
may be found that may even be more
: profitable, and I am inclined to say
{ from my own observations, and from
: the experience Of others, that 1t Is no,
impossible that in the near future ap
pies and other orchard fruits may be
, raised profitably in certain sections
of our county without irrigation.
What the future holds in store for
us in this matter no one can safely
, foretell. That We may be certain that
there is a great development In store
for us by adopting the best dry-farm'
ing methods of the day Is beyond
question. Cache County has great
cause to rejoice that patient workers
demonstrated that crops could be
grown without irrigation on the lands
that for nearly generation were
considered worthless.
laeanh n Narchall Enfarfainc