The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1913-04-04
DRY FARMING IN IDAHO.

The annual precipitation in north
ern Idaho exceeds 25 inches which
is sufficient for every-year cropping.
In southern Idaho, however the pre-
cipitation rarely amounts to 20 in
ches and usually less than Is inches.
Here, alternate summer following to
store moisture in the soil is nee
essity and farming without irriga-
ton is strictly dry farming. In the
foothills there is occasionally under
ground supply of moisture to supple
ment the natural rainfall.
The annual precipitation In Idaho
ranges from to 80 inches. In the
Panhandle it ranges from 25 to
81 inches. Continuous grain grown
on summer fallowed land has been
the general practice in that region.
The rainfall, however is sufficient for
every year cropping and the more
progressive farmers are now grow
ing corn or potatoes on the summer
fallow. Central Idaho has an aver
age of 20 inches. 1t is very noun
tainious country, yet there is consid-
erably dry farming in the valleys and
on plateaus. In the foothills in
southern Idaho the precipitation
ranges from IL to 100 inches and
dry farming here is very successful.
The Snake river plains extend from
east to west across the state, as a
rudely shaped area, concave to the
north. Numerous valleys extend into
the mountains from these plains and
it Is chiefly in these valleys and mar
row strips of plains bordering the
mountains that there is any consid-
cradle dry farming. The soil varies
greatly in the arid portion of Ida
no. The mountain valleys have a
rich alluvial SOIL Here yields of 40
bushels of wheat and so bushels OF
oats are not uncommon and in g
few instances a yield of 2 tons of al
falfa has been cut the first year
There are also instances of good or.
chards producing excellent fruit with.
out irrigation, but thorough cu1tiva'
tion is practiced The soil near the
mountains is generally slightly sandy
handles well and makes an efficient
dust mulch. The conditions here are
more favorable than on the open
plains, both as regards texture OF
soil and abundance of moisture. Of
ten the water table is sufficiently
near to the surface to furnish mois-
ture to the roots of crops. With this
supply in addition to the rainfall ar
abundance of moisture is assured. Ir
Oneida county dry farming has beer
practiced extensively for 20 years
This county alone has $4,000 acre!
under cultivation and farming there
is quite profitable though the average
annual precipitation is but 10 inches
On the open plains of the western
part of the Snake river valley dry
farming is not so successful. Occas,
ionally areas of deep soil suitable
for dry farming occur but those who
have attempted operation here have
not found results as good as in the
foothills.
The plains extending from Hager
man to American Falls have a clay
loan of wind blown origin the deposi
having considerable depth and an ex
cellent soil. The rainfall in thi
district is from 8 to IL inches ant
the wheat crop under dry farmin,
systems is from 7 to rs bushels pc
acre. Near American Falls there arr
several ranches of several THOUSAND
acres each, the land being plowed
seeded and narrowed in one opera
ton by the steam outfits. Judging b,
what has already been accomplish
ed large portion of the Snake rive
plains will in time be under cultiva
ton.
In every locality where there is con
siderable dry farming will be found
few progressive men who pursue
good methods of handling the soil
In general however, there is grea
room for Improvement. The chic
fault is that no attention is paid tt
the consideration of moisture. Tn,
summer fallow is left commonly tt
lie rough as the plow leaves it. Coco
yields are often secured with crude
methods, which indicates that will
proper cultivation dry farming
should succeed under average condi
tions. Where the rainfall is less thar
Is inches, cropping should not b.
attempted every year. For all crop
except such as are permanent tn,
land should be summer fallowed. Ii
the dry farming sections of eastern
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