The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1921-11-11

Farm Bureau meeting held in the court
house here, was followed by A. J.
Ogaard, Extension Agronomist, from
the State College at Bozeman, who
discussed the general situation with
respect to dry land farming, explained
the climatic and soil conditions, out
lined the principles of soil moisture
storage, use and loss, after which, he
presented the policy of the State Col
lege on "When and how to ummer
fallow." The talk was a practical
discussion based on scientific findings
of the dry land experiment stations
and the practical observation and ex-
periences of the speaker. The fact
that MI. Ogaard was brough up on a
dry land farm and has been engaged
in dry land experiments and extern
sion work, was reflected in his talk
which was practical and instructive
throughout.
The speaker stated that Montana
Dry Land Agriculture was suffering
from both internal and external causes
and that all of our troubles should
not be blamed to our climate and other
local conditions. The general economic
depression which is affecting all kinds
of agriculture everywhere should also
receive its share Of the blame. The
present situation of the dry land farm
ers and those directly or indirectly
dependent upon them for a livelihood,
is due to this general condition as we'll
as a number Of local causes, which the
speaker briefly discussed. First, the
dry land farmer has been operating
during a period of normal and abnor-
NAL fluctuations in rainfall. Since 1909
this country has not received rainfall
which has averaged as high as the
normal rainfall of the region. Second,
the country was settled by men from
other sections Of the country where
conditions are decidedly different. It
has always been the history of every
new country that a period of hard
times is experienced until farming
methods and practices are made to
harmonic with the local conditions,
and this is to be experienced in Mon
tana also. Third, the natural trend
toward Investigation was interfered
with by the demands made upon farm
ers. during the a Fourth, the alb
normally good years turned the heads
of the farmers and business men with
a resultant laxness of credit not in
harmony with the conditions Of the
country. .
The problem must be viewed from
two angles. We have an emergency
condition which must receive primary
consideration. 1t is imperative that
methods and systems of farming
which give the highest returns and
the most stable income with the avail
able capital and equipment, be adopted
as o o as possible, even though that
system may have serious objections
when viewed in the light of a perma-
nent proposition. On the other hand,
it is highly important that farmers
have a definite vision of the perma-
nent and more efficient system and
methods toward which he should grad
ually strive to reach as conditions
permit. The real solution of the dry
farm problem must be slow but sure.
The successful prosecution of any
business requires a thorough under
standing and study of the fundament-
al principles Of that particular bust
ness and dry land farming will sue
coed in direct proportion to the ability
of farmers to understand the why
and wherefore of the factors affecting
his business. Facts must be faced and
dry land farming must be. pursued
with eyes wide open and a determine
ton to apply sound principles to the
conditions just as they are.
While the eastern farmer is con-
cerned first of all with soil fertility
and must apply commercial fertilizers
and the farmer of Alberta must watch
his low heat units and his short grow
ing season, the Montana Dry Land
Farmer must first concern himself
with soil moisture. Water in the soil
is his limiting factor and a better un-
Outstanding of it's source, storage and
loss as we'll as use, should help the
dry land farmer in the solution of his
general farming and special tillage
problems.
The source of soil moisture in true
dry land farming is rain and snow.
There is nc water table underneath
so we must place all dependence on
precipitation. A rainfall chart show
ing the rainfall at Havre for the past
Al years was displayed and analysed.
1t was brought out that over half of
our average rainfall comes during the
four months of April, May, June and
July. 1t was noted that this section
has experienced eight seasons below
normal and four above normal since
dry land farming has been practiced
here. The average rainfall will not
change to any appreciable extent over
any long period of years but we do
have fluctuations which follow no reg
ular cycles. The dry land farmer must
realize that he is operating with a
limited average of rainfall which var
les considerable from one year to an
other. If a railway is built. over a
country as uneven in topography as
u annual rainfall, the road would
be built on a grade. The high spots
of the railway would be cut down and
the low spots would be filled in. This
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