Smyrna times., 1937-09-09
FARMERS DAY
AT AUGUSTINE
Crowd Hears u. S. Agent
Outline Erosion Con-
troll Program
OUTING A SUCCESS

Twenty-nine thousand acres of
New Castle County farm land are
covered in the federal program for
tthe control of soil erosion, o. G.
Bruce, field state coordinator of the
u. S. soil conservation service, said
at the annual Farmers Day We'd
nesday at Augustine Beach near
Port Penn. The program in the
county is to be made possible by
apportionment of funds by the u.
S. Department of Agriculture, said
Mr.. Bruce 1t will be placed in
operation as soon as quarters can
be obtained for the staff of tech
nicians. Headquarters will be es-
tablished in Newark, about the
center of the area covered. The
type causing the most trouble in
this area is sheet erosion, he said,
as there is very little of gulley ero-
sion. Sheet erosion is probably the
most insidious of the two types, as
it slowly removes the surface soil
from fields, with the farmers not
Immediately realizing what is hap
pening. In the program, however,
technicians will combat both types.
They will work in cooperation with
the University of Delaware, the ag-
ricultural experimental station, the
extension service, and the forestry
cn,-ryinn cfn rxrin 1a ha
preparation of a survey map of
each cooperating farm, showing
the kind and extent of the soil, the
percentage of slope of each field,
the percentage of erosion and the
nature of the crops. From these
maps the farm will be replanned.
The farmer must enter into an
agreement with the government to
carry on the program for at least
five years. If there is a tenant on
the farm both the owner and ten
ant must sign the agreement, Mr..
Bruce said. In addition to con-
tributing the services of its staff of
technicians fir farm replannings the
government also will contribute a
certain amount of labor and ma
terials. The labor to be furnished
will be paid the prevailing wage
rate. The government also will
furnish certain amount of equip
ment. The cost of the entire pro-
ject on each farm will be 80 bal
anced that the farmer will pay half
and the government half. If we
all pull together we will control the
erosion" Mr.. Bruce added. 1--WE
will be able to preserve the fertiI-
ity of the soil, prevent the val
liable top soil from being washed
away, and increase the value Of the
land"
Lieut.. Governor Cooch Talks
Lieut.-Gov. Edward w. Cooch,
honor guest, said he was present
as "a farmer striving to operate a
farm at profit" Other speakers
were: r. o. Seltzer, of the Univer-
sity Of Delaware, state executive
officer administering the agricul-
tural conservation program; w. L.
johnson, regional field man for the
production credit division of the
Farm Credit Administrations George
Worrilow, county agricultural
agent, and Max Harrington, Sec
retary-treasurer of the Delaware
Production Credit Association.
Less THAN 100 farmers were pres
ent. e. H. Shallcross, president of
the New Castle County Agricul-
tural Conservation Association, and
chairman of the program commit
tee, said he believed the attend
ance was small because farmers
were taking advantage of the clear
weather to rush through work that
had been delayed by rain.
Farm Problems Discussed
Prior to opening of the program