The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1944-02-10
Holmes County Record
Held Up As Mark
For Nation
Years Summary
OF Activities
Released Today

County Agricultural Conservation Asso-
citation during the ls4s AAA program
year, prepared by the state AAA office.
has been sent to Federal AAA officials
in Washington to illustrate the progress
farmers are making In farm production
and soil building.
The AAA program was formulated by
the county AAA committee with the as
sistance Of county agricultural workers
and administered by the county admin
iArative officer under the direction of
the county committee.
THE advances made by farmers in con-
troll Of erosion. improvement of soil fer
tility, increases in farm production, and
development Of farm diversification are
among the highlights of the county's
record.
Last year over 1900 Of the $1,000 farm
ers Of the county carried out soil build
ing practices OF their farms. These CO.
operating farmers planted approximately
$4,000 acres to winter legumes, estab-
lished 1000 acres Of pasture, built 322 900
feet Of terraces, seeded 1920 acres Of
supplementary grazing crops, applied
$4,000 pounds Of potash, used ESQ, 10000
pounds. Of basic Stag. and put out $685.
900 pounds Of ~superphosphate and 81.
oS0, 72O pounds Of lime.
For their participation in the program,
cooperating producers received 315 900
In agricultural conservation payments,
including $4,000 for carrying out soil
building practices.
The county report which summarized
the years work states that Holmes
county is among the ten largest counties
in the state. Ninety-three percent Of
tho people are engaged in agriculture
and approximately 5000 farm families
live on the 2,10O farms.
Because the hill section of the county
Is subject to erosion, control Of which
is necessary to the future productivity
and prosperity Of the county. the county
triple A committee and agricultur raj
workers have given a lot Of considera-
ton to this problem.
% biiptS n pIdNtiNtc W SOu-
troll erosion have been terracing, grow
ing winter cover crops, establishing
pastures, farming on the contour. and
applying phosphate and limestone.
In the delta section of the county the
planters are giving more attention to
drainage problems and are beginning to
utilize the drainage practices Of the
AAA program to improve their lands,
the report stated.
Although 40,572 acres were ihivsrtsd
from production Of cotton, the yield has
been almost doubled during the past ten
years.. and total production is practically
as much on the greatly reduced acreage.
Yields of cotton have been increased
through the use of more productive
land, planting improved seed of adapted
varieties, intensive cultivation, better
fertilization, and the carrying out of
soil-building practices including the
growing and turning under Of green
crops.
The agricultural workers Of the county
encouraged and assisted farmers in TAX
ing advantage Of the seed production
program. The AAA officials estimate
that in 1912 farmers of the county saved
three million pounds of soybeans. $780,
900 pounds Of lespedeza seed, 5000
pounds Of Dallis grass, $4,000 pounds of
wild winter peas, 10000 pounds of white
Dutch clover, and 10000 pounds Of hairy
vetch seed. This program, sponsored by
the county agent, the Soil Conservation
Service, and the county and community
AAA committeeman is growing in favor
among farmers. These workers estimate
that an ever larger supply of seed was
saved from the l943 crop.
The conservation materials and SER
vices program was set UP during the
year to enable farmers who did not have
available cash to obtain planting seed,
phosphate and limestone. Under this
program the needed materials and SER
association and the cost of materials
and services is later deducted from pay
ments earned by the farmers in carry
ing out soil building practices. The
county report states that the farmers
of the county nave made much progress
in diversified farming during the past
ten years. Farmers have improved per-
manent pastures, increased production
of feed crops, and are raising more cat
tie and hogs. The production of food
and feed crops in the delta section has
increased enormously, says the AAA affi-
Gals, particularly in the production of
oats, hay and pastures. Advances
made in diversified farming have
brought better living conditions for
many farmers who now have more poul-
try, milk cows. pigs. home gardens, than
under the old one-crop system of farm
ing. Sources of farm income have been
diversified and stabilized and the use
of farm labor has been more evenly
distributed throughout the entire year.
The farmers Of the county responded
@'magnificently" TO the war food pro-
duction program and exceeded all county
war goals. For this achievement, Holmes
county was one of the five counties in
the state selected to receive the "A