Milford chronicle., 1948-05-21
Soil Conservation
Report Released
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tenths miles of ditching was ac-
complished. The PocomOke River
job is the outstanding project in the
District. In Sussex County alone,
there are over forty miles of main
drains and outlets in the Pocomoke
River fatershed. Work in Della
ware was begun in June of 1947
and is proceeding on schedule.
When completed, this project will
drain $4,000 acres in the south CEN
tral part of Sussex. The Service
has provided assistance to farmers
in maintenance of farm bitches and
drainage bitches, putting into use
thousands of acres of much needed
land.
In addition to drainage, a study
of farm plans that have been pre-
pared reveal that they involve nu-
merOus measures designed TO I'M
prove and conserve fertility of the
soil, including 1862 acres of cover
crops, 1,433 acres of crop residue
management, 1871 acres of crop
rotation and SIS acres of pasture
treatment. In addition there were
planned 1878 acres of managed
woodland cutting, 1872 acres of
woodland protection and 81 acres
of wildlife borders. The 6,449 acres
Of farm drainage required the NOV
ing of 930,996 Gu: yds, of dirt to
complete 1,O65,729 linear feet of
ditching and 591 acres of clearing
operations, are other measures
which are included. A large
amount of equipment has been OBJ
tanned by the District and is in con-
slant use and demand, as well as
several drag-lines and bull-dozers
owned by contractors.
In addition to equipment, the
Soil Conservation has loaned
through it's personnel, a District
ConservatiOnist, an Engineer and
Junior Engineer, a farm planner
and forester. The Extension Ser
vice and State Highway Depart
ment have COOperated and loaned
valuable assistance in the service.
The report pays tribute to the
newspapers and radio stations
which have been most coopera-
tive" in releasing news and infor-
nation relative to the work in the
area. The Sussex County Bankers
Association, pledging their finan-
cial support, have made possible
the printing of 10000 copies of a
detailed report of work in the area.
These copies will be divided be-
tween the banks, for distribution
to their clients, to agricultural stu
dents in high schools, interested
teachers throughout the county, to
service clubs of the county, to Off
cials of the State and Federal Gov
ernment, the State Bankers Assoc
iatiOn and the American Bankers
Associations. A few copies will also
be sent to the Presidents of each
of the Soil Conservation Districts
of the entire country, also to the
SpOrtsmen's and Conservation
Clubs of Delaware.
Financial assistance has been re-
ceived from the State Legislature,
the Sussex County Levy Court and
also some P. NJ. A. funds, which
were made available for paying
part of the drainage costs.
In spite of excellent progress
made, the demand for various kinds
of assistance that the District Off
ers, is so great that still more con-
servatiOn must be accomplished
during 1948. Records show that 125
farmers who requested farm plans
last year, failed to get them, and
every indication is that an addi-
tiOnal 100 applications will be re-
ceiVed during 1948.
Increased recognition by farm
ers OF the urgent need for preVen-
tiOn of soil erosion, the increased
food demands, need for more land
to be reclaimed by drainage, all
adds up to an increasing demand
for expert and technical aid on an
overall basis and is a considered
factor in future pans for 1948 in
this Soil Conservation District.
The conservation job is tremen-
. dOus in Sussex County lane, de-
manding adequate drainage of
more land, management of the tre-
mendOus woodland acreage, better
crop rotations, more extensive use
of fertilizer, continued use of suf-
ficient lime and building up of Or
ganic matter or any of a number of
other good practices, must be car
ried on to insure continued produc-
ton, which cannot be maintained
on depleted soils.