The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1952-07-03

conservation planning, Herbert r.
Soil Conservation District, pointe
new procedure which is now bel
the job of getting conservation
materially.
The new system is known as
three stages which follow logi-
cal sequence, Mr.. Blackburn ex-
planned.
AS an illustration, a farmer
might first ask the soil conserva-
ton district for technical help in
laying out some particular con-
servation practice. AS soon as he
signs an agreement with his dis
trict he becomes a district CO.
operator. In this he agrees to
use all of his land within its
capabilities and treat it accord
ing to its needs. These are the
steps in the development of a
basic conservation plan on his
farm, which is his final objective.
This agreement, Mr.. Blackburn
said, is not a contract under
which either party can sue or be
sued. Neither does it have a
clause. 1t is simply
written expression of intention.
AS soon as this new cooperator
completes the agreement he is
given technical assistance by the
SCS farm planner in laying out
the practices he is interested in.
This is the initial stage in deve-
loping a basic farm conservation
plan.
The second stage of the pro-
gressive procedure usually deve-
lops after this particular farmer
has had a chance to see how well
his first practices have worked
in reducing erosion, holding
more rain on his fields and in
creasing yields.
From the initial stage the
farmer moves naturally into the
advanced stage of farm plan
ming. Here he learns more about
developing his basic plan and
usually applies a number of ad-
ditional conservation practices.
At this time he is given land
map for his farm
along with a set of printed con-
servation recommendations as
guides. These fit all of
the land classes shown on his
particular farm and give the
farmer alternate ways to meet
his land problems. He makes his
own choice of various cropping
systems and practices, either of
which is we'll adapted to farm
ing the land within its natural
The farmer also |
receives full information on how |
to use the map and guides.
From the advanced phase, he
progresses into the full applica-
ton of a basic soil conservation
plan tailored to fit every acre of |
land on his farm. The farm plan
ner gives him technical assist
ance out on his farm in working |
out this basic plan, including |
engineering assistance, if it is
needed and detailed advice on |
special soil and erosion pro-
blems.
In developing his basic plan,
the farmer not only decides how
he is going to use each acre, dis
cussing the matter with a train
ed soil conservationist the farm |
planner but also gives the dis
trict a copy of his plan together
with a statement of intentions.
Before SCS developed the pro-
gressive planning procedure, dis
tricts offered farmers, who were
only starting, a complete farm
conservation plan that repres-
ented the full treatment. Such
plans require a great deal of
study by the farmer and by the
soil conservationist. AS result
many districts built up a large
backlog of applications and
farmers sometimes waited sever
al months before their names
came up to the head of the list.
Under the new system, such
farmers get started at once on
heir conservation program.
With the aid of the capability
nap and farming guides which
hey receive in the advanced
phase of planning, they are able
% get great deal of simple con-
iervation practices applied on the
and by the time the district is
able to help them complete a
,asic plan. l.
"This new system should speed
lp our district program material
"" Mr.. Blackburn said. What
5 equally important, the farmer
makes his own decisions and