The people's voice., 1958-10-10

show us just what each acre should
be made to produce could be the most
important step in preserving the good
agricultural soil of this country since
the Soil Conservation Service was
established 23 years ago.
"When we wish to expand or con-
tract agricultural production, we
could do it more effectively, if we
knew the safe maximum capacity of
each acre. We would then know which
could be cultivated more intensely
without destroying them, and which
should be used with greater caution
perhaps used in other ways.
"Under the Soil Bank we have had
the spectacle of entire farms being
taken out of production for various
reasons. In some instances the farmer
has gone to the city to get an in
dustrial job, while collecting from the
government for ceasing to produce.
Sometimes the very best land is taken
out of production, while the farmer
transfers his crops to hillsides to
The pattern has been hit or miss"
He thought his most important job
would be to provide information and
service to the soil conservation dis
tricts of the country, part of this will
consist of letting all of the districts
know which conservation practices
have been most successful, and which
are running into trouble. He will also
keep the districts closely in touch
with "what is cooking" in the admin
istrative agencies, as we'll as what
legislation is being considered on
Capitol Hill.
FACING GREAT TEST
"The soil conservation DISTRICTS"
he added, "are facing a great test.
With our population growing at the
rate of some ~ million persons a
year, the day is not distant-perhaps
20 or 80 years from now-when we
shall need the greatest economical
production from every acre we have.
"When this time arrives, every cit
izen will be concerned-th factory |
worker. and other city dwellers. as
we'll as the farmer-because the pro-
duction of wholesome food in the
varieties which people want will be-
come problem of major concern. If
the soil conservation districts can
continue to meet this great public re-
sponsibility upon a democratically
operated basis, it will be best for the
farmer"
If the districts fail to function
we'll as free democratic institutions,
t will be necessary to establish much
greater government controls than at
present, he said.
eve must demonstrate that we can
AXE care of our productive farming
ands under our own initiative, with
help, or society will step
n. Farming is just as much a public
Utility as the railroads or the power
and we must recognize
'ur responsibility to all of the people.
Thus far the soil conservation dis I
riots have been almost fantastically
uccessful in rising to this challenge" {
HE ZIMMERMAN RECORD
Mr.. Zimmerman was born in Spo-
ane, Wash, in 1910. He married a
7irginia woman, Helen Ault, in 1885 :
nd has one daughter, Karen, this
ear entering William and Mary Col
ege. He grew up on a dairy farm
I Chippewa county, Wisconsin, where
is grandfather had homesteaded
When his family moved to Washing
On, D. c., he attended public high :
chool, and graduated from the Uni !
ersity of Maryland in 1882. :
His first job was with the Wash :
lgton Daily News as a reporter of :
affairs. After two years
f newspaper work he joined the
ewly organized Soil Conservation +
ervice, where he remained for Is y
ears. From 1850 to 1853 he was \
rst Washington representative, then n
anager of public relations, for n
AIRY Ferguson, Inc, of Detroit, t.
anufacturers of advanced types of t
machinery. [
Then, for two years he was director a
research for National Agricultural c.