The Sidney herald., 1958-11-26
VIC. Anderson Explains
Great Plains Program

AS of this Tuesday 10 farmers
and ranchers in Richland County
have applied for information on
the Great Plains Conservation
Program. Six of these farmers
and ranchers have completed ap-
locations covering 10000 acres.
In processing these applications
we have uncovered several err
roneous concepts. In order to as
sist you the people of Richland
County in understanding this pro-
gram, / should like to answer a
few Of the most common ques-
tons.
/. What is the Great Plains
Conservation Program? 1t is a
program designed to give a land
owner or operator a complete
conservation program in one
package. A complete conservation
plan developed by you with
liberal cost sharing by the United
States included in a single
contract.
z. What is meant by a conser-
walton plan? 1t is a planned sys-
tenn of application of conservation
practices to control within rea-
sonable limits soil and water loss
from your farm or ranch. 1t pro-
vides for sustained and in most
cases increased production Of
food, fiber, crops, livestock and
wildlife without further deterio-
ration of the land itself. We do
not build a house without a plan
as this would mean costly hap
hazard construction. This is
just as true with putting land
under conservation. You need to
plan the work in advance to as
sure the various parts will fit
together and accomplish the job
intended.
3. Who develops the plan, do
| have any say as to what will be
done? Indeed yes. The farmer
and rancher develops his own
plan for presentation to the De-
partment OF Agriculture, Soil
Conservation Service for ap-
proval. OF course you must meet
certain specifications just as a
house builder must meet certain
specifications of the cities build
ing code. This is where your local
soil Conservation Technician can
assist you.
4. What are the specifications?
Actually they are simple and just
what you applied to do in first
place, namely a workable plan to
treat deterioration of the land
and even to improve the land.
Your S.C-S. technician is specifi-
cally trained in recognizing and
treating soil erosion, therefore he
can assist you in solving your
problems.
5. How long must my contract
be? 1t can be for any length of
time you desire, however it can
not be for less than three years
nor more than 10 years.
6. Suppose I have land which
| wish to seed back to grass, can
l use this grass? Yes, you may
Craze it or harvest the grass at
any time it is ready.
q. Some one has said that my
contract must be for 10 years if
l plant grass. 1 again repeat the
of the contract is deter
mined by yourself. What ever
you deem necessary to get the job
done, 3 years, 4 years, S years
whatever you wish within the
three to ten year limits.
8. How much will I receive in
cost sharing funds to assist me
in getting my conservation work
completed? The cost sharing
varies with the types of conser-
work ranging from sou
for land leveling and dam build
ing to 80% for grass seeding.
8. Will this program affect any
other Dept. of Agriculture pro-
gram you must comply with the
No, you may take part in any
other agricultural program as set
up by the Dept. of Agriculture.
Naturally if you have seeded
grass under the Soil Bank pro-
gram you must comply with the
Of that program. However
Il you seed grass under the Great
Plains Program you may use this
grassland the same as any other
and not under the Soil Bank
program.
10. What is the difference
between the Great Plains Conser-
plan and a Soil Conserva-
ion District plan which l already
lave for my farm? As stated in
to question /, liberal