The Hardin tribune-herald., 1960-07-07
BY
II. d. Hurd
State Conservationist
Soil Conservation Service
BOzeman, Montana

bOzeman, montana
Soil and water conservation in
Montana is a big and complex job
Farmers and ran;hers are doing
good work but there is much more
to be done. The primary work of the
Soil Conservation service is provid-
ing technical help to farmers and
ranchers to get the best job possible
accomplished.
The Soil Conservation service
works primarily with Soil Conserva-
ton districts. In addition consider
able technical service is provided
Agricultural Sterilization COMMITTEES
in their Agri. .ultural Conservation
and Soil Bank programs. Some as
sistance is given to the Farmers
Home Administration on soil and
water conservation loans and to the
State Forester on woodland work
Finally, the Soil Conservation SER
vice has leadership for the Great
Plains Conservation program and
Watershed Protection Projects.
Practically all Of the effort Of the
sos is devoted to actually working
with farmers and ranchers, indiv-
dually or IN groups. in planning and
applying soil and water conservation
on their land.
Group plans are prepared on small
watersheds where there is a need
for flood prevention, drainage or
beneficial use Of water for irriga-
ton or municipal water supply. One
such plan has been completed and
seven others partially planned.
Others group plans include prim-
arily irrigation and drainage with
with SCD's, ACP or FILA. farms
have been affected by such group
plans.
Up TO June 80, 1859, 8.657 SGD CO.
operators had completed basic farm
and ranch conservation plans based
upon detailed soil surveys, range
site and condition evaluationS and
other inventories Of natural resour-
ces. Soil Conservation service tech
nicians interpreted these surveys
and suggested alternate uses and
treatments within the capabilities OF
the land concerned. The operator
then developed his plan setting forth
his choice Of alternative land uses
and scheduling planned treatment
in logical sequence. All land on the
farm or rsnch is planned. This in
cludes woodland, range. cropland
land set aside for wildlife etc.
Application Of the plan requires
close cooperation of many agencies
and groups. For example. SCS pro-
vides technical help for design, lay
out and supervision Of construction
the ACP provides cost-sharing up
on approval for many practises;
FILA provides loans for establishing
soil and water conservation practic-
es; Extension service, State Forest
er; and others may help in refining
the plan or giving technical help on
specific phases Of the plan. The soil
Conservation district provides q
means Of coordnating this assistance
A brief picture Of conservation
work accomplished In which SCS
has provided some or all OF the tech
nical service Is reflected in the fol-
lowing selected practice data. Ap-
proximately ll3,9O0 acres are being
farmed in conservation rotation
with over 1000 900 additional acres
In need Of this treatment: stric
cropping has been applied on more
than 5,000.00 acres with nearly
5000 900 additional acres In need OF
treatment. On rangeland. deferred
grazing has been applied to over
4.000.0 900 acres with over $4,000. .0OC
ceres still In need Of deferment.
10000 acres Of range have been re-
seeded; and more than 10000 ponds
constructed. On woodland, planned
harvest cutting Is being carried out
on over 200. 900 acres and improve
ment cutting has been applied TO
over l07 900 acres Of privately owned
woodland. Irrigated cropland has
been improved by drainage. land