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STATE DOCUMENTS
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O. M. Ueland, Editor, School of Mines, Butte. Montana
OFFICIAL NEWS BULLETIN i
January-February 1963
Frank Thompson, President
Your Association President Sez:
Now that the holidays are over we
can settle down to a little more
serious thinking. With the conven-
ing of state legislature and Congress
It would be well for all of us to take
time to find out what kind of legis-
lation is being proposed and study
it to learn how it may effect us.
This year your association again is
supporting and proposing some leg-
islation that is of vital interest to
the support and continuation of a
good conservation program in the
state of Montana.
To carry out the wishes of those
supervisors that attended the con-
vention in Livingston, it will take
the help and support of all the dis-
tricts and their supervisors and
any other interested groups or ind-
ividual .
Legislative Report -—
The Agriculture Committee of the House of Representatives
presently has under consideration a bill to permit County
Commissioners to levy for District Operations. As presently
irawn up the bill would permit County Commissiners to levy
mil for districts not to exceed $1000 per year when requested
\- the supervisors. Provision is made to divide money where
uistricts are not on county lines.
This bill was drawn up as a result of the $24, 000 request for
state appropriations bill having met with quite a bit of opposition
on the floor and being sent back to committee. Francis Bardanouve
(D) Blaine, Tom Haines (R) Missoula and Oscar Kvaalen (R)
Dawson are sponsors of the new bill which has been referred
to the Agriculture and Irrigation Committee of which John Leuthold
(R) Stillwater County is Chairman. Interested supervisors
should make every effort to attend this hearing or at least
write to Chairman Leuthold at the House of Representatives
to express their opinion. They appreciate hearing from you.
Many districts and several areas have heretofore support this
type of legislation. Frank Thompson, John Schroeder, Chairman
of the MASWCD legislative Committee and O. M. Ueland have
met with many legislators several times the past month. Fred
Sanborn, Great Falls; Art Christensen, Dillion; Don Tootell,
Helena; Paul Kleffner, East Helena, also appeared before the
appropriations committee early in January.
The Association bill to require seeding of perennial grass on
disturbed right-of-way areas such as cable lines, oil lines, etc. ,
has been introduced by Art Osburnsen of Fergus and Everett
Cummings of Judith Basin. There is need for some support
here too as several legislators seem to think this is an invasion
of individual rights in bargaining for right-of-way. We must
remember that the neglect of a few to take care of their land
jeopardizes the rights of all to own, use and manage land as they
see fit.
few virtues.
• It has been my experience that folks who have no vices generally hav
Abraham Lincoln
THE EXTRA ACRE
.... Roger Fliger, Education
Rep. , Fish & Game Department
Man, like other creatures, needs recreation to make his life more complete. With
an expanding population more and more demands are being placed on our outdoor
recreation areas.
We sometimes think it almost sacrilegious to use land for recreation or pleasure. If
we can't cut, burn, plow, irrigate, or mine in or on land it is worthless and only then
is it left to scenery or wildlife recreation. This, of course, is not true. All land and
All land and water have aesthetic as well as dollars value.
The tourist trade should bring in $100,000,000 this year. These people come to look,
to relax and to enjoy Montana. They want to fish and hunt, look at scenery, to boat
and to picnic.
This money will not only benefit cares, motels, gas stations, sporting goods stores
and packers but since these people are a part of the community the whole comnftmity >
will benefit.
Montana has a variety of public lands such as parks, monuments and wilderness areas.
But is this enough? Large areas such as wilderness areas and national parks are
sometimes inaccessible to the average tourist passing through our state. With the
demand on public lands apt to double in the next few years, where will we find that
extra acre? Perhaps the answer is on private lands.
The extra acres that private lands provide have sometirnes created problems of
vandalism and trespassing. The number of "No Hunting" and "No Trespassing"
signs show that a problem exists. But the real problem is not between the land-
owner and sportsman. Ninety-eight per cent of the landowners are reasonable
and friendly. Ninety-eight per cent of the sportsmen are careful and responsible.
The problem is with the two per cent socially maladjusted individuals who exist
in all age groups and occupations.
Landowners who do allow people to enjoy their land perform an important and val-
uable service to their fellow man. In most cases people realize these benefits and
appreciate this freedom to use the land.
Public education such as the hunter safety course which teaches young hunters the.
responsibilities and privileges that must be observed — hunting or fishing by per-
mission signs and, perhaps, get-togethers where sportsmen could invite their
landowner friends might be ways to improve landowner sportsman relations.
The sportsmen should ask permission to himt and the landowner should recognize
and ride herd on the socially maladjusted individual. Together their efforts
may answer the c(uestion of where the extra acres will come from — perhaps we
already have them.
RANGE MANAGEMENT
.... Ef^b Ross, SCS, Range Conservationist
The greater the amount of supplemental feed (from ir-
rigated areas or elsewhere), the greater the temptation
to misuse range lands. The greater the amount of sup-
plemental feed available, the more livestock can be
wintered to be turned onto the ranges the following
spring.
Many ranches are stocked according to how much hay
is available with little concern for range condition or
how many head the summer range will profitably support.
Instead of the "cureall", it is sometimes assumed to
be, supplemental feed only makes range management
more vitally necessary
Recent Cost Return meetings held by many Soil and
Water Conservation District ranchers in Montana show
that winter feeding is by far the most expensive part
ymicaHJfCVCr of a rancher's yearly operation. "Heads up" ranchers ymmver
■pfytcl^e provide grazing for as many months of the year as the utiix tUp water'
^*"^' In most cases land taxes, initial investment, boundry run^ar}j.
teuummiiKt fences, handling costs, etc., are the same regardless
of how the ranch is operated. The profit lies in bal-
ancing land use to provide proper amounts of range,
tame pasture and hay and then gearing the basic size
of the herd to what the natural resources will support.
This is the result of sound planning.
Experiments carried out at the Range Experiment Station
at Miles City revealed that ranchers raising yearlings
must pay, with lighter yearling weights, f6r overstocking
their cow and calf range even though abundant range forage
is provided for the calves during their second summer.
PLANNING FOR CONSERVATION
.... Don Luebbe, Agricultural Program Leader, Extension Service
The Conservation Needs Inventory recently completed in Montana points out that
Montana has nearly 9 million acres of cropland and 34 million acres of range and
woodland that needs some kind of conservation treatment. In order that these acres
may be maintained in a productive state for future generations conservation treat-
metns must be applied to the land. The responsibility for seeing that these con-
servation measures are carried out rests largely with the individual farmers and
ranchers of the state.
In order for these conservation practices to become a reality it will require careful
planning and cooperation of individuals with the support and assistance of govern-
mentaVagencies, soil and water conservation districts and private organizations.
Experience has shown that these things do not just happen. Our present economy
and high material standards of life that are enjoyed by Americans today have come
as the end product of the plans of millions of individuals, groups and governmental
organizations.
The Conservation Plan is an effective tool for farmers and ranchers to use in helping
them work out a system for accomplishing the conservation practices. This plan pro-
vides an inventory of his soil and water resources. The soils information helps to
guide him in determining the kind of crops he can produce and the treatments he should
apply to his land. This valuable service is available to the farmer merely by making
application to his local Soil and Water Conservation District.
Before the farm operator decides to carry out a conservation practice, whether it be
reseeding range land or installing a grass waterway, he must also feel confident that
the investment will pay out. Farmers as "tillers of the soil" have a natural interest
in conservation; however, they also recognize they are operating in an economic soc-
iety. He must be able to estimate the probably benefits and costs associated with any
proposed practice and to have a reasonable assurance that the economic benefits will
show a favorable return in relation to the cost.
* * *
One may not live by bread alone but
many try to get along on cmst.
In recent years the Soil Conservation Service in their work with Soil and Water Con-
servation Districts, have been giving much more attention to cost and return relation-
ships as they plan conservation programs with individual farmers and ranchers. At
the present time the Soil Conservation Service technicians and the Extension Range
Specialists and local County Agents are conducting studies in several counties in
Montana to try to determine probably costs and returns on range practices. Similar
studies have been made with other conservation practices.
The business man on main street or the factory worker in Detroit should be just as
interested in seeing that conservation practices are carried out on the land as the
landowner. All these people are interested in having available a plentiful supply of
food at a reasonable cost. This can only be assured by maintaining our soil and water
resources in a productive state and utilizing the latest developments of technology and
operating the farms in a highly efficient manner.
DON J. LUEBBE
Production & Conservation
Agricultural Program Leader
Extension Service
Don has recently returned from a year's
leave of absence to go to school. Super-
visors should call on him thru their
Coimty Agent for assistance in Conser-
vation Educational programs. Conser-
vation Specialists for which he is leader
include N. A. Jacobsen, Livestock; Dick
Marks, Forestry; Orville McCarver,
Horticulturist; Earl Peace, Dairy &
Swine; Eugene Quenemoen, Economist;
Art Shaw, Agrmiomist; Charles M.
Smith, Soils; Eldon H. Smith, Wild-
life; Leslie W. Sonder, Weed Control;
S. J. Tietema, Economist M. M.
Afansiev, Plant Pathologist; Ja.nes
Drummond, Sheep; J. J. Pepper, En-
tomologist; Don Ryerson, Range
Specialist.
ASCS Committeemen, FHA Committeemen, and
any others are invited to partake of this leader-
ship training and also find out how district pro-
grams are put together.
CONSERVATION COUNCIL SAYS THANKS
Nineteen SWCDs responded to the MASWCD
recommendation that courtesy memberships
in the Montana Conservation Council be pre-
sented to local cooper ators, business and pro-
fessional people with whom SWCDs work. The
following districts have sent checks since Janu-
ary 1962:
Fergus County
Treasure
McCone
Big Horn
Roosevelt
Phillips
Lewis & Clark
Beaverhead
Glacier
Sweetgrass
Daniels Coimty
Stillwater
Broadwater
Liberty
Carbon
Mineral
Granite
Garfield
Reserve
I
Arnold BoUe, President of the Montana Con-
servation Council says "thanks" to the cooper-
ating SWCDs. He says the coimcil board members
appreciate MASWCD support of Council programs.
SUPERVISOR LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS
Cold weather hampered workshops held in Drum-
mond and Missoula the forepart of January.
Workshops in Helena and Bozeman were held in
below zero weather. Remaining workshop sched-
ules are:
February 12 - Toole and Liberty at Shelby
February 13 - Hill, Big Sandy, Chouteau at
Big Sandy
February 14 - Judith Basin and Fergus at Lewis -
town
February 19 - McCone, Richland Garfield at
Circle
February 21 - Dawson, Wibaux, Prairie County
Grazing District at Glendive
February 28 - Yellowstone, Big Horn at
Billings i
March 1 - Stillwater and Carbon at Bridger '
March 5 - Roosevelt and Valley at Glasgow.
NASCD PUBLIC LANDS COMMITTEE SURVEY
There are still a half dozen districts who have not
completed or sent in their survey forms for the In-
ventory of Resource Conservation and Development
needs.
For the most part districts and cooperating agencies
have done a good job, and are to be congratulated
for spending considerable time on this.
These are probably the best figures available with-
out going into an expensive survey. They should
give supervisors a good idea of the needs of public
land agencies in their districts and if not some
idea of the need for additional inventory taking.
Certainly this survey was a test of cooperating
between districts and public land agencies
which is hoped will bring closer relations as
time goes by.
Remember that when you point a
finger at somebody else, you point
three at yourself.
DISTRICT DOINGS
Annual Reports are beginnirfe to come in,
Broadwater has published an excellent
report in the "Townsend Star". Granite
has a report in their Newsletter, Dawson
District has an excellent report showing
a great deal of accomplishment. The pub-
lic should know of these accomplishments.
Everyboyd needs to be Conservation Con-
scious. This is a good job for the Public
Relations Committee to get these Annual
Reports, Annual Work Plans, publicized
and in the right hands.
Big Sandy SWCD are inviting Wesley Stearns,
Stockgrowners Association president to speak
at their annual meeting.
Torlief Aasheim's, Montana Cooperative
Extension Service Director, Seasons
Greetings letter to all supervisors cer-
tainly expresses his agencies good rela-
tions and desire to work with districts
or their conservation education programs.
Thank you, Torley for your letter.
Les Pengelly, Wildlife Specialist at
Montana State University, was featured
speaker at Granite Annual meeting. He
talked on the Yellowstone Park Elk.
In answering Part I of Form #4 of NACD
Public Lands Committee survey one super-
visor of the Box Elder District stated that
the present number of deer and antelope
are at the maximum limit and the -number
of hunters are at the maximum tolerable
limit!
Fergus district presented Penny Krause
a plaque for the outstanding 4-H Conser-
vation activity by an individual.
Supervisor Vern Keller of Still water
brought up the matter of providing a Con-
servation Bookshelf for the library. The
materials for construction should cost
$10 or less. It was moved to provided
$10 and Vern expedite construction.
Deer Lodge Valley SWCD discussed A.S.C.
practices at a recent meeting, and the con-
clusion was that many of the practices are
not clearly understood by all farmers and
ranchers.
Powder River District plans to hold a
poster contest in conjunction with their
annual meeting. "Conservation in Pow-
der River County" will be the theme.
Local contractors wUl be contacted to
donate money to purchase prizes.
v
The above picture shows the Dawson County SWCD
Supervisors beside their new building. They are
from left to right: Wm. Wolff, Chairman, Vera
Dillon; Verle Jones; Dale Bergland, County Agent,
secretary; Ralph Newton; George Rice, Jr.; Char-
les A. Bordsen, W. U. C. The building provides
office space for the SCS technicians and a storage
aiea for district equipment.
"Yes," said the farmer, "when a feller has got to
know the botanical name of what he raises, and the
entomological name of the bugs that eat it up, and
the pharmaceutical name for what he sprays on it-
things is bound to cost more."
Sheridan, Richland, and Roosevelt County SWCDs
are engaging Robert S. McClelland, Western
Area NACD Program Leader, as speaker for
their annual meetings.
Pete Jackson, supervisor of Madison District,
and an outstanding range manager, agreed to
put on a TV program on Range Conservation for
his district.
Lower Musselshell annual meeting date is set
for the week of February 11-15 with Dr. John
Fischer as speaker
Lewis & Clark district are sponsoring a Con-
servation Day for February 2 , Members of the
l^slature will be invited to attend. Also planned
is a News Feature issue in "The Independent
Record" for January 27 in which each supervisor
will contribute an article on various Conservation
Practices.
North Powell district presented its Outstanding
Conservationist Award to Howard Price at their
December meeting.
Toole County will have a supper meeting after
the Supervisors Workshop, February 12.
Ralph Patrick, representative and supervisor for
the Phillips County Mosquito Control District
requested the Soil district for assistance and in-
formation the control district might use as relates
to drainage problems.
Rex Campbell is being considered for speaker at
annual meeting of the Upper Musselshell Annual
Meeting March 13.
GOVERNOR TIM B ABC OCK APPOINTS JIM SCHROEDER
TO FOUR TERM TO STATE SOIL CONSERVATION
COMMITTEE ^
Governor Tim Babcock reappointed John Schroeder,
farmer -rancher of Lolo, Montana to another four year
term on the State Soil Conservation Committee, which
begins January 1 of this year. John represents the
western area of Montana and is a supervisor of the
Missoula Coimty Soil and Water Conservation district.
John is also active in Association affairs having been
chairman of the Puljlic Lands & Watersheds Conmiittee,
and presently chairman of the Association Legislative
committee. Congratulations, John, you are going a
good job. Regards to your wife who we know watches very
very carefully after your health
JOHN
SCHROEDER
ASCS-ACP DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS
A business man, who entered a hospital with a nerv-
ous condition, refused to eat a gelatin desert when it
was served to him.
When pressed for an explanation, the hospital pa-
aent replied, "I'll be doggonned if I'll eat anything
that's more nervous than I am."
STATE AND NATIONAL DUES FOR 1963
MASWCD treasurer Gene Coombs of BUlings
has mailed out statements to each district for
the 1963 Association dues. It is important that
districts pay their dues at the earliest possible
time. A review of the minutes show that many
have passed motions to pay their dues, a few
have considered, but are taking action to raise
funds' by contributions from contractors, co-
operators, sale of affiliate memberships,
etc.
Modern girls adore spinning wheels
— four of them, and a spare.
Montana Agricultural Stabilization and Conser-
vation Service have conducted development
meetings thruout Montana the past month for
each coimty to develop Agriculture Conserva-
tion Cost-sharing practices. It is reported
that supervisors have been lax in attending
these meetings. This is an important program
and contributes greatly to Conservation efforts
of districts. Close relation should be kept
with ASC to help develop the kind of ACP pro-
gram you want in keeping with districts annual
work plans.
A college student pestered his "old man" to buy him
a new convertible, and when "Dad" finally made a
trip to the college to talk it over with his son, he
noticed that most of the cars on the campus parking
lot were virtually junkers.
"What about this," the father asked. 'Why do you
want a new car when most of the cars around here are
old models?"
"But, Dad," the boy protested, "those cars belong
to just faculty members."
STATE SOIL CONSERVATION COMMITTEE MEETS
The State Soil Conservation Committee met January 11 in Helena, and reorganized
with the same officers as previous being re-elected: Fred Sanborn is chairman,
John Schroeder, Vice Chairman; O. M. Ueland, Executive Secretary; other members
members are Bill D'Ewart, Carl Hunter, Torlief Aasheim, Joe Asleson, Lowell
Purdy, Herschel Hurd.
Dick Setterstrom, Chairman of Advisory Committee to the State Planning Board was
a guest and told of the history of the planning board and its goals in promoting industrial
development in the state. Manufacturing is restricted in Montana because of markets,
however the processing of Montana resources has many good possibilities. The committee
expressed its desire to give recognition to planning in Conservation related activities,
which is primarily agricultural in nature, and told of the greater. possibilities agriculture
has for development than any other industry in Montana.
The need for setting aside the 160 acre limitation on water developments above Canyon
Ferry reservoir was reviewed and noted that Beaverhead SWCD is proceeding with
this. There is need for greater clarification and understanding. Some people just
can't see why an acre of irrigated land one place is not the same productionwise as
another .
Frank Thompson, MASWCD president met with the committee and reviewed legislative
concerns of the Association, particularly the need of some districts for finances. Ar-
rangements were made to assist the association before the legislature in this matter.
Fred Buck, state engineer, explained the Columbia River Compact as concerns
reservation of upstate power and some downstream, and reservation of water supply
to year 2010. Result of hearing for change of boundary for that part of Missoula
County land now in the Bitterroot district was approved for transfer to the Missoula
SWCD. This conforms to county lines.
The hearing conducted at Custer as requested by the Victory Irrigation district to
transfer certain lands of Yellowstone County to the Big Horn SWCD, resulted in the
state committee disapproving. The main reason of the irrigation district people
not being able to get as good a service from Yellowstone district was not adequately
substantiated. Suggestion were made for improving the service however. It is
the policy of the state committee to keep districts on county lines if at all possible.
A referendum was approved to be held to bring certain lands of Custer County into the
North Custer SWCD.
The question whether good Conservation practices are being carried out as regards
the Green Mountain district's contract to supply timber to a local mill was discussed.
In some cases selective cutting is not being practiced on cooper ators lands. Execu-
tive Secretary was instructed to seek improvement of the success of this venture,
to encourage the Green Moimtain District people.
A letter from Henry Evans, Chairman of Fergus County SWCD, was read asking the
committee to look into the possibility of state committee holding funds until grass
seeding was completed on missile cable lines. Secretary was instructed to follow
up on this.
Senator Gordon McGowan Chouteau County, and former SCD supervisor and director
of NASCD from Montana visited with the committee. Senator McGowan told the
coniraittee SWCDs have got to move to take on new responsibilities, such as spon-
soring of water code, water conservation, give attention to recreation, etc. The
senator said it was necessary that districts inform the public of improvements in
the economy as a result of Soil and Water Conservation programs.
The Fish and Game Commission will be invited to the next state committee meeting
which is scheduled for April 4 & 5 at the Water Conservation Board meeting room
in Helena. Districts having items they wish considered are asked to present them. „
The State Soil Conservation Committee moved to direct the secretary to write a
letter of Condolence to Mrs. Albert H. Kruse, mourning the death of her husband who
passed away in December. Albert Kruse was for many ye irs Montana's Commissioner
of Agriculture, a member of this committee, and a staunch supporter of Soil Con-
servation Districts. Mr. Kruse conducted many hearings throughout the state when
districts were first being organized.
POWERS OF DISTRICT SUPERVISORS
A LONG STRETCH
The powers of district supervisors are given in Section
76-108 of the Soil and Water Conservation Districts Law.
This provides that districts may engage in almost any
activity to promote soil and water conservation. Although
there are limitations to the powers given under the act,
districts possess great greedom of action in conservation
work.
The following is a summary of powers of supervisors:
1. Operate the district as a legal unit of State Gov-
ernment.
2. Work with other agencies in conducting surveys,
investigations and research relating to soil erosion
prevention and water management.
3. Demonstrate by example, the means, methods,
and measures by which soil and water resources
may be utilized and conserved.
4. Make available special machinery, equipment
and materials which will assist the land owners
and operators.
5. Cooperate with landowners or occupiers in erosion
control and water conservation and use.
6. Keep the public informed concerning conservation
needs, methods used and accomplishments in the
district.
7. Secure and furnish to district operators technical
and material assistance for the purpose of carrying
out a soil and water conservation program.
8. Cooperate with other agencies and groups.
9. Acquire, administer and improve property.
Because the powers of district supervisors are broad it
is their responsibility to interpret and use them. Be
practical in carrying out the program of the district
.... Supervisors, the responsibility is yours.
MONTANA STATE ASSOCIATION OF SOIL
AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS
C/O O.E. UELAND
Montana School of Mines
Butte, Montana
.'8mf^,t^
frying fo $/eep downstain. I hope my toning
and turning doein'f bother you."
Library MSU
Non- Profit Org.
U. S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 171
Butte, Montana
^ssoula liont
measure'
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Frank Thompson, President
Your Association President Sez:
H. B. 335 BECOMES LAW
House Bill 335 sponsored by representatives
Francis Bardanouve, (D) Blaine County; Tom
Haines (R) Missoula County; and Oscar Kvaalen
(R) Richland County is now law.
This is permissive legislation which will enable
county commissioners to levy not to exceed ^
mill on grazing and agricultural land within the
district not to exceed $1000 a year, when reques-
ted by the district supervisors. Funds may be
used as specified in the basic Soil and Water
Conservation district law for Montana.
Of immediate concern to district supervisors is
to cause a notice declaring the district organ-
ized to be filed for record in the office of the
coimty clerk and recorded of each county in which
any portion of the district is situated. Deadline
for this is April 8 which is 30 days from effective
date of the act, and which should be done whether
supervisors intend to ask for money or not.
Another NACD Convention is over and proved
to be very successful. It was well supported
by about 1500 people interested in Conservation,
Montana was greatly honored by having Mrs.
Oscar (Gladys) Hipped elected to the office of
National President of the Ladies Auxiliary.
We all extend her congratulations and wish her
success and much good luck in her new position.
The activities of the NACD are very impressive
and wide -spread. A few of the main points
were:
The officers and Committee chairmen took a
leading roll in the formulation and writing of
Section 1 of the Agricultural act of 1962. The
committees meet with the Authors of the various
bills pertaining to conservation and affecting
conservation districts and many times have
changes made before they are ever introduced
in Congress.
Secretary of the Interior Stewart L. Udall gave
the most impressive talk of the convention in
my opinion. Here is one of the paragraphs that
is really worthy of note which I would like to
share with you.
"The job we face together is an enormous one
— an intermingled one. Your organization is
the logical mechanism for coordinating the vari-
ous efforts needed. You, better than any group
in the Nation, know that the job will never be
finished. And as we fight to pay Nature back
and "start even" again, new opportunities will
develop. One of those new opportunites a
fresh challenge for all of us are programs
of outdoor recreation. "
"I scratched the front fender a
little dear. If you vrant to look ui
it, it' 3 in the back seat."
JAYCEES SPONSOR FARM CONTEST:
In an effort to encourage better farm manage-
ment, a contest is being sponsored by the Dillon
Jaycees, according to Earl Love, Jaycee Agri-
cultural Affairs Chairman.
The Contest is open to all senior Vo-ag students
in Beaverhead County.
Each contestant will work out a detailed farm
management plan for the development and opera-
tion of a typical farm unit under the East Bench
Project.
Contestants will be furnished basic information
explaining acreage, soils, water supply, topsoil,
and other related data.
Main judging points will be to properly manage and
maintain the soil and water resources, to establish
the unit on a paying basis and to plan a sound type
of enterprise.
The prize-winning plan will be entered in the state-
wide Farm Planning contest, which is being spon-
sored by the state Jaycess organization.
*********************
First Saleaman: "Say, Jim, I had a
narvoloua day; made lota of friends
for the corpanj."
Second Salesman: "Ife, too. I didn't
sell anything either."
WHO'S in the Goodyear Contest:
The following districts are to be congratulated for
entering the 1962-63 Goodyear Contest:
Big Horn
Box Elder
Broadwater
Garfield
McCone
Mile High
Reserve
Sweet Grass
Wibaux
Phillips
There is still time to enter. Just drop a card to
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. , Goodyear Conser-
vation Contest, Akron, Ohio. This is one way of
getting a certificate to present to your outstanding
Conservation Farmer. Do it now'.
*****
*******
Policeman to driver going the
wrong way down a one way street :
"Hey, where do you think
you're going?"
Driver: "I don't know, but I
must be late — everybody is com-
ing back."
if
NEW SUPERVISORS
Following are the names of some of the newly
elected Supervisors in Montana:
Yugo Nayematsu and St. Clair Ottun of Hardin ■■
replace Sam Denny, Garry Owen and Emund
Kelly, Crow Agency. Dean Nyhus, Scobey re-
placed Morris Billehus, Flaxville; Don Weeding
Jordan replaces Cecil Weeding; Jordan; Wm.
Ohrmann, Drummond, replaces R. H. Peterson,
Hall; Jack Halverson, Big Timber replaces Bjarne
Bjarndahl, Big Timber; Leslie Arensmeyer, Chot-
eau replaces Robert Lee, Fairfield; Robert Reiquam
Fairfield replaces James Crawford, Choteau;
George Rankin, Ferdig, replaces Joe Gottfried
Sweet Grass; Wm. Korst, Sunburst replaces Gilbert
Ehli, Sweet Grass; Robert J, Bernhardt, Billings
replaces Ishamel Yost, Billings; Everett Snortland
Conrad, replaces H. J. Kellogg, Conrad; Carl
Zinnie, Delphia replaces Elmer Eklund, Barber
and Tom Keller Ryegate replaces J. M. Robinson,
Musselshell.
STATE GREAT PLAINS COMMITTEE MEETS:
Members of USDA agencies at the state level and
State Soil Conservation agencies met in Bozeman
recently to review provisions of the Great Plains
Program and to determine policy.
Of particular concern were: m
1) We have relatively few applications for Great
Plains contracts at this time and it does not look
like we will be able to spend funds alloted. An
educational program is needed to take further ad-
vantage of this program. Supervisors are advised
to include this in their educational program and
engage Extension Service to assist.
(2) Deferred grazing which was recommended for
cost -sharing by the committee was discussed and
the Committee was advised that it was not approved
nationally because it is not considered as a physical
installation of a conservation measure. Other
cost-sharing practices were reviewed. The
concensus was that cost-sharing should be the
same for both the ACP and Great Plains Pro-
gram.
3) Considerable concern was voiced over the
many demands at SCS work units to give techni-
cal assistance in the many programs. Average
cost lists which are revised each year was brought
up as an example of probably being inefficient
and taking too much technical time.
Employment of lower salaried clerks to handle <^
necessary paper work was suggested. In this
matter SCS has depended on local districts to
provide some clerical help. This might be a
reality now that districts can raise some funds
at the county level.
WINDBREAKS AND FIELD SHELTERBELTS
ARE A GOOD INVESTMENT.
By Richard T. Marks, Extension Forester,
Montana State College, Bozeraan, Montana.
There are a dozen reasons why windbreaks and
shelttrbelts are good investments, says Richard
T. Marks, Extension Forester at Montana State
College.
They provide protection from winter and summer
winds, drifting snow; reduce fuel bills as much
as 35 percent; make vegetable and fruit gardens
more productive; reduce feed requirements of
livestock; make the farm a more enjoyable place
to live; provide food and nesting cover for wild-
life, and escape cover from predators. These
are some of the advantages of a welldesigned and
managed farmstead windbreak and field shelter -
belt.
Farmstead windbreaks and field shelterbelts are
trees and shrubs planted to act as a barrier to
drifting snow and strong winds. Farmstead wind-
breaks provide protection to buildings, livestock,
gardens and orchards while field shelterbelts are
planted for soil and crop protection.
To have a successful windbreak planting you must
agree to do the following:
1. Plan in complete detail ahead of planting —
this will include location of windbreaks, site
preparation and fencing to keep out livestock :
2. Select the trees and shrubs to plant that will
grow in your area.
3. Plant the trees in the right manner.
4. Maintain the windbreak.
Shelterbelts for Field Crops
Shelterbelts are trees and shrubs planted for
crop and soil protection. Much has been done
in the way of windbreak plantings arxjund the
farmsteads in Montana, but shelterbelts are
lacking in many areas of Montana. The four
steps mentioned for a successful windbreak
planting also apply to your shelterbelt planting
except the number of rows will usually be less.
It is recommended that you first plant a main
belt of 3-6 rows and then have a supplemental
belt approximately every 10-40 rods consisting
of 1-3 rows. You can obtain reduction in wind
velocity for a distance of 30-40 times the height of
the trees.
Important Points to Remember
1. Plant on the best soil and slopes, avoiding
alkali soils and gravely ridges.
2. Summer fallow for a year before planting.
3. Space rows according to technical standards
and specifications developed for your specific
4. Plant more than one evergreen row so as to
provide better winter protection.
5. To prevent openings and to maintain a uniform
height, seedlings that die should be replaced prom-
ptly.
6. Cultivate at least three times a year and allow
ample row spacing for continuous cultivation.
7. Fence out poultry and livestock.
8. Contact your SCS technician, local forester,
Fish & Game Technician or local County Extension
Agent for assistance.
* * *
A police officer patrolling a beach collared a cute
young thing wearing very brief beach attire and de-
manded, "What would your mother say if she caught
you in that bikini."
"Boy, I guess she'd say plenty," the girl admitted.
"It's her suit."
CONSERVATION CHARLEY by Harry Corry
Charley's scratching an itch behind Bossy's
left ear. Bossy gives him a cowish grin.
"Gee, that feels heavenly, " the grin says. It's
times like these that Bossy wishes she could purr
like a kitten. A purr is such a nice way of showing
satisfaction. But, alas, a cow can't purr — and a
bawling, "MO-O-O-O-O, " isn't adequate to ex-
press contentment.
Charles quits scratching. He peers intently into
Bossy's big bloodshot eyes.
"What's two and two?", he asks.
Bossy chomps on her gum seven times. She
peers intently into' Charley's bloodshot eyes.
"How about two and one?", he queries.
Bossy stomps on the floor four times with her
right foot.
"And one and one?", Chuck fearfully asks..
Bossy swishes her tail twice to the right and
thrice to the left. She can answer mathematical
questions in three languages — but the answer
always comes out in Greek.
The blonde girl hanging on the old corral chomps
on her gum several times.
"Whatcha doing. Jack?" she asks.
"The name's Charley," our hero replies, "and
I'm trying to find some cows who can talk arith-
metic. Now why don't you run along Sis?"
"The name's Bessy, " the blonde retorts, "and I
don't want to run along. Tain't everyday a girl
gets an opportunity to listen in on an intellectual
conversation. Whatcha want with a cow who sawys
arithmetic?"
\
1- — s=4-HP^"-
fth'
"I'm going to develop conservation cows,"
Charley reluctantly replies.
"Clue me in. Jack -- er, I mean Charley", she
says, "I don't dig ya'."
"Well, with cows we've got now a rancher has to
keep his eye peeled and move the herd when they've
eaten half of the year's grass production in a past-
ure. Sometimes he gets busy and before he gets
back to the girls they've gobbled up 80 or 90 per-
cent of the grass. If a conservation cow under-
stands arilhmotic she can tell when she's eaten
half nf :i plani. und can move on by herself. "
"So what's che beef?", asks Bessy. "The ranch-
er just gets more meat production off of each acre
if the cows eat more grass. "
Charley's mouth gapes and his eyes bug. He
slaps his forehead.
"I give up already, " he says resignedly. "You're
a human critter and you don't savvy conservation.
How can I expect to teach it to a cow?"
"You say the nicest things, " giggles Bessy. "No
one's ever called me a critter before. "
"I'm surprised, " Chuck gallantly retorts. "At
any rate even if I can't explain it to Bossy maybe
I can explain it to Bessy, huh?"
"You see. Sis — er I mean, Bessy," Charley
begins, "a grass plant's growth is interrupted
if over half of the leaves and stems are whacked
off. Research shows that removal of top growth
causes a grass plant's roots to stop growing. If
the roots aren't growing they can't supply the
water and minerals necessary for the production
of more leaves — or more forage.
Charley scratches behind Bessy's left ear and she
starts purring.
"Production comes to a screeching halt when Bossy
knocks off 90% of the top growth and stuffs it into
her paunch, " Charley continues. "She temporarily
puts the plant out of business. The whole root sy-
stem quits growing. A month later 61% of the
roots are still hibernating — they haven't started
growing again. That's a month or more of feed
production that is lost."
Bessy's purring is louder but it doesn't disrupt
Charley's line of thought.
"A 70% loss of top growth knocks 78% of the root
system out of commission, " he continues. "It's
quite a struggle for the plant to make a new leaf
when the supply of nitrogen, phosphorus and iron
coming out of the ground is reduced 78%. At the
end of a month this plant has regained'conscious-
ness and has its whole root system working again.
A lot of production was lost in those first hectic
days, though."
"When Bossy is satisfied with only 50% of the
plant's scalp, however, the machinery keeps
chuggln right along. Only 2% of the growing roots
stop to rest. The other 98% keeps shipping raw
materials topside in carload lots. Leaves spring
out of the ground on a continuous assembly line.
Bossy has a dependable food supply. "
"The first commandment of a good range man-
agement program is "Take half and leave half",
Charley assures Bessy. "When a grass plant is
abused it ends up wek, worn and wan. It needs
complete rest and quiet. In its weakened condition
it is less able to resist grazing, erosion, drought,
cold and disease. "
Bessy scratches behind Chuck's left ear and he
starts to purr.
"By taking half and leaving half, on the other
hand, " Charley struggles on, "a rancher assures
himself that his pasture will not be hurt. He will
have grass for his cows next year. "
"Gee, you're cute," Bessy assures Charley.
"Let's go get a warm glass of buttermilk and
Charley reckons that's a good idea. They walk
off pjrring contentedly.
Conservation Day in the Lewis & Clark SWCD
Businessmen -Sponsors receiving "Certificates
of Appreciation" during the 9th annual Conserva-
tion Day Program - Feb. 2, 1963.
Back in the first years of Conservation Day Pro-
grams in the Lewis & Clark District, seven or
eight business firms sponsored these events.
This year, forty -two sponsors and the Lewis &
Clark SWCD Board of Supervisors, together,
planned and financed the 9th Annual Conservation
Day.
A tasty supper of roast beef, turkey, ham, salads,
assorted relishes, vegetables and desserts started
the evening off. The main program included a
Cartoon for the kiddies, main speaker and movie
provided by the New Holland Implement Co. ,
Supervisors report of "1962 District Activities,"
a safety film entitled "A Family Affair" and an
acknowledgement of Sponsor participation. The
evening program was very ably emceed by Assoc-
iate Justice John C. Harrison. When all of the
talking and movies were out of the way the entire
crowd of 275 people stacked tables and chairs to
make ready for an evening of dancing.
The expense of this years program came to $627. 14
Although this may seem like a lot of money, the
cost to each sponsor was less than half of the ind-
ividual cost five years ago.
As one of the local banker -sponsors put it later.
"The more business men we can get to participate
in these ruralcity programs, the closer we become
as a county wide Community. This years program
was the best yet and next years program will be
even better.
Explorcrr ( jiL>i t back from Africa) :
"I brought back six tigers, two leop-
ards and a potfer."
Friend; '".-That' s a potfer?"
Ex-ilorer: "To cook the meat in."
THE DETERGENT POLLUTION PROBLEM
by Dr. S. L. Groff
Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology
Detergent pollution of water supplies has ach-
ieved national recognition, and the problem of
"syndet biodegradability" (meaning--ability of
synthetic detergents to decompose through bio-
chemical action) is picking up steam in the
political arena.
Rep. Henry S. Ruess (D-Wis.) has introduced
a bill, H. R. 2105, which specifies that the Sur-
geon General shall set standards of decomposa-
bility for detergents which will assure that all
detergents imported into the U. S. or shipped in
interstate commerce after June 30, 1965, "will
decompose quickly and completely 'after use. "■
The Surgeon General shall set up specific methods
by which detergents shall be tested to determine
if they conform to standards. A second bill by
Congressman Ruess, H. R. 4571, plugs a loop-
hole in H.R. 2105, by completely banning non-
decomposable detergents which could possibly
end up in interstate waters. Several States are
considering similar action through their state
legislation.
Detergents are not the only pollutants, but
their presence is made readily evident by the
non-decomposable alkylbenzene sulfonate (ABS)
or, more descriptively, tetrapropylene -benzene
sulfonate (TPBS) which causes foaming in water.
It is understood that U. S. detergent producers
are following West Germany's lead and are work-
ing on detergent bases that are 80 to 100% biode-
gradable. The stimulation of legislation towards
producing a decomposable detergent is believed
both wise and necessary.
Water technicians are concerned over the
long-time effects of non-decomposable detergent
bases on underground water supplies, and many
hope that biodegradable detergent base chemicals
can be made from agricultural products.
DISTRICT DOINGS
Mrs. Hubert Becken gave a talk, at the annual
meeting of the Sweet Grass SWCD, on her conser-
vation classes at Bozeman this past summer. She
had made use of the $50 scholarship that the dis-
trict offered.
The Jefferson Valley SWCD again had as its main
attraction its annual meeting speech contests. High
school finalists from the Boulder and Whitehall High
Schools gave outstanding talks on Conservation sub-
jects. Donna Ross of Boulder took first place. Her
topic was "Let's Go to the Country".
l-ct s Ril (oKcihtT or we'll all kick the buekc
WATER EVERYWHERE, But . . .
When we turn on the faucet at the kitchen sink
and wait for a minute for a cool drink, as much
as six gallons of water may run down the drain
in that minute. Water is one of the most common
substances on earth. Water forms vast oceans.
It is present in the air and even dissolved in soil
and rock.
Man cannot be spear ated from water for long.
Cities have been built by the edge of rivers and
oceaiiSw Man has used water for transportation,
to grind his meal and to wash his clothes.
Man has braved the mighty oceans in quest of
whales, fortunes and new lands. He has stood in
awe of it and yet, we are attracted to water like
a magnet. We find something relaxing and tran-
quil in a quiet pool, deep in a wilderness or we
find strength and vitality watching white caps
crash against rock and reef.
We find a thousand forms of recreation in and
near water. We fish, swim, boat, water ski,
sail and just look. We also find wildlife need
and are found near it. We photograph, hunt
waterfowl, picnic and drive along our waterways.
Agriculture and lumbering are dependent on
water. A few inches of rain a year mark the
difference between dwarf stunted trees and large
marketable timber. It makes the difference bet-
ween a few bushels per acre or a bumper crop.
All forms of animal life depend on vegetation and
moisture determines where the dominating veg-
etation will be yucca or blue grass and whether
we will have jack rabbits and horned toads or
deer or cattle.
Water is everywhere but it is one of the major
problems of our nation today. Irrigation, ind-
ustry, recreation and domestic use all require an
ever -increasing amount of water. Getting water
where we want it and the quality of the water add
to the problem. Industry needs pure water. We
don't like to fish and swim in a polluted stream
and, in some heavily used boating areas sanita-
tion is an ever -increasing problem. Over-
grazing and improper irrigation processes cause a
erosion and silt laden waterways. Relining irriga-
tion ditches, purifying plants for domestic sewage
and industrial pollution must be increased. Proper
conservation not only has immediate results but
more important are the long range results.
If we can reduce the pollution of water by domes-
tic and industrial .wastes, stop erosion by holding
the water where it falls and provide more and better
opportimities for recreation on our waters^ Montana
will be well on its way to solving its water problems.
Next time you turn on the faucet remember how
important water is to all of us - remember we
have water everywhere, but ....
4>*4<4'4<>i'* by: Roger Fliger
MORE DISTRICT DOINGS
Supervisors of the Big Horn SWCD moved to enter
the Goodyear Award Contest at its last meeting.
Box Elder District took steps at its last meeting to
procure exemption from filing income tax returns
with the Commissioner of Internal Revenue. "Inas-
much as districts are gorernmental subdivisions of
the State of Montana, they are exempt from Federal
income tax and are not required to file returns of
income". However districts must procure this ex-
emption from the Internal Revenue.
Blaine Coimty SWCD plans to have Frank Schledorn,
chief of Watershed Planning Party, to talk on water-
shed at its annual meeting.
Flathead SWCD are planning an 8th Grade Conserva-
tion Tour.
At its March 4 meeting, the Cascade SWCD discus-
sed and made some plans for the Montana Associa-
tion convention whidi will be held in Great Falls
this coming November 13-15.
Bitterroot SWCD held a special meeting March 12
to outline a new work Program.
The North Custer SWCD discussed approprations
for Conservation as outlined in the Tuesday News
Letter, and it was decided to contact their Business
Association and tell them to write their Congress-
men and protest any cut in fimds .
North Custer Distrist also discussed and invited
the ASCS to go in with the SCS on a booth at the
Kinsey and Miles City fairs.
MORE DISTRICT DOINGS
McCone SWCD discussed ways and means of getting
more people to put in grassed waterways at their
last meeting.
Granite SWCD received a $50 check and a framed
certificate for being second place winner of NACD
Area V Newsletter Contest at the Convention in
Denver. The contest is sponsored by Farm Eq-
uipment Institute and is open to all Soil & Water
Conservation Districts in the U.S.
Mile High District had a weed and sagebrush
spraying demonstration by helicopter at its an-
nual meeting near Butte March 25.
Bob McClelland, NACD Program Advisor for
the western states was a speaker at annual meet-
ings of the Mile High, Sheridan County, Daniels
County, Roosevelt County, and Richland County
districts. While in Montana Bob took occasion
to visit and discuss programs with Frank Thom-
pson, Montana Association President; Fred San-
born, State Soil Conservation Committee Chair-
man; Oscar Hippe, National Area VicePresident;
and Mrs. Oscar Hippe, NACD Auxiliary Presi-
dent.
The Intermountain Section of the Range Society of
American plan to have their annual tour in the
Ennis-Harrison area on June 20 and 21.
Montana Conservation Council Annual meeting
will be April 26 and 27 at Billings. Also sched-
uled by Montana Conservation Council is a Mid
July tour of Western Montana districts and a
variety of conservation practices which are to
be seen.
The Beaverhead SWCD supervisors held an out-
standing joint meeting with other agencies to pro-
mote better understanding of each other's pro-
grams and responsibilities. Each agency repre-
sentative explained the work they were conducting
to further the District Soil and Water Conserva-
tion Program. The district's long range work
program was revised and updated, with each
agency receiving a copy. Representatives besides
SWCD supervisors were from Bureau of Reclama-
tion, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Forest Ser-
vice, Bureau of Land Management, ASC, SCS,
Montana Fish & Game department, and Extension
Service.
Housewife (to salesman at her door): "We're not
in the market for a vacuum cleaner, but try the people
who live next door. We borrow theirs, and its in a
terrible condition."
• * *
Saying it another way, a marriage certificate might
be said to be a "noose-paper."
MRS. VIOLA HERAK NEW STATE ASC CHAIR-
MAN
Mrs. Viola Herak of Charlo was appointed by
Secretary Freeman earlier this month to succeed
Bob McKenna as chairman of the State ASC Com-
mittee. Mrs. Herak is the first woman ever
appointed to head an ASC state committee. When
she was first named to the State committee two
years ago she missed being the first woman State
committee member by only a matter of days.
Mrs. Herak and her husband, Nick, who is a
SWCD supervisor of the Lake County district,
have operated a diversified farm near Charlo
since 1943. They produce wheat, oats, hay
and pasture. Feeder cattle are also a part of
the farm operation.
We are pleased that Mrs. Herak' s ability and
service have been recognized. We know she
will reflect credit on agriculture and Montana,
and on farm women whose importance in agri-
culture is too often overlooked.
A new appointee to the State Committee is
James Wood, Jr. , of Loma.
George Johnston of Cut Bank and Lee Schumacher
of Malta have resigned to devote more time to
their agricultural interests. We shall miss their
services very much, as well as those of Bob Mc-
Kenna, all good friends of Soil and Water Conser-
vation Districts.
"I'll be sun to girt him the m»stag*, and whom
thall I toy it calling him Ihai?"
"Junior i$ giving a ncifal Friday nighf, and fhe
public it chalUngad to attend."
Montana Association of Soil and
Water Conservation Districts
(Return postage guaranteed)
^ rle^ycKC^cc^c^:
Library MSU
Missoula Uont
BULK RATE
U S Postage
PAID
Permit No. 171
Butte, Montana
Ti
S
33^.72-
STATE COCUMENTO^e c e I V e d
ureas luire
FRANK THOMPSON
Your Association President Sez: Congrat-
ulations to the districts in the state for filing
their notices with the County Clerks before
the deadline, I am pleased to receive such
wonderfulcooperation.
If we will all get our budgets in to the
County Commissioners before July 1, we
will have 100% batting average.
This new help to our finances is just one
more tool we can use to plan and execute a
better district program.
The wise use of our natural resources
becomes more important with every passing
day. Our natural resources are basic to
everything we require to live and the pros-
perity and welfare of our Country depend
on them. Those countries where their natu-
ral resources have been destroyed or not
taken care of are for the most part destitute
or starving.
ASSOCIATION DIRECTORS MEETING TO BE JUNE 15 AT LEWISTOWN
Directors and Committee Chairmen of the Montana Association of Soil &
Water Conservation Districts will travel to Lewistown, Montana, June 15, for an
all day meeting. They will review policy and resolutions of the Association and
further implementation of same.
Directors are Gordon Holte, Plentywood; Oscar Hippe, Froid; Kenneth Edwards,
Glendive; Harold Jensen, Baker; Ralph Briggs, Cascade; Jack Tweedy, Cut Bank;
Elmer Eklund, Barber; Jerry Kolar, Stanford; Carl Johnson, Livingston; Leslie
Criswell, Hyshara, Jack Iman, Victor; Ralph Tower, Poison; Pete Jackson, Norris;
and Frank Thompson, Wolf Creek.
GOODYEAR AWARDS PROGRAM
Score sheets of districts psirticipating
in the Goodyear Awards Program ending
April 30, have been judged by Judges Ernest
Sandberg of SCS, Rex Campbell of Exten-
sion, and O. M. Ueland, of SSCC. Winners
will be announced by Goodyear.
The 1963 program will be 8 months
long beginning May 1 in order to get the
program on a calendar year basis, A sim-
plified score sheet will be used consisting
of five sections (1) planning, (2) Organizing
for Service (3) Giving Service (4) Mea-
suring Service (5) Narrative of District
Accomplishments .
Your Exectuive Secretary strongly
urges all districts to enroll in the Good-
year Program. It will help you do a
better job. Goodyear is to be highly
commended for its genuine interest in
getting conservation on the land in the
districts.
Kamp
Wheat
Farms -
Windbreak.
Broadwate:
County
CONSERVATION CHARLEY — Harry Corey
Z-0-O-O-O-O-O-O-M, Swish, Flap, Flap, Flap, and another gust of wind
sends a flock of soil particles winging into the wild bliB yonder.
A' most any windstorm worthy of the name results in swirling clouds of dust de-
parting from cropped fields. Each swirling cloud~ieaves the fields a littler poorer.
On many soils there is 10 to 20 times as much humus and phosphate in the scnl that
blows from a field as in the heavier particles that remain hghi^. Humus anophes-
phate are two of the most important items in good, fertile, productive land. That
land flying through the air is mighty fertile but it doesn't produce any crops.
Strip cropping and stubble mulching are the two most important dryland conservation
practices for keeping cropped soils at home. These two practices affe^qtTite effective
in good crop years. But when rain and snow are scarce and little stubble is produced
much of the soil's protection is lost. In such years lots of topsoil, lots of humus, '
and lots of phosphate can sprout wings. In such years a third conservation practice,
field windbreaks, can more than earn its keep.
A field windbreak is nothing more or less than rows of trees planted along the edge
of a cropped field. On larger fields rows of trees at intervals across the field might
also be necessary to insure full protection.
Montana has very few of these field windbreaks. On the other hand, our neighbors
in the Dakotas and Canada have made good use of them — and are reaping the benefits.
Most soils will not blow until wind currents move 'faster than 15 to 20 miles per hour
at the ground line. Experiments have shown that a good windbreak can slow a 30
mile per hour wind down to less than half that speed. And the wind is slowed down
as far out in the field as 15 to 20 times the height of the trees— the taller the trees
the greater the protection.
Windbreaks probably won't increase yields every year. But over a period of years the
results are unmistakable. A lot of humus and phosphate and nitrogen that might other-
wise have departed via the air lanes is kept at home. As a result the field remains
more productive and fertile than it would have been had the winds peeled off a little
topsoil every year. Being more fertile it can produce larger crops year after year.
Field windbreaks of course, won't work everywhere. Small, irregularly shaped
fields might not lend themselves to windbreaks. But most of our larger cropped
fields could make good use of the protection which trees can offer.
With planning and care field windbreaks can be as successful as farmstead shelter-
belts — and will repay the effort many times over.
c
UP-DATE DISTRICT PRCX3RAM
Do you remember when your district was concerned with only
land use adjustments and getting practices on the land to control
soil erosion? That wasn't too long ago, was it? Today, our soil
and water conservation districts have a greatly increased respon-
sibility. It should be emphasized that a careful re-examination
of districts needs and a thoughtful appraisal of districts opportunities
all in the light of a reasonable prospects for the future is the
heart of this matter of updating our long range programs of work.
It is a fact that our long-range district program of works made
before 1950 are out of date. The fact is that more and more of our
of our districts are becoming involved in a number of new programs
such as: Rural Area Development, Development of Watershed Pro-
jects; Recreational Area and Facilities; Water Supplies; Local Land
Use Planning; Great Plains Program; Public Land Conservation and
Assistance to non-agricultural land owners. Resource, Conserva-
tion & Development Program.
Because of new ways of conserving soil and water through tech-
nological advancements, the field of responsibilities of soil -yid
water conservation districts are widened. We are now concerned
with the full development and utilization of our land and water.
The minutes of the District Board Meeting indicate that a great
amount of attention is being directed toward up-dating the long range
program. If any assistance from the State Board, please let us know.
(Reprinted from Oklahoma State Conservation Board News)
REPORT OF APRIL MEETING STATE SOIL CONSERVATION COMMITiTEE
The State Soil Conservation Committee had as guests at their April meeting, Director Walter
Everin, Bob Cooney, Bill Alvord, and George Holton of the State Fish & Game Department to-
gether with Frank Schledorn and E. P. Vance of Soil Conservation Service and Sid Turnquist of
Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service. They discussed "Recreation". Herschell
Kurd of the Committee and State SCS Conservationist reviewed "Recreation" as a new and proper
land use as recognized in the Food and Agriculture Act, and to which SCS has been given leader-
ship responsibility. Vance discussed income producing phases, that recreation is to be consi-
dered along with other enterprises in developing farm and ranch plans. However, being SCS is
new at this, they look particularly to state agencies who are in the recreation business for advice
and cooperation in incorporating any recreation developments in farm and ranch plans.
There are several proposals from ranchers and farmers throughout the state such as one rancher
who plans to raise big game instead of cattle and charge a fee for hunting, others who plan fish
ponds, picnic areas, horses, guide service, tenting, etc. Schledorn told that Watershed Projects
can incorporate recreation developments. Turnquist told that ASCS under "Cropland Conversion
Payments" will develop practices which they will cost-share on in diverting cropland to recreation.
It was reported FHA has certain loans they can make in converting cropland to recreation.
On the matter of ranchers planning to stock their ranches with big game, Walt Everin stated he
thought the Fish & Game Department would oppose or discourage such an enterprise. Wildlife is
owned by the state. The commission probably would not give a game farm permit which would be
required. Experience in the past where it has been tried proved that it was impossible to deter-
mine ownership of game, and that fencing costs to contain or exclude game were prohibitive. How-
ever, it was brought out a farmer can charge for tresspass to hunt. A person, with consent of
landowners, can charge for use of an area. Buffalo can be raised without permit of state .
The fish & Game people stated they would look with favor at any facilities private land owners
) would develop that promotes hunting and fishing." Fish & Game has programs to acquire land for
fishing access, camping areas, marshes for migratory waterfoul. Any recreational developments
by private landowners for profit meets stiff competition in Montana where so many public areas
are available.
Delegations from Custer and Yellowstone Counties meet with Committee on Watershed applications.
County Commissioners Claude Woodruff and Victor Kostey, Casper Wolhowe, and Charles Hatch,
of Miles City, met with the committee in support of an application tor a watershed project in the
Carbon Hills east of Miles City. Frequent flooding of east Miles City and adjacent agricultural
lands is a problem together with inadequte drainage.
Clinton McFarland, Yellowstone District Supervisor, O. Leon Anderson, Charles Zimmerman and
Ed Popp, met in support of a flood control project on Cove Creek watershed in Yellowstone County.
Both of the above projects look very feasible. Their applications were approved for planning.
An amended application was approved for the Whitehall watershed to include two Irrigation Ditch
Companies in Jefferson County.
Work is underway in the Box Elder Watershed in Sheridan County.
President Frank Thompson of MASWCD attended the Committee meeting. He stated he plans a
meeting of the directors of the Association to be at Lewistown Saturday, June 15 and invited the
State Soil Committee to attend.
The Program & Research, Education, Budget & Finance, Public Relations, and Legislative Com-
mittee chairmen are expected to give reports. Also Great Plains and Watershed and Public Lands
Committees will report.
Thompson reported that legislative committee did good work at the last session of the legislature,
that he had contacted the congressional delegation to support various conservation measures. He
also stated the Sidney research center bids would be let in early June for Completion in 1964; that
more n-issile sites are being talked for Montana and therefore we ought to be alert to set up a better
way to reseed right-of-ways. In looking ahead, more groundwork should be laid to get the Montana
Water Conservation Board to employ a state watershed planning party. The Beaverhead District is
going ahead with implementing the resolution of the association to set aside the 160 acre limitation
which restricts water developments above Canyon Ferry reservoir.
The Committee acted on requests of various districts to clarify what items could be budgeted for
under H.B.335. This act allows Counfy Commissioners to raise money for districts. An Attorney
General opinion was called for. Districts are encouraged to use local tax money to get more con-
servation done.
BiU D'Ewart reported there is considerable opposition to proposed Paradise on Yellowstone River
above Livingston. The Park District has been asked to study alternatives based on Conservation
Needs Inventory and Montana Water Board plans. There is a possibHify that a Conservation Re-
source Development project could be used.
Fred Sanborn reported that soil blowing in some parts of the Triangle area are serious: Much
block farming is still practiced and the extremely dry conditions with high winds have caught up
with those who take a chance. Renewed efforts are needed to get strip cropping, proper stubble
mulching, grass seeding, or a combination of these, practiced by farmers who have reverted back.
Perhaps field wind breaks are the answer.
Carl Hunter reported: districts in his area are having a hard time to get teachers to take Conser-
vation scholarships. Soil Stevi'ardship is being sponsored, Conservation machinery is being ordered
from surplus property, competition of contractors is getting stronger.
Herschell Hurd explained the relationship of clerical help of districts to service. It is the policy
of SCS not to employ clerical help. Local districts should contribute clerical help.
John Schroeder represented the Soil Conservation Committee at the Woodland Council meeting in
February at which shelterbelt specifications were formulated. John reported on the new procedures
being adopted by the Green Mountain SWCD and the good cooperation of state forester, extension,
and SCS in assisting the district in getting good woodland management there.
Director of Experiment Station Joe Asleson reported on Anderson bill which provides for establish- v
ment of Water Resource Conferences at Land Grant Colleges. Presently sutdles are being given
as to how this can be done at MSC . The Mclntire-Stennis bill which is now law provides for Forectry
Research. State Forester Gary Moon has been appointed to coordinate thle aotlTlty oCwhloh |20-S0,000
is available on a matching basis .
<con't. Page 5)
c
A cooperative plan with BIA at Hardin has been negotiated on how to best develop Irrigation of area
there under Yellowtall Dam.
The Forestry lab at Bozeman Is presently experimenting with methods of transporting wood chips
In pipe lines. Experiment station has budgeted for a soils survey technician to work with SCS.
Director of Extension, TorUef Aashelm reported that beginning July 1, Extension wlU employ a
full-time Range Specialist. Aashelm also told that funds from Legislature for extension for the next
biennlum will amount to $194,000 more of state money, however after refunding federal advances,
they will have a net of $39, 000 more which is not enough to take care of salary increases. Travel
and other expenses will have to be cut to hold staff. Aashelm explained the Budget Dirbctor needs
feeling from various sources to justify request for funds.
* * * * *
♦ * * *
WHEREAS, to make economically feasible
further development it is desirable to esta-
blish multiple -purpose projects with all uses
bearing their proportionate share of the cost;
therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors
of the Montana Conservation Council esta-
blish a study group with the assignment of
(1) Determining the opportunities that exist
for development of multiple-purpose State
water projects;
(2) Studying the methods that could be em-
ployed for financing the construction and
operation of such projects;
(3) Subnaittlng a report of its findings and
recommendations to the 1965 Legislative
Assembly.
MONTANA CONSERVATION COUNCIL met
in Billlings v^ril 26 and 27. A good crops-
section of Water Conservation minded people
attended the highly informative meeting.
Outstanding speakers were Dick Fabrlck,
Montana Rancher, Judge W. W. Lessley,
R. C. Setterstrom, SWCD Supervisor, Her-
Bchell Hurd of SCS, Bruce Johnson of Bur-
eau of Reclamation, State Engineer Everett
Darlington, Winton Weydemeyer of Montana
State Grange, and Harrell Mosbaugh of In-
terior. 'Water for Montana's Future" was
the theme of all talks. As a result the coun-
cil passed the following resolution: WHEREAS
In order to provide for an expanding economy
and to establish additional rights to use of
Montana's water, it is urgent that the State
continue to develop its water resources for
irrigation and other beneficial uses; and
WHEREAS, the State Water Conservation
Board has practically completed its initial
program of low cost projects for which water-
users repay the full construction cost; and
.STUDY TOUR ON WATER RESOURCES
Leaders in business. Industry and agriculture are urged to take part in a water resources study
tour to be held in Montana the week of July 15. This studytour will attempt to show the importance
of water to Montana's economy. Participants will also have an opportimity to learn more about the
major problems associated with water and the factors that influence water supply and yield as well
as corrective measures that are being taken to solve some of the water problems. This program
is being sponsored by the Montana Conservation Council.
Present plans are for the tour to leave from Helena by bus on July 16. Some of the stops to be made
include a visit to the Watershed Project on Willow Creek in Granite County and pollution abatement
work on the Clark's Fork River near Anaconda. Other highlights of the week's tour include visits
to observe and study problems and developments on the Beaverhead, Madison and Gallatin River
basins. Attention will continue to be focused upon water resources as they relate to agriculture,
industry, recreation and municipal use in Montana. Representatives of State and Federal Agencies
andjjrivate organizations concerned with water resources will be assisting with the program. The
tour proposes to return to Helena on July 19.
Conmiittee members planning this study program include Dick Setterstrom, Butte; Don Luebbe,
Bozeman; Robert Cooney, Helena; Mrs. Carolyn Larsen, Butte; and Larry Osburnsen, Missoula.
Total cost for the week's tour will be approximately sixty dollars including transportation, meals,
and lodging. Reservations may be made by writing to Lillian Hornick, Executive Secretary, Box
175, Missoula or committee members.
Leslie Sender
Extension Weed Specialist
Supervisor in many SWCD's in Montana
recognize weeds as a serious Conservation
problem. The following article by Les Sonder
brings to our attention another serious weed.
DALMATION TOADFLAX
Dalmation Toadflax is a relatively new weed to Montana,
but is invading valuable grazing land quite rapidly. This
plant pest poses a great threat to our valuable grazing land
which is vital to the economy of the state.
We are fortunate in knowing the potential seriousness of
this weed, by special demonstrations before the size of in-
festations become so large that eradication is impossible.
This new pest has been found in Cascade, Gallatin, Lewis & Clark, Powell, Missoula, Lake,
Beaverhead, Meagher, Sanders, Flathead, Lincoln and Park Counties and may be in some that
have not been reported. Some of these counties have initiated an all out program to eradicate all
known infestations. However, cooperation is needed in all instances to locate and eliminate these
infesti.\Llons. Whenever an infestation is located, every possible means should be applied to era-
dicate dalmation toadflax and prevent further spreading. All known infestations are on or near
the headwaters of all major rivers in Montana. Eradication of this pest, while the acreage is
small, wi/i not only protect the grazing lands of Montana, but those in neighboring states.
This pest seems to establish itself and thrive on dry, sandy, or gravelly slopes. It is generally ^
found in areas that are partially bare, due to drouth, overgrazing or previously cultivated land. ^
Dalmation toadflax is a very hardy perennial capable of crowding out many desirable species
of rangeland plants. Idaho state research workers report that "Dalmation toadflax is very unpala-
table to livestock and hasn't been observed being grazed even when it was the only green plant on
the range."
Dalmation toadflax was introduced from Europe to the United States as an ornamental species.
Even today it is occasionally found being grown in flower gardens as perennial snapdragon. Dal-
mation toadflax has a woody branching base and a medium to shallow, creeping root system. The
plant often reaches three feet or more in height. It is densely leafy with the lower leaves on the
stem somewhat narrowed at the base. The leaves of the middle and upper portion of the stem be-
come conspicuously broad-based. The flowers are deep yellow with an orange throat. The spur
of the snapdragon-like flower is long, straight or somewhat curved, and gradually narrows to a
point.
Dalmation toadflax is very difficult and expensive to control. It is resistant to 2, 4-D when
applied at light rates. It has been necessary to use some type of soil sterilant to provide effec-
tive control.
The use of soil sterllants on rangeland is an expensive proposition. This is why it is so Im-
portant to catch the weed when it is just getting a foothold. Early action can eradicate the pest
by treating the soil around the few starting plants. Successful control can be obtained by using
twenty Pounds (ten gallons) of trichloro-benzoic acid per acre, applied in 100 - 200 gallons of
water. T.B. A. is sold on the market as Trysben 200 or Benzac 1281. A granular compound con-
taining T.B.A. (Benzabor) applied at 200-250 pounds per acre provides successful control.
(Con't. Page 7)
c
Best results are obtained when these chemicals are applied in early spring or Idtejlall. These
chemicals are temporary soil sterllants; however, not all of the perennial grasses are eliminated
with their application.
The most recent recommendations from Washington suggest the use of Silvex (2,4, 5,T-P) ap-
plied at two pounds per acre plus the addition of a wetting agent. It is not known if these treat-
ments are effective in Montana.
High rates of 2,4-D (80 lbs. per acre) applies as a temporary soil sterilant will generally pro-
vld fair to good control. Results have been eratic which is attributed to the difference in climatic
conditions on different locations, or years.
I will be most happy to provide plant mounts for identification of dalmation toadflax. Just drop
me a line. ** Les Sender
«**>)<*«
>K4c***«>tc*!K*
RURAL AREA DEVELOPMENT IN MONTANA
The chief objective of the Montana RAD Committee Is to help develop
the human and natural resources of the rural areas of the State to their
fullest potential by developing processes among the people for contin-
ually solving their problems.
Rural areas Development Is an Idea that rural people can provide for
themselves a better way of life If they will inventory and examine their
resources, their problems, their needs, their goals, and seek a course
of action which Is attainable and consistent with their desires. (This
sounds like a SWCD program).
The State RAD Committee has the responsibility of approving Overall
Economic Development Plans and project proposals under the Area
Redevelopment Act, Primary functions of the committee are to es-
tablish policies, provide Incentives for RAD, and to give Statewide
administration and direction to county and area RAD committees.
Membership of the Committee Is composed of representatives from
different areas of the state, economic and other segments of the soc-
iety, Including agriculture, business, industry, labor, church, schools,
civic groups, state public agencies and organizations, and the Director
of the Cooperative Extension Service.
Present Executive Committee Members are: Judd Walker of RE A,
Leonard Kenfleld, Farmers Union, Hank.Wilson of Farm Bureau,
Tom Collins of State" Planning Board, Ole Ueland of State Soil Conser-
vation Committee, Henry Anderson of ARA, Ed Kellner of Montana
Chamber of Commerce, E. R, Ahrendes & Tor lief Aasheim of Extension.
STATE CONSERVATION NEEDS INVENTORY - Consideration is being given to publishing a sup-
plement to the Conservation Needs Inventory which would list state totals for various conservation
practices. Most counties have their figures now, and should prove valualtle irt>ianniHg district
programs.
Four counties have yet to report their NACD Public Lands Committee survey.
Petroleum, Garfield and North Custer.
They are Hill,
DIRECTORY OF SUPERVISORS - A new 1963 Directory of Supervisors is being published and
will be available for distribution about July 1. If you do not receive one and want a copy, request
same of State Soil Conservation Committee, School of Mines, Butte, Montana.
GOVERNOR BABCOCK SELECTS SSCC to Resource Conservation & Development Program. Gov-
) ernor Tim Babcock has selected the State Soil Conservation Committee to represent him in the
Resource Conservation & Development Program. Such areas as the East Bench Irrigation project
near Dillon could take advantage of this program.
(Con't. Page 8)
Resource Conservation & Development Programs give USDA Assistance to locally nitiated and
sponsored projects designed to carry out a program of land conservation designed o carry out a
program of land conservation and land utilization in an area where acceleration of the current con-
servation activities are needed.
r
DISTRICT DOINGS
Lincoln County SWCD will have a Soil &
Water Conservation Tour in the Eureka
area June 13.
Among the districts reporting sponsoring
4-H Club delegates to Montana 4-H Con-
servation Camp at Bow & Arrow Ranch
south of Livingston, July 8-12, are Dawson
Garfield, Rosebud, Juditl Basin, Deer
Lodge, Valley, Roosevelt and Liberty.
Fergus County summer newsletter will
feature Supervisor Garde Peterson. Sup-
ervisor Joe Stilson will be the editor.
Choteau SWCD Supervisors Vade Hamma,
John McLean, and Bob Anderson attended
the wlissouri River Development hearings.
This district also moved to enter the Good-
year Awards Program.
Wibaux SWCD supervisors spent the night
of May 14 working on revision of their
long-range work plan.
Teton County District Supervisors plan to
ask non-supervisors to sit in on board
meetings in an advisory capacity, bankers
newspaper editors, and others with an
interest in the agricultural economy are
being considered.
Sheridan County SWCD report 700 acres
of contours have been layed out and that
there is a heavy load of grassed waterway
work to be done.
Judith Basin District reports that "The
Story of the Land" pamphlets have been
given to Mrs. Mable Jackson, Coimty
Supt. of Schools, for distribution to the
schools.
Districts of Area VII have written to their
Congressmen asking support of legislation
to set aside the 160 acre limitation on pro-
jects above Canyon Ferry.
A weed tour has been planned on the North
Powell district for aroimd June 18-20. A
fair display is also planned by this district.
Boy scouts in Dawson County are interested
in a Conservation tour. SCS personnel plan
to conduct one for them.
Rosebud County SWCD bouth five member-
ships in the Montana Conservation Council
at their May 15 meeting.
Box Elder District plans a 4-H Train Ride
for July 18 or 19. Speakers being asked to
participate are Orvin Fjare, State Adver-
tising Director, Frank Dunkel, State Fish
& Game Information Office.
Toole County Supervisors plan a tour of the
Lethbridge Experiment station.
Carbon County District supervisors are rec-
ommending to Montana Senators and Congress-
men that the Rock Creek tree planting project
be proposed for the new Youth Conservation
Corps, and possibly incorporate weed control
and water development.
Blase DiLuilo, teacher, gave a report to the
supervisors on the Conservation field trip
for his biology class which was sponsored
by the Stillwater SWCD. Each student made
a written report, also.
c
start the program.
keynote speaKer'»
Library r.iSU
iVissoula !,'ont
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage PD.
Permit No. 171
Butte, Montana
C
6
Nili^iyine I-
STATE DOCUMENTS
RECEIVED
MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY
O. M.Ueland, Editor. School of Mines, Butte, Montana LIBRARY
OFFICIAL -NEWS BULLETIN
September-October, 1963
Your Association President Sez:
I will be attending all area meetings of the Assoc-
iation except at Pablo in Western Montana. Bill
Kesler will attend for me there. Mrs. Thompson
will accompany me the first week.
I will give a report on some of the follow up work
your association has done the past year, also I will
be anxious to hear first hand your problems.
We have a vei^r important function to perform. We
should express ourselves on all land and water use
problems confronting us and seek proper help and
legislation.
I would like to see an extra good turn out at your
area meeting, I'll be there.
MONTANA ASSOCIATION
SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
AREA MEETINGS
Supervisors throughout Montana will be attending
area meetings during October as follows:
Wolf Point - October 1
Glendive - October 2
Billings - October 3
Lewistown - October 4
Big Sandy - October 8
Three Forks - October 10
Pablo - October 12
Various Conservation Topics will be talked , res-
olutions considered for State Convention, and some
goals set up. Directors will make reports and spur
their fellow supervisors on. Agency people will be
on hand to answer questions.
STATE SOIL CONSERVATION COMMITTEE
STATE WATER CONSERVATION BOARD
DISCUSS B,L, 566 Projects
The State Soil Conservation Committee met with
Governor Babcock and members of the State Water
Conservation Board September 5 to present infor-
mation on progress of P.L. 566 projects in Mont-
Chairman Fred Sanborn told the board that the state
committee has a number of Watershed applications
but it will take five to six years at present rates to
get planning on the latest ones. Fred explained
that irrigation water development is a major part
of most of these projects and is needed in Montana
to expand her economy, that here is a good oppor-
tunity for the state to provide funds for a planning
party so as to speed up getting these Watershed
applications planned and in the construction stage.
Fred Sanborn also explained that SCS can keep only
one planning party in the field and do about three
projects a year. If the state could provide a plan-
ning party, production could be doubled.
(Cont. Page 3)
NJACD AREA V MEETING:
viontana Association people who attended the NACD
Area V meeting at Manhattan, Kansas, July 29,30,
vere National Vice President Oscar Hippe, Montana
Association President Frank Thompson and Mrs.
Frank Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Evans, Mr.
ind Mrs. Leslie Criswell, and O.M. Ueland.
The NACD Great Plains Committee met prior to the
Area V meeting. Kansas people were excellent hosts.
Mext years meeting will be in South Dakota.
The NACD Public Lands Meeting was attended by
D.M. Ueland- at Salt Lake City August 1. All states
concerned were represented and good meetings were
leld.
CONSERVATION CHARLEY: - by Harry Corry
STOP'. '. DON'T'. '. * * water that tree.
The spine chilUng sensation you just experienced is
little Jack Frost and Old Man Winter panting down
your neck. The gleam in their eyes and the smile on
their Ups ooze sheer ecstacy. They fondly caress
their shimmering icicles. They are already reflect-
ing the satisfaction that they will get from sending
that tree to the Happy Hunting Ground in the near
future.
the trees continue lapping up joy juice in gallcm
ties- - if it is availabl e . As long as you keep their
cups full they'U try to keep them empty.
Water in the fall enables the tress to remain green
and 'growing. When Winter finally spreads his frigid
blanket the trees are caught with their sap up. Icy
fingers reach right into the innards of the tree and
before the poor critter has time to turn Wne its Wood
stream is full of ice cubes. In many cases this is a
graveside service for the tree. When the robins
come sailing north in the spring their host of last
year is a leafless skeleton. It is dead—or at best a
hopeless cripple. It is a victim of winter kill.
To avoid this winter injury to trees and shrubs yoa
gotta get tough. You've gotta stop them from drink-
ing. Tell them that it's two o'clock and the bar is
closed. Without water their sap sobers up. It starts
winterizing the tree. By the time the first heavy frost
hits town the tree is mothballed. Everything above
ground has closed up shop. By cutting off the water
supply you've given the tree a chance to get ready for
winter.
The roots are still wiggling arouiHi in the ground.
however, and need water to put them throu^ the
winter in good shape. In October or November
after the trees have cluttered up the countryside with
their leaves it is safe to get out the drinking atensils
again. Trees should be well watered at that time so ,
that the roots can spend the winter in safety and com-f
fort.
Too much water early in the fall kiUs or damages a
tree upstairs. Too little water later can damage the
tree downstairs.
You'll have to supervise the faU drinking boots to
see that both ends are taken care of before Old Man
Winter's coronation takes place.
Trees need chaperones at this time of the year and
you're elected. They're regular guzzlers at heart
and during the hot, sizzling days of July and August
they gulp water like dehydrated camels. This is
habit forming. When September comes galloping up,
Cont. from Page i
Herschell Kurd, SCS State Conservationist, told
that a planning party should consist of a Civil
^ Engineer, Hydrologist, Economist, a part time
geologist and two engineering aids. These per-
sonnel together with equipment and supplies would
cost about $53, 500 a year.
Governor Babcock expressed his feeling that the
Water Board snould looK for new opportunities ,
that if there is any way they can work that is what
they should be doing. The Governor also made it
clear that we should not get behind any projects that
were not feasible.
There seemed to be a good feeling on the part of
both boards that the legislature should be asked to
take part in this opportunity of further developing
Montana's water for irrigation, and realizing the
further benefits which will accrue from flood control
recreation, industrial and municipal development.
Given enough accurate information.
One can't help but make sound decisions.
CONGRESSMAN OLSEN MEETS WITH SUPERVISORS
Congressman Arnold Olsen met with supervisors
and others of the Beaverhead, Madison, Jefferson,
and Ruby Valley SWCDs September 7 concerning
legislation to set aside the 160 acre limitation where
reclamation law applies in the area above Canyon
Ferry dam. The supervisors are particularly desir-
ous of gaining this exemption for projects other than
bureau projects which purchase water from Canyon
Ferry reservoir. They point out that most of the
water that is needed is for supplemental use on pres-
ently irrigated lands. Opposition has to be over-
come among the midwestern and eastern congress-
men. Art Christensen, Dillon, MASWCD Watershed
Chairman, heads a group which will finalize plans at
their area association meeting in Three Forks to send
a delegation to Washington.
Shown above is a picture of a display shown at the
Great Falls Fair which was built by Fred Mass of
the Deer Lodge Forest staff. The idea originated
with Dick Setterstrom and his MASWCD Public
Relations Committee. The display was unfortunately
destroyed in an accident before it could be used at
other fairs throughout the state.
J
"Well ... Mr. Efficiency Expert.
Did you find who is deadwood
"It's great to watch an old-time,
all-out selling job!"
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH USDI
Secretary Udall of United States Department of
Interior has announced that his department is pre-
pared to enter into working agreements with Soil and
Water Conservation Districts to integrate land use
programs on Federal lands with other ownerships.
In the past the bureaus have entered into individual
agreements or engaged in specific projects in co-
operation with districts. The Department is now pre-
pared to broaden the individual bureau agreements
into an overall departmental effort to insure the coor-
dination of mutual efforts in managing and developing
the natural resources within districts.
The Soil and Water Conservation Districts can be
very helpful in identifying resource needs and devel-
oping public support for necessary conservation pro-
grams. Unitized plans for soil, watershed, wildlife,
reclamation, strip mining, range, forestry, and rec-
reation can he developed for intermingled land
problems.
The land managing agencies can provide districts
with studies, plans, and proposals for public Lands
so that coordinated resource management policies
will result.
Secretary Udall says "We need the help of Soil and
Water Conservation Districts and together we can
do much to improve and strenghten our national
resource base and meet the nation's growing demands
for natural resources. "
Plans are underway to implement negotiating Memor-
andums of Agreement of Districts with Interior. Ed
Rowland, State Director of Bureau of Land Manage-
ment, Billings met with the State Soil Conservation
Committee at its meeting in Helena, September 6.
Mr. Rowland represented Harrall Mosbaugh, Reg-
ional Coordinator. It was decided that districts
should be advised of this opportimity and of pro-
cedures thru its Executive Secretary working with
Interior department officials.
State Committee and Interior Agency officials will
meet in Billings September 26 and 27 to review
present outlines districts have for formulating long
range programs and annual plans, and to suggest
modification. These new outline modifications if
any will be distributed by the state committee to
districts.
WATERSHED APPUCATIONS APPROVED FOR
PLANNING
uSue
Three applications for Watershed development
P. L. 566 were approved fo^ planning by the State
Soil Conservation Committee at its September 6
meeting.
The Rod and Gun Club and the Lions Club of Harlei
submitted a complimentary application for Thirty
Mile Creek in Blaine County to include recreation.
This may make that project feasible where it wasn't
before.
An application for the Kinsey Flats Watershed in
Custer County for Flood Control, Irrigation, and
Recreation, seems to have good possibilities and
was given a priority of #17 for planning.
A combination flood control and irrigation project is
contemplated on Meadow Creek in Madison County
and a priority of #18 was given.
REPORT TO GOVERNOR
A bi-annual report to the Governor has been written
and is ready for distribution particularly for legis-
lators and government agency people. This is a
brief report which tells of the activities of the State
Soil Conservation Committee, the Soil & Water
Conservation Districts, and the cooper ators of ^
districts for the past two years.
"I couldn't be speeding, officer.
If'l I only learned how to drive yes
CHANGE OF DISTRICT BOUNDARIES
The State Soil Conservation Committee approved
change of district boundaries to conform to county
lines from Three Rivers SWCD to Madison, Broad-
water, and Jefferson districts. Also changes were
approved for Flathead to Lincoln, East Sanders to
Flathead, and Flathead to Lake. Certificates will
be issued by the Secretary of State as soon as the
necessary documents can be processed.
Then there was the college vet
who flunked his final exam because
he gave the formula for water as
HIJKLMNO. He thought the pro-
fessor had said H to O.
Keep a stiff upper lip, your chin
up and on your toes — and you'll be
too tired to accomplish anything
worthwhile.
— Nanty-Glo Journal
MEET THESE RANGE MANAGEMENT
SPECIALISTS
Don Ryerson, Extension Range Specialist
J. E. Taylor, Instructor MAES
G. F. Payne, Professor MAES
Speaking at a meeting of RAD Executive Committee recently, Don Ryerson made the
following points:
In most Rural Area Development programs throughout Montana the native range
resource should be an important part of the overall program but in many cases has
been overlooked.
There is no magic answer to suddenly boost community income and stabilize the ranch-
ing business as well as the related agri-business of the community. Miracles can
occur however, and perhaps this miracle may be in the form of improved native range.
Rangeland in Montana comprises approximately 66 percent of the total land area.
Survey estimates show that approximately 71 percent of the private rangeland in the
State is in need of improvement.
Major practices needed for improvement on Montana rangelands are:
a. Reduce grazing pressure due to imbalance of forage resources
and livestock numbers.
b. Control of undesirable woody and noxious woody species of plants.
c. Improved grazing systems including deferment.
d. Reduce amount of soil and water erosion.
e. Control of rodents and insects where problems exist.
f. Reseeding in some areas.
Estimates made by range technicians and results from range research studies in
Montana indicate that range forage production can be doubled or tripled by use of
approved practices and techniques.
Proper stocking rates on improved grazing land can be increased by nearly a third.
Land will have a higher capitalized value.
Range Research supplies the needed information for ranch improvement and use.
One of the biggest troubles with BATHING SUIT: A garment
success is that its recipe is about *''*f leaves nothing to the imagi-
the same as that for a nervous nation except why it is so expen-
breakdown. sive.
4-H CONSERVATION CAMP
The Montana 4-H Conservation Camp for young people
was held on July 8 through 12, 1963, at the Bow and
Arrow Ranch south of Livingston in Park County, with
excellent results.
Scholarships were made available for two delegates
from each county from the Conservation Camp fund
provided by Charles Horn, President of the Federal
Cartridge Corporation.
The Camp program included training in all phases of
Conservation with 4-H Camp members getting train-
ing In one specific area of conservation in the follow-
ing groups:
Range Management - Don Ryerson, Extension Range
Management Specialist.
Fish and Wildlife - Eldon Smith , Extension Fish and
Wildlife Specialist. Roger FUger - Information and
Education Division of Montana Fish and Game.
Forestry - Richard Marks, Extension Forestry
Specialist.
Soil and Water Conservation - Charles Smith,
Extension Field Specialist.
Les Sender, Extension Weed
Weed Control
Specialist.
Transportation to and from camp for the delegates
attending from each county is usually supplied by
local Soil Conservation Districts.
This is usually a cooperative project among all
agencies and organizations both on the state, district,
and county level to forward education in conservation.
Delegates who attend conservation camp are expected
to come back to their own home county and interest
other people and organizations in conservation by
giving talks and demonstrations on the need for
conservation in all areas -
RURAL AREA DEVELOPMENT
At a recent meeting of the Rural Area Development
Executive Committee meeting in Bozeman it was
recommended that Soil & Water Conservation districts
Long Range programs be referred to by County plan-
ning groups, and that they be made a part of any over-
all Economic Development Program.
District long range programs are in effect develop
ment programs for soil and water resources and
contain much good basic information put together by
agency people and supervisors.
GOODYEAR AWARD WINNERS
The Dawson County Soil Conservation District ha^
bben named Montana's grand award conservation *
district for 1962-63.
Tltts district was chosen by state agricultural leader
who reviewed the work of farmers and supervisors
entered in the 16th annual Soil Conservation Awards
Program of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company,
Akron, Ohio.
August Sobotka, Intake, selected as the state's out-
standing farmer conservationist, and Vernon Dillon,
Lindsay, member of his district conservation board
will be guests of the rubber company on a four -day
tour to Goodyear farms, near Phoenix, Ariz. , in
December. There the two men, along with 102 othei
representing top districts throughout the United Statt
win study conservation practices on the 14,000 acre
desert farm.
The men will be flown to Arizona for the visit and wi
stay at Goodyear's resort, the Wigwam. They will
study irrigation and cropping practices wlilch change
barren desert into productive farmland.
Second place honors in Montana were won by the Big
Horn Soil Conservation District, which named Harold
Benzel, Hardin, as the outstanding farmer -conser-
vationist. (
DISTRICT DOINGS
The McCone District sponsored a Conservation dis-
play at the 4-H Fair, donated a trophy, and displayed
their equipment.
The Jacee's have asked Jack Sprague and Dean Nyhus
of the Daniels SWCD to go to their next meeting and
explain the "Conservation Needs Booklet" to the othei
members.
The East Sanders district voted to cooperate to the
fullest extent possible with Don Ryerson, Extension
Range Specialist, and the Soil Conservation Service
in setting up range experiment plots throughout the
District.
Bob Arnold of the State Forestry Department Showed
supervisors of the Green Mountain district at a re-
cent meeting, a map prepared by the department
showing conditions and classes of timber acres. In
conjunction with the map, Charles Wright, also of the
State Forest Dept. , showed graphs on the volume of
timber available.
Lee Holstine of Chouteau County SWCD reported / |
seven (7) entries at the fair in the conservation de- \
nartmant. This is die first year OoL <
Uips SWCU discnsseil pnmatHitj ai enlaigisg
\»eed District at their Seftetaber meetiae. Benefits
and needs of «eed oarfzvri were discossed.
Big Horn district voted to give Hieir secretaty Jannie
Heatli a fifteen crnt per hoar salaiy incxease.
The admatic projector was used to siiow local slides
at the County Fair in WAtma. Bulletins were avail-
aUe on recreatian and wildlife.
Fi?e men from Giiana Africa spent ten dagrs in Dawson
County working en siqiervisors farms.
in tiK eomidicaied society in whida we live, ft is too
li^ thai an peofie ^ not get tlie ]
asHae anctiamer vAo recognizes jfoor faid ;
yon onty lift an eyelid or nod your head. — Dick
Selterstrom in his rqnrt to directiH-s at Lewistown.
fWt»hnm» stale Soil Conservation Board News:
The IHrector reported that under the provisions of
House Bill 633. as passed bjr Ae 1963 Legislature,
appropriations were made to the State Board far the
fiscal year 1963-1964 as follows:
Garfield district is considering biQring a short wave
radio set for use bfr Uie i
The two dd^ates to the 4-H Conservatian Camp idll
report their ezpraiences to the Deer Lodjge Valley
district at the November or December meeting.
In r^ards to the Kxtfwwion Agents pian of work
the supervisors of Tlortfa Powell felt that weeds shonhi
be a large item in his program. Also sagebrush spr^-
ing with m
mall Watershed Flood
Control Fund
$46,329.00
3^,980.00
360.691.00
100.000.00
cuff Theisen has 800 lbs of Russian Wild Rye Grass
seed for sale, ffis address is Belgrade. Montana.
The seed is 1963 crop and is certified. Cliff is a
with the Gallatin Valley District.
aieridan district has ordered 1500 ct^mes of the book-
^ entitled "The Story of Land" for distribiriini to
^diools. These booklets will be ba
District's name.
his first trip to fte fajg city,
was particnlarty intrigued by the
elevators. First time he saw one
he watdaed an <^ lady step into it
and tWgatypgw jmAjimI the sliding
doors. Seconds later it returned
and oiA came a tip>j>wHft|l redtesd.
He wished now that he had iHtwgfat
his wife along.
Hade one was having Us pic-
■c takea •■ his SStJi UrtMay.
"Ihaak yav, sir," saki ike checr-
d phatagTMhcr. "Ami I iMpe tm
IMIh hirtMby."
kicr iMkcd Uh ^ ai
nvicd. -Why Mt? Tan
Thefiist ksBon
he
of
molhBr's knee nowadays is to be
Dnc— vhat's k Ukr?
MONTANA'S TURKEYS - - by Steve Bayless, Montana Fish & Game Department
Almost every nirarod who likes to read the outdoor magazines has seen the
numerous articles about hunting turkeys. But for the most part, these articles
are concerned with the eastern states. Here, turkey hunting is a sport as old
as history, as its been going strong since the days of the Pilgrims and their
Thanksgiving feast with the Indians.
In the past, Montanans have had to be content with merely reading about gobbler
hunting, for no such thing existed in the Treasure State. But starting in 1954,
the Montana Fish and Game Department began a stocking program. Introductions
were made in the Judith Mountains near Lewistown, and in the Longpine Hills
near Ekalaka. Since theses early releases, turkey populations have continued
to increase throughout the state.
During last year's season, license sales topped 1570, with 1424 hunters
participating in the harvest. Of those who hunted, 26% bagged their gobblers.
In comparison with other states, one finds that the easterners have nothing over
Montanans. A tabulation of hunting success for all states during the year of 1948
shows that only 13% of the hunters were successful. Although these figures are
outdated, they have remained almost constant until the present.
Here's your copy of the
SEPT. OCT, 1963 Treasure
Acres from the Montana Soil
\ & Water Conservation Ass 'n.
Library USU
UisGoula LIo.-;
Non-ProfIt Org.
U.S. Postage PD.
Permit No. 171
Butte, Montana
STATE DOCUMENTS-—-
ECEIVED
SOI L^ WATER CONSERVATION
DISTRICT SUPERVISORS
WATER DEI/ELOPMENT?
mg ■<J/?£/9T F^US -Not), /5,/4{ /5. fe5
"'John C/fW£/^ -^ssrsscry OFz/vrap/o/^
John A. Carver, Jr., Assist.
Secretary for Public Land
Management Department of
the Interior.
As assistant Sec. , Mr. Carver
supervises the activities of the
Bureau of Land Management, the
National Park Service, the Office
of Territories, and the Alaska
Railroad.
Mr. Carver is a native of Idaho.
He is the banquet speaker for the
convention Thursday evening,
Nov. 14, at the Rainbow Hotel
in Great Falls.
v^
Everett V. Darlinton, State
Engineer. Mr. Darlinton
will speak Thursday P.M. on
Water Rights and the duties
of the State Engineer.
^
Ralph Briggs, Convention
Chairman, Director of Mon-
tana Assoc, of Soil & Water
Conservation Districts, and
a supervisor of the Cascade
SWCD.
Dick Farick, well known ran-
cher from Choteau, Montana,
;ind former chairman of Mont-
ana's Water Conservation
lioard, will speak at the Frida
noon luncheon on Water Devel
ipment for Montana.
<
Arnold Bolle, Dean of the
School of Forestry at Montana
State University and Pres. of
Montana Conservation Council
will speak Thursday morning
on Income Producing Recreatic
>
>>1^
•^
WATER DEVELOPMENT - TODAY AND TOMORROW
^vWVWQ^lilfW^^^'*'^
— — vvvvVfc/tfHHAH>vv»^
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13
2:00-5:00 P.M. - REGISTRATION -
Rainbow Hotel
3:00 P.M. - Tour of Malmstrom Air Force
Base, transportation by bus
6:30 P.M.
from Hotel.
•••••••••••
• Smorgasbord -
Rainbow Hotel •
• Master of Ceremonies - Gordon Z
I McGowon
• Invocation - Dr
. Edwin K. •
jRofcerfs - First
Presbyterian J
jChurch
• Entertainment
Great Falls •
; High School Music Ensemblel
• -Pantomime,
Bill Cumm/ngs •
I -Slides on T
riangle Area Con- •
I servotion - Merle Brunsvold,,l
• ^^W^U.^Coji^se
rvationist •
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14
8:00 A.M.
9:00 A.M.
9:30 A.M.
10:10 A.M.
10:20 A.M.
REGISTRATION - Rainbow
i-iotel
Opening Session
Vice-President, 6;// Kess/er,
presiding
Sergeont-at-arms appointment
Invocation - Rev. Vernon Hanks
First Methodist Church
Welcome - Mayor Marian Erdmann
Reports
Secretory - Dick Setterstrom
Treasurer - Gene Coombs
State Committee - Fred Sanborn
President - Frank Thompson
Coffee Break - Courtesy of Pro
duction Credit Association of
Great Falls
• Reports - Continued
National President of Ladies
Auxiliary - Mrs. Oscar Hippe
Area V, N.A.C.D. Vice-Presi-
dent - Oscor Hippe
SPEAKERS
10:50 A.M. - Bob McClelland - Western Pro-
gram Advisor, N.A.C.D., Denver
11:10 A.M. - "Income Producing Recreation"
Arnold Bolle ■ Deon, Montana
State School of Forestry
I 1:35 A.M. - Slide Talk - Gordon Ho/te, Di-
rector, M.A.S.W.C.D., Plenty-
wood
12:00 - Luncheon - On your own
AFTERNOON SESSION
Kennefh Edwards, Director, M. A.S.W.C.D.,
Glendive, Presiding
PROGRAM
1:00 P.M. - Everett Darlinton, State Engi-
neer, Helena
1:30 P.M. - Rev. Russell E. Halaas. Pas-
tor, St. Paul Lutheran Church,
Cut Bank
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
2:00 P.M. - Rainbow Rooms
Public Relations - Dick Setter-
strom, Chm.
Program & Research • Ralph
Briggs, Chm.
Public Lands - Art Christensen,
Chm.
Education - Carl Johnson, Chm.
Budget & Finance - John Bart-
lett, Chm.
5:30 P.M. - Social Hour - Rainbow Hotel
Courtesy of Elk River Concrete
Products Co. Billings, Helena.
Great Fall s
Program Con' t . P 4
-* Bonquef - Rainbow Hotel
• Master of Ceremonies - Orvin
^Fjare, State Advertising Direc-
Jtor
• Invocation • Rev. William Star-
I ling, Westside Methodist Church
J Entertainment - Bell Choir, First
• Methodist Church
J Great Foils High School Music
• Department
• Address - John Carver, Jr.,
jAss't Secretory of Interior,
•Washington, D.C.
9:00 A.M. - Bu
10:20 A.M.
10:30 A.M.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15
7:00 A.M. - Director's Breakfast
Courtesy of Great Falls Imp-
lement Dealers Association.
Frank Thompson, Presiding
isiness Session - Frank Thomp
son. Presiding
Ladies Auxiliary Report ■
Mrs. Frank Thompson, Presi-
dent
Old Business
New Business
Introduction of New Directors
Coffee Break - Courtesy of
M.J. B. Coffee Co.
Business Session, cont'd.
Nomination of Five Members
for Governor's oppointment
to Stote Committee
1964 Stote Convention Site and
Dote
Adoption of Committee Reports
12:30 P.M. -C LuncVeon - Vam'b^ wVo'tel
jMoster of Ceremonies - Ralph
» Bricker, Bricker-Cooley Realtors,
• Great Foils
'Invocation - Dick Setterstrom,
• Butte
jAddress - D. P. Fabrick, State
JWater Conservation Board, Hel-
• eno
• Goodyear Awords
■Newsletter Awards
• District Attendance Recognition
FRED SANBORN
will give the State Soil Conservation
Committee report at the Convention.
MONTANA RECLAMATION ASSOCIATION
ELECTS SANBORN
The Montana Reclamation Association at its
Annual meeting in Billings October 7,8, elected
Fred Sanborn of Great Falls as its president for
the coming year. He replaces Axel Persson of
Sidney. Wesley D'Ewart of Wilsall was chosen
nation director to replace Dick Fabrick of Choteau.
The MRA passed a resolution urging the State Water
Conservation Board to include funds for a planning
party in its ne.xt budget request to the legislature,
to work with the Soil Conservation Service in invest-
igating and planning small projects under the
P. L. 566 Watershed protection program.
Reporting his first traffic accident, the rookie cop wrote:
"Miss Smith was involved in the accident, which bruised
her somewhat, injured her other\vise, but apparently did
not hurt her elsewhere."
With the cost of minor surgerj- so high, it seems that what
this country needs is a good $50 scar.
RESOURCES AND THE FUTURE
By:
Steve Bayless,
Montana Fish & Game Department
In today's modern society, complete with all its electronic gadgets for doing things better and
faster, little time is left for the average person to think about resource conservation. Everyone
is just too busy to stop and consider what we now have in Montana, and what we can expect in the
future.
But what will the natural resource situation be in Montana fifty years from now? And what
about the great variety of outdoor recreation we now enjoy ? Will Montana continue to be a sports-
man's paradise for our future generations, or will the situation change as it has done so often in
other states?
The answers to these questions will depend on how well we educate our children. The
responsibility for soil, water and related resource conservation bears more heavily on each new
generation, since our increasing population continues to create more land and water problems.
Therefore, it is our obligation to prepare our children so well that they will carry out their
conservation responsibilities more wisely and effectively than their forefathers.
But in order to do this, our young people must have a basic understanding of what is involved
in these life-supporting resources. A true appreciation of the real values of our resources and
some practical laiowledge of conservation principles is most important.
The first step is to teach conservation in the nation's classrooms, from kindergarten through
college. And this should be easy. Soil, water, plant and wildlife conservation are part and parcel
of conventional subjects such as elementary science, biology, nature study, geography, health and
nutrition, and other sciences and social studies.
To confine the teaching of an "agricultural" subject such as soil and water conservation to
rural areas only is no longer practical. The conservation and wise use of these and allied natural
resources affects every one of our 190 million people. All of us are concerned, from the farmer
and rancher who produce our food and fiber crops to the youngest city consumer of milk from his
nursing bottle.
In teaching our children to conserve what they now have, they should also learn that a sunset
over a green countryside has more esthetical value than the most costly painting; that outdoor
recreation should not be peddled on the street corner; and that our resources should not be weighed
and sold merely by the pound. If these basic values are understood by our children, then Montana
will continue to be a great state. But they can only be understood through education, and this
education must start in the classroom.
CONSERVATION CHARLEY
BY Harry Corry
'Me? A wildlife manager?" Hai-vey guffaws. I'M
a farmer, he say. "I raise cows and alfalfa and grain.
I'm not concerned with ducks and pheasants and deer
and fish. "
Lots of folks agree with Harvey. "A farmer can't spend
time fooling around with wildlife and still make a living','
Ihey point out.
They believe this because the picture's fuzzy. They
haven't got their set tuned in very well.
Actually, farmers aie the largest group of wildlife
managers in this country. It is true that most of them
are amateurs at it. It is also true that many of them
are poor wildlife managers. But good, bad or indif-
ferent, farmers and ranchers are actively managing
a good portion of our wildlife resource.
Farmers and ranchers control or use
more than 75% of the land area of the
United States. We know that wildlife is
is a product of the land just as cows
and sheep and potatoes and wheat are.
It is obvious, tnerefore that most of
our wildlife must be produced on the
same acres that farmers and ranchers
are using to produce their crops.
Farmers and ranchers control or use more than 757c
of the total land area of the United States. We know
that wildlife is a product of the land just as cows and
sheep and potatoes and wheat are. It is obvious, there-
fore, that most of our wildlife must be produced on the
same acres that farmers and ranchers are using to
produce their crops.
Wildlife, must of necessity, be a secondary crop as
far as the farmer is concerned. He must farm and
manage his farm for the production of the crops which
pay his bills, buy his machinery and send his children
to school. Wildlife must be produced right along with,
and incidental to, the farmer^ s main crops.
It might seem that such a situation would almost auto-
matically lead to less and less wildlife as our land is
more intensively farmed. But such is not necessarily
the case.
How often do we hear that a certain stream is fished
out? Or that a particular area doesn't produce as
much game as it used to? Generally, the reduction of
fish and game is blamed on hunting and fishing pres-
sures--too manv people, in other words. Yef'it is a
matter of record that in some of our more heavily
populated areas where land is farmed intensively and
hunters and fishermen swarm like bees there is more
wildlife today than there was in the same areas when
Daniel Boone, Davey Crockett and Buffalo Bill were
roaming the countryside.
Harvey asks the logical question, "How can that be?"
fJasically, the answer is simple. The
and has been made more attractive
to wildlife. It has been made to pro-
duce more wildlife and at the same time
produce more farm crops.
We can only conclude that there is a _
relationship between productive farm
land and wfldlife production.
in order to produce good farm crops year after vear a
^S®J" "^"k- iise good Ipd management practices. He
TM^h^'Zl^l^ so [fertile and in good physical condition.
This IS wTiere soil conservation fits intothe picture.
Soil Conservation is a way of farming and ranching
fhP iSnH^'J.'^fi^f^^?^"^ ^^® fertility o1 the land butTceeps
the land protected from loss of soil by wind and water
Generally, farmers who operate with poor land manage-
"'^^^ LP'^.^S^Pu^s ^^ destroying the pr»auctivitY of theTr
oV;h 0*;,^) . rif* "^^ uesiroymg ine pr«ductivitY of the;i
??t ^ ^L ^^,^^^ ^'^,^ ^^ desd-oylng wildlife hab-
itat. On the other hand farmers who use good soil
conservation practices are keeping th.lr fand produc-
tive and, directly or ndirectlyV are imVlM it more i^^
attractive to wildlife. Wildlif^can fii^^appy home *-
on that land.
With farmers and ranchers as wildlife manaiers and
soil conservation practices as their toole wildlife can
continue to flourish despite our mushrooming pooulation
and more intensive use of our land.
"Me? I'm a wildlife manager, " Harvey says. "I raise
cows and ducks and pheasants and alfafia and deer and
giain.
And He's doing a pretty fair job of it, too.
DISTRICT DOINGS
The Supervisors of North Powell SWCD recently made
a tour of three ranches to judge who their "Outstanding
Cooperator" for the year should be.
Missile Calbe line travel sites are now ready for grass
seeding according to Army Engineer Morgan Wheeler,
Chief of the real estate sub-office in Great Falls.
Ranchers will be paid by the U.S. Government at the
rate of $25 per acre.
Don Baldwin of the State Forest Nursery reports they
are harvesting the trees that will be shipped out next
spring. They are of exceptional quality. Districts are
encouraged to get orders in early. Bulk orders are
encouraged. Reference is made to Liberty County
SWCD which places bulk orders and makes a fair pro-
fit in its distribution process to local buyers of trees.' '
Your SWCD's - This next month will find the super-
visors of each District making plans for 1964. Each
fall they set up a work plan to be carried out the next
year. Anyone having suggestions please contact your
supervisors so they can carry out your needs and de-
sires.
Some of our past years accomplishments have been as
follows. Working with watershed development groups,
tours, livestock selection demonstration, outstanding
conservationist, care of Tice Grass plot, Fairdisplay,
sponsor 4-H members to Conservation camp, provide
material for Soil Stewardship Sunday, cost return meet-
ings, work with ASC personell and Weed Board; what
suggestions do you have for 1964 ? - - from Deer Lodge
Valley and North Powell SWCD Newsletter.
Lower Musselshell district received a request from the
County Commissioner that they would like to be taken
on a range tour and have the SCS show them what they
consider when making a range survey. It waS agreed
that the Service ought to do this and that at least two of
the supervisors would be present of said tour.
The State Soil Conservation Committee will meet Wed-
nesday, November 13 commencing at 10:00 a.m. in the
Rainbow Hotel in Great Falls.
Q
Continued on F*age 7
The Montana State Soil Conservation Committee Bi-
ennial Report to the Governor has been published. This
fceport briefly tells of the activities of soil conservation
Pcommittee, the districts, and the Association of Con-
servation districts for the fiscal years 1962-1963. If
you have not received a copy and desire one, write to
Executive Secretary, State Soil Conservation Committee
School of Mines, Butte, for one.
Art Christensen, MASWCD Watershed and Public Lands
Committee Chairman, headed a delegation of supervis-
ors and cooperators from districts above Canyon Ferry
to the National Reclamation Association meeting in Sun
Valley, Idaho, while there they attempted to sell Com-
missioner Floyd Dominy of Bureau of Reclamation
on the need for setting aside acreage limitations where
ranchers buy water from Bureau of Reclamation for
supplemental use on their presently irrigated lands.
The bureau is opposed to this but are agreeable to a
160 acre Class I equivalent acreage basis per person.
AREA MEETINGS WELL ATTENDED
The seven area meetinjgs of supervisors of the
Montana Association of Soil & Water Conservation
Districts which were held throughout the state the
first two weeks of October were in most cases well
attended.
In Area I, Wolf Point Mayor R. E. (Pete) Coffey.
suggested more interest and concern is needed about
water development projects, and a need for education
nd publicity among businessmen on the importance
f farming and conservation. He gave examples of
eed for EJistricts involvement in public affairs that
affect rural communities..
^^e
In Area II, at Glendive, Herschell Kurd, State Con-
servationist, presented an interesting discourse on
what conservation has meant to our state financially.
Kurd stated that $26 million dollars of extra income
is added to the state each year as a result of Conser-
vation practices which have been applied.
In Triangle Area III at Big Sandy, an International
Harvester man from Billings, gave an inspiring talk
on Conservation and its importance to busmessmen
and all society.
InArealV at Lewistown, Garth Colton, District
Bureau of Land Management manager, told of his
bureaus desire to cooperate with districts and to
integrate land use programs.
Fred Martin, Livingston newspaperman, told the
Billings Area V supervisors that "the Economy of
this Area will more and more have to rely on conser-
vation as a base."
The Area VI supervisors at Pablo heard MASWCD
Vice President Bill Kesler give a good talk on conser-
vation of a historical nature. Banker N. T. Johnson
also gave an interesting talk showing how money spent
on conservation improvements should be classified as
a capital investmem.
Headwaters Area supervisors heard Carl Davis
Dillon attorney, explain Bureau of reclamation law,
and the various aspec ts of acreageTimitations on
irrigation projects.
Don Luebbe, Extension Service Agricultural Program
y^eader told supervisors of ways in which Extension
Specialists are helping or can "help supervisors such
as 1) determine trends or changes or major problems
2) results of research 3) how to relate research re-
sults to local problems 4) alternative ways of attack-
ing the problem.
Supervisors or outstanding cooperators from each
district at all area meetings made many excellent
short reports on district activities.
Each area formulated several resolutions which will
be acted on at the state convention November 13
14, 15, in Great Falls.
O. M. Ueland, SSCC Executive
Secretary, spoke at all meet-
ings. He reminded supervisors
to "get up on the mountain" and
take "a look in all directions"
in revising and updating their
long range programs.
County Agents. SCS Technicians, ASCS Committee -
men, ana others joined the supervisors in contributine
to good programs. "
f t^Jv,"^^^®?"!. supervisor reporting at the area meeting
lor the East Sanders district had this to say in part in
regard to changes needed in ranch plans: "I'm sure
most of us make changes and revisions in our plans
withoat enough thought as to what it will gain for us,
2,L'.M*-h change what we really need. I'm sure if we
would take a little of our conservationists time and
talk things out with him it would be time well spent,
because change without following out to the fullest is
often not change for the better.
No plan or revision of plans, which I'm sure we all
'U^n t «el tho dcHi red results
ley
^ K^d^n Mn JS^'.h'T" ""^anyqu must cut down
\yui u, .Id '"vi^wt that money in improvements
al^v • tl r r^,l? ,"."i ""' ''i''"" y""'" '"como consideral
Ulvou'r .' .'.Hi ir.^^'^V ''*•'=■■'""'= yo" are soiling beef
ipn. you r«; t»;iHlc;jJJy ruining gr.iHH.
Mr. Brown finished his breakfast, picked up the morning
paper and was horrified to see his death listed in the obitu-
aries. He scrambled to the telephone and called his em-
ployer.
"Hello!" he shrieked into the phone. "Did you see the
announcement of my death in the newspaper?"
"Yes, I did," the boss answered. "Er — by the way, where
are you calling from?"
Buying fertilizer, a woman asked the salesman: "Is that
the only scent it comes in?"
Automobile dealer: "Can I help you?"
Texan: "Yes. My wife is in the ho^ital arki I'm looking
for a sort of get well car."
"It's horrible, doctor," the woman said. "My husband
thinks he's a refrigerator."
"Well, actually," replied the doctor, "that isn't too bad.
A harmless delusion, I assure you."
"I don't mind the delusion," said the woman, "but when
he sleeps with his mouth open, the little light keeps me
awake."
A MESSAGE FROM DICK, SETTERSTROM.
SECRETARY OF MASWCD:
It is extremely important that WE supervisors
throughout the state get together once a year to
discuss our problems exchange ideas, and estab-
lish policy. We supervisors are more and more
being depended ^n to recommend programs and leg-
islation on a state and national level for Natural
Respuvce developments. This is natural and as it
should be! Supervisors are elected grassroots people
with Soil and Water Conservation responsibilities.
We represent maiiy organizations. Our efforts to
get coordinated comprehensive integrated conserv-
ation programs should be respected. And to be fair
with one another we should make an honest enthus-
iastic effort to recognize conservation problems and
opportunities, attend well organized meetings, listen,
and make decisions of what we think is right or wrong
in this business.
If we don't make our presence known, others will
make the decisions for us and maybe not to our liking.
Our hosts for iiceting this year, the Cas-
cade SWCD, have ai ranged a real good program, and
It is ready to go. Let us not let them down. In case
you have "Sorta forgot" remember that the meeting
J _ „^ — .„ .v^.^uv i^iiiciiiuci uiai me meeiir
is November 13, 14, 15, next week at the Rainbow ^^
>o iiuvtiuuci lo, 11, la, iic.M wecR ai ine Kainoow
Hotel in Great Falls. Every district needs to be rep
resented. We can only be effecUve by having a good
turnout.
We have invited several people from agencies and
organizations interested in Conservation to meet with
us and give us a hand. See you in Great Falls.
This year our convention theme is "Water Develop-
ment - Today and Tomorrow. " Many people are con-
cerned about our water rights. Of course we must be.
Our challenge is to set up certain goals and objectives
in this matter.
Can you give me one legitimate reason why you as a
supervisor should not attend this meeting? If so, send
it to me so we will at least know you are interested.
As the guy said, if your girl friend is munching on an
apple when you are trying to make love to her, she
just ain't interested.
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH UNITED
STATES DEPAJtTMENT OF INTERIOR
Forms for negotia'^ing a new Memorandum of Agree-
ment with the U. S. Department of Interior have been
mailed to all districts having USDI administered
public lands within their boundaries.
These forms have been reviewed by the State Soild
Conservation Committee and they recommend and
encourage districts to cooperate with the Depart-
ment of Interior. This basic agreement will allow
bureaus of the department to negotiate supplemental
agreements comparable to Memorandums of Under-
standing most districts have with USDA agencies.
It is hoped that by districts negotiating these agree-
ments, supervisors will be in a better position to
coordinate and develop comprehensive and integrated
Conservation programs which will affect public lands
as well as private lands, and whereby cooper ators
of a Soil & Water Conservation District need only
have one plan where he uses public lands intermingled
with his private lands.
Two small boys were trying to
awaken their father, taking a
snooze on the sofa. They hollered,
pushed him. He didn't budge.
Finally one of the boys lifted one
of his dad's eyelids.
"I don't know why he doesn't
answer," he said. "He's in there."
G
Here's your copy of the
November issue of Treasure
Acres from the Montana Ass'n.
of Soil & Water Conservation
Districts
Non- Profit Org.
U.S. Postage PD.
Permit No. 171
Butte, Montana
Library !,:SU
Missoula !.:ont