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Soil Conservation Is
Important To Houston
Houston County Soil
Conservationist Drew
Bynum thought the best
way to celebrate Soil
Stewardship Week (April
30 - May 7) was to name a
man who has built 16
miles of cropland
terraces as an out
standing steward of the
soil.
The man Is Donald
Free, who farms about
1,500 acres of cropland
along the western
boundary of Houston
County.
Altogether Free and his
partner, Barney A.
Smith, own or lease about
3,003 acres in Houston
and Macon counties.
"I want you to know
something about Bar
ney,” Free said. “He is
the best partner a man
could have."
Yhefarm Bynum points
out as an ideal example of
soil conservation is the
864 acre Houston County
spread Free has
developed over the past
four years.
During that time,
according to Bynum,
Free has installed and
established a water
disposal system for about
250 acres of land. The
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The driver of this tractor churned up a cloud of
dust on a recent dry afternoon while cultivating a
big field on Airport Road. Most area farmers
have already planted corn, and many of them
elaborate system in
cludes grassed water
ways, terraces, and
terrace-tile outlets.
"There use to be big
ponds of water In the
fields here before Donald
built the terraces and
installed underground
pipe to drain them off,"
Bynum said.
"Compelling Ven
tures" is the theme of Soil
Stewardship Week this
year. The theme refers to
the old adage, "Nothing
ventured, nothing
gained," but Bynum
believes the ventures
made by Free will be
beneficial to the land for
years to come.
During the past winter,
Bynum said Free con
structed some 30,000 feet
(six miles) of custom
terraces on his farm, and
more than 50,000 feet (10
miles) for landowners.
Bynum said this meant
that more than 400 acres
of cropland Is now being
protected from erosion.
The objective of Free
and Smith, of course, is to
develop a profitable farm
operation, but Bynum
said the men are also
dedicated to the
preservation and care of
Preparing 1978 Crop
wildlife.
Their master plan for
developing the farm
includes provisions for
land set aside for birds
and wild animals.
"When we get through,
what land that is not
under cultivation will be
used for wildlife," Free
said. "We're planting bi
color iespedeza and
browntop millet for the
birds, and we supplement
their feed in winter with
oats, corn and wheat in
bird feeders."
The dam for a duck
pond is being completed
now, and Free estimates
it will take about two
more years before the
farm is fully developed
according to their plans.
Free is a graduate of
Abraha m Ba Idwin
Agricultural College
(Class of '59), and Is
married to the former
Judy Humphries of
Pelham.
Free said farmers who
expect to profit from
their work have to plan
carefully and modernize
their operations. He said
it is also important to
develop cropland so as to
realize its full potential.
"You have to moder
are currently planting peanuts. Area gardeners
are also busy this week setting out tomato and
pepper plants.
nize your farm and keep
good records on what
you're doing,” Free said.
"You can't do things any
other way these days
because ot skyrocketing
prices for taxes, land,
supplies, equipment and
interest rates.
But despite the labor,
worry and high costs
involved in operating
such a farm, Bynum
believes Free's efforts in
conserving the soil will
pay high dividends tor
future crops, tor the
environment and as a
refuge for wildlife.
And a tour ot the well
managed fields, streams,
lakes and forest ot this
farm seems to reflect
what is meant by the
Scripture quoted in this
year's soil conservation
booklet.
It is Deuteronomy 8:6-
7, and it reads,
''Therefore thou shalt
keep the commandments
of the Lord thy God, to
walk in his ways, and to
fear him. For the Lord
thy God bringeth thee
into a good land, a land ot
brooks of water, ot
fountains and depths that
spring out of valleys and
hills.”
Participating in ceremonies proclaiming April
30-May 7 as Soil Stewardship Week, left to right,
are Mayor James McKinley and District Soil
Conservation Supervisors Richard A. Johnson
and Cohen Walker. In commenting on the
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Drew Bynum (L), Donald Free Review Soil Plan
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Bynum (L), Free Examine Drain Ventilation Pipe
Bynum, Free Inspect Field Drainage System
Soi/ Stewardship Week In Perry
HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL THURS., APR 20, Iffl
proclamation, Mayor McKinley said, “Con
servation districts provide a practical and
democratic organization through which lan
downers are taking the initiative to conserve and
make proper use of soil and water resources.”
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