Newspaper Page Text
County Agent’s
Column
By L. C. Adams
This is Soil Stewardship
in Georgia (May 11-18), a
for agricultural leaders to
phasize the importance of
our greatest natural
Most of the time most of us
the soil too much for granted.
shouldn’t, as it is vital to life.
During this week is a good
time not only to salute all men
who work daily to conserve and
protect our soil, but a good
to thank God for our soil.
truly is one of His greatest
'blessings.
New Era For Soil
Today we live in a new era of
soil conservation. It began back
in April, 1935, when Congress
passed Public Law 46 establish¬
ing the Soil Conservation Ser¬
vice. Then, in March 1937, the
Georgia General Assembly pass¬
ed the Georgia Soil Conservation
District Law.
Georgia farmers lost no time
in organizing soil conservation
districts to qualify for services
made available in these Federal
end State laws. Since July 2,
1957, all 159 counties in the state
have been organized into 27 soil
conservation districts.
Soil Program
This organization was fostered
by an educational program
under the leadership of the
Agricultural Extension Service,
University of Georgia College of
Terraced, contour planted field with newly sown small grain
left and perennial strip of alfalfa at right.
Agriculture. Extension, in this,
had the able assistance of the
Soil Conservation Service, the
Department of Vocational Agri¬
cultural Education, newspapers,
radio stations, and other inter¬
ested groups.
From the beginning, key or¬
ganizations in the Soil Conser¬
vation Program have been the
State Soil Conservation Com¬
mittee and the State Association
of District Supervisors. They are
joint sponsors of Soil Steward¬
ship Week.
HOW PROGRAM WORKS
The program and work plan of
each district varies according to
local needs. The basic objective
of each district is to bring about
the use of each acre of agricul¬
tural land within its capabilities
and treatment of each acre ac¬
cording to its needs for protec¬
tion and improvement.
Needs and capabilities of the
:jand are determined by a soil
survey. To date, 25 million of
Georgia’s 37 % million acres
have been surveyed. The pro¬
gram is progressing about one
million acres per year, toward a
goal of completion within the
next 15 years.
Soil Use
Farmers naturally use the soil
more than the rest of us. And
more and more Georgia farmers
are coming to use the soil wisely
and to their best advantage. A
big part in of building their farming their opera- soil j j
tion is up
#nd supplying, with mixed fert-
THE DADE COUNTY TIMES, TRENTON, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, May 15, 1958
GOVERNOR PROCLAIMS MAY 11-18 SOIL STEWARDSHIP WEEK
Governor Marvin Griffin signs his proclamation designating
the week of May 11-18 as Soil Stewardship Week in Georgia. With
the Governor are officials of the Week’s sponsoring agencies. Left
to right are: O. W. Price, state committeeman, McDonough;
Lamar Franklin, district supervisor, Atlanta; Z. P. Almon, state
committeeman, Roopville, and Frank T. Denham, field secretary,
Eatonton.
llizer, lime and nitrogen, the
plant nutrients which their field
crops and pastures need.
More and more, farmers are
using soil tests bo determine just
what nutrients are lacking in
the soil of a particular field
Records show that about 45,090
soil samples have been taken
this year compared to only 21,000
made last year—an increase of
over 100 percent. This increase is
due largely to emphasis Exten-
sion agronimists have been plac-
,ing upon soil fertility.
Trees and Soil
Trees are one of nature’s best
tools for soil conservation.
Stands of well-managed trees
will not only do much toward
conserving our soil and water
resources, but will provide addi¬
tional income to the landowner.
Our Extension forestry pro¬
gram has a campaign to improve
stand conditions through better
forestry practices, thus provid¬
ing for increased forest income
and the conservation of our most
valuable natural resource, soil.
The future looks bright in that
more than 9,000 4-H Club mem-!
bers completed forestry projects
last year. This project training
should enable them to be much
better stewards of our trees and
soil.
FORESTRY
Will Need More Wood Says
Forest Service—Expanding
Population Will Require Nearly
Double Production, According
To Survey
America’s expanding popula¬
tion will require nearly twice the
present production of wood to
meet its needs by the year 2000.
This demand can be met. But to
do so, according to a report is¬
sued March 30th by the U. S.
Department of Agriculture, will
'require a better job of forestry
on all forested lands.
Secretary of Agriculture Ezra
Taft Benson, who
publication of the report, “Tim¬
ber Resources of America’s Fut¬
ure”, called it the most complete
appraisal of the timber situa-
tion ever made in this country,
“Tne United States is not
\faced with acute timber short¬
age”, according to Dr. McArdle,
Chief of USIDA’s Forest
There is no ‘timber famine’ in
the offing, although shortages
of varying kinds and degrees
may be expected. But it is
ily clear that there is little
ger of timber becoming a surplus
crop.
“The best trees are being cut
most heavily. Unless forestry is
igreatly intensified the growth of
pines, firs, and other softwoods
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Shorthorn cattle on well fertilized pasture of native grasses,
lespedeza, and white clover on Class III and IV land.
will not keep pace with cut.
Through the years, main depend
ence has been on the softwoods
and the better hardwoods. Re¬
cords show that every year two
or three times as much soft¬
woods are cut,” Dr. McArdle said.
“Also, in cautioning against
complacency, the report states
that America’s timber is declin¬
ing in quality. Throughout the
country more desirable trees are
posing ground to poor quality
trees. One fifth of the volume of
Eastern hardwood is not merch¬
antable because of crookedness,
knottiness, or rot. There is no
satisfactory substitute for quali¬
ty in many products,” continued
Dr. McArdle.
“The real key to America’s
future timber supply lies in the
Viands of the one out of every 10
families who own small forests,
according to the report, Over
tone-half of the nation’s timber
lands are in small tracts owned
by farmers, business men, pro¬
fessional people, housewives, and
others,” Said I>r. McArdle.”
Our Want Ads Ring the Bell!
A cent and a half a word with
25 cents minimum charge.
Phone OL 7-4422,
the DADE COUNTY TIMES
1
j
1
Natural reproduction of pines in an area protected from damage
by fire and grazing.
(
PAGE 3
= 0 UR
Col. D. E. Morrison, Supervisor
Kenneth Vann, Technician
SOIL STEWARDSHIP WEEK
Soil Stewardship week will be
observed in Dade County the
week of May 11th through May
,18th. Churches, schools, and
civic clubs will have special pro¬
grams to point out the needs
and accomplishments of Soil
and Water Conservation as re¬
lated to the building of the com¬
munity in which we live.
Churches throughout the
county are asked to hold services
emphasizing the relationship of
conserving t h e soil and the
building of the community
through the Church. A number
of Ministers are planning to de¬
liver sermons on Soil and Water
Conservation.
Schools and clubs are asked to
have programs on Soil and
Water Conservation. Informa¬
tion has been distributed to all
schools to aid teachers in hold¬
ing classes on conservation. A
motion picture film on conser¬
vation is available and will be
shown to civic clubs and to the
high schools classes.
WE SELL typewriting paper,
white and yellow second
sheets, thin paper marked
“copy” and two sizes of mi¬
meograph paper.
THE DADE COUNTY TIMES
