HEPPNER. (OHE). GAZETTE-TIMES. Ttamiay. Jan. IT. 171
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mm teowr
Wm
Heppner Soil and Water
Conservation District
Annual Meeting
Prorji'cosin
28th Year
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1972
7:30 P.M.
LEXINGTON GRANGE HALL
1. Open Meeting
2. Business Meeting
3. Election of Two Supervisors
4. Introduction of Guests
5. Review progress on Rhea Creek Watershed
Da r re 1 1 Learn
TALK and SLIDE PRESENTATION:
Columbia-Snakc-Palouse Program
By Charles V. Liles, Field Representative
State Soil and Water
Conservation Commission
REFRESHMENTS Compliments of Heppner
Soil and Water Conservation District
District Annual Report
Detailed Soil Survey
Brush Control
Chiseling & Subsoiling
Conservation Cropping System
Contour Farming
Crop Residue Management
Deferred Grazing
Diversion
Grassed Waterway
Irrigation Pipeline
Land Leveling
Pasture & Hayland Management
Pasture & Hayland Planting
Proper Grazing Use ......
Range Seeding
Open Channel
Land Adequately Treated
Irrigation Water Management
Critical Area Planting .
Woodland Improvement
Number Units
... 2 3,825 acres
...490
42,060 acres
... 5 57,445 acres
... 6
... 61
218 acres
1,206 acres
2,200 acres
1,620 acres
2,672 acres
2,910 acres
163,334 feet
9.5 acres
14,400 feet
26 acres
568 acres
516 acres
3,269 acres
190 acres
2,9-18 feet
12,970 acres
604 acres
22 acres
5 acres
District Objectives for 1972
1. Give support to the Columbia-Snake-Palouse progarm.
2. Get printing completed on district long range program and
objectives and distribute to cooperators.
3. Complete one coordinated ranch plan Involving both public and
private lands.
4. Enter Godyear conservation contest.
5. I'rge construction funding be made available for Rock Creek
Watershed.
6. Complete land treatment work on Shobe Canyon Watershed.
7. Continue emphasis on conservation education, including grade
school tours.
8. Work with County Agricultural Stabilization & Conservation
Service committee in emphasizing the installation of diversion
ditches; consider other small watersheds for complete treat
ment such as Shobe.
9. Continue emphasis on wind erosion control work.
District Achievements for 1971
1. Lake Fenland rroject was completed.
2. Started construction of complete land treatment program on
Shobe Canyon Watershed.
3. Worked with State Engineers Office in getting core drilling
work completed and stream flow gauge installed at the mouth
of Rhea Creek.
4. Completed feasibility study for city of lone watershed.
5. Soli sun-eying was completed on an additional 42,000 acres.
6. Diversion terrace construction is nearlng 2,000,000 feet
Heppner S6WCD Works
On Wind Erosion Problem
By DON BELLAMY
Soil Conservation 5rict
In the United Stuti-s, it is it
t invited that 30 million ton of
miiI enter the aimphere each
year. Some of this comes from
Morrow County. Till' at year
had more wind than usual and
several thousand acre in the
llcnnner Soil ti Water Conserve
lion Disti'Ht h.id severe wind
erosion.
Much of the wind erosion
problem Is fn"nrring where new
lands are lielng develoed for
Irrigation. The main reason for
Ihis is that the land is pre
parol for crop seeding before
the Irrigation omiipmcni is in
stalled. The use of Irrigation wa
ter alone Is not enough to pro
tect bare soil which has been
exposed to the wind. The low
organic matter of these soils
makes It necessary to ase spe.
cial practices to establish and
grow row crovs.
Many acres of dry cropland
also have blow areas occurring.
Stubble mulch, strip cropping
and, In some cases on small
areas, straw or manure can be
applied to stop wind erosion.
Some dune areas on overgrazed
rangeland are causing prob
lems.
The Heppner Board of Super
visors met numerous times with
government agencies, other dis
trict boards and Individuals on
the wind erosion problem. One
result of these meetings was a
. .
?4 j-) ......
FJrlI'r.'-ir';V'- - .--."r ' 'V-,, ,
THIS PICTURE SHOWS soil which has blown from exposed area
and haa ben deposited behind fence. Proper spacing of drift
fencing can be used for wind erosion controL (SCS Photo).
Irrigation Economic Evaluation
Of Morrow County Farm Land
pamphlet. "Why Let Your Soil
Blow Away", published by the
Soil Conservation Sen-ice on
some suggested control prac
tices for wind erosion. Practices
discussed in this pamphlet are
as follows:
1. Irrigation Water Manage
ment. a. Install irrigation equip
ment before opening
new land.
b. Apply water according to
intake rate of the soil
and needs of the crop.
c. Use tillage immediately
after irrigation to make
clods.
2. Crop Residue Management.
a. Tillage should have ade
quate residue In top
three Inches.
b. Irrigate soil and plant
cover crops Immediately
after harvest. (July to
Oct. 1).
3. Mulchln?.
a. To prevent wind erosion
from getting a start.
4. Pasture & Hayland.
a. For long term soil pro
tection. ThU namohlet and other in
formation on wind erosion can
be obtained at the district of
fif In llcnnner. Followinc Is a
chart showing sample rotations
which can be used.
Sample Annual Cover
Rotations
e These give safe protection from
wind erosion.
e Very sandy soils make weak
clods, even when wet-worked.
Always provide crop residue in
soil surface.
e Double crop to sweet corn on
trial basis only.
e Avoid crops with October har
vest and light crop residues.
SOIL COVER
Cover
CroP
CHOICES
Stubble
TWiWT
CC
X
4 "CC
V CO
U
X
2
3
"
Potatoes
X
n I a.
5 U
2
Cover
Potatoes
X
X
I I Hay
Crops
or Past.
istubDiei
i.
Wheat Crop
1 I " "1
Potatoes
Wheat
t.T.t.fi.iyi.i.T
i.'i i i
1 l"tTW
I I I 'rl'.. 1.1.1. l'l I
11 T. UUU1G 11.11
Potatoes
1 1 UJiStubbleiJi 1 1
or
Com
(Stubble
Watermelons
Fall Grain
Grain Crop
I (Havor.PatJ
By GARY CRIEB
At we the farmer, continue to
MruRgle with the ever present
timklom of the cost price
iuiiiim7i we look to irrigation
as an aid to Increased produc
tion. However, with irrigation, an
ulth mv other Investment type
enterprise there are many po'M
f economies wincn musi oe
ht lulled.
vvhnn cinslili-rlnu Morrow
County for Irrigation we should
realize that there are many eco
mimic f:ictors In our favor. We
would at the same time assume
that basically the majority of
ih land would be Irrigated ny
sprinklers rather than surface ir
rigated. So we should take a
long look at many economic de
term ln.it ions before we start in
vesting in Irrigation equipment.
1. Location and source oi wa-
i.r Varies preatlv over me
county. Columbia River is our
best source.
2. Elevation of water lift. Can
be very critical.
3. Existing practices. How
many changes will have to be
mnriA iinur much uresent equip
ment will need replacing or,
changing!
4. Size, shape and quality of
rioKicm area. Size is not much
problem in the county. Shape
and quality varies throughout.
5. Distance of design area to
water. Main source of water is
a great distance from some of
the more productive soils.
6. crops to De irngaiea. mor
row County Is adaptable to al
most any crop we would want
to raise. Our distance to market
for some crops is the greatest
drawback. The extension serv-
ita has tr tprnrise exist estimates
worked up for most irrigated
crops being raised in the coun
ty. These are Dasea on wnai
farmers particular crop
are now.
7. Crop use. Many crops couM
be utilized within the coun'y.
I.e. Ilny-pasture-seed cover.
a Wind direction, strength
end occurrence. We can count
on having a great amount of
wind, with destructive trength
to some sprinkler systems, at
fairly regular occurrences.
9. Labor availability. Is really
not as great a problem as Is
where to house your helj).
10. Temperature. Can be a
problem for 30 day or so. Nor
mally not too had.
11. Power supply. So far has
been no problem, rates are In
line with most other areas and
in some cases lower.
12. Growing season. One of
the county's better factors. Many
times up to 200 frost free days.
13. Topography or layout.
Some areas can be a serious
problem. Generally alxive the
1000 foot elevation mark. An
abundance of land lies below
1000 feet however.
14. Soil capacity and fertility.
Intake rate has cau-d many
problems already in many ar
eas. Much work has been done
on this within the county and
the findings are available at
the extension service office. Fer
tility varies throughout the
county. Soil samples would need
to be taken for the area being
studied.
15. Desired return. Profits,
land development for specu
lative sales, etc. Low crop pric
es, often below cost of produc
tion is a major concern.
16. Management. As has been
said before, the whole project
will be no better than the Man
behind it. Or possibly how
many times he can get by be
ing late to the supper table...?
Tl W
CC
Dry Beans
. Grain
m i
I)
(I t
ii1
MARCEL JONES1971 Conservation Man of the Year, and wile.
Dee, in front of their home. With them is Marcel's brother Judge
Paul Jones. scs I1,oto)
THE FOLLOWING ARE HAPPY TO JOIN IN SPONSORING THIS REPORT IN THE
INTEREST OF CONSERVATION ;
SERVICES
Jerry's Barber Shop - Heppner
Heppner Cleaners - Heppner
EQUIPMENT AND IRRIGATION
Morrow County Grain Growers
Lexington
Padberg Machinery - Lexington
Highland Machinery Co.
Condon
Stone Machinery
Pendleton, The Dalles,
Walla Walla
Cole Electric - Pendleton
Farmore Service Center Irrigation PETROLEUM
Division Pendleton
SUPPLIES
Heppner Auto Parts - Heppner
Pettyjohn's Farm & Building
Supply - Heppner
Wright's Country Store - Ruggs
Dobyns Pest Control - lone
Cornett Green Feed - Heppner
Murrays Drug - Heppner
Rietmann's Hardware - lone
Bristow's Market - lone
Lott's Electric - Heppner
FINANCE
Federal Land Bank Association
Pendleton
Bank of Eastern Oregon
Heppner - lone
First National Bank - Heppner
Morrow County Abstract &
Title Co. - Heppner
Pendleton Production Credit
Association - Pendleton
MACHINE HIRE
FERTILIZER
Heppner Inland Chemical
Heppner
Bi-County Chemical - lone
Cenex Plant Foods - lone
GRANGES
Willows Grange lone
Rhea Creek Grange - Heppner
Lexington Grange Lexington
Mike Gray (Union Oil)
Heppner
Ed Dick (Standard Oil)
Heppner
Paul Pettyjohn (Shell Oil)
lone
AUTOMOTIVE
B & C Tractor Repair - lone
Ekstrom Trailer Sales - lone
Farley Motor - Heppner
iar Aviation - Lexington
White's Grading Service - lone
POWER
Columbia Basin Electric
Heppner
INSURANCE
Turner, Van Marter & Bryant
Heppner
Ruggles-Boyce Ins. Agency
Heppner
Charles O'Connor - lone
HEPPNER SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT