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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (March 14, 1961)
Rogue Soil District Tells Of Drainaae Progress Made . . By CLEM AULT Work Unit Comtrvailoniit Roguo Soil Conicivation Diitrlci The Rogue soli conferva tlon district has made good progress In the last 18 months on drainage problems in the Bear Creek valley. Some of the major accom- pllshments Include assignment of an irrigation and drainage engineer to the soil conserva tion district, securing use of a power auger from the coun. ty court, (This facilitates drainage Investigations), map ping of drainage problem areas, and design and instal' lation of the lines on some farms. Drainage has been a seri ous problem to farmers and orchidlsts in the valley for - years. The Talent project calls for addition of approximately 50 per cent more water to the valley. The idea of the additional water without planned program of water ap plication to avoid excessive use and underground seepage disturbed many established farmers, Irrigation district ' managers, soil conservation district officials. Irrigation Districts Help The major irrigation dls , tricls In the valley joined in forming an irrigation and drainage committee to work on the problem. This commit tee consists of Dave Lowry, Don Minear, Cloe Small, Paul Culbertson and Otto Bohnert. It decided that immediate as sistance Is needed to work on tlie problem and an action program should be underway before delivery of the Talent project's additional water. This same group met with the soil conservation service officials and requested engi neering assistance. T. P. Hel seth, state conservationist, as sured the committee of help for this special work if there were sufficient local support to Justify it. He also pointed out that detailed drainage in vestigations are required in this area to assure satisfac tory drainage projects. Use of manpower to drill the re quired holes for this Investi gation seemed impractical, he said. The committee then ask ed the county court for sup port and help In getting a power auger to make the drainage investigations possi ble. F. H. Latham, Irrigation and drainage engineer, was assigned to the study on a full time basis as a result of this assurance of local help. Obtains Auger Shortly after Latham ar rived, the county court ob tained the specially designed power auger for the drainage investigations and for founda tion studies for county roads and bridges. Since assignment to the Rogue district, Latham has marked off major areas of the valley according to soils ELEPHANT BRAND FOR THIS TRUCK This is nn example of what can be bought with profits from the use of fertilizer. With Elephant Brand you grow more so you lower tho pro duction cost of each crop unit (each bushel, pound or ton). Whether you grow small grains, coarse grains, row crops or fruit raise beef cattle or dairy herds if you can lower the cost per unit of your cash crop or your forage you will make more tnonoy. Lower unit cost Is tho key to more profitablo farming. There is no surer way to lower unit costs than by using Elephant Brand. When you fertilize with Elephant Brand you can make more in three ILEPHANT IRAND PLUS VALUES A wide ran of plant food ratloi Unlform-iltod (roe flowing palletised product! All fertlllitri highly woltr soluble Strang, wtothtr-rnlitont, non-illp bagi IT PAYS BSIORdzl.l'ilV.lll.-HrTffi i;sl.'avn'oV.1'al" l'o.":;.?: r."-'...-......' .:,ou PAN PWAHCHCO LOl IKBILII ptrTL PORTLAND I COMINrn S Highway 99 in Central Point Phone NO 4-1261 or SP 3-4022 TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1961 characteristics and complex ity of drainage problems. The power auger has been used for drilling and soils studies on 23 farms. The soils on these farms were classified as to dralnablllty. The design was completed and lines In stalled on 12 farms. Drainage studies are still in progress on the remaining farms. The largest single drainage problem area In the valley lies west of Central Point and Mcdford.the survey indicated This area represents approxi mately 19,000 acres. Investi gations indicate that drainage might be accomplished on this block of land by placement of tile lines 8 to 10 feet deep and at approximately right angles to the direction of the underground seepage. These tile lines would out let into Jackson, Griffin or Bear creek. Assurance of proper outlets for these lines would require deepening and maintenance of portions of the channels of these creeks. Not all of the soils or farms In the area are poorly drain ed. However, such problems as outlets for tile lines and creek channel improvement work might involve and bene fit most farms. The soil conservation dis trict's proposal to correct the drainage problem in the ma jor area by laying deep tile and :' nproving the creek chan nels :ns been discussed with county health authorities, the county court and some farm ers and orchardists In the val ley. Most of these people with whom the problem has been discussed showed a keen in terest in the proposal. It appears now that the most feasible approach to the problem in this large area would be through the small watersheds program under Public Law 566. Through this program the federal govern ment could contribute approx imately 40 per cent of the cost and a long-term loan with low interest rates could finance such a project. Public demand and forma tion of a water control dis trict would be required be fore' assistance would be made available through the small watershed program. Small poorly drained areas and individual farms needing drainage were found In many other parts of the valley. The drainage work on these small areas or Individual farms can be accomplished and financed by small farmer groups, by the individual farmer, in co operation with local agricul tural conservation programs and the Rogue soil conserva tion district. The same general type of investigation is usually re quired to determine the man ner In which soils might be drained regardless of location in the valley or size of the area Involved. The soil pattern In south ways: first, you get belter crude crops which sell for higher prices; second, bigger yields give you more to sell nnd third, you get greater profit from each crop unit of what ever you grow. 6ET A BIGGER PROFIT "SLICE" moouciioNsi moduciwmJ I COST -f'gffl I COST dfMJfl UHII 7 tlWT Vf without ruTiuim WITH riKTILIIin Think of thli "pi1 u the monty you Ktt lor every crop unit you irow. Tha -darkeatil ptrllon li your profit. rrrlllUrr helps y il e bluer prom "ll". esrensiTe warehouse system for tail dHlir TO CHOOSE FROM THE ELEPHANT BRAND LINE I NIIRAPRIUS(33.5 0 0) I 16-20-0 I 11-48 0 I Elephant Brand water soluble F E RTI L I Z E RS A n sif vaa u ... . - Gat Your ELEPHANT BRAND FERTILIZER at . . . GRANGE SUPPLY ASSOCIATION western Jackson county Is variable and complex. There for, detailed Investigation Is generally necessary to take the guess work from Installa tion of drainage systems. Drainage Investigations nor mally include drilling of holes at intervals to determine dralnablllty of the soil, depth to water-bearing strata and location of sub-surface dikes of rock or clay. Water table readings in the holes provide information on variation In water table levels as affected by irrigation and winter rains, and the amounts of water to be removed from the subsoil. All of this information is nec essary to judge the location, depth and size of the tile line required. Independent Solutions Farmers can do much on their own to correct or pre vent drainage problems. Irri gating by proper method for existing soil conditions and applying only the needed amount of water are simple things. However, these meas ures If followed can contrib ute greatly in reducing drain age problems. Irrigation water should be applied according to soil type and for the crop grown. Heavy soils hold more water and don't need to be irrigated as frequently as light soils. Water should not be applied before it is needed by the crop. However, crops should not be allowed to wilt. Over irrigation reduces the yield just as surely as under Irriga tion. Soil augers or probes can be used to check soil moisture conditions. By simple observa tions and feel one can deter mine when to Irrigate. Soil conservation service technicians or county agents will assist in explaining how to make these simple tests. The SCD will assist in plan ning and layout for proper Irrigation systems so water can be controlled and applied properly. To prevent winter rain from contributing unnecessarily to the drainage problem, small ditches should be installed from low spots or swales to allow free drainage from the soil surface. Major ditches and natural waterways should be kept open to permit water discharge. Land-owners or operators In the county having irriga tion or drainage problems are encouraged to contact one of their soil conservation district supervisors, a county agent, the agricultural stabilization and conservation committee office or the soil conservation service. Representatives of these offices will assist or di rect the land operator to the proper place according to his problem or assistance desired. service AMMONIUM SULPHATE (210 14-14-7 UREA (4S-Q.Q) "h,i . ro n - QKANI MIHNIPOtl U CO-OP 421 A Street In Ashland Phone MU 9-6281 Farm & V ft USING POWER AUGER F. I; ft 1 ra fP?Mu ,.i pM'si drainage engineer, in this picture Is operating the power auger. The auger is mounted on a four-wheel drive pick-up truck. It is driven from the power take-off. The tower is raised and lowered hydraulically. The machine will drill a 10-foot hole as It is set. By adding an extension on the rod It will drill to a 20-foot depth. fiZJL 'W. 1 n v i-vv.1t o-rr-' "x.s5 ! TrMTMd WITCH B1TP Tf tile is installed to carry off water raises in a drilled hole is the basis on which size of tile is determined. Here the SCS engineer is timing the rate water Is rising. Measurement is taken by using a "Dutch float" which is a simple float fastened to the end of a steel tape which reels in automatically through a guide as the water raises. 1 0 WV- jJv TABLE READINGS On some farms It is necessary to obtain water table readings through the Irrigation or winter season. In such cases the drainage holes or wells are lined with per forated down-spouting to prevent cavo-ln and to permit water table readings over a long period of time. Here F. H. Latham, SCS irrigation and drainage engineer, is reading water table depth In a local orchard. MARKET NEWS Km II In f I llvtitock auction report, Tueidny, Much 1, lstl CATTLK: Sulablo 3B0, Inclurllns around HO calvel. Slaughter tteera and hellcrr scarce; small supply ot tlauihter cows inadequate to fully teat marKet. about steady; stocker and feeder calves and yearlings only moderately active, about steady. Instances easier on calves; stock cows with calves at slite steady to strong. Supply comprised of less than 9 per cent slaughter cows, remntmler mainly Blocker and feeder classes. Consignments almost antlrely of northern California origin. Slaughter cows: Individual Standard 779 lbs. SIS 70. Individual Utility 1140 lbs lie ao, sprinkling Canner and Cutter $1190-14.79. Slaughter calves; Few head Good 340-390 lbs. S26 O0-2B S3. Stocker and feeder steers: Individuals and small lota Medium and flood ;H)O-.100 lb ralvca $2 50-2H 150 Few pi-nlots and Individual Good and Choice IU-7!3 lb feeders S24.00-24.33, Individual Common and Medium .ViJ-SM lbs $21 25-23 79 I Sterker and feeder heifers: fl head lot Good 277 lb calves S-.V50. I few small lots and Individual Medium and Good 230-500 lbs. J22 20- 2;i 00 Few Individuals and lots Medium and Good 540-730 lb. yearlings S20.00-22 83. Slock cows: Few individual Common f 11.00-12 20. Petflots and I individual Medium and Good with young calves at side $205.00-240.00 1 per pair, Common and Medium S140 00-175 00 per pair. ! HOGS: Salable 13. Supply mainly feeder pigs. I Feeder pigs: Couple lota Good and Choice IT end Bl lbs. 119 40 and $19 no ' 811! U': Salable none. Market untested. i ? Garden H. Latham, SGS Irrigation and lo Imnnrhnt (lint nrnnsr ciyo subsurface water. The rate that ! 1 1 IS? MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD, ORE. 449 Cattle Sold At Midway Sale; 82 Consignors A total of 449 cattle and calves were consigned during Friday's Midway' Auction yardsale, according to Man ager BUI Bray. Eighty-two consignors were tallied during the very active market in all classes. Choice Hereford steer calves, 375 to 425 pounds, brought $25 to $26.50. Good to choice 500 to 650 pound steers in lots of 10 to 15 head brought $23.50 to $24.50. Me dium to good steers weighing 400 to 600 pounds in pen lots and singles sold at $22 to $24.75. Holstein steers brought $18.50 to $21. Choice Hereford heifer calves sold at $23 to $24.10. Several lots of 300 to 350 pound heifers sold by the head at $70 to $88. Feeder heifers weighing 500 to 650 pounds sold at $20.50 to $22.30. Me dium heifers sold from $18 to $20. . . 100 Hereford Cows Over 100 head of Hereford stock cows were In this sale. A pen of six cows with calves sold for $235 and a pen of 18 springers brought $209 per head. A pen of 23 aged spring er cows brought $162.50. Calvy heifers sold from $170 to $203 per head. Several lots of good stock cows went out at $180 to $205 per head. Slaughter steers and heif ers, mostly standard to good, sold at $19 to $22.80. Slaugh ter bulls brought $18.10 to $19.10. Butcher cows with a few' standards sold at $18 to $18.40, whlteface utility cows brought $16.50 to $17.75. Util ity Holstein cows sold at $15 to $16.10. Cutter cows sold at $14 to $15.80. Lightweight canner-cutter cows brought $12 to $13.75. "Market your slaughter cows in the next three weeks to catch the best market. Bray advised. A lack of salt in the rations contribute to the route of Na nnlpnn's trnnns riurintf his dis astrous winter retreat from Russia. The men were un ahlo tn shake off fatigue their wounds would not heal as they should. I Sf s the Grange Co-op FERTILIZER BY THE SACK OR BY THE CARLOAD Gypsum Superphosphate Sulphate of Ammonia and Complete Fertilizer Mixet COMPLETE STOCKS ON HAND HIGHWAY 99 Phone NO Hort Society Discussion Set A committee to diicun topics and speakers for the ton fruit section of the Oregon State Horticultural Society will meet tonight at 7:30 o'clock, according to Dav Passon, Jac'iHon county extension agent. The committee meeting will be held in the Jackson county court house audi torium. Persons Interested in working with the commit tee are invited to attend the meeting or contact one of the committee members. The committee members are Dave Lowry, chairman! Bud B a r n u m Jr., Otto Bohnert, Gordon Kershaw, Don Korth, Joe Meyer, Wendell Spence, John Hig don, and Donald McGuire. This committee provides a chance for peach, cherry and plum growers in the area to help organise the program for the annual Ore gon State Horticultural So ciety. Farm Catalogue Still Popular Fox -frightening turkey bells, glass eyes for horses, goat-powered tread mills these were some of the prod ucts sold to rural America at the turn of the century by the Sears, Roebuck and company. Today, these products are only a memory. Windmills have given way to electric generators. "Number eight" horse shoes have surrendered to roto-spaders and three quarter ton four-horsepower gas engines have been re placed by 4V4-horsepower models weighing 48 pounds. In fact, less than 1 per cent of the 2,100 items listed in the new 1961 Sears, Roebuck and company suburban-farm catalogue now being distrib uted here are carried over from 60 years ago. The new Sears book lists a complete line of modern gar dening and farming equip ment. An example of the new line of equipment is the rid ing mower capable of mowing more than an acre an hour. It can be quickly converted into a 42-inch snowplow. A complete line of leather saddles, racing karts and even a do-it-yourself aluminum ca bana set is listed for the sportsman In the new 180- page catalogue for ALL Your ry"7!) co-op r.l GRANGE . IN CENTRAL POINT 4-1261 or SP 3-4022 Another Lamb Pool Set for Local Area lamb Dool will be formed In Jackson county as soon as sufficient lambs are available, County Extension Agent Earle Jossy said today, in ahnnt a month Jossy plans to send letters to find out' how many lamb growers are Interested. A ween Deiore .sih fihlnment cards will 0 out to be mailed back to the extension office indicating the number of lambs available. Veprters are shinned to Dix on, Calif, by the Farm Bureau Shipping association, bince mnr nf th sheer) ffrowers of this area have small numbers of sheep-25 to 150 ewes- not annuffh Inmh tn en anvwhere. The program was started two years ago. Last year about 3,000 lamDs were shipped through this pool. It will operate on the same general arrangements this season. Takes Cut The grader takes a cut ot the profit. A charge of 10 mn nounds is made by the yarder for weighing and loading, xne Jtarm Bu reau receives 25 cents for Its organizational work. Consign ors are paid the average price agreed upon between tne pom Annual Meeting Set For SCD Dr. Murray Dawson, from Oregon State college, and recently returned from Thailand, will apeak at the Jackson Soil Conservation district meeting in the Eagle Point Grange hall at 8 p.m. Thursday, according to Gene Winters, county ex tension agent. Dawson will discuss pas ture management in New Zealand and Australia. The annual Goodyear Rubber company award for outstanding soil conserva tionist will be presented. Di rectors will be elected to fill positions vacated by A. T. Wattenberg, Burdett Dodge and John Konwiser. This is the tenth anniversary meet ing. Feed pregnant goats and sheep trace mineralized stock salt to make sure their milk will contain adequate amounts of the all-important Vitamin B-12. A FULL LINE OF SEED GRAINS: Wheat, Oats, Barley; also Rye, Peas, Clovers, ' Alfalfa, and all the principal varieties of grasses. NHS ---' liquid anhydrous jj ' ?V : P ammonia espsci- I -, rt ' F- i ally recommended it fag on iprlng plant- j : H ' - hy-i Ing. of grain J crop i . , .v.vt;x - Mmnm CO-OP OCIATION 421 A STREET Phone MU committee and the grader, less the total fee as explained. 'We beat the Portland mar- ket every time we shipped," Jossy said. "This has meant a minimum of 2 cents more a pound to the shipper. FOB here the minimum net has been a cent a pound. Main object of the pool has been to beat the high cost of freight by shipping Individual, ly. Pools are becoming in creasingly important to lamb marketing ' as the slow Dut constant attrition goes on in independent lambs with the big packers getting bigger all the time, observers nave noted. Last year a Klamath coun ty pool handled 1,700 to 2, 000 lambs per shipment every three to four weeks during marketing season. The lambs went direct to San Francisco killers and netted growers 25 to 75 cents per hundred weight, more than was being paid by local outlets or by packer buyers in the area. Pool Organised This pool, organized by the Valley Livestock Marketing association of Dixon, Calif., has been operating for five years. Expenses to growers run 7 cents per animal mar keted. About 1,000 growers sell through the pool. Lane county sheepmen are reported to be starting a lamb pool. Lambing here has been ex cellent and feed conditions considerably better than nor mal due to the open weather this winer. Jossy forsees little difficulty in selection of lambs for market grades. 3 HORSE POWER 22 INCH TILLER Clinton Engine Full Year Warranty 124 95 CHECK WITH US FOR USED TILLERS HUSBARD-WRAY COMPANY 909 South Riverside Phone SP 3-7511 EEDS! Remember You don't have to bo a MEMBER to Trad Here sad SAVII IN ASHLAND 9-6281
