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