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Volume T3. Number 11 Marshall, N. C. . IS CENTS PER COPr April 11, 1974 '
Tight Fertilizer Supply
Predicted; Conservation Urged
North Carolina farmers will
be forced to adopt feetilizer
stretching practices this year
due to the tightest supply
situation in nearly 30 years.
North Carolina State
University crops specialists
say indications are that total
supplies will about equal those
available in 1973, but an ex
pansion of acreages of some
crops will increase total
demand.
"It is apparent that we will
have less fertilizer available
per acre than we had in 1973,"
said Dr. Jack Baird, NCSU
extension soils specialist.
Baird said nitrogen will be the
most critical element.
Farmers increased their use
of nitrogen last summer on
corn and used more of it to
preplan t last fall on a greatly
enlarged U. S. wheat acreage.
"This drew nitrogen in
ventories down to new lows,"
the soils specialist said.
NCSU specialists and
county extension agents are
suggesting a number of
alternatives or adjustments to
help farmers stretch fertilizer
especially nitrogen sup
plies. One way is to cut back
where excessive amounts of
nitrogen have been used on
corn in the past. Baird said
nitrogen has been relatively
inexpensive and plentiful until
recently encouraging farmers
to apply more than was
needed.
"Nitrogen or
North CardUn
"Nitrogen on much of the
conrowniox
MADISON BOOSTERS CLUB officers and director were elected here
Monday night. Pictured above are the new officers of the active organization.
Left to right, Lawrence Ponder, president; Mrs. Mona Flynn, vice-president;
Jake Grigg, secretary ; and Ed Howard, treasurer. They are shown holding a
Jacket similar to the ones which will be worn by varsity athletes at Madison
High School. Directors elected are Dr. Reese Steen. Walter Harrell. Max
Edmonds, the Rev. Jim Long, Jack Buckner, Ron Kiser, Herbert Ponder,
Douglas Adams and Ted Flynn.
paul rrocr.c. r route i.
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grain could be reduced to 125
to ISO pounds per acre with
careful timing and close at
tention to plant populations
suggested by plant breeders,"
Baird said.
He said these suggestions
are offered particularly to
farmers who are expanding
corn acreage. "They should
use soil tests to identify other
nutrient needs that may limit
the crop's response to
nitrogen," the specialist
suggested.
Baird pointed out that many
farmers could save nitrogen
by splitting applications. He
suggested using a fourth to a
third of the nitrogen with the
herbicide at planting time and
delaying the remainder until
layby time. This minimizes
risk of losing fertilizer by
leaching.
Another alternative is the
use of sources of nitrogen
other than solution. These
include calcium, nitrate,
sodium nitrate ammonia,
ammonium sulfate, urea or
other less commonly used
sources of nitrogen for corn,
cotton or grain sorghum.
These may be more ex
pensive than nitrogen solution
but could be a means of
slavaging a crop and
producing a good yield Baird
commented.
The use of animal manure is
another consideration. It not
only provides from 10 to 50
pounds of nitrogen per ton but
alsa. supplies phosphorus and
-- -?
Hot frrlnr. W
T a '-"' i jv's work
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l1 p. ii ft I 'll
potash. An analysis may be
needed to determine the
nutrient content of the
manure.
Switching crops can help
avoid a fertilizer problem.
Planting soybeans for part of
the corn acreage could reduce
the need for nitrogen since
soybeans do not require
nitrogen.
Any residues of soybeans
and peanut vines will supply
ASCS To Authorize
Short Or Long
Term Conservation
"The 1974 Rural En
vironmental Conservation
Program (RECP) authorizes
two different forms of cost
sharing agreements," reports
Nila Mann, PAC of Madison
County Agricultural
Stabilization and Con
servation Service. "Either one
year or long-term con
servation projects can be
approved by county ASC
Committees.
The annual agreement will
be available in all counties,
and the participant does not
need an approved soil and
n 1 o
r ancake Clipper
At Mars Hill
Wednesday
The Mars Hill United
Methodist Church is having a
pancake supper on Wtd
neaday, April 17, (ran 1:30 to
1:00 pjn.
- The coat is $1 J for adults
and 7Sc for chOdren.
' The public is cordiaH a
: . Revival '
' -: ''
A revival will begin at the'
Easier Gap BapUst Church on
Sunday niht April 14, at 7;30
p. m.
T" F i'. V rd St If -iJ
: it :,:ii'f -u, g
r.. . -s.
about 20 to 30 or 30 to 50 pounds
of nitrogen per acre respee
tedly for the following crop.
Over the long haul, Baird
said farmers may want to
consider the planting of winter
legumes or other iegi'mes for
the production of sup
plemental nitrogen. The
feasibility of this practice
would largely depend on
whether the shortage situation
continued.
water conservation plan when
applying. One change this
year which should be noted is
that all applications and
practices will be checked
prior to approval.
The Soil Conservation
Service (SCS) and the Forest
Service (FS) will provide the
technical services. They will
be checking for practice need
and satisfactory completion of
the projects within the
stipulated period.
The long-term agreements,
covering periods from 3 to 10
years.J'are designed to assist
farmera in making. In an
orderly progression of years,
such changes on their land as
needed to accomplish the
purpose of RECP.
While It appears the $11.25
million set-aside for the long
term agrements is sub
stantially less than that for the
annual programs, it must be
realized that these are only
the funds actually to be paid
during 1974.
For example (using the
maximum amounts possible),
assume a farmer has been
approved for a ten-year
agreement with costs incurred
each year of $5,000. He would
be reimbursed $2,500 each
year for that approved work.
While the total package, over
the ten years, could amount to
$25,000 only his annual $2,500
would be charged to the 1974
allocation.
Only those persons now
holding an approved Soil
Conservation District plan
will be considered for 1974
long-term agreements.
Participants must assure the
county committee that work
on the approved plan will
begin this year.
At this time, the county
office will accept the ap
plication and forward It to SCS
for a conservation priority.
upon return 10 asus, a
processing number wui be
assigned In preparation for
Upon return to ASCS,
the county funding allocation.
If the application is ap
proved, it Is returned to SCS
for a definite work plan
covering the allotted number
of years. ASCS will then
prepaM the actual agreement,
and ones it Is signed by both
parties, work on the approved
practices can begin.
"Due to tot late start of this
year's program and the
necessary steps to be followed
prior to acceptance kite the
program, tt Is Important for
. all persons Interested la
participating In the 1974
RECP to contact our county
ASCS office immediately. Any
delay by andeclded in
dividuals could prove costly to
them. .-' ... -.' . . y .
"Our offices are open and
available to assist anyone with
qnestions or wishing to apply
for the FXCP," tve said.
S.en-up t'.'-n April for
RECP and I'.FIAP pnrun
- i r
Crop Production Acreage
Xp cf ea$e x State
.1
By BILL BROWN
More than a quarter million
acres of land in North
Carolina that were covered
with grass or trees last year
year will be converted into
cropland during the 1974
planting season, according to
a statewide survey by the Soil
Conservation Service, and
almost half of it may be
threatened by erosion.
State Conservationist Jesse
L. Hicks of Raleigh, who
heads the SCS in North
Carolina, reported today that
257 thousand acres in the state
will return to row crop
production. Of this, about 111
thousand are listed as sloping
land which may be subject to
unusually heavy erosion.
Most of the acreage which
will be reconverted to
cropland is former "set aside"
land diverted from farm
production, much of it for a
number of years. More than
200 thousand of the 257
thousand acres are in this
category in North Carolina.
In contrast, only 25 thousand
acres will be converted from
woodland farmers evidently
consider trees a valued crop
as well and about 32
thousand from pasture and
other grassland, according to
the SCS survey.
In addition to the land which
may face erosion problems, a
sizable portion of the land
being returned to crops In
North Carolina has moisture
problems. More than 104
thousand acres may
difficulties for cultivation
because of excess water
during rainy periods.
For both erodible conditions
and for those with water
management problems, State
Conservationist Hicks said
that Soil Conservation Service
people working tltrough local
soil and water conservation
districts which serve every
county in North Carolina can
suggest practical con
servation measures and
remedies for problems.
"Such sensible devices as
grassed waterways, terraces,
field borders and a variety of
other practices can do a lot to
help with these problems,"
Mr. Hicks said. "Since North
Carolina farmers have a very
fine record in applying soil
conservation practices, we
are very optimistic that they
will stick to recommended
practices thir year no matter
what crops they are planning
to produce."
The Rural Environmental
Conservation Program
(RECP) for 1974, recently
announced by the Agricultural
Stabilization and Con
servation Service, is designed
to assist landowners in
establishing conservation
measures that will help solve
problems associated with the
return of cropland to
cultivation.
ASCS will administer the
program and SCS, working
through toll and water con
servation districts, will
provide planning assistance to
Be ba$
risen...
landowners in carrying
out
recommended practices.
The North Carolina ratio of
land being reconverted to
crops is comparable to the
national figure. The national
SCS field survey shows that 9.5
million acres of "set aside,"
grassland or forest will be
converted to crop production
during the current year, with
the majority having been "set
aside."
The SCS survey was done
primarily to pinpoint con
verted cropland where critical
soil erosion problems are
expected. Of the 9.5 million
national acres, about 4.3
million may have such
problems.
The most critical areas
posing problems are in the
high plains of western Texas
and Oklahoma and in eastern
New Mexico.
SCS Administrator Kenneth
E. Grant commented: "There
are some areas that shouldn't
be used for row crops at all.
They ought to be left in grass
and trees."
He added: "Local con
servation districts and USDA
technical people are going to
have to redouble efforts to
help farmers and ranchers to
get additional cropland acres
under a conservation plan,
and to apply measures to
control soil erosion. These
include crop rotation, strip
cropping, terracing and
contour plowing, as well as
minimum tillage techniques. "
Madison-Yancey Road
Project Is Cancelled
RALEIGH - A road project
which will serve an industrial
park in Henderson County was
approved by the N.C. Board of
Transportation Thursday but
another which was designed to
aid a resort iii Madison and
Yancey Counties was deleted.
Both projects were under the
Appalachian Regional
Development Program.
The Board approved a
$900,000 access road to serve
the Cane Creek Industrial
Park, which is located bet
ween Hendersonville and
Asheville. This 1.8 mile
project calls for the recon
struction of two secondary
roads with less than one-half
mile of construction on new
location.
The project has been ap
proved by the Appalachian
Regional Commission but the
action was taken subject to
approval by the State Board of
Transportation. The project
will be funded on a basis of 70
percent federal and 30 percent
state.
I ll
JIM LONG, of Man Hill, first president of the
Madison Boosters Club, is shown (left), handling the
gavel to the newly-elected president, Lawrence
Ponder, of Marshall, following the election here
Monday night.
Home Gardens And
Home Conservation
Education
Reducing food bills is just
one good reason for having a
home garden, according to a
local soil conservationist.
"Many young people, and
adults too, have never had the
satisfying educational ex
perience of cultivating the
soil" Bill Brown, Soil Con
servation Technician with the
Soil Conservation Service
said.
"Children are pretty sick
these days of being told that
they are living In a pre
packaged, quick-frozen world
even if it is true. A small
garden can teach a lot about
soil-plant relationships, soil
and water conservation, and
an appreciation for tbe
productiveness of the earth,"
Bill continued. "This is a good
enough reason for having a
home garden."
Night Of Music : !
" . ": " . '- . ..
Planned For Hot
Springs Saturday;
The Eoard of T"r' of
the Kjt trii., i C " r of
Commerce is pUni... gar.
of music for even' rr-t en
joyment this Saturday t. ' t,
April 13th. at I p.m. The rm. ' c
w.3 be beard at t' e T s
TV '- In r'-w-'--!-i I t
The Madison - Yancey
project was for an access road
from US 23 at Sams Gap to a
proposed recreational
development to be known as
Big Bald Mountain Resort.
The development was located
in both North Carolina and
Tennessee and the proposed
road was a joint venture of the
two states under the Ap
palachian Program. The 2.9
mile road would have cost
North Carolina $206,000 and
Tennessee $321,000 in Ap-
palachian funds.
The project was opposed by
the U.S. Forest Service and
the Appalachian Trail
Association because they said
it would disrupt the Ap
palachian Trail. Since the
development did not
materialize, both states have
agreed that it should be
deleted from their programs.
There will be no loss of Ap
palachian funds as the result
of the allocation being with
drawn, highway officials said.
"Another thing you hear a
lot about these days is 'quality
of life'," Bill said. "And it is
my view that the superb flavor
of your own fresh wiltod
lettuce salad, com-on-tha-cob,
and homegrown tomatoes
improve your quality of Ufa,
This is another good reason
for having a home gardea,"
"When you put In your
garden, dont forget the i
for soil and water
servation," Bill said. "Contact
my office, and I will nravfatt
you with two little leafXa that
will give you soma good
suggestions on home-gardes
conservation. B. you have'
questions on garden pasts,
varieties, or diseases, yoa
should contact your
University Extension Service
office.' ,
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