STATES OF AMERICA FEB 12 '40 THE AAA RANGE CONSERVATION PROGRAM FOR 1940 For Conservation of Texas and Oklahoma Range Lands INTRODUCTION The purpose of the 1940 Range Conservation Program is the conservation of soil on range land. Need for conserving the range in Texas and Oklahoma arises from the fact that the original grazing capacity has been gradually cut down by droughts, overgrazing, rodents, and noxious plants, all of which increase soil erosion. Gradual depletion of grass not only has meant a serious loss of forage to stockmen, but also has left the fertile topsoil of large areas of range land exposed to erosion. The Range Conservation Program is designed to help ranchmen put into operation the range-building practices which experiment and actual use have shown to be of value in helping maintain or restore a good stand of grass on depleted range land. Grass offers the best protection to range soil. Land covered by a sufficient stand of grass almost always shows constant improvement. Rarely is it severely affected by erosion. Consequently, the Range Conservation Program provides practices which will help maintain or restore a good stand of grass by eliminating competition of range-destroying plants, preventing erosion, and conserving water in the more arid regions. Natural reseeding by deferred grazing. One of the most important practices is that of natural reseeding. This is accomplished by keeping all livestock off the pasture from the start of the growth of grass in the spring until the seed has matured. A different portion of the ranch should be selected each year for natural reseeding by deferred grazing, so that the entire ranch eventually may be reseeded. The operator cannot qualify for payment on land that normally would not be grazed during this period, nor will he be eligible for payment if he permits any part of his ranch to be injuriously overgrazed. Before beginning the practice of deferred grazing, the area on which grazing is to be deferred must be designated in writing by the operator and approved by the county committee. The payment for this practice will be limited to 40 percent of the range-building allowance, unless the State committee has approved additional recommended practices and other conservation measures to be carried out in the county in connection with the deferred grazing practice. Development of stock water on range land. The better distribution of watering places will lessen erosion brought about through trampling and destruction of grass by stock going long distances to water. Stock traveling long distances to water create trails that develop into washes and gullies, causing increased damage from erosion and run-off. 194858°-39 1 The construction of earthen tanks and reservoirs is the most desirable method of impounding stock water under this program. Concrete or rubble-masonry dams may be constructed where earthen dams are not practicable. Dam sites should be chosen carefully and ranchmen will confer with the county agent or range inspector, and obtain the approval of the county committee before construction is begun. After a dam site is definitely decided upon, ranchmen must be sure that a profile of the proposed dam is made and platted and that benchmarks and reference points are established. The construction of tanks and reservoirs will be approved only for the purpose of providing water for range livestock and for the control of erosion. Development of natural watering places consists of improvement and development of springs and seeps by excavation. To qualify for payment, the operator must, at his own expense, wall up the spring or seep with concrete or rubble-masonry walls, fence it to protect from trampling, and convey the water into a tank. Erosion and run-off control. Contour listing, furrowing, chiseling, contour ridging, and the building of spreader dams and terraces are erosion-control practices specified in the program. These prac tices hold water on the land where it falls, catch grass seed which otherwise would be lost, help prevent erosion, and keep the water out of creeks and gullies. Elimination of destructive plants. Soil may be conserved through encouraging an increased growth of grass by eliminating range-destroying plants which shade out grass or kill it by root competition. Section 1. HOW TO PARTICIPATE Ranchmen who wish to participate in the range program will first sign the application for determination of grazing capacity, and then confer and reach an agreement with the range inspector or county agent, and secure the approval of the county committee, as to the approved practices to be carried out on the ranch by filling out the Report of Examination of Range Land. In the event construction of dams is approved as a practice on the ranch the range inspector or a duly appointed representative of the State committee, or county committee, will visit the site, and lay out the proposed dam, establishing benchmarks and reference points. This is necessary in order that accurate measurements of the dam may be made when the work is completed. All practices will be carefully checked to see that they are carried out according to specifications. Section 2. PAYMENTS TO RANCH OPERATORS Since ranch operators who carry out range-building practices on their individual ranches are cooperating in the solution of a national problem, the Range Conservation Program provides that they will receive payments from funds to be made available for this purpose by the Federal Government. These payments and the rates at which they will be made are contingent upon the appropriation by Congress of necessary funds. The payment rate may be increased or decreased by not to exceed 10 percent depending on the extent of participation in the program. For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the Range Conservation Program, a ranch or ranching unit includes all range land (except land owned by the United States Government) which is considered to be land that produces forage grazed by range livestock without cultivation or general irrigation, which is controlled by one operator as a separate unit in the production of livestock, and which is operated with machinery, workstock, and labor substantially separate from that used on any other range land. A ranch is regarded as located in the county in which its principal dwelling is situated. A ranch on which there is no dwelling is regarded as located in the county in which the greater portion of the land is situated. The maximum amount of money that can be earned under the Range Conservation Program for carrying out range-building practices on any ranch is called the range-building allowance. This allowance is calculated at the rate of $1 for each animal unit of the grazing capacity established for the ranch, plus 2 cents for each acre of range land in the ranch. It is provided, however, that the allowance cannot be computed on the basis of a grazing capacity of more than 1 animal unit for each 10 acres of range land and that the 2-cent rate on the acreage of range land cannot apply to more than 60 acres per animal unit of grazing capacity, and it is also provided that the range-building allowance shall not be less than $64 for ranches containing 640 acres of range land or more, nor less than 10 cents per acre of range land for ranches containing less than 640 acres. An animal unit is 1 cow, 1 horse, 5 goats, or 5 sheep, or the equivalent thereof. The grazing capacity of a ranch is the number of animal units which the range land on the ranch will sustain on a 12-months' basis over a period of years without decreasing the stand of grazing vegetation and without injury to the forage, tree growth, or watershed. EXAMPLES For illustration, assume that a ranch with 16,000 acres of range land has an established grazing capacity of 400 animal units, or 40 acres per animal unit. The range-building allowance would be calculated as follows: 16,000 (acres) X 2 cents Range-building allowance__ $320 400 720 In another case, assume that a ranch with 16.000 acres of range land has an established grazing capacity of 200 animal units. This would give the ranch more than the maximum of 60 acres per animal unit on which the payment of 2 cents per acre is allowed; therefore, the 2-cent payment would be made on only 60 acres per animal unit, or 12,000 acres (grazing capacity multiplied by 60). The rangebuilding allowance in this case would be calculated as follows: 12,000 (acres) X 2 cents. Range-building allowance. $240 200 440 In the case of a ranch with 1,000 acres of range land, assume that the established grazing capacity is 100 animal units. This would give the ranch the minimum requirement of 10 acres per animal unit for that part of the range-building allowance calculated on the basis of grazing capacity. The range-building allowance would be calculated as follows: 1.000 (acres) X 2 cents. Range-building allowance__ $20 100 120. In the case of a ranch with 700 acres of range land, assume that the established grazing capacity is 35 animal units. Under the regular procedure the range-building allowance would be calculated as follows: 700 (acres) ×2 cents_. 35 (animal units) X$1__ However, since no ranch of 640 acres or more can have an $14 49 $64 In any case, the range-building allowance or any part of it must be earned by the ranch operator by carrying out approved range building practices. Section 3. HOW GRAZING CAPACITY IS DETERMINED The grazing capacity of any ranch participating in the program in 1940 for the first time will be determined through a field survey by a county range inspector selected by the county committee, with the approval of the State committee. In establishing the grazing capacity of a ranch the range inspector will take into consideration the composition, palatability, and density of forage growth; variations in weather conditions; distribution and character of watering facilities; topography; presence or absence of rodents and poisonous plants; and the number and classes of livestock previously carried. The grazing capacity of a ranch shall be based on the normal and not on the temporary condition alone, as found at the time of inspection. On ranches where a grazing capacity was established in 1939, detailed examination of the range land as to grazing capacity need not be made in 1940 except where it has been requested by the ranch operator or is deemed necessary by the county committee, State committee, or the Agricultural Adjustment Administration that a new determination be made. The average of the individual grazing capacities for all ranching units in the county shall not exceed the county average grazing capacity limit established by the A. A. A. based on available statistics and recommendation of the State committee. Section 4. PRACTICES AND CONDITIONS OF PAYMENT Following is a complete list of practices and the rates and conditions of payments. Payment will be made for carrying out these practices, but the total payment made will not be more than the range building allowance. Additional specifications may be issued by the State committee as indicated, with the approval of the Director of the Southern Division. Payment will be made only for practices carried out in accordance with specifications on range land between January 1, 1940, and November 30, 1940, inclusive. All practices must be approved in advance in writing by the county committee. (a) Deferring 25 percent of the range land in the ranching unit from grazing-Payment, 40 percent of the range-building allowance. If grazing is deferred on less than 25 percent, a proportionate payment will be made. The period for deferred grazing shall be the normal period from the start of forage growth to seed maturity. The nongrazing period shall be as follows: TEXAS. For Zapata, Jim Hogg, Brooks, and Kenedy Counties, and all counties lying south of these counties, the nongrazing period shall be from April 15 to September 15. For Wichita, Archer, Throckmorton, Shackleford, Jones, Taylor, Nolan, Coke, Sterling, Reagan, Crockett, and Terrell Counties, and all counties east of these counties, except those listed above, such period shall be from May 1 to October 1. For all other counties in Texas such period shall be from June 1 to November 1. OKLAHOMA.-For Harmon, Greer, Kiowa, Caddo, Canadian, Oklahoma, Pottawatomie, Okfuskee, McIntosh, Haskell, Le Flore, and all counties south of the counties named, the nongrazing period shall be May 1, 1940, to September 30, 1940. For all counties lying north of those named above, except Cimarron, Beaver, and Texas Counties, the nongrazing period shall be May 15, 1940, to October 15, 1940. The nongrazing period for Cimarron, Beaver, and Texas Counties shall be June 1, 1940, to October 30, 1940. |