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Lee Soil Conservation District Observes AnniversaryThe Lee County Soil Conservation district is 25 years old this week. This is the date the District came into being officially by the State Soil Conservation Committee.A great deal of work was done in 1944 before and after a petition was made to form a Soil Conservation District.Many Lee county farmers, farm organizations and the Extension Service realized the need for an active soils district. In formational meetings were held, tours to adjoining counties that had functioning districts were made. This culminated in an election bein gheld and the landowners voting in a district and electing three commissioners.three charter members are now deceased.The following farmers have served as commissioners of the district:for most of period from 1952-} provement and terraces were1954.Harvey Hasenclever, Madison, 1947-1953.FortHarry Dresser, Jr., Montrose, 1951-1957.First CommissionersThe first commissioners were Ben Foecke, West Point, 1945-1947; L. D. Boyd, Montrose, 1945 1951; and Otto C. Krebill, Donnellson, 1945-1955. TheseASCSNewsGeorge Schneider, Jr., West Point, 1953 1959.Pre-Empted FarmlandWhen an agency takes farmland for a highway, airport, reservoir, or other purpose by right of ‘eminent domain’, Congress has made provisions for the farm owner to retain his rights to crop acreage allotments and bases.The executive director of the Iowa State Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) Office, Dale H. Awtry,Darrell Seyb, Donnellson, 1955-1961.Anson Johnson, Keokuk, 1957-1963.David Weisinger, Fort Madison, 1959-1965.Raymond Hohl, Donnellson, 1961-1967.Harold Gardner, West Point, 1963-1969.Daniel Wilbert, Fort Madison, 1965.Raymond Hohl, Donnellson, 1967.James Hawkins, Argyle, 1969.Wilbert, Hohl and Hawkins are the present commissioners. Commissioners hold office for six years. They receive no pay only expenses and mileage from the State Soil Conservation Committee.In early 1945 the Soil Conservation Service assigned Hen ry North as soil conservationist. He held this position until mid 1946. Franklin Mullen the pres-nt District Conservationist was assigned in September 1946.In 1950 the Iowa State Legislature made funds available to the District for expenses and hiring of personnel.Virgil Parker, was district clerk and aid from 1950-1951.Marjorie Stamps was made district clerk in late 1954 andstressed in those early days. Permanent Type PracticesIn the 50s and early 60s the .., , , .more permanent tvpe practicesserved continuously until July;such as concrete structures and| dams with metal pipes were The first conservation aid as-1 built. During this latter part ofsigned in early 1945 by the Soil Conservation Service was Richard Hall. He was transferred to Fairfield in 1950.Richard Simmons was conservation aid from 1950-1952. He was transferred to Clinton.this period much drainage work such as tile, open ditches and land grading was accomplished.In the mid 60s - parallel terraces and then tile outlet terraces came into the picture. This was the result of large mul-C. R. “Jake” Jones served tiple row' planters and harvestas aid from 1952 to 1954, transferring to Memphis, Mo.E. Burdette Stamps reported in late 1954 in aid position and has served continuously in that position.The early period of the district was concerned with getting conservation on the land. Contouring and contour matches and demonstrations were held for several years. Also, pasture im-ing equipment.Since the inception of the Soil Conservation District on Jan. 12, 1945, the following amounts of practices have been put on Lee county farms;Contouring - 22.650 acres.Diversion Terraces - 253,025 feet.Farm Ponds - 810 each.Grade Stabilization Structure -299 each.Continued Early Incentive Payments Urged by StanleyMUSCATINE — David Stan-1 “tried to stop these incentive ley of Muscatine, Republican payments.” Freeman withdrew candidate for the Republican ] his action after widespread criti-nomination for U. S. Congress.! cism. has urged U. S. Agriculture Sec- , .retary Clifford Hardin and the , ^ stand is the same now’,government to “continue t h e■Stanley said, early incentive payments to Stanley commented, There is farmers who participate in the stron* bipartisan support for 197Q feed grains program and i c°ntinuing the early payments voluntarily divert land from un(^er the grains program, feed grain production. , Republican Congressman Willi-Stanley said the recent deci- am Sch'erle of Iowa and Ancher sion to delay these navmcnts ^°^sen Minnesota and Demo-Grassed Waterway - 746 acres.Land Grading - 1,087 acres.Drainage, Mains and Lateral310,152 feet.Pasture Planting - 12,574acres.Structures for Water Control -. each.Drainage Field Ditches - 195.-982 feet.Terrace, gradient feet.Terraces, parallel feet.Tile Drains - 3,657,321 feet.Tree Planting - 941 acres.Wildlife Habitat ManagementTnaterecullsinlt;perfan487,52264,306IV' sup was por the fan mil I yea1,026 acres.T| on {cou j the i taliThese LcEXTRA LEAN C TENDERLOINPORKCHOPSLEAN
Newspaper Details
Evening Democrat
Fort Madison, Iowa, US
Wed, Jan 14, 1970
Page 9
Full Page
Clipped by
Anita H.
NA, 21 Jun 2024
Other Publications Near Fort Madison, Iowa
Fort Madison Evening Democrat
Fort Madison Daily Democrat
Fort Madison Weekly Democrat
Fort Madison Democrat
Standard Atlas of Lee County Iowa
