Factors affecting compliance with the agricultural conservation program, Sheridan county, Montana
by Harvey W Miller
A THESIS Submitted to the Graduate Committee in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
Degree of Master of Science In Agricultural Economics
Montana State University
© Copyright by Harvey W Miller (1938)
Abstract:
Certain forces obstruct the general adoption of desired soil conservation and land use practices and
prevent the Agricultural Conservation Program from attaining its desired effectiveness.
The large proportion of renters in Sheridan county is not conducive to most effective participation in
the federal conservation program. Renters adopted fewer soil building practices per mere and had a
greater proportion of their cropland in cash crops and a lesser proportion in fallow and feed crops than
either part owners or full owners. Renters had a smaller proportion of land classed as farming land and
a greater proportion of land classed as gracing land than owners and part owners. Ranters had a lower
ratio of land classed as farm land to cropland than owners and part owners.
The lease arrangement has a decided effect on the soil building and land use practices of renters. The
crop-share arrangement which gave the landlord a greater share of the crop was most conducive to the
adoption of soil building practices. The cash renters had a smaller proportion of their cropland in cash
crops and a greater proportion in feed crops than crop-share renters. The acreage of cash crops
increased as the share to the landlord increased.
Resident owners and lending agencies ranked highest as landlords most likely to encourage the
adoption of conservation practices. Public agencies ranked the lowest. The resident landlords used the
crop-share arrangement which returns the landlord one-half or more of the crop, while public agencies
used the cash arrangement to a greater extent than other landlord groups.
The owner group had the smallest average else of operating unit. The 500 to 739 acre farm else group
had the most desirable land use and conservation practices, with a large proportion of the farms in this
group tending to have about 640 acres. Farm else groups of lees than 400 acres had fewer soil building
practices than larger farm else groups. Farms of Iess than 100 acres had adopted no soil building
practices acceptable to the Agricultural Conservation Program, and had no fallow acres.
Problems of participation in the conservation program arise from mortgage indebtedness, credit, and
income conditions which appear to be significant obstructions to the general adoption of desired
conservation practices.
The elimination of certain undesirable features of tenancy, the promotion of more desirable leasing
arrangements, the establishment of more economical farm size units and a credit policy aimed at
reducing the burden of mortgage Indebtedness and extending more liberal credit when needed to carry
out conservation practices appear necessary in order to promote the more general adoption of desired
land use end conservation practices and increase the effectiveness of the present Agricultural
Conservation Program. FACTORS AFFECTING COMPLIANCE WITH THE AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION PROGRAM,
SEKRHAN COUBTT, MOETANA, 1958
Earvwy W. M ille r
A THESIS
SubBilttod to th e G raduate C o m ltte e
In p a r t i a l f u l f i l l m e n t o f th e re q u ire m e n ts
f o r t i e Degree o f !.!aster o f S cience
i n A g r l o u l t i r a l Sconocilos a t
Montana S ta te C o lle g e
Chairm an, Examining C o irn lttee
C hairm an, G raduate C o n n itte e
BoKenan, Montana
May, 1042
-2
TABLE OF CCCTBSTS
Isss.
LIST OF ILLDSTKATIOiffi...,...................
4
LIST OF TABLES....................................................
6
................................................................................................. ...................*.............
6
ABSTRACT..............................................
7
PART I t
8
......... .......... ...............................................................................
The Coneervfttio n Ti ove^ei i t .
.
8
The B asle fo r C o n serv a tio n ..........................................................
Tliei Pro b lem .. . . .
. .
.
.
.
.
»
............. ..
Purpose o f S tu d y .................. ..
FAST I I I
%
d
Io
18
!TSTHOD OF FR0CF.W3EB.................... .................
The Ssnp l e
(4
H
19
................
19
Source o f D sta . . . . ................................................................... ..
19
L im ita tio n s o f D ata............................................ ..................... ............ ..
20
llothod o f A n a ly s is . . . . . .
FART I I I .
.................................................................... * 21
TBSBKE STATUS JJSD CONSERVATION.................... ....................... - 23
I n tr o d u c t i o n .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Land Use and S o il Building: P r a c t i c e s . . . . . ........................ ..
28
Le a s e A rranestacats
37
................
Type o f L andlord and A bsentee O w nership........................................39
Co n c lu s io n
FAKT IV.
.........
..........................................
47
FARSI SIZE AND CONSERVATION................ .........................................48
I n t r o d u c t i o n .............................. ..............................
68150
. . . . . . . . . 48
Land Fee and S o il B u ild in n
ra c tic e a . . . . . . . . .
.............................
si
Fana S iz e Rnd Tenure S ta tu # . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
57
Co n c lu g io n ......... ....................................................
57
PART V.
OTfiER SOCIO-BCOfiCTIC FORCES AfiD CONSERVATION.............................
59
Fans C re d it ond Mortgage Indebte d n e s s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
69
Income. . . . . .......................................
CS
Sfi ART AM) CONCLUSIONS.....................
65
APPENDIX.................
72
BIBLIOGRAPHY..........................................................
85
A C K m aaD P B fiT s...........................................
aa
LIST o r ILLOSTRATICEtS
f<C©
F le u r s ! • — S o il b u ild in g p ra c tic e ® adopted by te n u re e t u t u s
e x p re ss e d i n e q u iv a le n t u n i t s p e r 100 a c r e s . . . . # . . • • • • • • •
29
F i r m s Zv- L e n d u se by te n u r e group® e x p re sse d a s a pe-rcentago
o f a v e ra g e c ro p la n d a c r e s .
31
f ig u r e 3#— The p r o d u c tiv ity r a t i n g o f th e la n d o p e ra te d I y
te n u re s ta tu s *
34
F i r m s 4 . —S o i l b u ild in g p r a c tic e s adopted a c c o rd in g t o t h e
p r o d u c tiv ity r a t i n g o f th e la n d e x p re ss e d i n e q u iv a le n t
u n ite p e r 100 s c r e e . . . . . . . .
» ............ ..
36
F lr u r e 6 . —The k in d o f la n d used and tb s p e r c e n t o f c ro p la n d
by te n u re s t a t u s e x p re sse d ee a p e r c e n t o f t o t a l a c r e s * .
ZC
F ig u re C.— Land u se by le a s e a rran g em en t e x p re ss e d a s a p e r c e n t
o f c r o p la n d .................................
38
F ig u re 7 . — S o il b u ild in g p r a c t i c e s a d opted a c c o rd in g t o le a s e
arran g em en t used e x p re sse d a s e q u iv a le n t u n i t s p e r
100 s o r e s .......................................................................................................
40
F ig u re 8*— The p r o d u c tiv ity r a t i n g o f th e la n d o p e ra te d by th e
lo a s o a rran g em en t u se d . . . . . . . .
. ..............
41
F ig u re 9 .—Lease arrangem ent* used b y ty p e o f l a n d l o r d . . . . . . . . . .
4C
F ig u re 1 0 .— Trend i n a v erag e s i s e o f f a n s f<ar S h e rid a n C ounty,
M ontana, and th e U n ited L ta te a , 1910-1340. . . . . . . . . . . .
62
F ig u re 11*— P e r c a n t o f o p e ra to rs a d o p tin g s o i l b u ild in g p ra c ­
t i c e a i n th e v a rio u s fa n s e ls e g r o u p # . . . . .............. * ..........
58
*»&»
LIST OF TAEIES
P*ge
T able I . —T o ta l la n d In f a m e , number o f o p e ra to rs and
a v erag e a c re a g e p e r o p e r a to r by te n u r e s t a t u s ,
In S h e rid a n C ounty, 1 9 5 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . ......... ..............................
26
T able I I . — S o il b u ild in g p r a c tic e s and p r o d u c tiv ity index
by te n u re s t a t u s In S h e rid a n C ounty, 1 9 3 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
30
Table 111.—R e la tio n o f te n u re t o feed and cash cro p a c r e s
and to number o f m ilk cows on farm In
SIieridan County, 1 9 3 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
52
T able IT .— S o il b u ild in g p r a c tic e s and p r o d u c tiv ity index
b y ty p e o f la n d lo rd i n S h erid an C ounty, 1 9 3 8 . . . . . . . . . . .
43
T able V.— Feed and c a s h c ro p a c r e s by ty p e o f la n d lo rd
in S h e rid a n County, 1 9 3 8 . . . . . . ..............
44
T able V I.— T o ta l lan d in fa rm s, number o f o p e ra to rs and
a v erag e a c re a g e p e r o p e ra to r by farm e l s e o f f u l l
owners i n S h e rid a n C ounty, 1 9 3 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
53
T ab le TH .-- F e e d and c a sh c ro p a c r e s by farm s i t e o f f u l l
owners i n S h e rid a n C ounty, 1 9 3 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......... ..
55
T able T i l l . — S o il b u ild in g p r a c t i c e s and p r o d u c tiv ity in d ex
by farm s iz e o f f u l l owners in S h e rid a n C ounty, 1 9 3 8 ...
56
FORESfOKD
"The ConeerVBtlon movement I s n o th in g
l e s s th a n th e guidan ce o f American
c i v i l i s a t i o n In th e t r a n s i t i o n from
i t s p io n e e r y o u th o f s h o r ts ig h te d ex ­
p l o i t a t i o n t o th e p ro d u c tiv e m a tu rity
o f s ta te s m a n lik e d ev elo p m en t.”
Glenn Frank
ABSTRACT
C e r ta in f o r c e s obs t r u c t th e g e n e ra l a d o p tio n o f d e s ir e d s o i l co n serv a­
t i o n and lan d use p r a c tic e s and p re v e n t th e A g r ic u ltu r a l C o n serv atio n
P rcg ren Droir- a t t a i n i n g i t s d e s ir e d e f f e c tiv e n e s s *
Tlie la r g e p ro p o r tio n o f r e n t e r s in S h e rid a n c o u n ty i s n o t conducive to
n o s t e f f e c t i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n in th e f e d e r a l c o n s e rv a tio n program . R e n te rs
adopted few er s o i l b u ild in g p r a c tic e s p e r a c re and had a g r e a te r p ro p o rtio n
o f t h e i r c ro p la n d in c a s h c ro p s and a l e s s e r p ro p o rtio n in fa llo w and feed
c ro p s th a n e i t h e r p a r t ow ners o r f u l l ow ners. R en ters had a s m a lle r p ro p o r­
t i o n o f land c la s s e d a s farm ing lan d and a g r e a t e r p ro p o r tio n o f land
c la s s e d a s g ra z in g land th a n owners and p a r t ow ners.
R e n te rs had a low er
r a t i o o f la n d c la s s e d a s farm land to c ro p la n d th a n owners and p a r t ow ners.
TIie le a s e arrangem ent has a d e cid e d e f f e c t on th e s o i l b u ild in g and
lan d use p r a c tic e s o f r e n t e r s . The c ro p -s h a r e arrangem ent w hich gave th e
la n d lo rd a g r e a t e r sh are o f th e c ro p was m ost conducive t o th e a d o p tio n o f
s o i l b u ild in g p r a c t i c e s . The c ash r e n t e r s had a s m a lle r p r o p o r tio n o f t h e i r
c ro p la n d in c a sh c ro p s and a g r e a t e r p ro p o r tio n in feed c ro p s th a n c ro p s h a re r e n t e r s . Tlie a c re a g e o f c ash c ro p s in c re a s e d a s th e s h a re t o th e
la n d lo rd in c re a s e d .
R esid e n t owners and le n d in g a g e n c ie s ranked h ig h e s t a s la n d lo rd s n o s t
l i k e l y to en co u rag e th e a d o p tio n o f c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c t i c e s . P u b lic a g e n c ie s
ranked th e lo w e s t. The r e s i d e n t la n d lo r d s used th e c ro p -s h a re arrangem ent
w hich r e tu r n s th e la n d lo rd o n e - h a lf o r more o f th e c ro p , w h ile p u b lic ag en ­
c i e s used th e c a sh arran g em en t to a g r e a t e r e x te n t th a n o tlie r la n d lo rd
g ro u p s.
The owner group had th e s a l l e s t a v erag e s iz e o f o p e r a tin g u n i t . The
503 to 739 a c re farm s iz e group had th e m ost d e s ir a b le lan d u se and c o n s e r­
v a tio n p r a c t i c e s , w ith a la r g e p ro p o r tio n o f th e farm s i n t h i s group te n d ­
in g t o Iiave a b o u t 640 a c r e s . Farm s i z s groups o f l e s s th a n 400 a c r e s had
few er s o i l b u ild in g p r a c tic e s th a n l a r g e r farm s iz e g ro u p s . Farms o f l e s s
th a n 100 a c r e s had ad o p ted no s o i l b u ild in g p r a c tic e s a c c e p ta b le to th e
A g r ic u ltu r a l C o n se rv a tio n Pro ram , and had no fa llo w a c r e s .
Problem s o f p a r t i c i p a t i o n in th e c o n s e rv a tio n program a r i s e from m ort­
gage in d e b te d n e s s , c r e d i t , and income c o n d itio n s w hich a p p e a r t o be s i g n i f i ­
c a n t o b s tr u c tio n s to th e g e n e ra l a d o p tio n o f d e s ir e d c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c t i c e s .
The e lim in a tio n o f c e r t a i n u n d e s ira b le f e a tu r e s o f te n a n c y , th e
prom otion o f more d e s ir a b le le a s in g a rra n g e m e n ts, th e e s ta b lis h m e n t o f more
econom ical farm s iz e u n i t s and a c r e d i t p o lic y aimed a t re d u c in g th e b u rd en
o f m ortgage in d e b te d n e ss and e x te n d in g more l i b e r a l c r e d i t when needed to
c a r r y o u t c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c tic e s ap p ear n e c e s s a ry in o rd e r t o promote th e
more g e n e ra l a d o p tio n o f d e s ir e d lan d use and c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c tic e s and in ­
c r e a s e th e e f f e c t iv e n e s s o f th e p re s e n t A g r ic u ltu r a l C o n se rv a tio n Program.
8FACTORS AFfECTDIO COMPLIANCE WITH THE AGRICULTURAL COHSEEFATICgT PROGRAM,
SHERIPAH COUITTT, MBtAHAe 1938
-
PART I . DTTROIUCTION
Th* C o n serv a tio n Movement
Tlie s tu d y o f c o n s e rv a tio n c o v e rs a broad and i n t r i c a t e f ie ld *
I t in ­
v o lve* th e t a s k o f ta k in g an in v e n to ry o f r e s o u r c e s , p a s t a m p r e s e n t; i t
In v o lv e s th e d e te m i n a t i o n o f s h a t re s o u rc e s to p re s e rv e and how t o p re ­
s e rv e them ; i t in v o lv e s a s tu d y o f th e ren ew al and r e s t o r a t i o n o f re s o u rc e s
and a ls o th e s u b s t i t u t i o n o f c e r t a i n re s o u rc e s f o r o th e rs *
An a l l - i n o l u s i v e d e f i n i t i o n o f c o n s e rv a tio n i s beyond th e scope o f
t h i s study*
Most d e f i n i t i o n s t h a t have been g iv e n a re lim ite d e i t h e r i n
t h e i r scope o r i n t h e i r c o m p le te n e ss, o r b o th .
In broad t e r n s c o n s e rv a tio n
i s s a id to be "The u t i l i s a t i o n o f re s o u rc e s w ith o u t w aste" and from an
economic view , "The b a la n c in g o f p r e s e n t income w ith f u tu r e incom e".
Con­
s e r v a tio n a s a p p lie d to la n d in a p h y s ic a l sen se can mean, "The m aintenance
o f th e p re s e n t le v e l o f p r o d u c tiv ity o f o u r s o i l u n d er th e g iv e n s t a t e o f
th e a r t e ; advances in te ch n o lo g y in in p ro v iii; y ie ld s e tc * would r e s u l t i n
h ig h e r y i e l d s i f th e p r e s e n t f e r t i l i t y l e v e l w ere m a in ta in e d ." 3 /
The o b je c tiv e s o f th e c o n s e rv a tio n p o lic y a r e t o b e t t e r th e sta n d a rd
o f l i v i n g and to c r e a te a more happy r e l a t i o n s h i p betw een man and h is en­
vironm ent by tr y i n g to b r in g a b o u t a b e t t e r use o f re s o u rc e s and a b e t t e r
a l l o c a t i o n o f incom e.
S e c re ta r y
a lla c e s a id t h a t "The n a tio n t h a t
t / A.C . i'unoe, *fim a P referen cV and Co r;e a rv a tio n " , Jo u rn a l o f Farm
Econom ics, V o l. XX II, Ho. 3 , A ugust, 1940, p . 636
d e s tr o y s i t s s o i l d e s tr o y s I t s e l f n , and so a p u b lic c o n s e rv a tio n p rorram
i s re g a rd ed a s e s s e n t i a l t o th e w e lfa re o f s o c ie ty in p e rp e tu ity .
The c o n s e rv a tio n movement in t h e IM itod S ta te s f i r s t g a in ed n o a e n tu s
d u rin g th e f i r s t decade o f th e tw e n tie th c e n tu r y .
P r e s id e n t Tlieodore R oose-
▼ elt drew p u b lic a t t e n t i o n t o c o n s e rv a tio n by h ie C ongress o f G overnors and
Toy h i s ap p o in tm en t i n 1908 o f a n a tio n a l C o n e e n a tio n Commission.
W ith a
p e o p le becoming " c o n s e rv a tio n c o n s c io u s " , w ith th e r e a l i z a t i o n t h a t th e
f r o n t i e r was gone and t h a t th e p o p u la tio n was in c re a s in g g r e a t l y , th e r e aro e e a v a s tl y d i f f e r e n t a t t i t u d e tow ard r e s o u r c e s .
C ru eed ers o f th e move­
m ent such a s Van H iae, Hugh B e n n e tt, John IM ir and o th e r s w ere p a r t l y
r e s p o n s ib le f o r b rin g in g a b o u t a re -s h a p in g o f th e way o f l i f e f o r th e
n a tio n .
Fron a l a l s s e r f a i r s a t t i t u d e o f ir r e s p o n s ib le in d iv id u a lis m th e na­
t i o n i s p ro g re s s in g tow ard an a t t i t u d e o f r e s p o n s ib le c o o p e r a tio n .
The
n a tio n M e corns t o th e r e a l i z a t i o n t h a t la n d use i s a m a tte r o f th e g e n e ra l
w e lfa re and o f v i t a l s o c i a l c o n c e rn .
The c o n s e rv a tio n movement was f i r s t
co ncerned w ith t h e more obvio u s s c a rc e re s o u rc e s such a s m in e ra ls and
f o r e s t s and l a t e r w ith th e c o n s e rv a tio n o f s o i l end human r e s o u r c e s .
Tlie means o f b rin g in g ab o u t d e s ir e d c o n s e rv a tio n have changed q u ite
r a d i c a l l y s in e s th e b e g in n in g o f th e movement.
One o f th e f i r s t methods
ueed by tiis U nited S ta te s governm ent was th e p u rch ase o f p r i v a t e la n d s end
p u b lic ow nership was th e means o f e s t a b l i s h i n g o r a t t a i n i n g th e co n serv a­
tio n o f re so u rce s.
Today th e movement h a s become very w id esp read and
u n iv e r s a l w ith m ost o f th e p re s s u re f o r c o n s e rv a tio n a p p lie d t o in d iv id u a l
in itia tiv e .
The p u b lic p u rch ase p la n c o u ld n o t c o u n te r a c t th e e v i l s o f
-1 0 uneooncjQlc e x p l o i t a t i o n e x c e p t to a very lim ite d d e g re e , and wbs a p p lie d
a lm o st e n t i r e l y t o n ln e r a le end f o r e a t le a d s *
Tho U nited S ta te s E ^ p a rtn e n t o f A g r ic u ltu r e baa been v ery I n f l u e n t i a l
In b rin g in g th e problem s o f lan d u se t o p u b lic a t t e n t i o n s in c e i t s c r e a tio n
a f t e r t i e f i r s t w orld war*
In S ovsab er 1351, a c o n fe re n c e on la n d u t i l i s a ­
t i o n w s c e ll e d b y E o c re ta r;' Hyde In C h icag o , and a t t h i s c o n fe re n c e two
n a tio n a l eo»*csitteoa were s e t up*
These c o rs a ltte e s w ere s e rv ic e d by th e p e r­
so n n e l o f th e D iv is io n o f Land Econosdos and th e y p re p a re d # number o f
r e l e a s e s w hich r e c o g n is e d and expounded t h e d o c tr in e s t h a t " th e la n d i s
v e ste d w ith a s o c i a l o r p u b lic i n t e r e s t ; t h a t th e lo n g r e i g n o f in d iv id u a l­
ism bed c r e a te d w idespread s o c ia l and economic m alad ju stm en t i n th e use o f
le n d , w hich co u ld b e c o r r e c te d o n ly I y governm ental p o l i c i e s b ased on so ­
c i a l p la n n in g ; t h a t each a c r e o f la n d h a s a s o c i a l l y b e s t u s e ; w hich must
be d is c o v e re d th ro u g h t h e p ro c e ss o f la n d planning*1* 2 /
The r e c e n t c o n s e rv a tio n movement i n p r i v a t e la n d s w s l a r g e l y c a r r ie d
o u t by th e E x te n sio n S e r v ic e , th e A g r ic u ltu r a l A d ju sb aen t A d m in is tra tio n ,
and th e S o il C o n se rv a tio n S e rv ic e in i t s f i r s t s ta g e s u n d er f e d e r a l p a r­
tic ip a tio n .
V ario u s in d iv id u a ls and a l s o s t a t e governm ents u n d erto o k
c o n s e rv a tio n a c t i o n b e fo re t h i s p e rio d o f f e d e r a l in te rv e n tio n *
The a re a t h a t co u ld b e covered i y f e d e r a l v o lu n ta ry program s w s
lim ite d and i t w as soon e v id e n t t h a t a d e v ic e w s needed ^Thereby in d iv id u ­
a l s c o u ld o rg a n is e f o r e Oamunlty a c tio n and m utual p r o te c tio n i n d e a lin g
w ith th e problem s o f c o n se rv a tio n *
The S te n d srd S ta te S o il C o n se rv a tio n
—---- V U C . S n * . '
p e rtm e n t o f A g r ic u ltu r e " , C.S*D*A*
Imeo, Tiarch 1359, p* 10-11*
S ta te s fci=~
-1 1 H e t r i c t I-ew Tens th e n e x t s te p in nokin^; i t p o e e ib le f o r f tir u e r s ,
r a n c h e r s , and e t h e r la n d o p e r a to r s to e n a c t o o r o o r r a tio n o rd in a n c e s end
t o oeke th e e b in d in g upon th m e e lv e s by p l e b i s c i t e and th e re b y t o n a e t
th e problem s r a is e d by th e few who n i^ h t r e f u s e t o c o o p e ra te i n th e p ro c r m o f th e d i s t r i c t .
T h is p ro p o sa l was p u b lis h e d i n 19SG, and by 1340
t h i r t y - e i r h t s t a t e s passed s o i l c o n s e rv a tio n d i s t r i c t lo w s . Z /
S in ce
1935, • c o n s e rv a tio n p o lic y h a s been s e t up t o u t i l i s e th e d em o cratic p ro ­
cess.
Iu c h o f t h e i n i t i a t i v e l i e s i n t h e in d iv id u a l f u r o e r w ith te c h n ic a l
a id a v a i l a b l e from s t a t e end f e d e r a l a & m o le s t o keep th e I n d iv id u a l p ro --rane oonbined i n a p ro g n m w ith n a t i o n a l , r e g io n a l, and l o c a l i n t e r e s t s
tu rn e d tow ard th e one g o a l o f b e t t e r c o n s e rv a tio n o f o u r re s o u rc e s and s
b e t t e r a l l o c a t i o n o f In c o n e .
The e f f e c t iv e n e s s o f I n d I v ld u e l p a r t i c i p a ­
t i o n in t h i s p ro r ra n i s a m ajo r i n t e r e s t o f t h i s s tu d y .
De a l s f o r C o n se rv a tio n
C o n se rv a tio n means I n w s t a s o t e
Boonocdo c o n s e rv a tio n ooens t h a t , i n
th e lo n g r u n , th e in v e stm en t r e tu r n s b o n e f i t s a t l e a s t e q u iv a le n t t o th e
c o s t s o f c o n s e rv in g ,
fn eco n o o lc c o n s e rv a tio n n cen s t h a t th e In v o s tn a n t
r e tu r n s l e e s b e n e f i t s th a n th e c o s t I n c u r r e d .
The c r i t e r i a f o r d e te rm in in g w h e th e r o r n o t i t w i l l be p r o f ita b l e
f o r t h e in d iv id u a l to c o n se rv e a r e i m p l i c i t in th e p r in c ip le o f o a rg ln ttlis n .
I f th e s x irg in a l r tu r n s o f c o n s e rv a tio n e q u al o r earooed th e mar­
g in a l c o s t s , ta k in g in to a c c o u n t changes
i n a s s e t v a lu e , ln fo m e d
S ta te L e g is la tio n f o r f e t t e r I m n F E s e ^ -V s p e c ie ! ^ p o rtH b y " '
en InW r-b v x o au C o n s itte e o f th e tJ.u#B«UUe A p r il, 1941.
-1 2
fa rm e rs w i l l m i s t e in o r c o n se rv e t h e i r s o i l a s s e t s . C o n se rv a tio n o r
c a p i t a l rep lacem en t w i l l n o t ta k e p la c e i f t h e m arg in al r e t u r n d ro p s be­
low th e m arket r a t e o f i n t e r e s t under f r e e e n t e r p r i s e ; I . e « , c o n s e rv a tio n
i s eco n o m ica lly im p o ssib le f o r th e in d iv id u a l when i t d i v e r t s p ro d u c tio n
f a c t o r s from u se s in w hich th e p r e s e n t v alu e o f t h e i r m a rg in a l p ro d u c t i s
h ig h e r*
The " o p p o rtu n ity c o s t" o f in v e stm en t a s e x p re sse d b y th e m arket
i n t e r e s t r a t e i s a c o s t o f c o n s e rv a tio n t o be c o n sid e re d by th e in d iv id u a l.
There i s an u n lim ite d and h ig h ly e l a s t i c su p p ly , a t l e a s t in th e
long ru n , o f a l t e r n a t i v e f u tu r e in c o a ss w hich can b e r e a l i z e d th ro u g h in ­
v estm ent in income y ie ld in g d u ra b le r oods w ith w hich in v e stm e n ts i n la n d
c o n s e rv a tio n have t o com pete.
There i s a t th e su re tim e a lim ite d sup­
p ly o f p ro d u c tio n f a c t o r s and so th e c o s ts o f a d d itio n a l in v estm en t in
c o n s e rv a tio n u s u a lly in c r e a s e , and w h ile th e p re s e n t v alu e o f f u tu r e r e ­
tu r n s g e n e r a lly in c re a s e f o r a tim e , th e y u ltim a te ly re a c h a p o in t o f
d im in is h in g r e tu r n s and d e c r e a s e .
The in d iv id u a l w i l l c o n tin u e t o in v e s t i n c o n s e rv a tio n u n t i l he hee
a p p lie d h i s m a rg in a l in v e stm e n t; I . e . , th e in v estm en t w hich y ie ld s e r e ­
t u r n e q u al to b u t no g r e a t e r th a n th e c o s t o f th e in v e stm e n t.
T h e re fo re ,
th e t o t a l c o s ts o f c o n s e rv a tio n in v e stm e n ts w i l l be l e s s th a n th e r e tu r n s
to th e in d iv id u a l b e ca u se he w i l l o p e ra te in th e d im in is h in g r e tu r n s
p h a se , " I f th e value o f th e m arg in al c ro p o u tp u t e q u a ls o r exceeds th e
c o s ts o f o b ta in in g th e c r o p , p lu s th e c o s ts o f r e s t o r i n g th e f e r t i l i t y
l o s t i n o b ta in in g th e c r o p , lan d c o n s e rv a tio n w i l l be e c o n m ic f o r th e
STegIyied~vorf
c o n o a is X specta o f LaiaTSons e r v e tio n " . J o u rn a l o f Farm E c o m a lc e , V ol. XX, f o . 2 , Key I , 1958, p .4 6 9 .
13f a ra e r ." b /
S o c ie ty nay in v e s t beyond th e in d i v i d u a l ’s n a r ^ in a l Lnves tn e n t
because i t s r a t e o f I n t e r e s t i s u s u a lly lo w e r.
The problem o f w h eth er
i t w i l l be economic f o r s o c ie ty to c o n se rv e c a n a ls o be a*proeched by
th e m a rg in a l a n a l y s i s .
The a d v en t o f th e A g r ic u ltu r a l C o n se rv a tio n Program w ith i t s sub­
s id y p s y re n ts has changed th e b a s is f o r c o n s e rv a tio n .
The a d o p tio n o f
c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c t i c e s i s no lo n g e r d ep en d en t on w h eth er th e y a r e economic
f o r th e i n d iv id u a l, b u t on th e amount o f th e su b sid y w hich s o c ie ty de­
c id e s t o pay f o r c o n s e r v a tio n .
TShile s o c ie ty h a s com m itted i t s e l f to th e c o n s e rv a tio n movement,
th e q u e s tio n t o w hat l i m i t s should s o c ie ty engage I n c o n s e rv a tio n , r e ­
mains to bo answ ered.
" S o c ie ty must d eterm in e th e end i t w ish e s t o a t ­
t a i n in r e l a t i o n t o th e c o s t .
S o c ie ty m ust d eterm in e th e c r i t e r i a f o r
d e t o m in in g th e c o r r e c t p ro p o r tio n o f th e n a t i o n 's income t o a l l o c a t e f o r
c a p i t a l m aintenance in th e f o r a o f s o i l r e s o u r c e s ." c /
In t h i s study i t i s assumed t h a t s o c ia l a c ti o n to prom ote co n serv a­
t i o n i s d e s ir e d by s o c ie ty f o r th e achievem ent o f e n d s, economic o r un­
econom ic.
S u b s id ie s a r e used t o prom ote c o n s e rv a tio n when c o n s e rv a tio n i s
uneconomic f o r th e in d iv id u a l b u t economic f o r s o c ie ty , o r d e s ir e d by
s o c ie ty in o rd e r to a c h ie v e o th e r ends such a s In c re a s in g th e income o f
th e fa rm e rs .
lT id ^ frle d von Ciriaoy-7= a n tr u p , Op. c i t .
c / TSalter Ti. T illc o x , "bcononic A sp ects o f S o il C o n se rv a tio n " ,
Jo u rn a l o f P o l i t i c a l E conory, V ol. XLVI, Iio .5 , O cto b er, 1936, p . 26.
-IllC o n se rv a tio n m y n o t be economic f o r th e in d iv id u a l, b u t i t may be
f o r aooI e t y *
T hle nay be tr u e because s o c ie ty may have more c o s ta o f ex­
p l o i t a t i o n t o b e a r w hich re d u c e s i t s n e t incom e. S o c ie ty nay re a p b e n e f its
from c o n s e rv a tio n o v e r and above what a c c ru e to th e in d iv id u a l because o f
th e c r e a t e r e x p lo ita tio n c o s ts i t nay have and because s o c ie ty h as a low er
f u tu r e d is c o u n t r a t e t o com pensate.
S o c ie ty has a lo w er f u t u r e d is c o u n t
r a t e t o com pensate because i t can borrow fu n d s a t a lo w er r a t e th a n in d i­
v id u a ls , and b ecause s o c ie ty has a I o w r t i n # o r l i q u i d i t y p re fe re n c e .
A f u tu r e r e t u r n Arom a p re s e n t in v e stm en t in c o n s e rv a tio n w i l l bo
d is c o u n te d a t a h ig h e r r a t e by th e in d iv id u a l because he may n o t be a l i v e
to re c e iv e i t o r b ecause he may move and th e r e tu r n w i l l a c c ru e t o some­
one e l s e .
S o c ie ty , how ever, i s r e l a t i v e l y perm anent in com parison t o
in d iv id u a ls and th e r e f o r e h as a low er f u tu r e d is c o u n t r a t e .
" S u re ly so ­
c i e t y , w lilch i s expected to e x i s t in p e r p e t u i t y , should have a d i f f e r e n t
sta n d a rd o f v a lu e s a s betw een th e p re s e n t and th e f u tu r e from t h a t o f th e
in d iv id u a l, whose a p p r a is a l o f th e f u tu r e i s governed by h i s s h o r t span
o f l i f e and p erh ap s by a shadowy allo w an ce f o r a g e n e ra tio n o r two o f h i s
d e s c e n d a n ts ." ] /
The c o n s e rv a tio n movement has d e fin e d s o c i e t y ’ s c o n s e rv a tio n goal
alo n g th e s e broad l i n e s .
Tbs S o il C o n se rv a tio n S e rv ic e h as proved many
m ethods f o r c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c t i c e s i th e A g r ic u ltu r a l C o n se rv a tio n Frogram
w ith i t s su b sid y and o th e r e d u c a tio n a l program s has a tte m p te d to overcome
th e custom s and th e i n e r t i a o f th e p e o p le ; b u t th e re s t i l l rem ain many
Vole
I f k r lo H ^ l^ T ~"5lTaTT%oaH^^
Bo. 2 , M arch -A p rll, 1940, p . 2
Th ,
TbHiyTie viei%
15o b s tr u o tln e f o r c e s such a s I n s t i t u t i o n a l a rra n g em en ts, m a la d ju ste d
f e r n wise p a t t e r n s , low in c o n o e, and o th e r u n d e s ira b le lan d te n u re p ro b ­
lems and socio-econom ic f o r c e s w hich c au se o r p e rm it e x p l o i t a t i o n to
c o n tin u e long a f t e r i t has become economic to co n serv e in th e p re s c rib e d
m anner.
These f o r c e s p re v e n t th e g e n e ra l a d o p tio n o f th e s o i l c o n se rv a ­
t i o n program .
Tha Iro b lem
The A g r ic u ltu r a l C o n se rv a tio n Program i s a tte m p tin g t o promote th e
a d o p tio n o f c o n s e rv a tio n and b e t t e r lan d use p r a c tic e s in th e s p rin g
w heat a re a o f
'o r th e a s te m M ontana.
R esearch i s e s s e n t i a l to d eterm ine
th e e f f e c tiv e n e s s o f th e p r e s e n t a g r i c u l t u r a l program in a c h ie v in g i t s ob­
je c tiv e s .
An a n a ly s is o f th e e f f e c t o f t h e im p o rta n t lan d problem s o f
t h i s a r e a on th e a d o p tio n o f c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c tic e s i s n e c e s s a ry in o rd e r
t o d e te rm in e th e f o r c e s w hich a r e o b s tr u c tin g th e g e n e ra l a d o p tio n o f th e
A g r ic u ltu r a l C o n se rv a tio n Program .
The d ry lan d a r e a o f H o rth e a s te ra Montana i s a p a r t o f th e G reat
P la in s re g io n , where la n d u se and c o n s e rv a tio n problem s a r i s e la r g e ly
from th e laelc o f com plete a d ju stm e n t t o th e c lim a te o f th e r e g io n .
T his
re g io n o f r e l a t i v e l y f e r t i l e dark brown s o i l i s c h a r a c te r is e d by a normal
a n n u al p r e c i p i t a t i o n o f a b o u t 14 in c h e s , by h ig h p r e v a ilin g wind v e l o c i t i e s
w hich av erag e 10 to 12 m ile s p e r h o u r, by g r e e t c lim a tic v a r i a t i o n s w ith
p e r s i s t e n t l y r e c u r r in g d ro u g h ts , and by th e s u s c e p t i b i l i t y o f b a re o r t h i n ­
l y v e g e ta te d la n d to wind e r o s io n .
The c o n s e rv a tio n problem in t h i s a re a
i s , t h e r e f o r e , one o f c o n se rv in g mol e t u r e and o f a d o p tin g p r a c tic e s w hich
w i l l p re v e n t th e lo s s o f p ro d u c tiv e s o i l s by wind e ro s io n end a ls o th e
-1 6 le e s e x te n s iv e w a te r e r o s io n .
U n d e sira b le c o n d itio n s o f te n u re end farm s i t e a re im p o rta n t lan d
problem s in t h i s a r e a .
a re a ,
D uring th e s e ttle m e n t o f t h i s d ry la n d w heat
th e la n d s w ere s p l i t in to s m a ll, uneconom ical u n ite I y homestead
la w s, h o m e stea d ers, in v e s t o r s , and s p e c u la to r s .
T h is m alad ju stm en t o f
farm s i t e lias caused th e ap p earan ce o f p e c u li a r te n u re c o n d itio n s . O perat­
o r s , i n o rd e r t o approach an economic u n i t , liave found I t n e c e s s a ry to
le a s e from num erous, u s u a lly unknown, owners who may be r e s id in g f a r from
th e lan d th e y cnsfri. F o re c lo s u re s r e s u l t i n g from th e m alad ju stm en t have
v e ste d n a ry ow nership r i g h t s in le n d in g , c o r p o r a te , and p u b lic agen­
c ie s .
T his i s a s p e c ia lis e d c a s h cro p farm in g a r e a .
S p rin g w heat i s th e
m ost im p o rta n t c ro p and i t o c c u p ie s th e g r e a t e r p ro p o rtio n o f th e crop
a re a .
Because o f th e la c k o f d i v e r s i f i c a t i o n , th e income o f th e farm ers
c l o s e l y ap p ro x im ates th e y i e l d and p r ic e o f w heat and d u rin g p e rio d s o f
low w heat y i e l d s and low w heat p r i c e s , th e income problem f o r t h i s a re a
becomes c r i t i c a l .
The a d o p tio n o f c o n s e rv a tio n and land use p r a c t i c e s ,
w hich r e q u ir e a long p ro d u c tio n p la n o f fa rm in g , depends l a r g e l y upon th e
a s s is ta n c e g iv e n by th e C o n se rv a tio n Program , beoeuea th e s h o r t produc­
t i o n p la n o f c a s h c ro p farm ing has no long p ro d u c tio n p la n w hich would be
a p r o f i t a b l e a l t e r n a t i v e in t h i s a r e a .
The s h o r t p ro d u c tio n p la n , w ith
i t s h ig h p ro p o r tio n o f n o n -d u re b le t o d u ra b le f a c to r s o f p ro d u c tio n , w i l l
c o n tin u e t o be th e more econom ical f o r m ost in d iv id u a ls .
y
M e n ^ /^ .iC T ^ ^ e ^ ju s M n g 'M a n ta n a 'e- A^rTculture","!"V.
Land Thm erehlp and T enure." Montana A g r ic u ltu r a l E xperim ent S ta tio n
B u l le tin Bo. 309, F eb ru ary 1336, p . 2 1 .
-1 7 The p r o b le m o f environm ent and th e re s o u rc e e e x p lo ite d a r e
d i f f e r e n t f o r th e d r y land w heat a re a and i t saen s l o g i c a l , th e r e f o r e ,
to assume t h a t th e f o r c e s p re v e n tin g th e c d o p tio n o f th e c o n s e rv a tio n pro­
gram n ay a ls o be d i f f e r e n t in t h i s a r e a .
S o c ia l a c ti o n t o co n serv e s o i l re s o u rc e s in th e K o rth ero P la in s Is
prom oting c o n s e rv a tio n o f r a i n f a l l on d ry -farm ed land by p re v e n tin g run­
o f f and e v a p o ra tio n w ith s t r u c t u r e s , c o n to u r and s t r i p c ro p p in g p r a c tic e s ,
and a more c o o rd in a te d summer fa llo w sy stem .
"Cover F arm ing", a system o f
t i l l a g e t h a t keeps c ro p r e s id u e on to p o f th e ground in s te a d o f plow ing i t
u n d e r, has a l s o been r e eonr,ended f o r p re v e n tin g e v a p o ra tio n i n th e P lain #
r e g io n .
9/
The r e tu r n o f a la r g e t o t a l a r e a o f e r o d lb le s o i l to a pro­
t e c t i v e c o v e r o f g r a s s ; a re d u c tio n o f th e w h eat acrea g e on th o u san d s o f
fa rm s, t h e in tr o d u c tio n o f r o t a t i o n s t h a t p ro v id e p r o te c tio n from wind and
r e p le n is h th e supply o f o rg a n ic m a tte r , and o th e r s o i l b u ild in g p r a c tic e s
and s o i l and m o is tu re c o n se rv in g c ro p s and p r a c t i c e s a r e a l l a p a r t o f th e
p re s e n t s o i l c o n s e rv a tio n p o lic y .
The f o r c e s o b s tr u c tin g th e g e n e ra l a d o p tio n o f t h i s p o lic y must b e r e ­
moved b e fo re i t can become f u l l y e f f e c t i v e in a c h ie v in g i t s o b je c t iv e ,
w hich i s th e p r o te c tio n o f th e p ro d u c tiv e a c r e s in o rd e r to b rin g a b o u t a
b e t t e r s ta n d a rd o f l i v i n g and a r e d u c tio n i n th e p re s s u re on th e la n d ,
w hich presum es a b e t t e r farm income, g r e a t e r s e c u r ity o f te n u r e , adequate
and e f f i c i e n t p ro d u c tio n , and e re d u c tio n i n lo s e e i oaused by s i l t i n g ,
d / C a rly le Podgklne, "Cover Farm ing", Suooeseful Farming and
th e IfcLry Farm er, V ol. 59, Ko. 7 , J u ly , 1941.
-IQ e r o s io n , end d ro u g h t. 1 0 /
Purpose
In o rd e r to f o rm u late » long tim e c o n s e rv a tio n p o lic y w ith th e fo r e ­
go ing o b j e c t i v e s , i t i s n e c e s s a ry f i r s t t o o b ta in a c l e a r e r p ic tu r e o f
th e u n d e s ir a b le land problem s and th e p a r t th e s e problem s p la y i n c o u n te r­
a c ti n g th e d e s ir e d end o f such a c o n s e rv a tio n p o lic y .
The m ajo r o b je c tiv e
o f t h i s s tu d y was to d e term in e th e land te n u re p r a c t i c e s , th e farm e l s e ,
end o th e r c o n d itio n s w hich e n co u rag e , o r a t l e a s t p e rm it p u b lic ly d e fin e d
c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c tic e s by fa rm e rs o f th e d ry lan d w heat a r e a o f H orthe a s te m M ontana.
At th e same tim e an a tte m p t has been made t o d eterm in e
th e problem s w hich p re v e n t th e e f f e c t i v e a d m in is tr a tio n o f th e co n serv a­
t i o n program .
T here i e no a tte m p t to q u e s tio n th e v a l i d i t y o f th e
recommended p r a c tic e s a s economic o r uneconom ic.
The s p e c if ic q u e s tio n can be p u t a s fo llo w s*
What a r e th e so c io ­
economic f o r c e s w hich o b s tr u c t th e g e n e ra l a d o p tio n o f th e s o i l co n serv a­
t i o n program i n th e d ry la n d a r e a o f N o rth e a ste rn Montana* to w hat e x te n t
and i n what d i r e c t i o n do th e y in flu e n c e th e p re s e n t lan d u se and p o lic y ?
R esearch a lo n g t h i s l i n e o f th o u g h t seems in d is p e n s a b le i n d ev elo p in g
and prom oting a more com prehensive and s u c c e s s fu l p o lic y o f s o i l co n serv a­
tio n .
T his s tu d y w i l l be one o f many t h a t w i l l be needed b e fo re a
c o n s e rv a tio n p o lic y can be s e t up w hich w i l l a id i n a c h ie v in g th e most
economic u se o f re s o u rc e s and w hich w i l l f i t in to and c o in c id e w ith th e
o b je c tiv e s o f a com prehensive lan d use p o lic y .
"R esearch In th e economics
1 6 / CVaudV k . W lctar3, ™C6 n s e r v ^ i ^ l T l % s t l ^ ' E m i^ ^ y ^ ,% a n S
P o lic y Review, V ol. IV , Ho. 4 , p . 1 4 .
-1 9 o f e o n s e n m tio n m ust b e d ir e c te d to an a r a l y e l s o f c e r t a i n r e l a t i o n s h i p s
end th e d e v e lo p n m t o f te c h n iq u e s o f ov a lu a t io n .
As A. C. Plgou s a id In
h i s book. The Koononlcs o f W e lfa re , ‘ I t i s b e t t e r t o know e x a c tly W mt
f a c t s a r e re q u ire d to meke th e a n eim rin g o f a q u e s tio n p o s s ib le , e^en
th ough th e s e f a c t s a r e u n a tta in a b le , th a n t o r e s t In a fo g o f vague and
c re d u lo u s o p in io n * «* l l /
PART I I .
METHOD OF PROCEDURE
Sarapls
The number o f o p e r a to r s in clu d e d i n th e e tu d y was 1480, a very
la r g e p ro p o r tio n o f th e o p e ra to rs in S h e rid a n C ounty.
1494 o p e ra to rs in 1956 and 1236 in 1540.
The Census l i s t s
The sample c o v ered 021,945
o f th e 375,137 (1940 c e n su s) t o t a l a c r e s i n farm s i n t h e c o u n ty , and was
nftdf up o f th e o p e r a to r s c o o p e ra tin g w ith th e A g r ic u ltu r a l A d ju e to e n t Ad
m i n i s t r a t i o n program .
The d a ta f o r th e y e a r 1938 w ere used i n t h i s
s tu d y o f S h e rid a n C ounty.
S h e rid a n Coxmty i s lo c a te d i n th e extrem e
n o r th e a s te r n c o rn e r o f IMontana.
I t l i e s w ith in tn e g la c i a te o a re a o f
th e G reat P la in s , w hich e x te n d s from th e m ountains eastw ard th ro u g h th e
s t a t e o f H orth P a k o ta .
Source o f D ata
D ata re g a rd in g te n u re s t a t u e , farm p r a c t i c e s , IarW u se and a c re a g e s
o f ty p e s o f c ro p s grown w ere c o p ied from e x i s t i n g re c o rd s In th e o f f i c e s
o f th e A g r ic u ltu r a l C o n se rv a tio n A d m in is tra tio n i n th e c o u n ty s e a t .
Supplem entary d a t a , such a s l e g a l owner and lo c a tio n o f farm a s to
S T A.cTBuDoe, wS o c ie ty and C o n serv atio n * ', Land B s lic y - Eeview,
V ol• *lv, Ho. 6 , June 1341, p* 1 3.
eeo -
-2 0 t i e d , to n n e h ip , and range w ere co p ied from re o o rd e i n th e C le rk and
R e c o rd e r‘e and A e ee ae o r'e o f ii o e e in th e c o u n ty .
E a ta on a o i l g ra d e s were secured from s o i l s c l a s s i f i c a t i o n maps
a v a il a b le a t th e 'Montana E xperim ent S t a t i o n .
T h is s o i l s c l a s s i f i c a t i o n
h as been developed by th e D epartm ent o f A gronosy and th e D e p a rto e c t o f
A g r ic u ltu r a l dconom ios, Montana S ta te C o lle g e , on th e b a s i s o f s o i l s
re c o n n a is s a n c e su rv e y s.
The a g r i c u l t u r a l c e n s u s , and f e d e r a l and s t a t e agency p u b lic a tio n s
w ere a d d itio n a l so u rc e s o f d a ta .
L im ita tio n s o f D ata
Only A g r ic u ltu r a l A djustm ent A d m in is tra tio n p a r t i c i p a n t s were
in c lu d e d in th e s u rv e y .
The n o n - p a r tic ip a n ts a r e a sm all p ro p o r tio n o f
th e t o t a l o p e r a to r s i n S h e rid a n County and i t was b e lie v e d t h a t th e in ­
fo rm a tio n on n o n - p a r tic ip a n t* was n o t e s s e n t i a l f o r t h i s s tu d y .
Sb d i r e c t
c o n ta c t was made w ith th e fa rm e rs o f th e a r e a .
There were very few ways o f ch eck in g th e sch ed u les u s e d .
TIie A g rl-
OuI u ra l Census f ig u r e s were n o t f u l l y com parable to th e f ig u r e s o b ta in e d
i n t h i s s tu d y .
The sample c o n s is ts o f 1958 d a ta and t h e c l o s e s t A g ric u l­
t u r a l census was ta k en i n 1940.
The change from y e a r t o y e a r in farm
numbers and te n u re s t a t u s , and th e d if f e r e n c e In methods o f o b ta in in g In ­
fo rm a tio n h e lp to e x p la in th e d is c re p a n c y w ith th e Census d a t a .
D ata on th e income o f th e In d iv id u a l farm # w ere n o t in c lu d e d on th e
s c h e d u le s .
D ata on n e t income would have made p o s s ib le th e d e te rm in a tio n
o f th e m ost econom ical e ls e o p e ra tin g u n it f o r th e a r e a .
The d a ta used
d id n o t p ro v id e means fo r s e p a r a tin g te n a n t s in to " r e la t e d to la n d lo rd "
-2 1 and " n o i- r e le te d to la n d lo rd " g ro u p s•
R e la te d te n a n ts a r e In clu d ed in
th e te n a n t g ro u p , a lth o u g h t h e i r a t t i t u d e s tow ard th e la n d may be iaore
s i m i l a r t o ow ners tiiait to n o n -r e la te d te n a n ts *
TIis d if f e r e r .e e betw een ti«e sh a re g roups lias a l i m i t a t i o n In t h a t
le a s e p ro v is io n s were n o t o b ta in e d *
I t must b e remembered t h a t I n c ro p -
sh a re r e n tin g th e owner u s u a lly fu r n is h e s more s u p p lie s and h e lp in th e
arrangem ent w hich g iv e s him a g r e a t e r s h a re o f th e c ro p , o r he s a y re c e iv e
h i s s h a re on th e f i e l d r a t h e r th a n d e liv e r e d a t th e g r a in e le v a to r*
on th e le n g th o f l e a s e s w ere n o t o b ta in e d *
D ata
A stu d y o f th e e f f e c t o f th e
le n g th o f le a s e s would have made t h i s su rv e y more c o m p le te.
W hile S h e rid a n co u n ty i s r e p r e s e n ta tiv e o f th e d ry la n d s p rin g w heat
a r e a , th e problem s and c o n c lu s io n s a s found h e re m ust be c a r e f u l l y ana­
ly s e d end c o n d itio n e d b e fo re a c c e p tin g them f o r o th e r s e c tio n s o f t h i s
a re a *
I t m ust a ls o b e k e p t i n mind t h a t th e survey made i s based on
c o u n ty a v e ra g e s , end th e r e may be a re a s w ith in th e co u n ty w hich may have
s l i g h t l y d i f f e r e n t problem s r e q u ir in g d i f f e r e n t a t t e n t i o n .
Method o f A n a ly sis
In th e a n a ly s is o f th e fo r c e s o b s tr u c tin g th e g e n e ra l a d o p tio n o f
th e c o n s e rv a tio n program , m ajor em phasis h a s been g iv en th e la n d te n u re
problem*
The s o i l b u ild in g p r a c tic e s ad o p ted and th e la n d uso p r a c tic e s
c : th e te n u re groups liave b een uaed to in d ic a te th e te n u re c o n d itio n m ost
co n d u civ e to c o n se rv a tio n *
The acrea g e o f f a llo w , c a s h c r o p s , and fe e d
c ro p s and th e use o f lan d c l a s s i f i e d as e r a s in g land f o r c ro p s a re used
t o d e te rm in e th e land use p r a c t i c e s o f th e te n u re groups*
The p ro p o rtio n
-SiSt
o f s o i l d e p le tin g c ro p s was found to be a b o u t equal f o r t h e te n u re
g ro u p s and th e p ro p o r tio n o f s o i l c o n se rv in g c ro p s was found I n s i g n i f i ­
c a n t , so th e a n a ly s is -was n o t based on th e p ro p o r tio n s o f s o i l d e p le tin g
and s o i l c o n se rv in g a c r e a g e s .
The c a s h r e n t e r group end th e c ro p -s h a r e group m ere compared a cc o rd ­
in g to s o i l b u ild in g p r a c t i c e s adopted and lan d u s e , and th e c ro p -s h a re
arran g em en t w here th e r e n t e r re c e iv e d tw o - th ir d s o r more o f th e cro p was
compared t o th e e ro p -s h a re arran g em en t w here th e r e n t e r re c e iv e d Ie a a
th a n tw o - th ir d s o f th e c r o p .
These com parison* w ere made t o d e te m ln e th e
le a s e arrangem ent m ost c o n d u civ e to th e a d o p tio n o f c o n s e rv a tio n p rac­
tic e s .
A stu d y o f t h e ty p e o f la n d lo rd was made t o d eterm in e th e la n d lo rd
g roups w hich te n d to encourage c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c t i c e s ,
S o il b u ild in g
p r a c t i c e s adopted and t h e lan d use p r a c tic e * on th e acrea g e* le a s e d by th e
la n d lo r d s o f th e la n d lo rd g roups were used t o in d ic a te th e e f f e c t th e ty p e
o f la n d lo rd had on en co u rag in g o r o b s tr u c tin g th e a d o p tio n o f c o n s e rv a tio n
p r a c tic e s by r e n t e r s .
A s tu d y o f th e e f f e c t o f farm a is e was made t o show th e e ls e o f
o p e ra tin g u n i t most conducive t o c o n s e rv a tio n and a ls o s i g n i f i c a n t l y show
t h a t t h e u n d e s ira b le fe a tu r e * o f ten an cy w ere n o t th e o n ly f o r c e s ob­
s tr u c t i n g th e a d o p tio n o f th e c o n s e rv a tio n program .
The e f f e c t s o f low income, e x c e s s iv e m ortgage in d e b te d n e s s , and in ­
ad eq u ate c r e d i t and f i n a n c i a l f a c i l i t i e s w ere examined w ith th e use o f
seco n d ary d a te a v a ila b le to d e te rm in e t h e i r e f f e c t s on th e a d o p tio n o f
c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c t i c e s .
2>
The c o n c lu s io n s and th e means o f im proving th e e x i s t i n g u n d e s ira b le
c o n d itio n s a r e based on th e r e s u l t s o f th e d a ta s tu d ie d and on a g e n e ra l
knowledge o f th e a re a a c q u ire d by re a d in g m a te r ia l d e a lin g w ith th e con­
s e r v a tio n problem in g e n e ra l and w ith th e s p e c if ic problem s o f th e d ry
la n d s p rin g w heat a r e a .
FART I I I .
TEBTTRB STATUS A’D COKSERV/dTlOB
I n tr o d u c tio n
Laud te n u re r e f e r s to th e r i g h t s in la n d w hich govern I t e ow nership
and o p e r a tio n .
The te n u r e s t a t u s i s r e f l e c t e d in land u se and c o n se rv a ­
t i o n becau se i t l a r g e l y d e te rm in e s th e a t t i t u d e o f th e o p e r a to r tow ard
th e la n d .
Tlie a t t i t u d e o f th e o p e ra to r tow ard th e land h as a g r e a t in ­
flu e n c e in d e te rm in in g th e la n d u se and c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c t i c e s which he
w i l l follow *
The a t t i t u d e o f an o p e ra to r tow ard th e la n d i s an e x p re s s io n o f w hat
he e x p e c ts th e lan d t o y ie ld him i n th e f u tu r e end o f how lo n g he e x p e c ts
th e land t o be a v a il a b le f o r h ie use o r th e u se o f h i s n e a r h e i r s .
Ills
a t t i t u d e w i l l be l a r g e l y d eterm in ed b y h i s s e c u r ity o f te n u r e , h ie tim e
p re fe re n c e f o r lm re d ia te r e t u r n s , h is d is c o u n t o f th e f u t u r e , fa m ily t r a ­
d i t i o n and many o th e r such f a c t o r s .
"On th e economic p la n e , th e term
" a t t i t u d e " r e f e r s to e l t h c r s h o rt-tim e o r lo n g -tim e e x p e c ta tio n s o f fu ­
t u r e Income# from a g iv en p ie c e o f land} on th e s o c ia l p la n e , i t r e f e r s
to e i t h e r a lo n g -tim e o r a s h o r t- tim e i n t e r e s t in a g iv en f a r e os a p la c e
to l i v e , i n th e community a s a s o c ia l end c u l t u r a l c e n t e r . 1 2 /
1 2 / R a l ^ r " Schiolcele and Jolui I 5. Klmmel"/ ^Socio-Econom ic Iiin ses o f
S o il C o n se rv a tio n in t h e TaTklo Creek A re a " , R esearch B u lle tin Re. 241,
D ctober, 1338, Ames, Iow a. pp. 367-368
Tenancy hee been end f t 111 1# & problem o f Liejor co n cern In th e
U nited S ta te s *
E t a t l e t l c e and p u b lic a tio n s on te n an c y a re e a s i l y a v a i l ­
a b le and g iv e a v iv id p ic tu r e o f th e r i t e o f te n an c y and th e e f f e c t s o f
i t * u x ^ e s ire b le f e a tu r e «•
In t h e s p rin g w heat a r e a , w here a c a s h crop
form ing wyetan i s dom inant, te n a n c y i s e s p e c i a l l y e x te n s iv e and in re c e n t
y e a r s h as been in c re a s in g a t a g r e a t e r r a t e th a n i n th e U n ited S ta te s a s
a w h o le.
The p ro p o r tio n o f te n a n ts a c t u a l l y d a e lin e d s l i g h t l y f o r th e
U nited S ta te s from 1956 t o 1940, a c c o rd in g t o Census d a t a , w h ile i t con­
tin u e d t o in c re a s e f o r th e g r e a t e r p a r t o f tlie sp rin g w heat a re a#
For
S h e rid a n c o u n ty , th e p ro p o r tio n o f te n a n c y in c re a s e d from 26*1# in 1950
t o 5 1 .4 # in 1956 and was 5 9 .7 # in 1940. 1 3 /
Tenancy i s an e s s e n t i a l p a r t o f o u r a g r i c u l t u r a l p ro d u c tio n system*
I t ie " e s te p p in g sto n e to ow nership*, *a rung i n th e a g r i c u l t u r a l la d d e r " .
Tenancy i s d e s ir a b le when used a s a means to become an ow ner.
s i r a b l e when used to make sm all u n i t s l a r g e r and more econom ic.
I t i s de­
I t is
d e s ir a b le when i t p ro v id e s f o r s e c u r ity and a b e t t e r a t t i t u d e tow ard th e
la n d th a n would r e s u l t i f a p re c a rio u s m ortgage d e b t accom panied owner­
sh ip *
I t i s a l s o d e s i r a b l e when i t a llo w s th e o p e ra to r t o in v e s t in non­
d u ra b le f a c t o r s end to o b ta in a b e t t o r b a la n c e o f p ro d u c tio n f a c t o r s so
a s t o in c re a s e h ie income*
In p u rc h a sin g a farm an o p e r a to r may l i m i t
h is w orking c a p i t a l to such an e x te n t t h a t h i s e f f ic ie n c y and income a re
low ered*
Tenanoy i s u n d e s ira b le when i t s u n d e s ir a b le f e a tu r e s cause e x p lo it­
a t i v e len d use p r a c t i c e s end p re v e n t th e a d o p tio n o f s o i l c o n s e rv a tio n
p r a c tic e s *
A te n a n t o p e ra te d farm Ima two p a r t i e s depending on i t f o r
T ^ I E l t e d S ta te s A ^ r 'i c u l t ^ a r C e n s u i , ' 1 9 4 0 —
----------------------
'25 -
lneome, w h ile en unenoumbered o w n er-o p erated farm has o n ly one p a rty
to e u p p o rt,
Wxittum f a m in g e f f ic ie n c y can n o t u s u a lly be o b ta in e d wlien
th e c o n tro l o f d u ra b le f a c t o r s and n o n -d u ra b le f a c to r s Ie s e p a ra te d Letwoen tiro p a r t i e s h aving d iv e rg e n t n o t Iv o s end i n t e r e s t s in th e same t r a c t
o f le n d .
I n e f f i c i e n t farm ing a s a r e s u l t o f th e im proper u se o f produc­
t i o n f a c t o r s lo w ers th e te n a n ts Income and c a u s e s him to e x p lo it th e
lan d In o r d e r t o o b ta in a l i v i n g .
The p ro p o r tio n o f te n a n ts and te n a n t o p e ra te d acrea g e In th e s p rin g
w heat a r e a o f H o rth e e s te m Montana i s v ery h ig h (S ee T able I ) . A pproxi­
m a te ly o n e - h a lf o f th e o p e r a to r s in c lu d e d in t h i s stu d y mere t e n a n t s , and
th e y o p e ra te d ab o u t 44^ o f th e a c re a g e .
Tl* h ig h p ro p o r tio n o f te n a n c y in t h i s a r e a has been caused by*
1.
14/
F e e -sim p le ow nership o f lan d and th e I n h e rita n c e Iavns In th e
TJnited S t a t e s .
In d iv id u a ls have been and s t i l l earn a b le t o p u rc h a se , s e l l ,
and e x p l o i t land becau se o f th e few r e s t r i c t i o n s t h a t have b ean a p p lie d on
I t e use and d i s p o s i t i o n .
2.
The r e c e n t d e p re s s io n o f t h e 3 0 * s.
During th e d e p re s s io n farm
p r ic e s dropped w h ile o p e r a tin g o o e te rem ained n e a r ly c o n s ta n t, because o f
th e la r g e amount o f r e l a t i v e l y fix e d o o e te such as i n t e r e s t s and p ro p e rty
ta x e s .
M ortgage f o r e c lo s u r e s and banlrruptey tu rn ed many o w n e r-o p e ra to rs
in to t e n a n t s .
Lew incomes p re v e n ted te n a n ts and la b o r e r s fro-., ascen d in g
th e f i n a l rung t o lan d ow n ersh ip .
Se
Land s p e c u la tio n and h ig h land v a lu e s .
Land s p e c u la tio n has th e
M / ^ v p o rt o f th e P re s id e n t* # d q m ^ t t e e . ' ^Tarn Tenancyh',
F e v ru a ry , 1SS7, p p . 33-46.
26-
TABLE I . — TOTAL LASD IS FARMS, BtBOSS OF OPERATORS AED
AVERAGE ACREAGE PER OPERATOR BY TEKUHE STATUS,
IK SBERIDAK COUSTT, 1938 « /
Tenure
T o ta l
Owner
P art-o w n er
R en ter
Cash
A ll Share
Share A b /
Share B c /
' Ized Share
o th e r
Lend
In farm s tim b e r o f
( a c r e s ) O p e rato rs
Aver»(-e
p e r O p erato r
C ropland
(a c res)
a c r e s __p e rc e n t
794,822
1 ,48 0
537.0
506,989
6 3 .8
160,106
286,867
347,869
405
329
748
3 9 7 .3
871.9
466.1
103,580
133,618
214,791
67.8
6 4 .0
61 .7
40,006
243,304
158,796
62,779
37,730
68,649
113
661
397
119
45
74
3 5 4 .0
444.4
4 3 0 .0
4 4 3 .6
838.4
791.2
22,340
166,624
96,650
54,824
26,220
35,827
5 6 .8
62.8
6 0 .2
6 6 .0
6 9 .6
61.2
Data w are ta k e n from th e County A g r ic u ltu r a l Program re c o rd s
its 8.
b / R e n te rs re c e iv e d tw o - th ir d s o r more o f crop*
c / R e n te rs re c e iv e d l e s s th a n tw o - th ir d s o f crop*
27e f f e c t o f r a is in f- I rimJ p r ic e s t o le v e l# c o n s id e ra b ly above th e p r ic e s
j u s t i f i e d by th e p ro d u c tiv e c a p a c ity o f th e land*
4.
The c ash c ro p system o f f a m i n g .
Tenancy en co u rag es a c a s h c ro p
system o f farm in g and an e x is t in g c a s h c ro p system encourages te n a n c y by
f a c i l i t a t i n g th e d i v i s i o n o f r e tu r n s betw een th e owner and th e te n a n t ,
and I y f a c i l i t a t i n g th e t r a n s f e r and sh a rin g o f e q u i t i e s .
5.
IIigh ta x e s and i n t e r e s t r a t e s .
High land v a lu e s , t a x e s , and
i n t e r e s t r a t e s low er t h e r e t u r n th e owner can re c e iv e on h i s in v estm en t
and d e s tr o y s th e in c e n tiv e to own.
6.
TIie c o n d itio n o f c r e d i t and th e d e c lin e in la n d v a lu e s .
The
h ig h i n t e r e s t r a t e s and th e s h o r t t o m lo a n s made in t h i s a re a by le n d in g
a g e n c ie s o th e r th a n th e F e d e ra l Government, to g e th e r w ith d e c lin in g lan d
v a lu e s a f t e r 1920 and low Incom es, encouraged ten an cy by making ow nership
v ery r i s k y , u n c e r ta in , and u n p r o f ita b l e .
I t i s t h e a t t i t u d e tow ard th e la n d w hich d e te rm in e s how a n o p e ra to r
w i l l use h i s la n d , and t h e r e e x i s t s a p o s i t i v e c o r r e l a t i o n betw een a
s u i t a b l e te n u r e s e tu p and th e a t t i t u d e o f th e o p e ra to r tow ard th e la n d .
These a r e many problem s o f th e p r e s e n t te n u re s e tu p w hich have a n u n d e s ir­
a b le e f f e c t on th e o p e r a to r ’ s a t t i t u d e tow ard th e la n d .
I n s e c u r i ty o f te n u re i s very much r e s p o n s ib le f o r t i e sm all i n t e r e s t
w hich r e n t e r s have in p r a c tic i n g s o i l c o n s e r v a tio n .
I t i s n a tu r a l t h a t
a r e n t e r would be u n w illin g to p r a c tic e c o n s e rv a tio n i f he i s very un­
c e r t a i n o f re a p in g th e b e n e f i t s o f h i s c o n s e rv a tio n .
The p r e v a ilin g method o f le a s in g f o r s h o r t p e rio d s and o f u s in g un­
w r i t t e n le a s e s w ith no p r o v is io n , e i t h e r f o r com pensating th e r e n t e r f o r
-
23-
tm exl^iastsd In p ro v en en tp re d e o r f o r c h e rd in g th o r e n te r f o r e x p lo ite t Ing and d i e I n v r e tln g th e a s s e t s o f th e ow ner, p rev en t* him from main­
t a in in g th e f a r * a s s e t s end prom oter an e x p l o i t a t i v e a t t i t u d e *
An a n a ly s is
end com parison o f s o i l c o n s e rv a tio n and la n d use p r a c tic e s ad o p ted by
r e n te r e , p o rt-o w n e rs and fu ll-o w n e r* he* b ean wad# t o show th e e f f e c t * o f
te n u r e in e o c u r lty upon th e com pliance o f te n u r e group* w ith t h e S o il
C o n se rv a tio n program .
Land TTae and S o il B u ild in g P ra c tic e #
R en ter# in S h erid an County a r e le e s in c lin e d to in v e s t in s o i l
b u ild in g p r a c t i c e * . (F ig u re I ) .
The owner and p a rt-o w n e r group# have
in v e ste d In 4*2 and 4 .9 • o i l - b u i l d i n g e q u iv a le n t u n it# f o r each 190 a cre*
r e s p e c t i v e l y , w h ile r e n t e r s have 2 .8 s o i l - b u i l d i n g e q u iv a le n t u n its p e r
190 a c re * . (See T able I I ) , 1 6 /
The land use p r a c tic e * were found t o be d i f f e r e n t f o r th e te n u re
g ro u p * .
Owner* end p a rt-o w n e r# in v e s te d i n th e c o a t o f fa llo w in g t o a
g r e a t e r e x te n t th a n r e n t e r * , w h ile r e n te r * had more i d l e c ro p la n d a c r e s .
(F ig u re 2 ), F allo w lan d co n serv e# m o istu re and i t c o n sid e re d a good lan d
p ra c tic e fo r th is a re a .
Ifh ile owners and p art-o w n er* had a s l i g h t l y h ig h e r p e rc e n t o f
t h e i r c ro p la n d in c a s h c ro p s , r e n t e r s had 8 8 .1 # o f a c tu a l cro p # in c ash
crop# (w heat and f la x ) and 1 1 .9 # i n feed c r o p s , a* compared w ith 82.9#
and 1 7 .1 # f o r ow ner*. (See T able I I I ) .T h ie shows t h a t r e n t e r s a r e more
I n te r e s te d i n limned le t# re tu r n * end have l e s s in c e n tiv e t o d i v e r s i f y .
Tr'/ The s e l l b u ild in g p r a c tic e # "most c o m o n ly p ra e tlo e iF a r e " s trip
c ro p p in g and th e seed in g o f legumes and g r a s s e s • bee Appendix f o r l i s t
and d e s c r ip ti o n o f p r a c tic e s adopted I y fa rm e rs in S h e rid a n County in
1938.
-
29 '
U n ite P e r 100 Aoiiee
7
6
r e n te r s
Tenure
F ig u re I . —S o il b u ild in g p r a c tic e s adopted by te n u re s ta tu s
e x p re sse d i n e q u iv a le n t u n its p e r 100 a c r e s .
30-
table
I I . — SOIL BUILDIKG MtACTICES AKD PRODUCTIVITY IIJEEX
BY TEIiURE STATUS IU SEER IBAH COUl’TY, 1938, « /
S o il B u ild in g E q u iv a le n t U n ite
p e r 100 a c re s
p e r o p e ra to r
Hoether
Temtre
Average
p ro d .in d e x
T o ta l
9 6 .5
3 0 ,7 0 2 .4
3 .9
2 0 .7
101.2
9 9 .0
93.4
9 4 .1
9 3 .3
9 1 .0
3 9 .1
9 5 .6
9 3 .6
6 ,7 1 9 .6
1 4 ,1 1 3 .7
9 ,8 6 9 .1
6 6 5 .7
6 ,9 1 0 .4
3 ,8 6 8 .8
1 ,8 1 7 .5
1 ,2 3 4 .1
2 ,2 9 3 .0
4 .2
4 .9
2 .8
1 .7
2 .8
2 .4
3 .4
3 .3
3 .9
16.8
4 2 .9
1 3.2
5 .9
1 2 .3
9 .7
15.3
2 7 .4
3 1 .0
Owner
P art-o w n er
R en ter
Cash
A ll Share
Share A
S hare B o /
F ixed sh a re
O th er
B ats w ere ta k e n Pr cm th e County A g r ic u ltu r a l P ro -ra n re c o rd s
1930
R e n te rs re c e iv e d tw o - th ir d s o r more o f c ro p .
R e n te rs re c e iv e d l e s s th a n tw o - th ir d s o f c ro p .
-
31 -
P er Cent o f C ropland
100
owners
Id le
C ropland
n
n
Fallow
p a rt
owners
Tenure
re n te r s
Feed
Crops
Cash
Crops
F ig u re 2 . — Land use by te n u re groups ex p re ssed as a p e rc en ta g e
o f average c ro p la n d a c r e s .
32.
TABLE I I I . —RELATION OF TElHMl TO H-ED AST CASK CROP ACRES
Aim TO NUMBER OF 15IM COtiS OK FARM UI SHERIDAN
COUNTY, 1958 # /
Tenure
T o ta l
Owner
P art-o w n er
R en ter
Caah
A ll Share
Share A
Share B
Mixed Share
O ther
*/
Program
Jyz
c/
<y
e/
Cash
p e rc e n t
Avs.M ilk
Cash c ro p s Lf/ Feed c ro p s o / cows p e r
o p e ra to r
100
8 6.7
1 4 .5
5 .4
100
100
100
82.9
8 6 .0
8 8 .1
17.1
1 6.0
1 1 .9
5 .7
5 .3
2 .4
100
100
8 6.5
8 8 .8
1 4 .7
11 .2
2 .6
2 .2
100
100
100
3 8 .9
8 3 .4
8 9.1
11.1
1 1 .6
1 0 .9
1 .9
2 .4
3 .8
100
8 6 .6
1 3 .5
3 .5
Dat* w ere ta k e n from th e C ounty A g r ic u ltu r a l C c n e e rv a tio n
re c o rd s f o r 1958.
IncliH lee o n ly id ie a t and f l a x .
In c lu d e s o a t s , b a r l e y , r y e , c o rn , m i l l e t s , hay and o t h e r s .
R e n te rs re c e iv e d tw o - th ir d s o r more o f c ro p ,
R e n te rs re c e iv e d l e s s th a n tw o - th ir d s o f c ro p .
-5 >
Owners L sl sn s r e r a '- e o f 2»7 m ilk cows p e r o p e ra to r, w h ilo r a n to r e
hsd an av erag e o f 2 .4 .
T his a1 eve f a r t h e r t h a t r e n te r s have a d i f f e r ­
e n t e e t l n e t l o n o f th e p r e s e n t v alu e o f f u tu r e r s t u m n .
The o v e re je p r o d u c tiv ity Index o f th e owners (See T able I I ) vms s ig ­
n ifies!- t l y h ig h e r th e n f o r r e n t e r s , and SR p e rc e n t o f th e o w n e r-o p e ra to rs
had a p r o d u c tiv ity r a t i n g o f 100 o r o v e r as ccsvpered w ith o n ly 41 p e r­
c e n t o f th e r e n t e r s (F ig u re 3 ) .
lc /
The h ig h e r p r o d u c tiv ity in d ex o f
th e owners shove t h a t th e y o b ta in e d h ig h e r y i e l d s th a n r e n t e r s .
T his Ie
m r e s u l t o f b e t t e r lend p r a c t i c e s , a none e f f i c i e n t co m b in atio n o f th e
f a c t o r s o f p ro d u c tio n , arid t o sore e x te n t b e t t e r la n d .
The h ig h e r av erag e p r o d u c tiv ity Index o f th e ow ners, a r e s u l t o f
b e t t e r la n d u s e , a more e f f i c i e n t com b in atio n o f f a c to r s and b e t t e r la n d ,
ie conducive t c a g r e a t e r In v e s tn e n t In s o i l b u ild in g p r a c tic e s *
F ig u re 4
shows th e very s i g n i f i c a n t e f f e c t o f a h ig h p r o d u c tiv ity Index on th e In­
vestm ent In s o i l b u ild in g p r a c t i c e s .
The g ra d e s o f land used by th e te n u r e groups show t h a t owners hed a
h ig h e r p e rc e n t o f land c la s s e d as farm la n d , w h ile r e n t e r s had a h ig h e r
p e rc e n t o f la n d c la s s e d a s g ra v in g la n d (F ig u re 6)«
17/
R en ter* had l e s s
la n d c la s s e d a s farm la n d th a n t h e i r t o t a l c ro p la n d and, t h e r e f o r e , th e y
w ere u s in g la n d c la s s e d a s n o n -f a m la n d f o r cro p p ro d u c tio n .
T hle shows
Y b/ The VroAue1H v H y Index I e T s t a b i l i s e d " ty- thlTlTnmlty Cm ‘" itte e
i n accordance w ith in s t r u c t i o n s Issu ed by th e A g ric u ltu ra l A djustm ent
A d m in is tra tio n , s u b je c t to th e a p p ro v a l o f t h e F te te Committee* I t I s
b ased upon th e norm al y i e l d p e r a c re f o r t h e farm o f th e m ajo r s o i l d e p le tin g c ro p In th e co u n ty a s compared w ith th e norm al y ie ld p e r a c re
f o r such cro p in th e c o u n ty , " h e a t i s th e c ro p used In S h e rid a n C ounty.
I ? / See Appendix f o r lan d grade o l a s s l f i c a t i o n e .
-Ih -
P e r c e n t o f T o tal
1 Farms w ith a p r o d u c tiv ity index
f . . . . . j under 100.
Farms w ith a p r o d u c tiv ity index
o f 100 o r o v e r. •
• F ig u re 3. — The p r o d u c tiv ity r a t i n g o f th e la n d o p e ra te d by
te n u re s t a t u s .
-
35 -
U n its P e r 100 a c re s
iH
1
P
55 •
%
%
.z z/
50 '
I
45
v
/
/%
I
Z>
I
k ^
kI
I
%
1
P
//
K
Z
I
n
1
I
//
/I
9
ft:
=
'
'
I
J
Z
5
"
/I
_/ /
I
0
IO
C-
k
®
I
Ji
Cl
I
ic
CO
orH
LQ
(T i
<#
Ih
H
CVJ
rH
rH
I
Jio
rH
IQ
rH
I—I
I
CM
£
F ig u re 4 . —S o il b u ild in g p r a c tic e s ad o p ted a c c o rd in g to th e prod­
u c t i v i t y r a tin g o f th e lan d ex p re ssed in e q u iv a le n t
u n its p e r 100 a c r e s . a /
a / Data were ta k e n from C ounty A g r ic u ltu r a l C o n se rv a tio n
Program re c o rd s f o r 1938.
-36'
P e r Cent o f T o ta l
75
vraplBaa
Wmm tooa
seaSnc
-treem otto B
uBuatl
Land
Itg u w 0.«—^ o kiiid o f Iotv used and ttf» p o r oofit o f opoplend by
ten u re Bbatsua WmsiOBatK* M t e> per «*mfe o f t o t a l Oonroe
-3 7 t h a t t h e i r land use p r a c tic e s a r e l e s s d e s i r a b l e th a n th e p r a c tic e s
Cf owners and p a rt-o w n e rs .
"JThile th e q u a l i t y o f th e la n d v a r i e s , w ith t h a t o f t h e r e n t e r ’s
b e in g th e p o o r e s t, th e p r o d u c tiv ity Index I n d ic a te s t h a t t h e owners a re
o b ta in in g th e h ig h e s t y i e l d s , and th e c o r r e l a t i o n betw een th e p ro d u c tiv ­
i t y index and s o i l b u ild in g p r a c tic e s I n d ic a te s t h a t owners a r e more
a b le t o a d o p t s o i l c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c t i c e s .
Lease A rrangem ents
The le a s e arrangem ent a f f e c t s th e c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c t i c e s w hich a
r e n t e r w i l l a d o p t.
Some le a s e arrangem enta e ra more co n d u civ e to con­
s e r v a tio n because o f t h e i r e f f e c t on th e a t t i t u d e s o f th e la n d lo rd and
th e r e n t e r .
The c ro p -s h a re le a s e i s th e dom inant ty p e used i n t h i s a re a (See
T able I ) .
The c ro p -s h a r e arrangem ent en co u rag es th e p ro d u c tio n o f c a s h
c ro p s and d is c o u ra g e s th e p ro d u c tio n o f c ro p s t h a t c an n o t b e r e a d ily
m arketed b u t r u s t b e c o n v e rte d in to l i i e e t o c k p ro d u c ts on th e farm
(F ig u re 6 ) .
Cash r e n t e r s had more o f t h e i r c ro p s in feed c ro p s th a n i n
c a s h c ro p s and a ls o had more cows p e r o p e r a to r (See Table I I I ) .
Because
a la r g e a c re a g e o f w heat r e l a t i v e t o c ro p la n d c o n f l i c t s w ith th e s o i l
c o n s e rv a tio n p ro g ram 's o b je c t iv e s , th e c ro p -s h a r e arran g em en t i s an ob­
s t a c l e p re v e n tin g th e a d o p tio n o f s o i l c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c t i c e s .
• ow ever, w h ile th e c a sh cro p arrangem ent i s more co nducive to a
lo w er c ash c ro p a c re a g e . I t i s n o t co n d u civ e t o t h e a d o p tio n o f s o i l
b u ild in g p r a c t i c e s . C ro p -sh a re r e n t e r s ad o p ted more s o i l - b u i l d i n g p rac­
t i c e s p e r a c r e and p e r o p e r a to r th a n c a sh r e n t e r s (See T able I I ) .
F ig u re 6 . — Land u se by le a s e arrangem ent e x p re sse d as
p e r c e n t o f c ro p la n d .
a / R en ters r e c e iv e tw o -th ird s o r more of c ro p ,
b / R en ters re c e iv e le s s th an tw o -th ird s o f
c ro p .
-5 9 In e r o p - sh a re r e n t i n g , th e In flu e n c e o f th e la n d lo r d , who hae a g r e a te r
f u tu r e l n t o r e a t In th e lan d th a n th e r e n t e r , i s l n s t r u m n t a l i n k eep in g
a l a r g e r p e rc e n t o f th e cro p lan d in fa llo w and a le a s amount i d le
(F ig u re 6 ) , and in prom oting th e a d o p tio n o f s o i l- b u ild in g p r a c tic e s
(F ig u re 7 ) .
The c ro p -s h a r e le a s e s v ary in th e maimer in which th e c ro p i s
sh ared betw een th e la n d lo rd and th e re n te r*
The " o n e - th ird to owner,
tw o - th ir d e t o o p e ra to r" arrangem ent i s th e m ost p o p u la r i n t h i s area*
The " o n e - h a lf , o n e -h a lf" arrangem ent i s a ls o q u ite p o p u lar*
rangem ent
Tlie sh are a r ­
w hich g iv e s th e la n d lo rd a g r e a t e r s h a re in t h e c r o p te n d s to
encourage t h e a d o p tio n o f s o i l b u ild in g p r a c t i c e s , and th e m o is tu re con­
s e rv in g lan d u se p r a c tic e o f fa llo w in g (See T able I I and F ig u re 7 ) ,
T h is shows t h a t a s th e la n d l o r d 's a c t i v i t y in c r e a s e s , th e f u tu r e income
o f th e land becomes more im p o rta n t in d e te rm in in g p re s e n t la n d u s e .
The c ro p -s h a r e arrangem ent w hich re tu rn e d th e la n d lo rd more th a n
o n e - th ir d o f th e c ro p was used
n th e b e t t e r lan d to a g r e a t e r e x te n t
th a n o th e r s h a re a rran g em en ts (See Appendix T able 4 ) .
The a v erag e p ro ­
d u c t i v i t y index was h ig h e r and 60£ o f th e r e n t e r s in t h i s group had an
a v erag e o f 100 o r o v e r a s compared w ith 605 o f th e c a sh r e n t e r s , and o n ly
345 o f th e c ro p -s h a re r e n t e r s having a le a s e arrangem ent r e tu r n in g onet h i r d o r l e s s o f th e c ro p to th e la n d lo rd (F ig u re 8 ) .
Type o f Landlord and_A bsentoe Ownership
L a n d lo rd s, b ecause o f h av in g le g a l t i t l e t o th e land th e y r e n t ,
have more s e c u r i t y , as f a r a s re c e iv in g f u tu r e b e n e f its from p re s e n t in ­
v estm en ts in c o n s e rv a tio n , th a n re n te r s *
T h is is e g e n e ra l s ta te m e n t
-
40-
IM ita P e r 100 Aoree
Lease A m m g e n eo t
F ig u re 7*— S o il W ild in g p r a c t i c e s ad o p ted a c c o rd in g t o
le a s e a rran g em en t u sed ex p re ssed a s eq u iv ­
a l e n t u n i t s p o r 100 a c r e s •
e/
%/
B entor re c e iv e d tw o - th ir d s o r more o f crop#
R en ter re c e iv e d le a s th e n two—th i r d s o f crop#
-4 1 -
P or Cont o f Totxxl
100 r
TZ
OO
70
rT
%
00
I
20
#
I
811 i
Lrmo Amm^cnent
^
a s s
S S r eIS K d u o tlv lty
IpOfBS w ith J l p r o d u o tlv lty
______ in d ex o f 100 o r o v o r.
F lo u re GiW The : r o d u c t l v i t y r a tin g o f th e la n d o p o rato d
b y tJ'.e le a se arrunr^rent te e .
w ith nuneroug e x c e p tio n s .
L an d lo rd s have v a ry in g a t t i t u d e s tow ard th e
lan d th e y own depending on t h e i r m o tiv e s f o r ow n ersh ip .
I f th e y c o n sid e r
t h e i r ow nership one o f tem porary d u r a tio n w ith a s a le In th e n e a r f u tu r e ,
th e y w i l l te n d t o have a more e x p l o i t a t i v e a t t i t u d e th a n i f th e y a r e re ­
ta in in g ow nership f o r f u tu r e s e c u r ity and
e n e fits .
T h is e x p lo ita tiv e a t t i ­
tu d e w i l l depend on t h e i r r a t e o f tim e p re fe re n c e f o r c a s h r e t u r n s , th e
am enity value o f th e fa rm s te a d , and th e amount o f s e c u r ity w hich t h e i r
ow nership g iv e s them .
In S h e rid a n County I n d iv id u a l la n d lo rd s a r e th e d o m in atin g ty p e .
They own 223,977 o f th e 347,104 re n te d a c r e s in clu d ed i n t h i s s tu d y .
(Poe T able IV ).
A bsentee ow nership la f a i r l y la r g e end i s a problem
w orthy o f much a t t e n t i o n in making p o s s ib le a more g e n e ra l a d o p tio n o f
s o i l c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c t i c e s and i n prom oting a b e t t e r lan d use p o lic y .
Land owned by r e s i d e n t la n d lo rd s had a g r e a t e r p r o d u c tiv ity index
th e n th e land having n o n -r e s id e n t la n d lo rd s o r any la n d lo rd group (See
T able I? )*
T his in d ic a te s t h a t th e la n d owned by r e s i d e n t la n d lo rd s i s be­
ing farmed more e f f e c t i v e l y .
The in d iv id u a l la n d lo rd group a ls o had a
g r e a t e r p e rc e n t o f i t s c ro p la n d i n fa llo w and a s m a lle r p e rc e n t in id le
la n d th a n th e o th e r groups (See Appendix T able V ).
Lending a g e n c ie s a p p e a r t o be good la n d lo r d s .
T h is i s p ro b a b ly a
r e s u l t o f th e la r g e number o f farm s owned by F e d e ra l Lending A g en cies.
F ederal a g e n c ie s e re a tte m p tin g to promote and c r e a te s e c u r i t y f o r th e
r e n t e r by lo n g e r te rm le a s e s end a m o r tis a tio n in l i n e w ith tlie income o f
th e farm .
The lo w er r a t i o o f c a s h c re p e t o f e e d c ro p s in d ic a te s t h a t
r e n t e r s have more s e c u r i t y w ith t h i s ty p e o f la n d lo rd (S ee T ab le V ).
TABLE IV .—SOIL BUILDIBG HtACTICES AMD PRODUCTIVITY
IKIEX BY TYPE OF LMiDLCffiD IE SUESIDAE
COUSTY, 1938. « /
T^rpe o f Lendlord
T o ta l
P u b lic A gencies
Lending A gencies
C o rp o ra te Group
I n d iv id u a ls
R e sid e n t
S o n -re s id e n t
T o ta l A cres
Average
P r o d u c tiv ity S o il B u ild in g
U n its p e r
Index
__ E q u iv a le n t U n its 100 a c r e s
347,104
9 4 .7
1 0 ,0 7 3 .8
2 .9
52,513
61,588
9,026
223,977
136,986
86,991
84.8
33 .2
9 1 .5
96 .4
96*8
9 3 .4
935.4
2 ,5 4 4 .9
5 0 6 .7
6 ,4 8 6 .8
4 ,0 8 2 .8
2 ,4 0 4 .0
1 .8
3 .8
3 .4
2 .9
2 .0
2 .3
e / D ata w ere ta k e n from th e County A g r ic u ltu r a l C o n se rv a tio n
Prograis r e c o r d s f o r 1938.
TABLE 7 . —FEED AED CASE CROP ACEES BT TTFB OF
UEDLOED IE SEERIDAE COUNTY, 1938 e /
P e rc e n t o f Cash
Crops i n c ro p
a crea g e b /
P e rc e n t o f Feed
Crops i n c ro p
acrea g e b /
Type o f L andlord
Crop A cres
T o ta l
123,163
88.2
1 1 .8
17,372
21,513
3,117
81,151
61,580
29,571
8 8 .5
86.9
9 2 .4
88 .3
8 8 .2
88.6
1 1 .5
1 3.1
7 .6
1 1 .7
1 1 .8
1 1 .4
P u b lic A gencies
Lending A gencies
C o rp o ra te Croups
In d iv id u a ls
R e sid e n t
N o n -re s id e n t
D ata w ere ta k e n from th e County A r ! c u l t u r a l C o n se rv a tio n
Prof-ren re c o r d s f o r 1938.
'b / See Appendix T ab le IV f o r c a s h and fe e d c ro p a c re a g e s .
-U5The g r e a t e r Investm ent In s o i l b u ild in g p r a c tic e s by r e n t e r s w ith
le n d in g a g e n c ie s f o r la n d lo r d s , a ls o in d ic a te s t h a t le n d in g ag en cies
had le a s e e w hich wore th e m ost condu civ e t o making i t p o e s ib le f o r th e
r e n t e r to ad o p t o o n e e rv a tlo n p r a c tic e s (S ee Table IV ).
County owned lan d i s a n o th e r m ajor problem in S h e rid a n C ounty.
C ontinued ta x d e lin q u e n cy b ro u g h t much p r iv a te la n d in to th e hand# o f th e
c o u n ty d u rin g th e l a s t d e p re s s io n .
E x c e ssiv e p ro p e rty ta x e s and low i n ­
comes caused many in d iv id u a l# t o r e li n q u i s h t h e i r ow nership r i g h t s to th e
c o u n ty .
T h is land would tend to b e p o o re r th a n tlie av erag e and th e co u n ty ,
a cc o rd in g to th e d a ta used in t h i s stu d y , lied n o t been very e f f e c t i v e in
en co u rag in g d e s ir e d o o n e e rv a tlo n and la n d u se p r a c t i c e s .
Land owned by
p u b lic a g e n c ie s , m ain ly th e c o u n ty , had th e lo w e st r a t e o f s o i l b u ild in g
p r a c tic e s p e r a c re and a le e th e lo w e st amount o f fa llo w and th e g r e a te s t
amount o f i d le la n d (See T able IV end Appendix Table V ).
The le a s e arrangem ent m ost p o p u la r w ith a l l la n d lo rd g roups was th e
arrangem ent which re tu rn e d th e la n d lo rd o n e - th ir d o r l e s s o f th e c ro p ; 80?'
o f th e a crea g e le a s e d from c o rp o ra te la n d lo rd s was le a s e d u n d er t h i s a r ­
ran g em ent.
R esid e n t la n d owners used t h i s arrangem ent to a l e s s e r e x te n t
th a n o th e r la n d lo rd groups (F ig u re 9 ) .
P u b lic a g e n c ie s le a s e d 39h o f
t h e i r acrea g e f o r c a sh r e n t e , w h ile c o rp o ra te la n d lo rd s le a s e d o n ly 9?« o f
t h e i r a c re a g e f o r c a sh r e n t .
R e sid e n t la n d lo rd s le a s e d 54j' o f t h e i r a c r e ­
age by th e c ro p -s h a re a rra n g e m e n t, w hich re tu rn e d more th a n o n o -th i r d o f
th e c ro p to th e la n d lo r d , w h ile p u b lic a g e n c ie s used t h i s arran g em en t f o r
o n ly 5fe o f t h e i r a c re a g e le a s e d (F ig u re 9 ) .
-
p u b lio
46-
le n d in g
c o rp o ra te r e s id e n t n o n -r e s id e n t
V
F ig u re 9 , —Lease a rran g em en ts u sed b y ty p e 01 la n d lo r d .
a / R en ters re c e iv e tw o - th ir d s o r more o f c ro p ,
b / R en ters re c e iv e le s s th a n tw o -th ird s o f c ro p .
C oacluglon
The a t t i t u d e o f th e o p e r a to r d e term in e a h ie la n d u se and co n serv a­
tio n p o lic ie s .
Thle a t t i t u d e i s determ in ed by h is s p e c i f i c e x p e c ta n c ie s
and h i s i n t e r e s t s i n th e la n d .
The lan d use end c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c tic e s
fo llo w e d by r e n t e r s a r e l e s s d e s ir a b le th a n th e p r a c tic e s fo llo w ed by
owner and p a rt-o w n e r g ro u p s .
The u n d e s ir a b le f e a tu r e s o f o u r p re s e n t te n ­
u re system , w hich te n d t o g iv e th e r e n t e r lo s e s e c u r ity th a n t h a t enjoyed
by owners and c au se him to have a h ig h e r f u tu r e d is c o u n t r a t e o f f u tu r e
b e n e f i t s from p re s e n t in v e stm e n ts In c o n s e rv a tio n and la n d use p r a c t i c e s ,
a r e re s p o n s ib le f o r c a u s in g ten an cy to b e an o b s ta c le in th e a d o p tio n o f
lan d use and c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c t i c e s .
The le a s e arran g em en t a ls o has i t s u n d e s ir a b le e f f e c t s .
Kot only
should th e le a s e be f o r a lo n g e r p e rio d o f tim e , b u t i t should be o f th e
ty p e t h a t w i l l be moat conducive t o p ro p e r la n d use and c o n s e rv a tio n p ra c ­
tic e s .
P re s e n t le a s e s have developed i n auoh a way as to le a v e la n d lo rd s
f r e e to s e l l th e farm , te n a n ts f r e e t o move, and b o th f r e e to e x p lo it th e
s o il.
The c a sh r e n t arrangem ent e x e r ts l e s s p re s s u re on tiie r e n t e r f o r
" a l l - o u t " p ro d u c tio n o f c ash c ro p s , and t h i s form o f arran g em en t would be
more d e s ir a b le th a n c ro p -s h a re r e n tin g i f b e t t e r le a s e e were a d o p ted ,
w hich in c lu d e d "w astage c la u s e s " and p ro v id e d means o f co m p en satio n f o r
im provem ents, and a f l e x i b l e c a s h r e n t w hich would conform more c lo s e ly t o
th e income o f th e la n d .
R e n te rs have p r e f e r r e d th e o ro p -s h a re arrangem ent
m ain ly b ecause i t i s f l e x i b l e i n t h a t when c ro p s a re poor o r p r ic e s low ,
th e la n d lo rd s h a re s th e b u rd e n .
The ty p e o f la n d lo rd problem a r i s e s from th e a t t i t u d e o f tem porary
ow nership a Incd a t ! m e d ia te c a s h r e t u r n s .
C o rp o rate a g e n c ie s , p u b lic
a g e n c ie s , and n o n - r e s id e n t In d iv id u a ls form th e group l e s s conducive
t o p ro p e r lan d use and c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c t i c e s , w h ile r e s i d e n t la n d lo rd s
and le n d in g a g e n c ie s a r e n o re conducive to enco u rag in g a b e t t e r a t t i t u d e
tow ard tl«e la n d .
County ow nership p r e s e n ts a problem w hich sh o u ld be
coped w ith ! m e d i a t e l y and e f f e c t i v e l y b ecau se o th e r a g e n c ie s and in d i­
v id u a ls to o o f te n a llo w t h e i r a c tio n s and p o l i c i e s t o be guided I r
i n e f f i c i e n t and n e g lig e n t p u b lic a g e n c ie s .
PART IV.
FARM SIKE AIIP CONSERVATION
In tr o d u c t i on
The u n d e s ira b le f e a tu r e s o f th e p r e s e n t lan d te n u re s e tu p a r e ob­
s tr u c t i n g th e a d o p tio n o f th e c o n s e rv a tio n program , b u t t h e r e a r e o th e r
f o r c e s w hich a ls o p la y an im p o rta n t p a r t In p re v e n tin g in d iv id u a ls from
c o n se rv in g when c o n s e rv a tio n i s econom ic.
Uneconomic o p e ra tin g u n ite te n d t o h an d icap th e g e n e r a l a d o p tio n
o f s o i l c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c t i c e s .
I f th e o p e ra tin g u n it i s to o sm all o r to o
la r g e t o be farm ed e c o n o m ic a lly , th e n i t w i l l be Im p o ssib le f o r th e
o p e r a to r o f such a u n i t t o in v e s t a t th e p ro p e r r a t e in th e c o s ta o f con­
s e r v a tio n .
In f a c t , an uneconomic o p e ra tin g u n i t can n o t u s u a lly rem ain
in o p e ra tio n o v e r a v e ry long p e rio d o f tim e w ith o u t d is in v e s tm e n t o f I t s
c a p i t a l , w hich means uneconomic e x p l o i t a t i o n o f r e s o u r c e s .
In o rd e r,
th e r e f o r e , t o o b ta in maximum farm ing e f f i c i e n c y , which in c lu d e s th e a p p li­
c a ti o n o f economic c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c t i c e s . I t i s n e c e s sa ry t h a t th e
o p e ra tin g u n ite be o f th e e ls e e s s e n t i a l t o hoing economic u n d er th e
-1*9e o n d ltlo n e
l a t l n r In th e a re a*
In th e d ry la n d w heat a r e a , th e economic o p e ra tin g u n i t m ust he
l a r g e r th e n f o r more p ro d u c tiv e a re a* w here I r r i g a t i o n o r c lim a tic
c o n d itio n s a llo w a more in te n s iv e ty p e o f a g r ic u ltu r e *
In t h i s a re a
r a i n f a l l ie a lim it in g f a c t o r i n p ro d u c tio n and an e x te n s iv e , l o w income
p e r a c r e ty p e o f a g r i c u l t u r e p re v a ils *
The o r i g i n a l m alad ju stm en t i n farm s i t e was b ro u g h t a b o u t by th e
fo llo w in g f o r c e s i
18/
(1 ) The e a r l y le n d p o lic y o f ra p id a l i e n a t i o n o f th e p u b lic domain.
T h is was n o t conducive to s e t t i n g up th e p ro p e r s i t e o f o p e ra tin g u n i t
f o r th e e e ra i-a rld p la in s r e g io n .
The Bomertead A ct o f 1862, w hich allow ed
a s e t t l e r t o a c q u ire 160 a c r e s o f lan d a s a hom estead, was c a r r i e d over
from th e m id d le-w est d e s p ite th e f a c t t h a t i t was n o t a d a p ta b le to t h i s
s e m i-a rid reg io n *
The p o lic y m akers were n o t aware o f th e in h e r e n t c h a ra c ­
t e r i s t i c s o f t h i s a r e s , w hich l a t e r became a p p a llin g ly a p p a re n t a s p o lic ie s
p r a c t i c a l and s u c c e s s fu l f o r th e humid a re a s became f a i l u r e s f o r th e sem ia r id a re a s*
The r e a l i s a t i o n t h a t a v a s tly d i f f e r e n t problem e x is t e d r e s u l t ­
ed in th e E nlarged Homestead Act and v a rio u s o th e r a c ts d e sig n e d t o
a l l e v i a t e th e m a la d ju stm e n t, b u t t h i s r e a l i s a t i o n came to o l a t e to p re v e n t
th e e s ta b lis h m e n t o f many em ail uneconomic o p e ra tin g u n its *
(2 )
The background o f th e s e t t l e r s o f th e West was su ch t h a t th e y
co u ld n o t e a s i l y a d a p t th em selv es to th e c o n d itio n s o f th e p l a i n s .
T h e ir
in h e r e n t id e a s , custom s, and knowledge o f farm in g u s u a lly w ere gained in
V s/ ™
dT "BTlT L W r d T *A IT ietbry T f f u b i l e Land F o lio ie s llf,
Y ork, ’’’be K acm illan Company, 1924.
Raw"
•50*
humid a re a s and th e y a tte m p ted t o a p p ly t h e i r p a s t e x p e rie n c e s i n de­
v e lo p in g th e s e m i-a rid p l a i n s .
A gain th e r e a l i z a t i o n t h a t l a r g e r u n its
w ere needed came to o l a t e f o r a ready a d ju stm e n t o f t h e i r sm all t r a c t s
o f la n d .
(5 )
The c lim a tic c o n d itio n s e x i s t i n g a t th e tim e t h i s a re a was
s e t t l e d conveying a m is le a d in g im p re ssio n a s to th e acrea g e needed t o p ro­
duce a s a t i s f a c t o r y l i v i n g o v e r a long p e rio d o f tim e ,
"heather c o n d itio n s
w ere fa v o ra b le and p ro d u c tio n was f a i r l y h ig h f o r th e f i r s t d e c a d e , b u t
when th e w e a th e r became a d v e rse to h ig h y i e l d s , th e farm s iz e p a tte r n be­
came uneconomic.
(4 )
The la c k o f a v a il a b le c r e d i t wee ln e tn s a e n ta l i n c a u s in g t h i s
m alad ju stm en t and a ls o in o b s tr u c tin g a d ju stm e n t te n d e n c ie s .
Most s e t t l e r s
were low on c a s h and c r e d i t and co u ld n o t p u rch ase a d d itio n a l lan d t o add
t o t h e i r hom estead.
The la c k o f a d eq u a te c r e d i t f a c i l i t i e s p re v e n ted them
from expanding t h e i r acrea g e a f t e r th e need f o r a l a r g e r o p e ra tin g u n i t
became a p p a r e n t.
(5 ) Land s p e c u la tio n , e x c e s s iv e d e b t, and th e e a r ly a b o lish m en t o f
e n t a i l and p rim o g e n itu re have c o n trib u te d in c a u s in g sm all s iz e farms In
th is a re s.
S p e c u la tio n in lan d in c re a s e d la n d p r ic e s in some a re a s to
such h e ig h ts t h a t a c tu a l s e t t l e r s hod to e i t h e r assume an u n d u ly heavy in ­
d e b ted n e ss when making la n d p u rc h a se s, o r t o p u rch ase poor la n d , o r to
become t e n a n t s .
Unduly heavy in d e b te d n e ss cau sed many o p e r a to r s t o s p l i t
t h e i r u n i t and s e l l p o r ts o f i t In o rd e r to r e t i r e o r e a se t h e i r d e b t b u r­
den.
The in h e r ita n c e custom and th e h ig h r u r a l b i r t h r a t e cau sed e d iv id ­
in g o f th e o r i g i n a l homestead in many c a s e s and in c re a s e d th e p re s s u re on
-5 1 th e la n d .
Thia o r i g i n a l m alad ju stm en t in farm s iz e i s v e r if ie d by th e ap p aren t
n a tu r a l e v o lu tio n in th e s iz e o f o p e ra tin g u n i t -which h as been ta k in g
p la c e d u rin g th e p a s t d e c a d e s .
S u c c essiv e cen su s f ig u r e s show t h a t th e
s iz e o f farm has been c o n tin u a lly in c re a s in g in th e d ry la n d w heat a r e a .
( F ig u re 10).
T his i s a r e s u l t o f th e slow , p a in s ta k in g p ro c e s s o f th e
o p e ra to r o f sm all uneconomic u n its b e in g fo rc e d t o s e l l o u t to o th e r o p era­
t o r s o r to add o th e r u n its t o h ie own, e i t h e r by purchase o r r e n t i n g .
Tenancy has aid ed in th e a d ju stm en t o f th e farm s iz e p a tte r n to a more
econom ical b a s is and has t h e r e f o r e helped to b rin g about e i t h e r an adop­
t i o n o f c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c tic e s o r an uneconomic e x p l o i t a t i o n o f re s o u rc e s ,
depending on th e a t t i t u d e s tow ard th e lan d a r i s i n g o u t o f th e te n u re a r ­
rangem ents u s e d .
The r e l a t i o n s h i p o f te n a n c y to c o n s e rv a tio n i s d e a lt
w ith in a n o th e r p a r t o f t h i s p a p e r, w h ile h e re i t w i l l s u f f i c e t o show
th e e f f e c t o f th e s iz e o f th e o p e ra tin g u n i t on c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c tic e s a d o p te d .
Land Use and S o il B u ild in g P r a c tic e s
The modal farm s iz e f o r th e f u l l owners used in t h i s farm s iz e
stu d y was 520 a c r e s .
65^ o f th e o p e ra to rs had a t o t a l farm a c re a g e o f
from 100 to 599 a c r e s (T ab le V I), w ith an av erag e o f 262 a c r e s p e r
o p e r a to r .
The land use p r a c t i c e s o f th e s iz e g roups d id n o t d e v ia te m a te r ia lly
from each o th e r .
A ll groups had a p p ro x im a te ly 6 5 .6 ^ o f t h e i r c ro p la n d
in s o i l d e p le tin g c ro p s and a l l groups Iiad a p p ro x im a te ly 8 2 .9 # o f t h e i r
c ro p la n d in c a sh cro p s (w heat and f la x ) and 1 7 .1 # in feed c r o p s .
The e x -
-
52 -
A cres
1100-
S heridan Co. a /
Year
Montana
U nited S ta te s
F ig u re 1 0 .--T re n d in av erag e s iz e o f farm f o r S h erid an C ounty,
M ontana, and th e U nited S t a t e s , I 9IG -I9I1.O. b /
a/
b/
No f ig u r e giv en f o r S h erid an County in 1910, and
1920 av erag e a ls o in c lu d e s th e a re a which i s now
D a n iels County.
U. S. D ept, o f Commerce, U nited S ta te s Census
-5 3 -
TABIS V I.—TOTAL LAim IE FAETS, HEI-SBa OF OFER/.TQRS AED
AVERAGE ACREAGE IEB OPERATOR BI FARM SIZE OF
FELL OYIERS IE SEERIDAII COUETY, 1338 a /
S i t e o f farm
T o ta l
Under 100
100-399
400-489
500-799
800-over
T o ta l
A cre#
Eunber o ? Average p e r o p e r a to r ~ C ro p Ia S f _
O perator#______ a e re a ____________ A cres
P e rc e n t
160,106
403
397
108,680
6 7 .8
398
72,967
21,594
35,437
29,710
7
262
48
57
29
67
279
450
622
1 ,0 2 4
291
50,482
15,831
24,527
17,448
73.1
6 9.2
73.3
6 9 .2
6 8 .7
a / D ata w ere ta k e n from th e County A g r ic u ltu r a l C o n se rv a tio n
Program re c o rd s f o r f u l l ow ners, 1938.
O O p t io n
ifl tile s m a ll e l s e fferm (u n d e r 100 a c r e s ) whioli had o n ly 51.7% o f
i t s c ro p la n d i n c a s h cro p s and 47.5% i n fe e d cro p s (S ee T a b le V II and
A ppendix H sble V I I ) .
T h is noons t o b e e r o u t t h e id e e t h a t vihon f a r m
c a n n o t r e i a l n ocononic i n c a sh c ro p fa rm in g , th e y te n d t o d i v e r s i f y i n
a n a tte m p t t o become s e l f - s u f f i c i e n t *
I n n e u t r a l u ses o f c ro p la n d th e r e w e a s i g n i f i c a n t d if f e r e n c e
betw een f h m e l s e g ro u p s .
The s m a ll fa r o s M d l e s s fa llo w and more i d l e
la n d , w h ile t h e la r g e ta r n s had v e r y l i t t l e i d l e lan d and more i n fa llo w .
(S ee A ppendix T able V I ) ,
An o c o n a l c a l o p e r a tin g u n i t Ims a s u f f i c i e n t l y
la r g e p ro d u c tio n and income so t h a t i t s o p e r a to r can a p p ly s o i l b u ild in g
p r a c tic e s t o M s la n d and m a in ta in a l a r g e r a c re a g e i n fa llo w t o m a in ta in
w a te r re s o u rc e s , w h ile s m a ll flam o p e r a to r s have a low er p r o d u c tiv ity
end a lam sr incom e, and I n o r d e r t o m a in ta in o r in c re a s e t h e i r p re s e n t
Inoor-c, th e y m ust keep a l a r g e r p ro p o r tio n o f t h e i r a v a il a b le flam lo ad
i n c ro p s and c an n o t make a d eq u a te u se o f G im o r fa llo w t o c o n se rv e m o is tu re .
The p r o d u c tiv ity in d e x o f s m a ll farm s and o f v e ry la r g e farm s waa
lo w er th a n f o r farm s having a n a c re a g e o f from 400 t o 1000 a c r e s .
33.3% o f
th e sam ple (403 fla m s) w ere i n groups h av in g 400 a c r e s and o v e r w ith av erag e
p r o d u c tiv ity in d ex es o f 104 o r o v e r , w h ile CO.7% o f th e farm s w ere i n f a r o
s i «3
roups o f le a s th a n 400 a c r e s and had in d e x e s o f l e s s th a n 1 01.
T a b le V I I I ) .
(S ee
The p r o d u c tiv ity index in c re a s e d a s th e far® s i e e in c re a s e d
up t o t h e 500 t o 799 s i z e , a f t e r w hich i t d e crea se d s l i g h t l y .
TM c o r r e la ­
t i o n betw een t h e flam s i z e and th e s o i l b u ild in g p r a c tic e s m easured i n t e r m
o f e q u iv a le n t u n i t s p e r a e r o , i s a good in d ic a tio n t h a t
cot
s e r r a t i o n p rn o -
r i c e s would b e m ors g e n e r a lly a d o p ted i f t h e o p e ra tin g u n i t w ere made
la rg e r.
-5 5 -
table v i i . — feed
AKD cash crop acres by farm s iz e of
FULL OViKERS DT SIIERIDAK COUNTY, 1938 a /
Cash
P e rc e n t
Cash c ro p s
p e rc e n t
Feed c ro p s
p e rc e n t
T o ta l
100
32 ,9
1 7 .1
Under 100
100-399
400-499
500-799
800-o v e r
100
100
100
100
100
5 1 .7
32*6
3 0 ,4
85 .1
8 3 .3
4 8 .3
1 7 .4
19.6
1 4 .9
1 6 .7
Fana s iz e
• / D ata iw r# ta k e n from th e County A e r io u ltu r a l C o n se rv a tio n
Proerem re c o rd s f o r 1938.
■56-
TABLB V H I .- - SOIL BUIIJSING PRACTICE AND PRODUCTIVITY
BSEEI BI FARM SIZE OF FULL OT-NBRS IN
SHERIDAN COUNTY, 1938. • /
Farm
Average
P rod. Index
T o ta l
101.2
6 ,7 9 1 .6
4 .2
16 .8
94.1
9 9 .4
104.0
105.7
103.6
0
2 ,6 8 6 .1
1 ,1 1 6 .3
1 ,6 9 3 .8
1 ,3 9 5 .1
0
3 .5
5 .2
4 .8
4 .7
0
9 .9
23 .2
2S .7
4 8 .1
Under 100
100-599
400-489
500-739
800-over
S o il B u ild in g E q u iv a le n t U n it
T o ta l number
100 a c r e s "Per o p o ra t
m / D ate w ere ta k e n from County A g r ic u ltu r a l C o n se rv a tio n I'rognm
re c o rd * f o r 1988.
-57The farm s o f l e s s th a n 100 a c r e s d i s t i n c t l y show t h a t s o i l c o n s e rv a tio n
c o s ts c a r n e t o r d i n a r i l y be n e t by farm o p e ra to rs In t h i s group (F ig u re 1 1 ).
T h is s iz e i s to o sm all t o p ro v id e th e n e c e s s a ry s ta n d a rd o f l i v i n g w ith o u t
d is in v e s tm e n t o r d e p le tio n o f th e c a p i t a l in v e stm e n t.
F a rm o f l e s s th a n
400 a c r e s , CCmT,* o f owned fa rm s, showed a much s m a lle r p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n s o i l
b u ild in g p r a c t i c e s , and i t i s l a r g e l y i n t h i s group t h a t farm s iz e i s ob­
s t r u c t i n g th e c o n s e rv a tio n o f r e s o u r c e s .
Farm S ize and Tenure S ta tu s
The o p e r a tin g u n i t s o f fu ll-o w n e r s in S h e rid a n County were used to
show th e r e l a tio n s h ip o f farm s i z e t o c o n s e rv a tio n .
The a v erag e s iz e o f
th e o p e ra tin g u n i t f o r t h i s fu ll-o w n e r group i s 397.5 a c r e s a s compared
w ith 871.9 a c r e s f o r p a r t owners and 4 65.1 a c r e s f o r r e n t e r s . (S ee T able I ) .
T h is r e l a t i o n s h i p o f farm s iz e t o te n u r e s t a t u s shows t h a t p a rt-o w n e rs and
r e n t e r s have in c re a s e d th e s iz e o f t h e i r o p e ra tin g u n its i n an a tte m p t t o
make t h e i r u n i t s more econom ic.
I t i s very p ro b a b le t h a t r e n t e r s need a
l a r g e r u n i t th a n owners i n o rd e r t o r e c e i v e a com parable incom e, and so i t
c an n o t be assumed t h a t a sm all o w n er-o p erated farm w i l l Imvo l e s s d e s i r ­
a b le
p r a c tic e s th a n a l a r g e r r e n te r - o p e r a te d fa rm .
I t can be co n clu d ed ,
how ever, t h a t w ith in e i t h e r group th e s iz e o f farm h as an e f f e c t on th e co n s e r r a t i o n and la n d u se p r a c tic e s a d o p te d .
C onclu sio n
In t h i s su rv e y o f farm s i z e and c o n s e rv a tio n among fu ll-o w n e r s in
S h eridan C ounty, th e 500 to 799 s iz e group was m ost conducive t o c o n se rv a ­
t i o n and th e 640 a c r e farm was th e modal s i z e o f t h i s g ro u p .
The average
*
-W -
20
100-806
400-499 000-799
Fam
GOO and
over
Isa(A croe)
F ig u re 1 1 ,— P e r o o c t o f o p e r a to r s a d o p tin g c o l l b u ild in g
p ra o tlo o e In th e vnrto'oa fair? e le o g ro u p ie
-
69-
s iz e o f farm f o r owners was o n ly 395 a c r e s p e r o p e r a to r , w hich I s f a r
below th e a p p a re n t optimum f o r ow ners, and 73*Ga o f th e o p e ra to rs had
l e s s th a n 500 a c r e s .
The census f o r 1940 g iv e s th e av erag e s iz e o f farm
f o r S h e rid a n County a t 7 0 6 .3 , and in 1930 i t was 600 a c r e s , w hich shows
t h a t owners a r e f a r below th e county a v e ra g e .
There a re undoubtedly many
owners who would b e n e f it from an a d ju stm e n t in th e s iz e o f th e o p e ra tin g
u n it.
The fa m ily owned, unencumbered farm i s ta k e n ae an a c c e p te d g o a l in
many lan d te n u r e p o l i c i e s , b u t i t i s e v id e n t t h a t th e r e i s an in d is p u t­
a b le la c k o f s o i l c o n s e rv a tio n on th e s e farm s t h a t a r e o p e ra te d by sec u re
*f u ll- o w n e r ’ o p e r a to r s .
The s iz e o f th e o p e r a tin g u n i t , low income, th e
t r a d i t i o n a l farm ing sy ste m , th e c r e d i t system and o th e r socio-econom ic
f o r c e s a r e r e ta r d in g th e g e n e ra l a d o p tio n o f c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c tic e s by
owners a s w e ll a s by p a rt-o w n e rs and r e n t e r s .
Land te n u re h a s many unde­
s i r a b l e f e a tu r e s w hich a r e r e ta r d in g th e g e n e ra l a d o p tio n o f a p ro p e r
c o n s e rv a tio n program , b u t th e problem s o f lan d te n u re a r e n o t th e o n ly
problem s w hich m ust be d e a l t w ith i n o rd e r t o remove th e f o r c e s o b s tr u c t­
in g th e c o n s e rv a tio n movement.
BMiI V.
OTlER SOCIO-ECOLOLIC FORCES MID COIiSERVATICffi
F a m C r e d it and Mortgage Indeb te d n e s s
I f a more l i b e r a l c r e d i t p o lic y c an change th e a t t i t u d e o f th e la n d
o p e r a to r tow ard h ie la n d , th a n i t w i l l be ad vantageous to a d o p t i t ; f o r
exam ple, when th e fa rm e r’s a t t i t u d e tow ard h is lan d i s changed when he
becomes an encumbered owner from th e a t t i t u d e w hich he p o sse sse d a s a
-COt« ia n ite
Farm te n a n c y end farm c r e d i t te n d to f u l f i l l e i a i l a r fu n c­
tio n # by e u p p ly in g th e farm er w ith o u ts id e c a p i t a l and th e y a r e p a r t i a l ­
l y s u b s t i t u t a b l e f o r each o th e r*
A rood c r e d i t p o lic y can d e c re a se th e
number o f t e n a n t s , and w here an encumbered ow ner’s a t t i t u d e tow ard
c o n s e rv a tio n and o th e r la n d -u s e p r a c tic e s i s b e t t e r th a n t h a t o f in s e c u re
t e n a n t s , t h i s c r e d i t p o lic y i s t o b e d e s ire d *
Leck o f farm c r e d i t m y a ls o b e a h in d ra n c e t o fo llo w in g co n serv a­
t i o n p r a c t i c e s , n o t o n ly among t e n a n t s , b u t w ith owners a s w e ll*
The
c o n s e rv a tio n p o lic y lias been r e ta r d e d by th e i n d iv id u a l’s la c k o f immed­
i a t e c a p i t a l n e c e s s a ry f o r th e a d o p tio n o f c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c t i c e s , esp ec­
i a l l y by th e la c k o f low i n t e r e s t c a p i t a l *
T enants h av e, how ever, been
more lim ite d i n r e s p e c t t o o b ta in in g c a p i t a l ib r c o n s e rv a tio n p u rp o ses
b ecau se t h e i r c r e d i t r a t i n g s a re n a t u r a l l y lo w e r.
They h av en ’t th e la n d
ow nership s e c u r i t y t o o f f e r ee a b a s is f o r w orking c a p i t a l lo a n s .
The p r e v a ilin g i n t e r e s t r a t e a ls o d e te rm in e s w h e th e r c o n s e rv a tio n
w i l l be econom ic o r uneconomic*
I f th e i n t e r e s t r a t e i s high* i t nay
n o t be economic to in v e s t in c o n s e rv a tio n c o s t s , w h ile a low i n t e r e s t
r a t e o f fix e d in v e s tm e n ts , m o rtg ag ee, e tc * may cau se owners to know ingly
e x p lo it t h e i r la n d s i f th e i n t e r e s t r a t e i s to o h ig h end i f t h e i r a m o rti­
s a t i o n i s spread o v e r to o s h o r t a p erio d *
C r e d it should be e asy t o b e a r , b u t n o t to o e asy to g e t*
" I f c re d it
ex ten d ed i n th e p re s e n t becomes a heavy expense burden in th e f u t u r e . I t
o n ly p u ts o f f th e t i n e when s o i l m ining m ust s t a r t and th u s e v e n tu a lly
“>61“
warlc a g a in s t s o i l c o n s e rv a tio n " .
I n s e e u r i ty o f te n u r e c a u se s
19/
te n a n ts to fo llo w e x p l o i t a t i v e lan d
u se p r a c t i c e s to a g r e a t e r e x te n t th a n ow ners, b u t i t i s n o t c o n fin e d
e n t i r e l y t o th e te n a n t c l a s s . The owner a n t i c i p a t e s a l<mg p e rio d o f
occupancy and i s v i t a l l y in t e r e s t e d in t h e p r e s e r v a tio n o f th e f a n a ’s
pro ducing pow er.
There a r i s e s , how ever, a l i m i t a t i o n on th e s e c u r i t y o f
th e owner when he becomes burdened w ith a n e x c e s siv e d e b t o u t o f l i n e
w ith e i t h e r th e lo n g -tim e p ro d u c tiv e c a p a c ity o f th e la n d o r th e p r ic e s
re c e iv e d f o r farm p ro d u c ts o r both*
As th e f e a r o f f o r e c lo s u r e becomes more I m i n o n t, th e ow ner-opera­
t o r ’ s i n s t a b i l i t y and i n s e c u r it y o f te n u re becomes more s im ila r to t h a t
o f th e r e n t e r un d er th e u s u a l l e a s e .
lie l o s e s h is I n t e r e s t in th e main­
te n an c e o f th e la n d and im provem ents, end M s a t t i t u d e becomes one o f
g e t t i n g a s much o u t o f th e farm a s q u ic k ly a s he p o s s ib ly c a n w h ile p u t­
t i n g in to i t a s l i t t l e as he c a n .
The d e p le t io n o f th e s o i l and th e
lo w erin g o f f u tu r e income a r e o f no co n cern t o Mm.
" E x p lo ita tiv e E*™*
u s e , t h e r e f o r e , i s b o th a c a u se and a n e f f e c t o f heavy m ortgage d e b ts — a
cau se s in c e i t i s p a r t l y r e s p o n s ib le f o r th e o v e r - v a lu a tio n and r e l a t i v e
o v e r-e n c utabranoe o f t h e more r o l l i n g and p ro d u c tiv e la n d s j an e f f e c t
s in c e it, i s th e r e s u l t o f c u r r e n t p re s s u re f o r immediate c a s h income t o
m eet h ig h f ix e d o b l i g a t i o n s ."
20/
62Iieavy inortga^e d e b t o lm rn ee, a r e s u l t o f a la r g e p r i n c i p a l o r a
h lp h i n t e r e s t r a t e , may c a u se fa rm e rs t o p u rsu e e x p l o i t a t i v e farm p ra c ­
t i c e s and n e g le c t m easures o f s o i l m aintenance even i f f o r e c lo s u r e i s
n o t imminent b ecau se o f t i r e need f o r a g r e a t e r ! m e d i a t e r e t u r n n eces­
s a r y t o m eet h i s h ig h im m ediate debt*
He may e x p ec t t o r e s t o r e th e
a s s e t s removed in th e f u tu r e when h ie d e b t i s r e t i r e d * In e i t h e r in z
s ta n c e , i t i s h is tim e p re fe re n c e f o r ! m e d i a t e r e tu r n s w hich c a u se s him
to fo llo w e x p l o i t a t i v e p r a c t i c e s when c o n s e rv a tio n would be econom ic.
In S h e rid a n County th e d e b t burden i s e x c e s s iv e f o r many o p e r a to r s .
Mortgage in d e b te d n e ss i s a n im p o rta n t problem .
In 1936 36*2;' o f th e to ­
t a l a c r e s w ere m ortgaged and t h e m ortgage d e b t was $5.67 p e r a c r e .
TIie
a v e ra g e amount lo an ed on lio ntana farm r e a l e s t a t e m ortgages was ab o u t
QTjr- o f th e a v e ra g e "p r o d u c tiv ity v alu e" o f t h e lan d on w hich th e s e lo a n s
e x is te d .
In S h e rid a n c o u n ty th e a v e ra g e amount lo an ed on farm r e a l e s­
t a t e m ortgagee ranged from l e s s th a n 50£? t o o v e r 200/ o f t h e p r o d u c tiv ity
v a lu e o f th e le n d .
ISoet le n d in g a g e n c ie s c o n sid e re d 50£ o f t h e v a lu e o f
th e s e c u r i t y a s a p ro p e r maximum f o r a re a so n a b le m arg in o f s a f e t y , w hich
in d ic a te s t h a t a p p r a is a l v a lu e s a re o u t o f l i n e w ith t r u e " p r o d u c tiv ity
v a lu e s " .
21/
The e x c e s s iv e m ortgage in d e b te d n e ss i n S h erid an C ounty i s a problem
w hich m ust be g iv e n c o n s id e r a tio n i n a tte m p tin g to prom ote a more g e n e ra l
a d o p tio n o f s o i l c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c tic e s and w is e r la n d u se p r a c t i c e s .
Y i y D ate IVont R.R.Reems, H!Montana’ Feim KeaT I s t a t e M ortgare lr>
d e b te S n e s e " , K ontana S ta te C o lle g e , A g r ic u ltu r a l E xperim ent S ta tio n ,
Bozeman, M ontana, B u lle tin Ho. 383, O cto b er, 1340.
‘63 -
InoomB
C o n se rv a tio n r* y be economic f o r th e in d iv id u a l, b u t a low , in ad ­
e q u a te loooae nay p re v e n t him from in v e s tin g in c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c t i c e s .
Low incomes may be caused by farm ing s u b r a r g in a l la n d , by o v e r - c a p i t a l i ­
z a ti o n and m ortgage in d e b te d n e s s ,by e x c e s s iv e r e a l p ro p e rty t a x e s , by
m ala d ju stm en ts i n farm p a r i t y p r i c e s , by p re v io u s e x p l o i t a t i v e p r a c t i c e s ,
o r by e c o m b in atio n o f one o r more o f th e s e f a c t o r s .
b i l e p re v io u s e x p l o i t a t i o n n ay cau se low incom es, low incomes a ls o
c a u se p r e s e n t e x p l o i t a t i o n .
A low income makes I t im p o ssib le f o r th e
fa rm e r t o avoid a b u sin g th e la n d i n o rd e r t o o b ta in a l i v i n g .
A low-
income fa rm e r u s u a lly h a s a h ig h tim e p re fe re n c e f o r im m ediate r e t u r n s .
' hen i t b e c o m e d i f f i c u l t to c o v e r f a n s e x p e n se s, farm s o i l s a s w e ll
a s farm b u ild in g s and equipm ent a re p e rm itte d to d e p r e c i a t e .
Tlie v a lu e
o f im plem ents and m achinery d e crea se d from £2,5 4 0 ,3 6 0 in 1950 t o
1 ,2 8 1 ,7 0 1 in 1940.
a p p ro x im a te ly 5 0 f .
22/
The v alu e o f la n d and b u ild in g s a ls o d ecrea se d
TiM le t h i s d ro p i n p a r t e x p re ss e s th e d e c lin e in
v a lu e s o v e r t h i s p e r io d , a la r g e p a r t o f i t i s a r e s u l t o f t h e low in ­
come re c e iv e d d u rin g th e d e p re s s io n o f th e 1SO1S.
low incomes cau se
d is in v e s tm e n t o f c a p i t a l a s s e t s in o r d e r t o m a in ta in l i v i n g s ta n d a rd s .
Because s o i l m aintenance i s an expense t h a t can be d e f e r r e d when Incomes
d ro p o r when o th e r expenses in c r e a s e , i t i s one o f th e f i r s t t o be
c u r r e n t l y e lim in a te d .
F e d e ra l program s have been aimed a t m a in ta in in g th e income o f th e
O S / ~U. 5 . Osp’t o f Commerce, SixteenM T Census o f th e t l . S . , 1540%
-
64 »
fa rm e r d u rin g th e d e p re s s io n i n an a tte m p t t o p re v e n t d is ln v e s tn e n t o f
a s s e t s and s o i l r e s o u r c e s .
In 1938 th e governm ent payments on th e A g ri-
CTiral C o n se rv a tio n program . Sugar A ct paym ents and P ric e P a r it y payments
■were $8,531), 300 f o r
ton ta n a , w h ile th e income from c ro p s was 4-35,536,000
end th e incone from w heat was $ 2 2 ,4 3 9 ,0 0 0 . 2 $ /
The e s tim a te d t o t a l H d e r -
a l b e n e f i t s a c c ru in g to S h e rid a n County from March 4 , 1833 t o December,
I. 33 w ere $ 4 ,9 2 4 ,7 4 1 .8 7 .
$2,213 f o r t h i s p e r io d ,
The a v e ra g e F e d e ra l b e n e f i t s p e r fa m ily w ere
to /
F o r co m p ariso n , t h e av erag e f e d e r a l b e n e f its
p e r fa m ily in G s l l a t i n County were $780 f o r t h i s p e rio d .
Tho change from e x p l o i t a t i v e p r a c tic e s to c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c tic e s
u s u a lly r e s u l t s in a lo w er lmnedl a t e income to th e o p e r a to r in t h i s a re a*
T H above F e d e ra l e x p e n d itu re s aimed a t in c r e a s in g income a r e e s s e n t i a l
i n o r d e r t o e s t a b l i s h c o n s e rv a tio n when i t means a low er income to th e
o p e r a to r .
The farm u n i t m ust y ie ld a l i v i n g .
" P a r tly a s a r e s u l t o f i n e r t i a and la c k o f
te c h n i c a l knowledge b u t p ro b a b ly more l a r g e ly be­
c a u se o f in a d e q u a te in c o m e , many farm f a m ilie s
i n a g r i c u l t u r e a r e engaging i n farm ing p r a c tic e s
w hich d le ln v e a t s o i l re s o u rc e c a p i t a l more th a n
th e d i c t a t e s o f commodity p r i c e s , i n t e r e s t r a t e s ,
and known te c h n o lo g y w a r r a n t. The r e a l s o i l con­
s e r v a tio n problem a r i s e s o u t o f th e income problem
much more so th a n i s g e n e r a lly un d ersto o d " 2 5 /
-V
i: ^ o t hCrs K Farm Income and Govamment^ Payments*, F u reau o f
A g r ic u ltu r a l Sconocdcs , U .S .D .A ., Jan u a ry 30, 1940.
t o / The Mf t i o n a l Emergency C o u n c il, O ffic e o f th e S t a f f , R ep resen ta­
t i v e f o r !Montana, Mandan, E o rth D akota, J u ly , 1338.
S c h u lts f wKconoEiic E f f e c t s o f A ^ri c u l t u r a l J^POEremetlt
A m erican tconcmdo Review, V ol. XhX, S b . 6 , F e b ru a ry , 1941.
—
05 —
S^ZART ASD COHCLUSIOKS
Thlc i s a s tu d y o f th e e f f e c t o f s o c io -economic f o r c e s o a th e
a d o p tio n o f th e A g r ic u ltu r a l C o n se rv a tio n Program .
I t s purpose t to
d eterm in e w hat f o r c e s are o b s tr u c tin g th e g e n e r a l a d o p tio n o f s o i l con­
s e r v a tio n p r a c t i c e s ; l . e . , th e fo r c e s t h a t a r e p re v e n tin g in d iv id u a ls
from c o n se rv in g when c o n s e rv a tio n i s economic and ad d in g t o tlw c o s ta o f
s o c i a l c a ti o n in th e f i e l d o f s o i l c o n s e rv a tio n .
I*
The la r g e p ro p o r tio n o f r e n t e r s in S h e rid a n County i s n o t con­
d u c iv e t o t h e m ost e f f e c t i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n in th e f e d e r a l c o n s e rv a tio n
program .
'C hile th e p e rc e n t o f s o i l d e p le tin g a c re a g e was a b o u t equal f o r
th e te n u re g ro u p s, r e n t e r s had a g r e a t e r p ro p o r tio n o f t h e i r c ro p s in
c a s h c ro p s end a l e s s e r p r o p o r tio n o f t h e i r c ro p la n d in fa llo w th a n p a r t owners and ow ners.
Owners and p a rt-o w n e rs had a g r e a te r p ro p o r tio n o f
feed c ro p s end fa llo w a c r e s which in d ic a te s t h a t th e y have a g r e a t e r se ­
c u r i t y o f te n u r e and can a f f o r d to in v e s t i n th e c o s ts o f fa llo w t o a
g r e a t e r e x te n t th a n r e n t e r s .
Owners and p a rt-o w n e rs in v e ste d i n s o i l b u ild in g p r a c t i c e s t o a
g r e a t e r e x te n t th a n r e n t e r s , w hich i s a n o th e r in d ic a tio n t h a t th e y have
a g r e a t e r te n u r e s e c u r i t y .
I n s e c u r i ty o f te n u r e c a u se s a h ig h r a t e o f
d is c o u n t o f f u tu r e b e n e f i t s e n d , t h e r e f o r e , a low er e s tim a tio n o f th e
p re s e n t v alu e o f th e f u tu r e r e tu r n s which r e s u l t from th e a d o p tio n o f
s o i l c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c t i c e s .
Owners and p a rt-o w n e rs o b ta in e d h ig h e r y ie ld s a s in d ic a te d by t h e i r
h ig h e r " p r o d u c tiv ity in d e x " .
Owners and p a rt-o w n e rs had a s l i g h t l y
g r e a t e r p ro p o r tio n o f th e b e t t e r f a n s in g la n d .
The b e t t e r lan d and th e
—6 6 —
b e t t e r f a m in g p r a c t i c e s e x p la in th e g r e a t e r y i e l d s o b ta in e d by th e
ow ners and p a rt-o w n e r# a s compared w ith r e n t e r s .
2*
The le a s e arrangem ent h as a d e cid e d e f f e c t on th e s o i l b u ild ­
in g and lan d use p r a c t i c e s o f r e n t e r s .
The " o n e - th ir d , two th i r d s " and
wo r e - h a l f , o n e -h a lf* were th e m ost p o p u la r le a s in g a rra n g e m e n ts.
The
o r op-she r e arran g em en t p ro v id ed more in c e n tiv e f o r k e ep in g a l a r g e r p ro ­
p o r tio n o f th e c r ope in c a sh c ro p s and a m a i l e r p ro p o r tio n i n fe e d
c ro p s th a n th e c ash le a s e a rra n g em en t.
The c ro p s h a re arrangem ent I s more co n d u civ e to th e a d o p tio n o f
s o i l b u ild in g p r a c t i c e s , p ro b a b ly b ecau se th e la n d lo r d , whose r a t e o f
d is c o u n t o f f u tu r e b e n e f i t s i s u s u a lly lo w er th a n t h a t o f t h e r e n t e r ,
h a s • more d i r e c t c o n ta c t w ith th e la n d .
The sh are arran g em en t w hich r e ­
tu rn e d o n e - th ir d o r l e s s to th e la n d lo rd was l e s s co nducive to th e adop­
tio n
o f s o i l b u ild in g p r a c t i c e s th a n th e s h a re arrangem ent w hich
re tu rn e d a c re th a n o n e - th ir d t o th e la n d lo r d .
The a c re a g e o f c a sh c ro p s
and fa llo w a ls o in c re a s e d a s th e s h a re to th e la n d lo rd in c r e a s e d .
The
c a s h r e n t arrangem ent was l e s s co n d u civ e to th e a d o p tio n o f s o i l b u ild in g
p ra c tic e s .
The p ro p o r tio n o f fa llo w was very low f o r c a s h r e n t e r s .
The
c ash le a s e arrangem ent co u ld b e made more d e r i r a b l e f o r t h i s a re a by
a d o p tin g more f l e x i b l e and sec u re l e a s e s , w ith r e n te b ased on income
r a t h e r th a n a s t r a i g h t r e n t .
3*
The r e s id e n t and le n d in g agency ty p e s o f la n d lo rd a r e th e most
d e s ir a b le f o r t h e a d o p tio n o f d e s ir a b le len d u se and c o n s e rv a tio n p ra c ­
tic e s .
Tim p u b lic a g e n c ie s a re th e l e a s t d e s ir a b le la n d lo r d s fro r. th e
s ta n d p o in t o f la n d use and c o n s e rv a tio n .
The r e s id e n t la n d lo rd s used th e
c ro p -s h a re arrangem ent n o s t con d u civ e t o th e a d o p tio n o f s o i l b u ild ­
in g p r a c t i c e s t o a g r e a t e r e x te n t th a n tlw o th e r la n d lo rd groups*
p u b lic a g e n c ie s had th e h ig h e s t p ro p o r tio n o f lan d le a s e d
4*
tin
The
fo r cash re n te .
The sm all e l s e farm o f l e s s th a n 400 a c r e s i s l e s s d e s ir a b le
th e l a r g e r s iz e o p e ra tin g u n it f o r th e a d o p tio n o f s o i l b u ild in g
p ra c tic e s .
u n it.
Tlie owner group has th e s m a lle s t av erag e s iz e o f o p e ra tin g
Programs sh ould b e aimed a t in c r e a s in g th e farm u n i t to a s iz e more
co nducive t o th e a d o p tio n o f b e t t e r la n d use and c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c t i c e s .
The 640 a c r e farm i s th e modal s i z e o f th e farm s i z e group h av in g th e
m ost d e s i r a b l e land use and c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c t i c e s .
5.
O th er sooI o - economic f o r c e s such a s low incom e, e x c e s siv e Mort­
gage in d e b te d n e s s and im proper farm c r e d i t a r e s i g n i f i c a n t l y la r g e In
S h e rid a n co u n ty and p ro b a b ly e x e r t a d e c id e d in flu e n c e on th e co n serv a­
t i o n p r a c t i c e s a d o p te d .
The e lim in a tio n o f th e s e f o r c e s , a s w e ll a s th e
e l Iminati-CKi o f i n s e c u r it y o f te n u r e ,
u n d e s ir a b le le a s e arran g em en t# , un­
d e s ir a b le la n d lo rd ty p e s and s n a i l o p e ra tin g u n ite i s n e c e s s a ry in o rd e r
t h a t a c o re g e n e ra l a d o p tio n o f th e lan d u se and c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c tic e s
d e s ir e d b y th e p r e s e n t A g r ic u ltu r a l C o n se rv a tio n Program may be a t t a i n e d .
Programs aimed a t c o u n te r a c tin g and b rin g in g a d ju stm e n t o f th e un­
d e s ir a b le la n d te n u re c o n d itio n s and prom oting d e s ir a b le te n u r e c o n d itio n s
co n d u civ e t o c o n s e rv a tio n a r e a s e s s e n t i a l t o s lo n g -tim e p lanned a g r i­
c u l t u r a l p o lic y a s i s th e program o f c o n s e rv a tio n i t s e l f .
Tlwy a re
c e r t a i n l y e s s e n t i a l t o t h e developm ent o f a s u c c e s s fu l and com prehensive
c o n s e rv a tio n p o lic y .
Tlie means by w hich program s co u ld prom ote th e d e s ir a b le la n d te n u re
-CSC O Lditions con d u civ e t o c o n s e rv a tio n and p ro p e r la n d u se and e lim in a te
th e u n d e s ir a b le c o n d itio n s a re a s fo llo w s i
I.
D iv e r s i f i c a t i o n c a n be made p o s s i b l e .
The c a s h c ro p system
form ing may be p la y in g to o g r e a t a p a r t in t h i s a r e a .
'iJ liile p re s e n t
y i e l d s nay p ro v id e a l i v i n g , th e y c a y n o t c o n tin u e t o b e a d e q u a te i f a
c a s h c ro p f a m in g system i s c o n tin u e d i n i t s p re s e n t f o r a .
2«
Tenure c an be made more s e c u re .
Im proving t h e le a s e c o n t r a c t ,
r a t h e r th a n o r a l ,
(b )
(a )
T h is can b e accom plished by
Tlie l e a s e c o n tr a c t sh o u ld be w r i t t e n
I t should have p r o v is io n s f o r a u to m a tic ren ew al,
and should r e q u ir e a t l e a s t s ix months p re v io u s n o tic e f o r te r m in a tio n .
(c )
The le a s e should p ro v id e f o r com pensation t o th e la n d lo rd f o r th e
v a lu e o f unexhausted improvem ents and f o r a re a s o n a b le com pensation to
th e la n d lo rd f o r damage and u n n e c e ssa ry e x p lo ita tio n r e s u l t i n g from th e
r e n t e r 's mismanagement o r n e g lig e n c e ,
(d )
Com pensation f o r d is tu rb a n c e
should be allow ed t o th e p a r ty s u f f e r in g when th e le a s e I s te rm in a te d
u n le s s e s p ro v id ed f o r i n th e c o n t r a c t .
5.
Land use and c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c tic e c la u s e s should be in c o rp o ra te d
i n m ortgage and le a s e c o n t r a c t s .
The c la u s e should d e s ig n a te th e p o r tio n
o f th e farm to be k e p t i n perm anent v e g e ta tio n , th e p o r tio n t o b e used
f o r e e e h c r o p s , th e p o r tio n t o be k e p t i n f a llo w , and t h e s o i l b u ild in g
p r a c t i c e s , such a s s t r i p c ro p p in g , t o b e fo llo w e d .
4.
B en ts should be made f l e x i b l e to conform w ith th e income o f th e
r e n t e r end should be k e p t In l i n e w ith th e p r o d u c tiv ity o f th e la n d .
TItie would improve th e c a s h r e n tin g a rra n g e m e n t.
The use o f th e f l e x i b l e
farm le a s e b e in g promoted by th e D nlted S ta tu e D epartm ent o f A g ric u ltu re
-
09 -
would be d e sira b le ®
5«
The d e b t burden o f th e farm er c a n be lo w e re d .
T h is c a n be
accom plished by c o r r e c t in g th e n a ia d ju a tn e n te o f th e r e a l p ro p e rty ta x
and b y e a s in g th e lsirden o f m ortgage in d e b te d nee 6 .
S e rtg a g e in d e b te d n e ss
should be b ro u g h t i n t o l i n e w ith th e " p ro d u c tiv e v a lu e " o f th e la n d .
Ito rtg ag e lo a n s should b e p la c e d on a lo n g - t e r n b a s is w ith repaym ent amor­
tiz e d .
F le x ib le paym ents v a ry in g w ith th e f e r n income sh o u ld c a r r y a
m oderate r a t e o f i n t e r e s t .
6.
Tlws c r e d i t p o lic y can be a d ju s t e d ,
(a )
D iffe re n tia l in te r e s t
r a t e s o r some o th e r c o n c e s s io n s , g ra n te d f o r th e p u rch ase o f a d d itio n a l
la n d s t o make u n ite more econom ic, m ight be a llo w e d ,
(b )
D iffe re n tia l
i n t e r e s t r a t e s m ig h t a ls o be used in p ro d u c tio n lo an # t o en co u rag e d e s i r ­
a b le s o i l p r a c t i c e s ,
(e )
Because o f t h e p re s s u re on th e la n d , th e
c r e d i t p o lic y should b e s tr i n g e n t e x c e p t f o r a d d itio n a l la n d p u rc h a s e s .
To c r e a te more o p e r a to r s would in c re a s e th e farm e ls e m a la d ju stm e n t.
(d )
C r e d it c an bo g iv e n t o r e n t e r s a t a low r a t e to p e rm it them t o make
e x te n s iv e s o i l b u ild in g im provem ents.
S e c u r ity o f te n u re and compensa­
t i o n f o r unexli&usted improvem ents w i l l liave to b e made t o p e rm it the
w id espread a d o p tio n o f t h i s s u g g e s tio n ,
(e )
An in c re a s e i n th e m ortgage
in d e b te d n e ss o f an in d iv id u a l farm c o u ld be j u s t i f i e d i n some in s ta n c e s
i f th e a d d itio n a l lo a n was t o be used f o r c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c t i c e s which
would in c re a s e th e v a lu e o f th e farm .
7.
P u b lic a g e n c ie s c o u ld ad o p t b e t t e r methods o f le a s in g i t s la n d .
T enure sh o u ld b e made more secu re and c o n s e rv a tio n work could b e a c c e p te d
in lie u o f cash r e n t.
T h is would in c r e a s e th e value and th e lo n g -tim e
70re tx im e t o th e p u b lic sg m cy *
P r iv a t e la n d lo rd s nay be in flu e n c e d
by th e Bucc©se o f su ch a program to a d o p t s im ila r p o l i c i e s i n th e
le a s in g o f t h e i r own f a m e .
8e
Strw ag r e g u la to r y c o n tr o ls can be u sed i f th e m ethods o f th e
p r e s e n t program , e d u c a tio n , d e m o n s tra tio n , and s u b s id ie s , a r e in a d e ­
q u a te f o r o b ta in in g th e la n d u se and c o n s e rv a tio n deal red#
T a x a tio n ,
law s a f f e c t i n g in h e r ita n c e and len d o w n ersh ip , and r u r a l so n in g c a n be
used t o o b ta in th e d e s ir e d r e s u l t s .
9.
The d i r e c t p u rc h a se o f th e many sm all uneconom ical o p e ra tin g
u n i t s by th e governm ent end th e c o n s o lid a tio n o f u n i t s w henever p o s s ib le
would d e c re a se th e n e c e s s ity f o r e x p l o i t a t i o n by sm all o p e r a to r s .
The v a rio u s means o f e lim in a tin g th e u n d e s ir a b le la n d te n u r e con­
d i t i o n s w hich a r e o b s tr u c tin g th e g e n e ra l a d o p tio n o f la n d use end c o n se r­
v a tio n p r a c t i c e s a r e m erely l i s t e d ab o v e.
Ho a tte m p t h a s b een made t o
a p p ra is e th e d i f f i c u l t i e s and l i m i t a t i o n s w hich n ay a tte n d th e a p p lic a ­
t i o n o f th e s e s u g g e s tlo n e .
The e lim in a tio n o f t h e u n d e s ira b le f o r c e s , w hich a r e o b s tr u c tin g
th e g e n e ra l a d o p tio n o f c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c t i c e s w i l l p e rm it in d iv id u a ls
t o c o n se rv e when i t i s economic f o r them , and w i l l le s s e n th e burden
o f , and o p p o s itio n t o , s o c i a l program s.
The c o s t o f th e program s n e c e s s a ry to remove th e o n s tr u c tin g f o r c e s
c a n n o t be c o n sid e re d e n t i r e l y a s a c o s t o f c o n s e rv a tio n b ecau se t o e n ­
co u rag e c o n s e rv a tio n w i l l o n ly be one o f many d e s ir a b le en d s t h a t w i l l
b e a t t a i n e d by such program s.
A d e s ir e d end o f th e a g r i c u l t u r a l war program a t th e p r e s e n t t i n s
-7 1 is
to
B C h ie v e
g r e a t l y In c re ase d p ro d u c tio n g o a ls .
The rem oval o f t h e
u n d e s ira b le la n d problem s w i l l n o t o n ly r e s u l t i n b e t t e r c o n s e rv a tio n
p r a c t i c e s b u t w i l l a id th e w ar program .
B e tte r te n u re end more economi­
c a l f e r n s i t e u n its w i l l in c re a s e th e im m ediate p ro d u c t and b e t t o r lan d
uso and c o n s e rv a tio n p r a c t i c e s w i l l g u a ra n tee a g r e a t e r f u tu r e p ro d u c t
re tu rn .
" C o n se rv a tio n o f o u r human and p h y s ic a l r e s o u r c e s ,
o f w hich th e c o n s e rv a tio n o f s o i l i s a v i t a l p a r t , i s
an e n d u rin g ta s k em phasized by th e d e fe n se program .
C o n se rv a tio n i s n o t a c o m p e tito r o f n a tio n a l d e fe n se f o r
a t t e n t i o n . I t i s an a d ju n c t t o d e fe n se and perm anent
peace and w e l f a r e . I t i s a f o r c e whore w o rth tim e s o f
c r i s e s o n ly em phasize- a n o b lig a tio n n o t t o b e obscured
by a new c h a lle n g e , no m a tte r how momentous." 2 6 /
2 6 / C laude R. ',ic lo s rd , ^ C o n se rv a tio n , A L a stin g * Htaergenoy", Lazid
P o lic y Review, Vol. IV, Ho. 4 , A p ril 1941, page 1 4 .
-7 2 APBESDIX
C Iaaaif y i n g and A nalyzing
D ata
In a n a ly z in g th e o r i g i n a l d a t a , th e sc Iied u les w ere f i r s t grouped ac­
c o rd in g t o te n u r e s ta t u s *
The o p e r a to r s w ere c la s s e d a s o w n e r-o p e ra to rs ,
p a r t o w n e r-o p e ra to rs , and r e n t e r s .
The r e n t e r group was su b d iv id ed in to
c ash r e n t e r s , c ro p -s h a r e r e n t e r s , and s h a re -c a s h r e n te r s *
TIie l a t t e r group
c o n s is tin g o f o p e r a to r s who re n te d sone la n d f o r c a sh and re n te d a d d itio n a l
I find on a c ro p -s h a re b a s i s .
The c ro p -s h a re o p e ra to rs were f u r t h e r d iv id e d
a c c o rd in g to th e s h a re a rra n g e m e n t.
C ro p -sh are r e n t e r s r e c e iv in g tw o - th ir d s
o r more w ere s e p a ra te d from r e n t e r s r e c e iv in g l e s s th a n tw o - th ir d s o f th e
c ro p .
The o p e r a to r s r e c e iv in g tw o - th ir d s o r more on some la n d and l e s s th a n
tw o - th ir d s on a d d itio n a l la n d r e n te d w ere c l a s s i f i e d a s a m ix ed -sh are g ro u p .
These s u b d iv is io n s w ere made in o r d e r t o d e te rm in e th e e f f e c t o f th e ty p e o f
r e . t i n g and th e s h a re arrangem ent on land use and p r a c tic e s a d o p te d .
The r e n t e r sc h e d u le s w ere th e n regrouped a c c o rd in g to th e ty p e o f la n d ­
lo rd .
They w ere grouped a s p u b lic a g e n c ie s , le n d in g a g e n c ie s , c o rp o ra te
g ro ups and in d iv id u a ls .
Land owned b y F e d e ra l, S t a t e , and L ocal governm ents
and la n d c l a s s i f i e d a s In d ia n T r u s t Land c o n s t i t u t e th e p u b lic a g e n c ie s
g ro u p .
W nding a g e n c ie s a r e la r d in v estm en t com panies, b a n k s, and in su ra n c e
co m panies.
Tlie c o r p o r a te group i s made up o f lim b e r, m in in g , r e l i g i o u s ,
e d u c a tio n a l and m is c e lla n e o u s c o r p o r a tio n s .
The in d iv id u a l la n d owners wore
d iv id e d i n t o r e s i d e n t s o f Ltontsna and n o n - r e s id e n ts o f Itontana.
TIie sc h e d u le s o f f u l l owners (403) w ere reg ro u p ed a c c o rd in g t o th e
s iz e o f th e o p e ra tin g u n i t .
S in ce te n u re s t a t u s , le a s e a rran g em en t, and
-7 3 •typ© o f la n d lo rd may liin e th e p a rt-o w n e r and r e n t e r g ro u p s , fu ll-o w n e rs
sh o u ld show more a c c u r a te ly th e e f f e c t o f farm s i z e .
grouped in to th e f c !low ing s iz e g ro u p si
The s c h e d u le s were
le e s th a n 100 a c re s * 100-339
a c re s* 400-4.'D a c re s * 500-799 and 800 a c r e s and over*
These g ro u p in g s
w ere m ost c o n v e n ie n t and th e a v e rs e s iz e f o r each group approxim ated i t s
m id -p o in t f a i r l y c lo s e ly d e s p ite 320 and 640 a c re modal te n d e n c ie s .
Land use a c re a g e s w ere g iv e n a s p e rc e n ta g e s o f c ro p la n d f o r com paring
and c o n tr a s ti n g th e d if f e r e n c e s in th e v a rio u s g ro u p s.
The a r ith m e tic
E<?an was used t p show th e a v erag e s iz e o f f a r o , th e p r o d u c tiv ity a v e ra g e ,
th * a v erag e a c r e s c ro p p e d , and th e a v e r a g e . s o i l b u ild in g e q u iv a le n t u n its
f o r each group*
S o il g ra d e com parisons were In clu d ed f o r th e te n u re s t a t u s s tu d y .
The a c re a g e o f each g ra d e o f land and th e p e rc e n ta g e o f each g ra d e a s a
p a r t o f th e t o t a l la n d f o r t h e vs d o u s te n u re g ro u p s w ere computed*
The
r a t i o s o f f a r o lan d t o c ro p la n d w ere computed f o r th e te n u re group# to
show th e e x te n t o f th e u se o f la n d c l a s s i f i e d a s g ra z in g la n d f o r c ro p p ro ­
d u c tio n *
S o il B u ild in g P r a c tic e s
The s o i l b u ild in g p r a c t i c e s adopted by fa rm e rs i n S h e rid a n co u n ty
in 1938 w ere a s f o llo w s t l /
P r a c tic e A -5.
C o n s tru c tio n o f 200 l i n e a r f e e t o f s ta n d a rd te r r a c e
f o r w hich p ro p e r o u t l e t s a r e provided*
l a t e o f c r e d i t — One u n i t .
2 / " - oatnrui era.'book, 1033, A g r ic u ltu r a l a M 'Rscige C ^ is e rm tio n "
Program s. A g r ic u ltu r a l A djustm ent A d m in is tra tio n , W estern D iv is io n , U.S.D.A.
-
I r a o t i e o A -7 .
74-
R eseeding d e p le te d p a s tu r e a w ith good seed o f adapted
p a s tu r e g r a s s e s and leg u n ee— 10 pounds o f s e e d .
K ate o f c r e d i t — Ten pounds
o f seed e q u a ls one u n it#
P r a c tic e A—13#
R e s to r a tio n o f non—c ro p open p a s tu r e by n o n -g ra s Ing
d u rin g th e normal p a s tu r e seaso n on an a c re a g e eq u al t o o n e - h a lf o f t i e
number o f a c r e s o f such p a s tu r e re q u ire d to c a r r y one animal u n i t f o r a
12-month p e r io d .
R ate o f c r e d i t —One u n i t .
P r a c tic e B - I •
S eeding b ie n n ia l legum es, p e re n n ia l legum es, p e re n n ia l
g r a s s e s ( o th e r th a n tim o th y o r re d to p ) o r m ix tu re s ( o th e r th a n a m ix tu re
c o n s is tin g s o le l y o f tim o th y and re d to p ) c o n ta in in g p e re n n ia l g r a s s e s , p e r­
e n n ia l legum es, o r b ie n n ia l legum es.
R ate o f c r e d i t —One a c r e e q u a ls one
u n it.
P r a c tic e 3 - 5 .
Green manure c ro p s and c o v er c ro p s e x c lu d in g a ry cro p
f o r w hich c r e d i t i s g iv en in ISSO under any p r a c t i c e .
R ate o f c r e d i t —
One a c re e q u a ls one u n i t .
P r a c tic e C-S.
C u ltiv a tin g , p r o te c tin g , and m a in ta in in g b y r e p la n tin g ,
i f n e c e s s a ry , a good s ta n d o f f o r e s t t r e e s , p la n te d betw een Jan u a ry I , 1934
and Jan u a ry I , 1938.
IT a o tic e D -I.
R ate o f c r e d i t — One a c re e q u a ls two u n i t s .
P la n tin g f o r e s t t r e e s (in c lu d in g sh ru b s i n p r o te c tiv e
p la n tin g s ) p ro v id e d such t r e e s a r e p r o te c te d and c u l tiv a te d in accordance
w ith good t r e e c u l t u r e p r a c t i c e .
P r a c tic e F - 4 .
fa llo w e d a c r e s .
R ate o f c r e d i t — One a c r e e q u a ls f iv e u n i t s .
S trip c ro p p in g o th e r th a n f o r p r o te c tio n o f summer-
R ate o f c r e d i t —Four a c r e s e q u a l one u n i t .
F r s e tic e P -5 .
P r o te c tin g su rm er-fa llo w e d acrea g e from wind end w a te r
e ro s io n by c o n to u r o r b a s in l i s t i n g , s tr ip - c r o p p in g , o r in c o rp o ra tin g
-
75-
s m l l - ^ r a i n s tu b b le and s tra w in to th e s u rfa c e s o i l .
So c r e d i t w i l l be
g iv en f o r t h i s p r a c t i c e on any farm when c a r r ie d o u t on l i g h t sandy s o i l s
o r in s o i l s i n any a re a where d e s tr u c ti o n o f th e v e g e ta tiv e c o v er has r e ­
s u lte d in th e lan d becoming s u b je c t to s e r io u s wind e r o s io n .
R ate o f
c r e d i t —Four a c r e s e q u al one u n i t .
P r a c tic e I - I .
C ontour see d in g o f a n a lI - g r a in c r o p s .
R ate o f c r e d i t —
Ten a c r e s e q u al one u n it.
Grades o f Farming and G razing Land
Montana farm s have been c l a s s i f i e d in to v a rio u s g ra d e s based upon a
s o i l re c o n n a is s a n c e developed by th e D epartm ent o f Agronocy and th e D ep art­
ment o f A g r ic u ltu r a l Econom ics, Kontnza S ta te C o lle g e , on th e b a s is o f a
s o i l s re c o n n a is s a n c e conducted t y
L. F . G ie se k e r, A s s o c ia te A gronom ist,
Montana C ta te C o lle g e , Bozeman, M ontana.
Farm la n d i s d iv id e d in to g ra d e s a c c o rd in g t o i t s c a p a c ity to produce
based on th e y ie ld o f w heat p e r a c re on summer fa llo w la n d .
T la fo u r g ra d e s
a r e a s fo llo w s t
F i r s t Grade ( F - l )— 22 b u s h e ls o r more p e r a cre
Second Gnide ( F - 2 ) ~ 16-21 b u s h e ls
T liird Grade (F -3 )— 12-15 b u s h e ls
F o u rth Grade (P -4 )—8-11 b u s h e ls
G razing la n d h a s been c l a s s i f i e d on th e b a s is o f th e number o f a c re s
re q u ire d t o c a r r y a 1000 pound s t e e r f o r a ten-m onth p e r io d .
g ra d e e a r e a s fo llo w s «
F i r s t Grade ( G - I ) - I S a c r e s o r l e s s
Second Grade (G -2)— 19-27 a c r e s
T h ird Grade (G -3)— 28-37 a c r e s
F o u rth Grade (G -4)—58-54
F i f t h Grade (G -S )-B S a c r e s o r more
Tlie f iv e
-7 6 C l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f Crops
S o il D e p le tin g Crops
P o ta to e s , Sugar B e e ts , S u n flo w ers, Truck & V egetable C ro p s, M elons.
Sorghums, B rooncorn and Sudan G rass
W heat, O a ts, B a rle y , Bye, F la x , M ille ts .
Annual Legumes such as Soy B eans, F ie ld le a n s . F ie ld seed and Canning P e a s.
S o il C onserving Crops
P e re n n ia l G rasses a s . Blue (brass, Tim othy, R edtop, O rch ard , Bermuda, Brone,
B lu e s te n , B u ffa lo , Wheat g r a s s e s . Rye g r a s s e s , and g ra s s m ix tu re s w ith o r
w ith o u t n u rse c r o p s .
Annual Legumes a s B ur, Sour and Crimson C lo v e r, Annual V a r ie tie s o f Sweet
C lo v e r, P e sb sn ia and Annual V a r ie tie s o f L e sp ed e ra , w ith o r w ith o u t n u rse
cro p s.
Soybeans, F ie ld B eans, F ie ld Feas and Cow Peas when tu rn e d under as a g reen
manure c ro p .
B ie n n ia l Legumes in c lu d in g Sw eet, Red, A lsilce, Ladine C lo v e rs , w ith o r w ith ­
o u t n u rs e c r o p s .
P e re n n ia l Legumes in c lu d in g A l f a l f a , C e rise and W hite C lo v e r, w ith o r w ith o u t
n u rse c r o p s .
G reen Manure Crops in c lu d in g a n n u a l, b ie n n ia l and p e r e n n ia l Legumes such a s
Rye, B a rle y , W heat, O ats and s n a i l g r a in m ix tu r e s , tu rn e d under a g reen
manure w hether w in te r p a s tu re d o r n o t.
F o r e s t t r e e s p la n te d on c ro p la n d s in c e J a n m r y 1 s t , 1934.
H e u tra l Uses
O rc h ard s, V in e y ard s, T ree s and sm all F r u i t s o r Hut T re e s .
I d l e c ro p la n d u n le s s o th e rw is e s p e c if ie d because o f unusual w e ath e r
c o n d itio n s .
A m r o x x TABLE I , - LAND USE ACREAGES BY TENURE STATUS IS SNERIDAN COUNTY, 1938 %/
T o ta l
A cres
C ropland
A cres
S o il
D e p le tin g
Crops
F allo w
C ropland
Cash
F ie ld
Id le
Crops
Crops
Cropland A cres b / A cres c /
794,822
506,989
298,279
202,165
5,298
107,366
96,422
260,628
43,398
F u ll Owners
160,106
106,580
69,080
38,029
1,471
22,295
16,714
58,455
12,096
l a r t Owner
286,857
185,618
108,947
72,423
2,248
43,630
28,793
94,466
16,729
A ll R e n te rs
347,859
214,790
120,702
92,510
1,678
41,440
50,916
107,707
14,673
40,006
22,340
12,210
9,796
336
2,946
6,860
79,619
1,842
249,304
156,624
88,669
66,985
980
31,773
36,212
10,702
10,020
S hare A d / 158,795
95,580
63,196
42,007
378
17,998
24,009
47,629
5,943
52,779
34,624
20,785
13,738
301
8,530
5,207
18,643
2,443
Ized Share 37,730
26,220
14,680
11,240
300
5,245
5,996
13,347
1,634
68,549
36,826
19,833
16,750
..2 6 3
6,722
8,853
17,386
2,710
Tenure
T o ta l
Cash
A ll Share
Share B e /
O ther
e/
e/
S o il
N e u tra l Cons#
Crops Crops
In e lu d e e o a t s , b a r le y , r y e , c o rn , m i l l e t s , hay and o th e r s .
R a n te rs re c e iv e d tw o - th ir d s o r more o f c ro p ,
R e n te rs re c e iv e d l e s s th a n tw o -th ird s o f c ro p .
APFEIZDIX TABLE
I I . — PERCETT OF CROPLAND DEVOTED TO U I I D U SE PRACTICES
BT TENURE STATUS XB SE ER ID A Ii COUETT, 1 9 5 8 a /
P e rc e n t P e rc e n t
T o ta l C ropland
A cres
A cres
Tenure
R rc e E f
S o il
D e p le tin g
P e rc e n t
H e u tra l
i'e r e e if
Percent; F e rc e n f
S o il
P e rc e n t P e rc e n t Cash
Feed
C onserving F ello w Id le
Crops b / Crops c /
6 3 .8
5 8 .9
4 0 .1
1 .0
2 1 .2
18.8
6 1 .4
8 .6
F u ll Owner
100
67 .8
63.6
35 .0
1 .4
2 0.5
14.5
53.8
11.2
P a r t Owner
100
6 4 .0
5 9 .3
3 9 .4
1 .3
2 3 .4
16.7
6 1 .4
9 .1
A ll R e n te rs
100
6 1 .7
5 6 .2
43 .1
.7
1 9 .3
23.7
50.1
6 .8
Cash
100
56 .8
5 4 .7
43 .8
1 .6
1 3 .2
30.6
. 4 7 .9
8 .2
A ll Share
100
62 .8
56 .6
4 2 .8
.6
2 0 .3
22.6
60.8
6 .4
S hare A
100
60 .2
5 5 .7
4 3 .9
.4
1 8 .8
25.1
49 .8
6 ,2
Share B 9/
100
6 6 .0
6 9 .7
39 .4
.9
2 4 .6
14.9
6 3.6
7 .0
Mixed S hare
100
6 9.5
5 6 .0
42 .9
1 .1
2 0 .0
22.9
60.9
6 .2
100
61 .2
5 6 .4
43 .9
.7
18 .8
24.7
4 3,5
7 .6
O ther
c/
Z/
r e " ta k e n f r ’o m ^ttie'llbunty A g r ic u ltu r a l Program R ecords Tor 1935.
In c lu d e s w heat and f l a x .
In c lu d e s o a t s , r y e , b a r le y , c o rn , m i l l e t s , Iiay and o th e r s .
R e n te rs re c e iv e d tw o - th ir d s o r more o f c ro p .
R e n te rs re c e iv e d l e s s th a n tw o - th ir d s o f c ro p .
-7 8 -
100
T o ta l
;
A FPE B D DC TABLE H I . — ACREAGES OF GRADES OF FARMIDG ADD GRAZID G LADD BT
TEDDRE STATUS H f SEERIDAD COUDTY, 1 9 3 8 a /
Fanning
Tenure
T o ta T
T o ta l
~nr
G razing
y3
*4
T o ta l
ti3
G4
==
y
454,735
22,461
36,321
244,694
240,630
690
3,374
36,611
F u ll owners
112,077
100,636
4 ,046
7,396
41,947
41,297
150
600
6,082
P b r t owners
191,281
170,648
9,196
11,437
83-, 819
82,499
80
1,240
11,767
A ll R en ters
210,169
183,452
9,219
17,488
118,928
116,834
460
1,634
18,772
Cash
18,320
14,247
1,678
2,496
19,651
19,521
50
157,371
140,491
5,631
11,349
77,885
76,841
430
1,614
14,048
Share A c /
100,126
89,454
3,328
7,344
49,711
48,454
10
1,247
8,968
Share B &/
36,081
31,083
1,318
2,676
16,172
15,425
420
327
1,526
Mixed Share
22,164
19,949
886
1,330
12,002
11,962
40
3,664
34,468
28,714
2 ,1 1 0
3,644
21,492
21,472
20
2,609
A ll Share
O ther
2,136
5a¥a w r e ta k e n from th e County A g r ie u ltu r a l C o n ae m a tio n FiOG**am~ro'cordo f o r 19387
SB on th e S o ils map was r e f e r r e d to a s r i v e r bottom o r swamp bottom la n d .
R e n te rs re c e iv e d tw o - th ir d s o r more o f c r o p s .
R e n te rs re c e iv e d l e s s th a n tw o - th ir d s o f crop*
i
79-
61,357
a h pb b d h table i v . —I ehcebt of grides of farming aed grazing laud by
TENURE STATUS IN SHERIDAN COUNTY, 1938 a /
Tenure
F a m in g
T o ta l
G rasing
G2
%
F2
F3
F4
T o ta l
64.6
67.2
2 .8
4 .6
3 0.8
30 .3
F u ll Owners
7 0 .0
62.9
2 .6
4 .6
26.2
P a r t Owners
6 6 .7
69 .5
3 .2
4 .0
A ll R e n te rs
6 0 .4
5 2 .7
2 .7
Cesh
46,8
5 5 ,6
A ll Share
63.2
Share A c /
04
a n y
.1
.4
4 .6
25.8
.1
.3
3 .8
29.2
28.8
.0
.4
4 .1
5 .0
34.2
5 3.6
.1
.6
6 .4
4 .0
6 .2
48 .8
4 8 .8
.0
5 6 .4
2 .2
4 .6
31.2
3 0 .4
.2
•6
5 .6
63,0
56 .3
2 .1
4 .6
51 .3
30 ,5
•0
.8
6 .7
S hare B 6 /
66,6
58 .9
2 .5
6 .1
30.6
29,2
.8
.6
2 .9
Nixed Share
5 8 ,7
52 .9
2 .3
3 .5
51 .8
31 .7
—
.1
9 .5
68,8
4 9 .0
3 .6
6 .2
36 .8
36 ,7
.1
4 ,4
T o ta l
O ther
6 .4
TttTa' w r e tik e n
th e County A e r lo u lT u ^ I 'ConftVrTatioT~ ^ ; r 8m ra o o rd a T o r 1938.
SB on th e S o ils nap was r e f e r r e d to a s r i v e r bottom o r swamp bottom le n d .
R e n te rs re c e iv e d tw o - th ir d s o r more o f c ro p s .
R e n te rs re c eiv e d l e s s th a n tw o - th ir d s o f c ro p .
AFfEEDH TABLE V .-LAMD UFE ACREAGES BY TYFB OF LAI-tDLORD K S3RIDAM COOBTY, 1938 %J
Type o f
L andlord
T o ta l
A cres
C ropland
A cres
D e p le tin g E e u tra l
A cres
A cres
S o il
Cons*
A cres
F allo w
A cres
Id le
A cres
Cash 'b/
Crops
Feed
Crops
347,104
215,675
121,651
92,523
:1 ,601
41,875
50,686
108,642
14,611
P u b lic A fenoles
62,615
31,292
17,137
13,920
235
4,805
9,116
15,376
1,996
Lending A gencies
61,688
38,896
20,975
17,333
538
7,166
10,227
18,698
2,816
C o rp o rate Groups
9,026
6,207
3 ,096
3,090
21
1,293
1,797
2,880
237
I n d iv id u a ls
223,977
139,231
80,546
59,150
806
23,625
29,497
71,638
9,464
R esid e n t
136,986
86,911
50,974
36,332
505
18,651
16,673
46,502
6,078
86,991
62,370
29,370
22,798
202
9,974
12,324
26,186
3,386
TOTALS
E on-R esident
*/
W
e/
D ata w ere ta k e n from th e County A f r l c u l t u r a l C o n se rv a tio n Program Records f o r 1938.
In c lu d e s o n ly w heat and fla x *
In c lu d e s o a t s , b a r le y , r y e , c o rn , n l b l e t e , h ay , and o th e r s .
A F K H D IX TABLE V I . — FERCEIiT OF CROPLAND DEVOTED TO LAJiD USE PR A C TIC ES BT
T Y K OF LANDLORD IU SE E R IDAIl COUBTYt 1 9 3 8 a /
T o ta l
P e rc e n t P e rc e n i !Percent
T o ta l C ropland
S o il
A cres
A cres D e p letin g
P e rc e n t
P e rc e n t P e rc e n t
P e rc e n t
S o il
P e rc e n t P e rc e n t Cash
Feed
Iie u tre l C onserving F allo w
Id le
Crone b / Crons a /
100
6 2 .1
5 6 .4
4 2 .9
•7
1 9 .4
2 3 .6
8 8.2
11.8
P u b lic A gencies
100
59 .6
54 .8
4 4.5
.7
16 .4
2 9.1
8 8.5
11.6
Lending A gencies
100
63.2
6 3 .9
44 .7
1 .4
1 8 .4
26.2
86 .9
13.1
C o rp o rate A gencies
100
68 .6
49 .9
4 9 .8
.3
20.8
2 9 .0
92 .4
7 .6
I n d iv id u a ls
100
62 .2
5 7 .7
4 1 .7
.6
20.6
2 1 .1
8 8.3
11.7
R e sid e n t
100
6 3 .4
68.6
4 0 .6
♦8
21 .4
1 9 .1
88.2
11.8
N o n -re sid e n t
100
60.2
6 6.1
4 3 .5
•4
19.1
24 .4
88 .6
11 .4
a/
o/
D ata n e re ta k e ir o n th e Count;/ A c r ic u ltu r a l C o n se rv a tio n I r o r a - re c o rd s f o r 1938.
In c lu d e s o n ly w lieat and f l a x .
In c lu d e s o a t s , r y e , b a r le y , c o rn , n i b l e t e , hay and o th e r s .
-28
Type o f
L andlord
APtfiKDIX TABLB V II,—
LAIiD USE ACItEAGES BY SIZE OF FABM FOR FULL OEi-ERS
IK SIEBIDAK COUKTY, 1938
Farm S ite
A cres
T o ta l
A cres
*/
d ro p le t
SSTT
$k>ir
' '
D
e
p
le
tin
g
U
e
u
tra
l
C
onserving
F allow
Acree
A cres
A cres
A cres
A cres
Id le
A cres
Cash
Crops h /
Feed
Crops Cj/
T o ta l 160,106
108,680
69,030
38,029
1,471
22,296
16,714
58,466
12,096
Under 100
398
291
166
125
0
0
125
86
80
100-339
72,967
60,482
32,163
17,616
703
9,403
8,196
27,136
6,731
400-499
21,534
16,852
10,098
6,468
267
3,691
1,776
8,331
2 ,034
600-799
35,437
24,527
16,038
8,332
167
5,770
2 ,560
13,777
2,413
800-over
29,710
17,448
10,615
6,488
244
3,431
3,067
9,126
1,833
D ate w ere ta k e n from th e County A g r ic u ltu r a l Frocram re c o rd f o r 1S38
In c lu d e e w heat and f l a x .
In c lu d e s o e te , b a r le y , r y e , c o rn , m i l l e t s , hay and o th e r s .
A H E i m I X TABLE V I I I * — PERCENT OF CROPLAND DEVOTED TO LAND USE PRA CTICES BY S IZ E
FOR FULL OiTSERS HI SN ERID A S COUNTY, 1 9 3 8 • /
OF FARM
P e rc e n t
T o ta l
A cres
P tr o e n t
C ropland
P e rc e n t
S o il
D e p le tin g
Crop
P e rc e n t
IIe u tra l
Crops
P e rc e n t
S o il
C onserving
Crops
100
67*8
63 .6
3C.0
1 .4
20 .6
1 4 .7
55.8
11 .2
Under 100
100
73,1
57 .1
4 2.9
0
0
4 2 .9
29 .5
2 7 .6
100-339
100
69.2
63 .7
34.9
1 .4
32 .5
1 6.2
6 3 .7
1 1 .3
400-499
100
7 3 .5
63.8
3 4 .6
1 .7
23.3
11.2
62 .6
1 2 .9
600-799
100
69.2
6 6 .4
3 4 .0
.6
25 .6
1 0.6
66.2
9 .8
800-over
100
5 8 .7
6 0 .8
3 7 .0
2 .0
1 9 .7
17 .6
62.3
10.6
Farm S ite
T o ta l
V
Ty
o/
P e rc e n t P e rc e n t
F allo w
I d le
P e rc e n t
P e rc e n t
c ash
Feed
Crops t / Crops o /
D ata w are ta k e n from th e County A g r ic u ltu r a l Program re c o rd s f o r 1958.
In c lu d e s w heat and fla x *
In c lu d e s o a t s , b a r le y , r y e , c o m , m i l l e t s , hay and o th e rs*
—
35 —
BiBLioGEAirry
1»
A# Ae A e , W estem D lv ie lo n ,
I ondbook 1958 A g r ic u ltu r a l
end Ran-* C o n ae rim tlW IYogreCTe,
lW s ,
44 PPe iTlUSe
Se
B enzw tt, Hugh Re, -r Q ll C o n aerv etio n , IIew Y ork, MeGnwt- H ill Book Coe,
InO e, 1 0 3 9 /9 9 3 ppe i l i u s .
Se
B o a tr ig h t, W illia m Ce, E ro alo n end R elate d Land Uae C o n d itio n s on
th e Urold poiTQn a t r a t l on Pro j e c t T"1'o n ta n a , a e h ln g to n , D. C e,
S o v m b o r , 1938, p p . #8 i l l u a .
4e
Bunoe, A. C ., " S o c ie ty and C o n se rv a tio n " , I^and P o lic y Review,
Vol. IV, Ro. 6 , J u n e ,1941, pp. 1 3 -2 2 .
Be
Etmee, A. C e, "T ine P re fe re n c e and C o n se rv a tio n " , Jo u rn a l o f I a r a
U cononloa, V bl. X X II, Ho. 3 , 533-543
6e
Bureau o f A rrl o u l t u r e l Rconoialea . Cash J e ir: Incorte and Govcranoftt
Pegnae n t a , In e o . Jan u ary 30, 1940.
7.
CIr la c y -U a n tru p , S ie g f r ie d von, "Uoonanlo A apeota o f C o n a e rv a tio n " ,
Jo u rn a l o f Fbtt: Uconomloa, Vol. XX, May,1938, p p . 4 6 2 -4 7 3 .
8«
E ly , R. Te and Tiehrwei n , G. S ., Land r.co n o n ica, lew Y ork, The
U aem lllan C o ., 1940, 512 p p . I l l u a .
9.
E nglund,
r i o , "Tihat F r lc e C o n s e rv a tio n " , Land P o lic y Review,
Vol. I l l , Ho. 2 , : a r c h - A p r il, 1940, p p . 1 -11.
10.
G ie ae k e r , L. F e , " S o ils o f S h erid an C ounty", Ub n t . A gr. Exp. S ta .
S u l. Uo. 158, A p ril 1923, 20 p p . i l l u a .
11*
C ray, L. C ., "Econtmic P o s s i b i l i t i e s o f C o n se rv a tio n " , Quart e r l y
Jou rn a l o f Eoonoiaiea , V ol. XV II, 1913, p p . 497-519%
12.
C ray, L. C ., E v o lu tio n o f th e Land P roprari o f th e U nited S ta te s
Dopaz&nent o f A f T ic u lt..ire, U. S . L, A. M inao*, F a re h , 1339,
p p . 1-17 i l l u a .
13.
G ray, L. C e, "Our Land P o lic y Today", Lend P o lic y Re view , V ol. I ,
Ho. I , Iiay-Jxme, 1938, p p . 3 -3 .
14.
Barsasr, Conrad IT., " Ueonomlo A apeots o f C o n se rv a tio n " , The Jo u rn a l
o f Ijind and Public U t i l i t y h c o n o n lc s, Vol. 8 , Ho. ST,
A ugust, T T SI, p p . 232-230.
-
86 -
16.
H ib b ard , B. E ., A E ia to iy o f P u b lic Land P o l i c i e s , New Y ork,
MacnlI ]%:i C o ., 1924.
16.
H odgkin, C a r ly le , "C over F an ain g w, S u c c e ssfu l F a m in g and th e
D airy Farm er, Vbl. 33, Eo.~ 7 ,' J u l y '\ 3 4 1 p". l"dT~
17.
Johnson, E . C ., "Farm C r e d it a s a I a c t o r i n S o il C o n se rv a tio n " ,
Jo u rn a l o f Land and P u b lic U t i l i t y Econom ics, V ol. XV,
KoV 4 , 1959, p p . 377-382.
18.
K e lso , $U M., "Needed R esearch in Farm Tenancy” , J o u rn a l o f Farm
E cononics , V ol. X X II, Kb. I , F e b ru a ry , 1941, p p . 201-310.
19.
!N ational
20.
Renne, R. R e, " R e a d ju s tin g K tm tane*s A g r ic u ltu r e , I . The Seed and
B aeia f o r R ead ju stm en t", Mont. A gr. Exp. S ta . Bui* S o . 306,
December, 1935, 24 p p. i l T V s T -------- --------------------------------
21.
Eenne, R. R ., " R e a d ju s tin g Montana*# A g r ic u ltu r e , IV . Land Owner­
s h ip and T enursw, P o n t. A gr. Exp. S ta . E u l. H o . 310,
F e b ru a ry , 1936, 24 p p . i i l u s .
22.
Renne, R. R ., "Montana Farm R eal E s ta te 3k>rtgage In d e b te d n e ss” ,
K e n t. A gr. Exp. S t a . E u l. Mo. 585, O cto b er, 1940,
38 pp • 11 Iu s .
23.
Rush, D. R ., "The use o f A g r ic u ltu r a l C r e d it in a Land-use Program ",
I^and I b l l c y Eoviow, V ol. I , Ho. I , 1938, p p . 1 2 -1 6 .
24.
S e h ic k e le , R a in e r, and IIimmel, John P . , "Economics o f Land Use Ad­
ju s tm e n t, I I . Socio-Econom ic P hases o f S o il C o n se rv a tio n
in t h e T ark io Creek A re a " , Iowa S ta te C o lleg e I x p . S ta .
Rosocrc h E u l. Mo. 241, O cto b er, 1933V p p . E50-403.
26.
S c h u ltz , T. W ., "Economic E i f e o t s o f A g r ic u ltu r a l I r o g r a n s " , AnerDc an Economio Review, V ol. XXX, Mo. 5 , F e b ru a ry , 1941,
p p . 127-164.
26.
S c h u ltz , T.
" C a p ita l R a tio n in g , U n c e rta in ty and Farm Tenancy
R eform ", J o u rn a l o f P o l i t i c a l Economy, Vol. X LV IIl, Mo. 5 ,
Ju n e, 1940, p p . 309-5&4.
27.
S la g s v o id , P . L ., "Land Ownership and T en u re, H untley I r r i g a t i o n
P r o je c t" , Mont. S ta te A gr. Exp. S t a . B u i. Mo. 386, Janu­
a r y , 1941, 19 pp• i I Iu s I
E nergency C o u n c il, F e d e ra l Eenei1I t s By C o u n tie s , 19331937, O ffic e o f th e S 'talT ,' e p r e s e n ta tiv e f o r !.TonTana,
"'andan, B o rth D akota, J u ly , 1938.
-8 7 .
28*
S p ie g e l, Henry W*, Land Tenure F o ll e le s a t : one and A broad, Clmpel
H i l l , The U n iv e rs ity o f U orth CaroYlna VtbbiT, 1941.
29.
The F r e e ld e n t' • C o m l t t e e , R ep o rt or. I an a Teimaacy, F eb ru ary 1957,
108 p p . l l l u a .
30.
U. S . D epartsient o f C o m e rc e , Ib iu rte e n th Census o f th e U nited S t a t e s .
V bl. V I, p a r t 5 , 1320.
SI*
U. S . D epartm ent o f C o m ero e, S ix te e n tli Census o f th e U n ited S t a t e s ,
M ontana, F i r s t S e r ie s , 1940.
52.
U. S. D. A ., S o ils and ~en Yearbook o f A g r ic u ltu r e , W ashington, B .C .,
U n ited S ta te s Government P r in tin g o f f i c e , 1958, p p .4 7 -3 1 8 .
33.
U. S . D. A ., In te rb u re a u C o m i t t e e , S ta te L e g is la tio n f o r B e tte r
Land U se, A p r i l , 1941, p p . SEWaS.
34.
Webb, W. P . , The G reat P la in s , Iiew Y ork, Ginn and C o ., 1251.
35.
W ickard, C laude R ., " C o n se rv a tio n - A L a s tin g Em ergency", Land P o lic y
Review, V ol. IV, S o . 4 , A p r il, 1941, p p . 1 4 -1 7 .
56.
W ilcox, W a lte r W ., "Economic A sp ects o f S o il C o n se rv a tio n ” , J o u rn e l o f P o l i t i c a l Boonoay, V ol. XLVI, So* 5 , O cto b er, 1958,
p p . io z TTl z .
The a u th o r w ish e s to e x p re s s h i s th a n k s and ap p ro cI a t i o n
t o f r o T ossor Glenn IJs C rs lg f o r a s s is ta n c e and c o u n s e l d u rin g
t h i s s tu d y , and t o B r. R. Rs Eetme end h i s e n t i r e s t a f f f o r t h e i r
i n t e r e s t and c o o p e r a tio n .
R e c o g n itio n i s a l s o due t o t h e Work
F r o le o ts A d m in is tra tio n f o r g a th e r in g sonc o f th e d a ta u s e d , end
f o r a s s i s t a n c e i n co m p ilin g and ta b u la tin g th e m a te r ia l th ro u g h
P r o je c t
O .P . I € 5 -1 -3 1 -8 2 (Ws P . 538 4 )s
moni ana
J 1
c o p .P
D ATE
10014938 2
M i l l e r , Harvey VJ
F a cto rs a f f e c t i n g
com pliance w ith th e
a g r ic u lt u r a l co n serv a ­
t i o n program . . .
IS S U E D
TO
o 31
Z77&-/y "