—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 5,1977
16
Farm
HARRISBURG - The rob
bers - erosion and wet areas -
pose a greater threat to the
farmer than the human kind
because they steal his most
precious possession, land.
Just as the police can deter
theft, so can the farm pond
control water runoff and
drainage problems, and pro
vide a few added bonuses as
well.
Building a farm pond is
more complicated than fill
ing a hole with water, but not
too involved that the small
farmer cannot undertake it
with the aid of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s
Soil Conservation Service.
Slight erosion may be in
dicative of substantial water
runoff, an important ele
ment in chosmg a watershed
that will keep the pond filled.
One should avoid severely
DVORAK
IRON WORKER
SALES & SERVICE
BENDER -
SALES & SERVICE
Besides fulfilling many needs of a farmer, the farm pond adds too the beauty of the kind.
ponds fill farmer needs in many forms
eroded areas because the
pond would rapidly fill with
silt. In such cases, the only
solution would be to institute
conservation measures
before excavating.
Small springs or seeps,
usually a nuisance, provide
the best source of water.
Farmers should avoid
streams draining large
watersheds because they
will necessitate elaborate
and expensive dams to han
dle the frequent flooding.
SCS points out that the best
ponds are created in forested
lands and permanent
grasslands. If such areas are
not available, the alternative
is cultivated areas protected
by conservation practices,
such as contour tillage, strip
cropping or terracing.
Of course, nobody need tell
the farmer that ideal condi-
David
Box 2
MYERST
Rte. 897 N.
Ist I
• Gresen
Pumps
tions are the exception
rather than the rule in his
line of work. However, a
meager water supply or
small watershed can be
remedied with proper
techniques.
Grassed waterways, ter
racing and underground tile
all can be utilized to bring
water from other areas and,
perhaps, correct other
drainage problems in the
bargain
While ponds assist in pro
tecting the environment,
there is a decidedly
economic side to the benefits
gained by the farmer.
For instance, ponds can
provide water for livestock
in their own grazing areas.
Beef, dairy cattle and horses
require about 15 gallons per
day per head, according to
SCS.
• Hydraulic Units
• Char-lynn Motors
• Hoses
BROWNING
Belts & Pulleys
All Sizes
30 to 50%
OFF LIST PRICES
WHOLESALE & RETAIL
DEALERS WELCOME
In recent years, the pond
has become an important
source of water for irriga
tion, particularly in the
eastern states, devoid of the
complex water systems of
the West. Before the 1940’5,
irrigation was not used in the
humid East, but today many
farmers, with small acreage
and high-value crops, are ir
rigating, SCS says.
Other practical considera
tions include using the water
for orchard and field spray
For higher production...
Our Chief is now over + 1,000 M!
*
*o** "-■ '
'Wf**
15H170 Vincent - View Molly CHIEF - VG (88) & Prod. Qual.
Production: USDA Summary (Sept./77)
116 Daughters in 82 Herds Ave. 16.896 M 3.5%
Predicted Difference (82% rpt.) + 1.078 M +s69
The Chiefs are dairy, strong, and good-uddered
He’s an Arlinda Chief son out of an EX-94-3E
Marquis daughter; next dam by Ivanhoe!
He's available daily from all our Professional Technicians.
-Atlantic
% BREEDERS COOPERATIVE
LIVESTOCK
SERVICES
Member - NAL Affiliated Breeders
24-Hour Toll-Free Phones for Service:
Lancaster area 569-0411
Pennsylvania 800-732-0391 Del. & Md. 800-233-0216
ing, a refuge for waterfowl,
fire protection and fish pro
duction. The latter concept
could yield the pond’s owner
from 100 to 300 pounds of fish
annually for each acre of
water surface.
One other aspect of owning
a pond should not be
overlooked. A small, clean
body of water can provide
hours of pleasure with
boating, swimming and
S«4 * <, V.
fishing for a farm family
right at home.
What’s all this cost?
PLICA says the following
are reasonable costs the
farmer can expect from con
tractors: earthmovmg, 50
cents per cubic yard; diver
sions, 50 to 60 cents per
linear foot; underground
drainage, 40 to 50 cents per
linear foot, and grassed
waterways, 90 cents to $1 per
foot constructed.
/q-tlamtie
594 F
+BF
*****