H.D. HURD, STATE CONSERVATIONIST, SPEAKS 



At the last annual meeting of the MASWCD a panel 

 it discussed the subject, "Are Federal Aids Necessary 

 l| ' to Soil and Water Conservation?" Many challenges 

 to SWCDs, SCS and others were presented by panel 

 members. Panel member comments were thought- 

 provoking. It was a good panel. 



This panel caused me to do some thinking. One 

 panelist questioned the efficiency of SCS. It was 

 indicated that low producing employees cannot be 

 dismissed. 



SCS is continually concerned about efficient opera- 

 tions. We have a regular program to locate low 

 producing work units and individuals. Goals are 

 established each year for each work until staff. 

 When accomplishment of goals falls substantially 

 short of goals, the reasons are determined and 

 action is taken. If the reason is a "lazy" individual, 

 he is given a period of time to get his production of 

 work up to minimum standards . If he fails to do 

 this and maintain reasonable accomplishment, he 

 is dismissed. Fifteen SCS employees in Montana 

 have been dismissed, or resigned to avoid dis- 

 missal, in the last five years. 



Plans, records and "paper work" of SCS people 

 was referred to during the panel discussion. We 



fe have no "paper work" in SCS to my knowledge. 



™ We do write plans, keep records, make reports, 

 prepare designs, correspond, etc. Such work is 

 done in the office and all of it serves a purpose in 

 getting conservation on the land. 



Last winter we decided to increase our efforts to 

 find out all of the jobs SCS people do which may not 

 be essential. Coupled with this, we surveyed all 

 locations in the state to get time-saving suggestions. 

 We informed all locations that nothing was "sacred". 

 Policies, procedures, and even laws, can be changed 



We got lots of ideas from field people. Many of 

 them were good. It resulted in cutting out sixteen 

 things we had been doing that were not essential. 

 True, some of them were small, but a lot of small 

 items add up tomanyman hours of time saved. 



Twenty-four other time saving devices are under 

 study and no doubt many of them will be put into 

 effect. 



Any suggestions that anyone has for improvement 

 of SCS efficiency are solicited. I assure you that 

 careful consideration will be given to such sug- 

 gestions . — h. D. Hurd 



,\ Doing business without advertising is like winking 



at a girl in the dark. You know what you are doing, 

 but no one else does. 



* * * 



A young couple on a honeymoon may be living a 

 life of "coo-existence." 



Phil Van Cleave, SCS Range Conservationist, 

 (white shirt pointing) talks "grass" to 4-H mem- 

 bers and leaders. The Little Beaver SWCD 

 planned and staged an over- night range tour for 

 the 4-H boys and girls in Fallong County taking 

 Range Management. 



Leaving by horseback and riding many miles 

 through the ranges, then staying overnight under 

 the stars and returning home the next afternoon 

 proved to be a big thrill and a real education to 

 these young people. Many stops were made along 

 the way to learn about plants, range problems and 

 management. Contests were held to determine 

 who could gather and correctly identify the largest 

 number of grasses, forbs, and shrubs in a desig- 

 nated time. 



Little Beaver supervisors attending and assisting 

 felt well rewarded for their efforts. They feel 

 that Range Management is the most important 

 Conservation objective for them to reach. 



At the overnight stopping place a potluck supper 

 and program was held with many parents and 

 other townpeople attending. Van Cleave spoke 

 on the "Economics of Range" and Bob Brown, 

 Fish & Game Bioligist spoke on the "relationship* 

 of range and wildlife". 



This was the first time this type of tour has been 

 considered here and it looks now as though it may 

 become an annual affair. 



—Submitted by Roy Houser for Harold Jensen, 



Chairman. 



Birds are 

 entangled by their feet, 

 and men by their * 



tongues. 



