I hope some of you fellow Supervisors have taken a 

 little time to study the recommendations of the Budget 

 Bureau that pertains to Soil and Water Conservation. 



It appears to me that the Association and the District 

 Supervisors could well spend a little time to help some 

 of the agencies that are working with us and for us, to 

 retain some of the funds in the budget that will enable 

 them to do a complete and effective job. 



Some of our friends who could stand a little help are: 

 . .aPKaa^^ Watershed planning. Watershed protection. Conservation 



r ^^^jM ^ ^gl^B^ operations, and the Great Plains Conservation Program. 



' ^^^^^^f ^^ ^^^^^^^H To break some of these down l^nto specific projects, 

 ^^^^^H M ^^^^^^^^H appropriations for watershed planning could stand a 

 JIHmiB^III^HmiHHII substantial increase. There has been a sharp cut-back In 

 FRANK THOMPSON soil survey funds. This is one of the major needs of 



Director, MASWCD landowners and operators and one of the vital tools In 



farm and ranch planning. Technical assistance to Soil and 

 Water Conservation Districts could also use more help than we are now provided; many requests 

 for assistance now have to be passed over due to lack of manpower. 



If you fellow Supervisors are Interested In one or more of these projects, it would be time 

 well spent to ny\1-e a letter or two to the proper persons, explaining your ideas and feelings on 

 these matters. 



It Is my understanding that the money saved by the Budget cuts is earmarked to go Into the 

 Poverty Program. 



"LEAFY SPURGE - INCH BY INCH" 

 by 

 BIN RFchter, County Extension Agent, Montana Extension Service, Butte, Montana 



Concerns about the economy are grave by farmers and ranchers when prices for crops and live- 

 stock are down. These concerns are very noticeable at the end of the year when looking at the 

 balance sheet of gress Income that is low, and operating expenses that are high. 



One problem that is more reserved on how it affects the income are weeds. They resemble what 

 we would call a hidden tax In that they take their tolls generally before the crops are harvested 



A good example of weeds affecting income is leafy spurge infestation. The "direct effects of 

 leafy spurge are felt by low weaning weights on calves or lambs, and reduced numbers of livestock 

 that can be grazed on a section of land. The direct result of weed infestation on the range 

 is loss of grass for grazing. Land owners being of the nature they are, tend to say that "we 

 didn't get enough rainfall" or "it was a poor grass year", instead of investigating and finding 

 what the problem really is. 



The infestation of weeds that are of a noxious nature will usually lower the range condition 

 class one grade. If the range condition classes are based on SCS method of classifying range as 

 excellent, good, fair, and poor, this means a range with a weed infestation of leafy spurge could 

 be classed no higher than fair condition, and a moderate to severe infestation would put the range 

 in poor condition class. Range condition is a basis of estimating the number of grazing units a 

 given range will carry and prevent deterioration. 



Grass income can be compared among the various range condition classes as listed in the 

 fo I lowing table: 



Range Condition A.U.M. per Section »*Total Lbs, of Beef *Gross Inecaw {W gectlon 



Good 190 8100 $1944.00 



'"a'r 156 7029 1686.00 



Poor 64 2700 648.00 



Page"? Continued on Page 5 ~~~ 



