LT^^ISLATIV;^ rOINGS 



As we £0 to press, the Appropriations Committee 

 of the House looks with favor on HB 162 and 

 ;T> 163 and will recommend their passage. These, 

 if passed, will provide :^,U0,000.00 for the bi- 

 enni\i]ii *'or Vatershed Planning and funds for a 

 Conservation Education Coorinator in the Dspart- 

 nent of Public Instruction. 



The State Soil Conservation Committee Budget, 

 however, has been seriously cut back from that 

 recommended by the Governor, 



Evidently, Districts don't pull much weight 

 with our Lefislators. It is ironic that the 

 State Committee and Districts, which more than 

 any state apency are so conservative and return 

 more to the economy and increase the tax base, 

 should not be given at least more than token 

 assistance. 



If the present bill is allowed to pass without 

 amendment, it will truly mean a step backward 

 instead of a step forward in the conservation 

 goals of the State Soil Conservation Committee. 



COM^:ON -INTEREST 



Despite their common interest and purpose, the 

 people in a commvinity may see the land and stream: 

 with different eyes. 



The farmer looks to the land for his livelihood. 

 Industry looks to the land for a factory site 

 and for raw products to keep its machinery in 

 motion. Those who live within the limits of the 

 city look to the open land for relaxation and 

 for a chance to commune with nature. The builder 

 looks to the land for sites on which to develop 

 new houses. The twon fathers look to the land 

 for a reservoir site which is so sorely needed to 

 supply water for their rapidly growing city's neei 

 or perhaps a sewage lagoon. 



Y.es, we share our interests in the land, though 

 our interests maj'- vary. Yet, in the nature of 

 the land, God has rrovided for all these uses, 

 but only \inder certain condition. Each use can be 

 fitted into an orderly pattern when planned ahead 

 according to the capability of the land and the 

 needs of the people. Most of the land can serve 

 more than one purpose. - GRJlI'ITE SOIL L ^^AT^R 



crisy-;.!^'ATio'J district 



Noter Mr. >'S.lton Johnson, lirector of the Bureau 

 of Indian Affairs, USII, Billings Area 

 Officeyhas retired. His position is 

 presprtly occupied by V.r, Tied 0. Thompson, 

 Assistant Area Lirector (Economic 3, 



Development), 



DISTRICT DCINGS 



PHILLIPS S^JCD - Correspondence on National Ii-H 

 Program on Conserving Natural Resources included 

 set of 37 slides and scrip-ts. This district will 

 consider purchasing this set for use by all 

 County U-H groups. Cost $10,50 a set. 



GALLATIN SWCD - Mervy Long reported on the T. V, 

 Program at Butte. Mervy explained what the re- 

 action of the boys were on the ride to Butte and 

 commented briefly on the program. He stated the 

 boys were happy when their part was completed, 



GREB^ MOUNTAIN SWCD - NEW WEED EESTRICT PLAN, 

 The Sanders County Weed Supervisors are planning 

 a different weed spraying program for the west 

 end of the county this coming year. The plan 

 provides for individual farmers and owners to 

 assume the responsibility of spraying their own 

 weeds. 



The Weed Iti-strict will furnish a coii?)lete port- 

 able sprayer with boom and hand nozzle equipment 

 that can be easily drawn by small tractor or jeep. 

 It will be mounted on a two-wheeltrailer and 

 have its own pump motor. 



This equipment, plus weed spray chemical for- 

 noxious weeds will be furnished to the farmer 

 without charge if he will spray his noxious 

 weeds, and when through take the spraying outfit 

 to the next fanner on the planned route of the 

 sprayer. 



The Weed Supervisors are anxious to get the 

 farmers ideas and reactions to this plan. Mr. 

 Mitchell, who is the Sanders County Weed Super- 

 visor, says he will be available several times 

 a week to keep the machine serviced and to help 

 with any technical problems that may -arise, 



CASCAIE SWCD - D, D. Baldwin of the Forest 

 Nursery at Missoula talked about the importance 

 5of Shelterbelts on the farm and the importance 

 of field shelterbelts and that more growers were 

 adopting this practice. He cited example of 

 what had been done in Canada and elsewhere. He 

 indicated the Forest Nursery" was producing over 

 a million trees. The secretary pointed out that 

 last year 117,825 trees came into Cascade Couniy 

 from the Forestry Nursery for shelterbelt and 

 field windbreaks. 



Contractor-District relationship plans as us^d 

 in Lewis &; Clark County was discussed with five 

 contractors. It was explained to the contractors 

 that we felt a similar working relationship 

 would be a fine thing in furthering the conser- 

 vation program in Cfascade County and we believed 

 it woul'd be helpful to the contractors in saving 

 them considerable time in the collection of funds 



Continued, Page h 



