GOVERNOR ANDERSON ISSUES 

 S OIL STEWARDSHIP PROCLAMATION 



Governor Forrest H. Anderson recently 

 signed a proclamation designating May 11-18, 

 1969 as Soil Stewardship Week In Montana. 

 Officials of the State Soil Conservation 

 Committee and the Montana Association of Soil 

 and Water Conservation Districts present dur- 

 ing the signing were: Frank Thompson, Ave 

 Linford, Dean Hanson, Mrs. Dean Hanson, 

 George Lackman, and 0. M. Ileland. 



Soil Stewardship is a nationwide obser- 

 vance. This year's cheme, "Confronting the 

 Issues" underscores the responsibility which 

 each citizen has in dealing forthrlghtly 

 iflth current issues involving stewardship of 

 natural resources. 



SOIL STEWARDSHIP 

 by 

 Mrs. Dean A. Hanson 

 President, MASHCD Ladies Auxiliary 



At a time when pressures grow on the 

 land, it is useful to remind ourselves of 

 the origins and history of the Soil Stew- 

 ardship observance. They stress the all- 

 aglaacc of all men to God and their depen- 

 dence on His grace for all goo4 things. 



Throughout the ages, men have offered 

 huo^le thanks to their Creator for the 

 priceless gifts of air, soil, water, and 

 •tmahine which make all living things poss- 

 ible. 



Every person Is a steward of the land 

 vbecher he lives in the city or the coun- 

 try. Each has a vested interest in the 

 land" each Is dependent upon it and each 

 is t«ap«nslble for its care. 



Tour Soil & Water Conservation Dis- 

 trict and Soil Conservation Service have 

 a special responsibility to assist you 

 In earing for these natural resources, 

 namely sell and water. Education in all 

 phases of proper conservation, like the 

 tide of time, must be a continuing pro- 

 cess. Both consumers and producers must 

 leara to realise the inhetent values of 

 proper conservation and its application 

 as It relates to all natural resources. 

 Continued programs for a public awaken- 

 ing and awareness must be extended and 

 continued. 



Soil and water are natural resources 

 having the highest degree of Importance 

 to ail the population. These are the 

 foundations of our prosperity, progress, 

 and happiness. 



CARL JOHNSON PRESIDENT SEZ 



It would seem that with the passage of 

 HB 179 and the added "tools" that it gives 

 to local districts; the advent of spring andg^ 

 its prospects for a good season; an increasCTl^ 

 state appropriation for P.L. 566 Small Water- 

 shed Program plannln, plus over $300,000 for 

 construction of two watershed projects in 

 Montana, that all goes well for the conser- 

 vation cause in our state. I would say frcn 

 a local and overall state standpoint that 

 this is true. 



From the minutes of local district 

 meetings I find that supervisors are plan- 

 ning to make use of the changes Incorporated 

 in the District Law under HB 179 in order 

 that they may start working on some long over 

 due Soil and Water developments. 



Since Montana is ready to start moving 

 on many conservation programs it is only 

 natural to see what federal help might be 

 available. We of Montana Association of 

 Soil & Water Conservation Districts have 

 cause to view with alarm the cuts of $9,000,000 

 In the SCS Watershed program, $800,000 in RC&D 

 projects and the total elimination of ACP for 

 the fiscal year 1970. Loss of Agriculture 

 Conservation Payments would eliminate all 

 program services which amounted to about 

 $40,000 in Montana last year, plus a cut ol 

 26 full time SCS positions by Dec. 31, 1970. 

 Present employment restrictions by SCS will 

 continue in 1970 unless P.L. 90-364 is ammend- 

 ed or repealed (one out of two resigoees to 

 be roplaced). (Continued back page) 



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