AGRICULTURE IS ALSO SOURCE 

 OF POLLUTION FOR BOTH AIR. WATER 



One of the biggest news items of the last 

 year has been concerned with air and water 

 pollution. When we look for someone to blame 

 for this new enemy we first assault large in- 

 dustry, i.e., factories. There is little 

 doubt that they contribute to the problem 

 but we are overlooking another source. This 

 source is agriculture, "America's Largest 

 Industry." Perhaps not the largest con- 

 tributor but it does its share. 



There is a small sign which hangs next 

 to my desk that states, "Wanted For Future 

 Delivery — 5,000,000,000 tons of top soil 

 that American fanners are losing annually." 

 Five billion tons of top soil being blown 

 and washed from our fields each year does 

 contribute to air and water pollution. 



This pollutent is not waste material 

 with no economic value but the basic raw 

 material needed to produce agricultural 

 goods. 



Not only is top soil valuable to agri- 

 culture, it also is the most difficult to 

 replace. It takes from 500-1000 years for 

 nature to produce one inch of soil. It 

 will take millions upon millions of years 

 to replace all the soil being lost from 

 farms and ranches each year. 



But we are lucky I The remedial steps 

 which must be taken to prevent this loBS 

 not only increase land values if properly 

 applied but will also increase production. 

 This is true on cropland, rangeland, for- 

 est land, and recreation areas. 



Concrete ditch lining, drop struc- 

 tures, sediment basins, dams, strip crop- 

 ping, stubble mulching, proper irrigation 

 water management, and proper grassland 

 management can all help in the prevention 

 of pollution. Whenever soil is prevented 

 from leaving the field, pollution is 

 curbed. 



Our population Is growing at an ever 

 increasing rate. The responsibility of 

 meeting our growing food demands falls upon 

 the shoulders of America's fanners aai 

 ranchers. We can only obtain our great- 

 est efficiences by preserving our natural 

 resources. 



Only with a strong healthy, veil-fed 

 population can we accomplish the goals of 

 our nation. 



(Above article written by Terry F. Wheeler, 

 Soil Conservationist, Soil Conservation 

 Service. Taken from the Big Horn Soil and 

 Water Conservation District Newsletter.) 



REFERENDWIS ON ADDITION OF CITIES & TOWNS 

 FAVORABLE EXCEPT ONE 



At referenduras held in conjunction with 

 city and town elections, April 7, the follow- 

 ing cities and towns voted as follows: 



Pollution is everyone's concern. To 

 the farmer or rancher it is a two-fold 

 concern. First to conserve our natural 

 resources — air, water, and soil. Secondly 

 the moral obligation to protect the health 

 of all Americans. 



Fairview 



47 



The towns of Winnett, Glasgow, Circle, 

 Harlem, llingham, and Havre are having hear- 

 ings and plan to vote June 24. 



**icit**iiiiit*i,* 



