EVERETT SNORTLAND (^eft) 

 Director, MASWCD 



WHY NOT TALK CONSERVATION AT 

 FARM FORUMS? 



During the past year, Montana's Wheat 

 Research and Marketing Committee has 

 participated in several Wheat Clinic 

 meetings throughout the wheat produc- 

 ing areas of Montana. These meetings 

 in some areas (multi-county) have 

 been co-sponsored by the local Chamber 

 of Commerces, local radio stations, 

 and various agriculture orientated 

 businesses. Large groups of farmers 

 attended when the meeftings were pro- 

 moted and free lunch and door prizes 

 offered. In our area, approximately 

 six hundred farmers and ranchers 

 attended. 



I have attended three of these, also 

 the Northwest Farm Forum in Spokane, 

 Washington, This Forum in Spokane is 

 similar to our Wheat Clinics except it 

 Is attended by fanners from Montana, 

 Washington and Idaho. About six 

 hundred fanners and ranchers attend 

 this meeting each year In mid-February, 

 This Forum lasts two days and is very 

 infonnative. The speakers have been: 



2. 



3, 



4, 



5, 



6. 



7, 

 8. 



Under Secretary of Agriculture 

 Minister of Agriculture — Canada M 

 National Presidents of the 



Grange, Fann Bureau, NFO, and 



Farmers Union 

 U,S, Senators and Representatives 

 University Presidents and 



Professors 

 Representatives of Continental, 



Peavey and Cargill Grain 



Companies. 

 Pert 1 1 izer experts 

 Finance and credit experts 



There were more speakers, and It would 

 be Ideal If a speaker for Conservation 

 could be on the program. 



As farmers and ranchers, we are eager to 

 learn new ways to Improve our operations 

 and Increase our Incomes, These meet- 

 ings are designed and programed with 

 this in mind. Not once during the meet- 

 ings which I attended, was conservation 

 farming mentioned as a way to increase 

 fann Income and preserve our soil. This, 

 I thought, would have been an Ideal ^ 

 opportunity to spread the "Gospel" so ^ 

 to speak, 



I have made a proposal and it has been 

 accepted by the Directors and Officers 

 of the MASWCD: We would provide a good, 

 well informed speaker to talk at these 

 farm forums or wheat clinics on the 

 need, advantages, how conservation fann- 

 ing can be accomplished, and how It will 

 Improve their Income, 



This If accomplished would be a good way 

 for us as Districts to promote and 

 emphasize our existence to those farmers 

 and ranchers who are not now aware of 

 services available. 



The first step In accomplishing this 

 endeaver Is to obtain cooperation and 

 acceptance from the Chamber of Commerce 

 and the Wheat Research and Marketing 

 Committee. At this time, I am In the 

 process of seeing If It is possible, 



I would appreciate any Ideas, suggest- j 

 ions, help, and moral support, " 



