- A - 

 THE FRUIT GROWER AND ACP 



Quite frequently as we visit with fruit growers and others throughout the 

 state we hear the comment "The Agricultural Conservation Program has little to 

 offer the fruit growers," or "I would participate in the ACP, but the county com- 

 mittee offers no practices applicable to my operations," or "The ACP does not 

 meet the needs of the fruit grower." We do not believe any of these statements 

 have a basis in fact, although we recognize that county development groups in 

 deciding which practices in the State Handbook they will offer within their own 

 counties sometimes omit practices designed for fruit growers. In general we be- 

 lieve all county programs include a sufficient variety of practices to meet the 

 needs of most fruit growers. 



The State Agricultural Conservation Program for 1962 specifically recognizes 

 the orchardmen of the state by offering cost-sharing on the following practices: 

 Practice A-1, Establishment of a permanent vegetative cover in orchards and vine- 

 yards for control of erosion; Practice A-4, Treatment of farmland through the 

 application of liming materials to permit the use of legumes and grasses for soil 

 Improvement and protection; Practice C-3, Establishment of orchards, vineyards, 

 bush fruits, strawberries, or perennial vegetables on the contour to prevent 

 erosion, and Practice E-4, Mulching to control wind and water erosion and to im- 

 prove soil structure and permeability. 



In addition to these practices specifically aimed at fruit growers, there 

 are many others included in the State Handbook which may have application in 

 individual orchards. Such practices as constructing irrigation ponds, estab- 

 lishing permanent sod waterways, constructing permanent open drainage systems or 

 installing underground drainage systems, constructing erosion control dams, pits, 

 or ponds to prevent or heal gullying or retard or reduce runoff of water, are 

 some of the other practices which in the individual case may be needed. All of 

 t;hese practices are included in 1962 and all offer cost-sharing with the farmer 

 at rates not less than 50 per cent of the average cost and for some practices as 

 high as 75 per cent of the actual cost of carrying out the practice. The State 

 Handbook does not attempt to establish dollars and cents rates for the majority 

 of practices, but rather leaves this determination to those in the county respon- 

 sible for the development of the county program. 



For all practices the minimum required specifications are drawn up at the 

 state level. Usually these specifications and requirements are drawn up in 

 accordance with the current recommendations of the University of Massachusetts, 

 Extension Service, Soil Conservation Service, or Forest Service. Additional re- 

 quirements may be added within a county provided these additions make the 

 practice, as applicable in the county, more restrictive than the practice as 

 stated in the State Program, The Agricultural Conservation Program in 

 Massachusetts can and does provide assistance to fruit growers which enables them 

 to carry out more of those conservation practices which need to be done than 

 would be possible without the program. 



All fruit growers are urged to contact their community committeemen, their 

 county committee, or their county Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation 

 Service office to find out just what is being offered in their own county. If 

 there is a conservation need within a county which is not currently being met, 

 certainly such need should be brought to the attention of the county ASC committee 

 since they have the authority to develop local practices to meet local needs. 



