THIRTY-EIGTITH BIENNIAL REPORT 19 



Crop planting by contractors affords argunients botli pro and 

 con. Utilization of this nietliod will relieve the State of the necessity 

 of purchasing and maintaining large (jnantities of far)u machinery. 

 Labor personnel problems will be sim])iified. Seed furnished by the 

 contractor will eliminate a ])iir('hase problem. 



On the other hand, the contractor will expect to make a profit on 

 the operation, thus increasing cost. The sIoav, cumbersome process 

 of awarding State contracts and delay in payments wall deter many 

 bidders. Those best fitted to do the Avork, the local agriculturalists, 

 will do their ow^i planting at the most advantageous time and plant 

 State crops either early or late. 



Crop production Math State personnel and equipment should be 

 tried on a small scale and expanded if results are satisfactory. Some 

 suitable equipment must be owned by the project for maintenance aad 

 its utilization in crop production will be economical. 



Crop Production Costs 



Small grains are expected to form the backbone of the project 

 program. Seed bed preparation, seed, and seeding should not exceed 

 $5.25 per acre under any foreseeable circumstances, and under normal 

 conditions should be less. Itemization follows : 



Plowing $2.00 per acre 



Discing .-"iO per acre 



Drilling .50 per acre 



Seed 2.25 per acre (90 S at $2.50 ewt.) 



Total $5.25 



It is estimated that not over 50 per cent of the entire area will be 

 planted in any one season, the remainder being 33^ per cent water, 

 16f per cent waste and grassland. Thus, an average cost of $2,625 

 per acre is assignable for the entire tract. 



Utilization of Crops — Grazing 



A large part of the lands proposed for acquisition are essentially 

 pasture land at present. Minor portions are cropped to barley, rice, 

 milo, and beans. Under management as public shooting grounds the 

 most practical economic agricultural by-product of these lands will 

 be pasturage. The cash return from this source under present usage 

 averages $3.50 per acre annually. Under game management the graz- 

 ing intensity and season will be restricted, but the quality and quantity 

 of forage will be increased. Allowable grazing should bring a 

 minimum cash return of $2 per acre per year. 



In normal years a short period of spring grazing (when land is 

 dry enough) can be permitted. This procedure is generally bene- 

 ficial to grain crops. As soon as grain is matured, pasturage wnll 

 again be permissible. 



It has been found in similar operations at Honey Lake (Lassen 

 County) that grazing cattle on matured grain serves to shatter a 

 large part of the grain onto the ground where it becomes available 

 to waterfowl and pheasants. If grazing is not practiced, it is neces 

 sary to drag dowai the standing stalks or to flood the land to make 

 the grain available to waterfowl. 



