:Nos. Yield: Amount :Price:Value :Farm: Home: Sales :

Project 1/

Income

Total

:

:

1/A comparable Production Summary will be shown for "with" development.

GENERAL

.1 A program to bring about the expected land use will be initiated during the land
use investigations and subsequently it will be extended and implemented as the
project is developed. Subject to administration of the acreage limitations of the
Reclamation Law, of initial establishment of the size of units on publicly-owned
land and the influence that may be exerted through educational programs and
negotiation with the water users organization, the Bureau has no authority for
controlling land use. Because of this and since repayment contracts are
predicated upon a certain pattern of land use, it is essential to cooperate closely
with the farmers on the project area and with all interested agencies in
developing the expected or recommended land use and in bringing about its
attainment. Obviously, the nature and extent of the cooperation which may be
developed will vary between projects. It should include, however, reaching a
definite understanding with the water users organization as to the type of land
use on which the repayment is to be based and the responsibility that the
organization will assume in bringing about the expected use. Because of
topography and position, changes in farm boundaries may be desirable in order
to facilitate delivery and distribution of water as well as changes in farm size
and practices. Consultation should be held and general understanding developed
with other agencies relative to the educational, technical, and financial assistance
which they may contribute in obtaining the recommended use. Corollary with
developing this program and as the plans for the farm layout, land development
and project irrigation and drainage systems are evolved, it is essential that all
efforts and plans be integrated to the fullest extent possible. With respect to the
successful development and operation of the project, it is particularly essential
to develop and awareness among all concerned of the relation between the expected
land use and the repayment obligation. Unless some unforeseen factor should
affect this relation adversely, inability to meet the repayment and other obligations
should not be recognized until the expected land use has been attained.

.2 In public land areas which are being opened for irrigation settlement, the Bureau PUBLIC has the responsibility of establishing the size and laying out each farm unit. This LANDS is a prerequisite to the development of the final plans for the irrigation distribution system. The accomplishment of this phase of project development

will be done in accordance with the following criteria:

A. Where a farm unit consists exclusively of one class of land the size of the units will, sofar as practicable and consistent with topographic and other physical conditions, closely approximate the optimum sizes determined for the land class.

B. Where a farm unit consists of a combination of land classes, the Class 1 equivalent of the several land classes should be determined. To the extent possible, some of the better-than-average land will be included with the lower class land in the farm unit.

C. In an irrigation block where topographic conditions or other physical limitations make it impracticable to establish farm units fitting exactly the optimum sizes, a smaller number of units of slightly larger than the optimum sizes should be established rather than a larger number of smaller units.

Instructions in the preparation of farm unit plats are contained in Part 6, Land
Settlement, of this Handbook.

.1

5.1.1

CHAP. 5.1 SCOPE AND AUTHORITY

Land development work of the Bureau comprises those activities conducted
to aid settlers in determining the most practicable methods of irrigation
development of land and to assist and encourage settlers in such development.
The work includes the establishment and operation of development farms and
assistance in land development operations. This work is closely allied to
land settlement as outlined in Part 6 of this Volume.

.2 Authority for the establishment and operation of development farms is contained in the Act of June 17, 1902 and acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto, particularly Section 46 of the Act of May 25, 1926. Section 4 of the Columbia Basin Project Act of March 10, 1943 provides authority for the establishment of such farms on that project. The Act of December 22, 1944 and the "Missouri River Basin" items of subsequent appropriation acts provide authority for the establishment of development farms on the Missouri River Basin Project.

.3 Land development work shall, wherever possible, be carried out through cooperation with other agencies, including Western Land Grant colleges and universities (see Chapter 1.2 of this Volume).

SCOPE

AUTHORITY

COOPERATION
WITH OTHER
AGENCIES