2. Technical services of soil conservationists engineers, and other agricul- a. b. Help in developing practical schedules for applying treatment measures. help improve each farm or ranch enterprise in conformance with the con- Selected Examples of Recent Progress: Agency Participation The following table shows funds obligated under the Great Plains Conservation Program in 1970 by agency and projected obligations for 1971 and 1972 on the basis of available funds: a Includes $69,079 unobligated balance brought forward from the prior year, for obligations in 1970. Aiding Rural Development Thirty-one soil and water conservation practices are eligible for cost-sharing under the Great Plains Conservation Program. Cost-share rates authorized for these practices vary from 50 to 80 percent of the estimated average installation cost. Program participants generally pay about 35 percent of the total costs for those practices installed, and the entire cost for management type practices. The work under this program has been effective in stabilizing many low-income farm and ranch enterprises within the area. Cooperating land owners or operators are encouraged to systematically apply a well-planned conservation program to their land. Establishment of improved grass varieties on low producing croplands has provided conservation benefits as well as additional income. Through installation of eligible practices, the participants are assisted in improving the quality of environment by controlling wind and water erosion and sedimentation, providing fish and wildlife habitat, and abating agriculturally-related pollutants. Changes in Land Use Needed Concentrated efforts are being made under this program to help land owners and operators make needed land use changes. Much of the Great Plains is suited to production of cultivated crops when needed conservation measures are properly applied. There are, however, many areas of land now in cultivation that are not suited to such use due to soil type, topography, and low rainfall. Soil surveys are used to get the essential land facts on which to base conservation and land use plans. Program participants are getting much of the land unsuited for cultivation converted to permanent vegetative cover, and reseeding denuded rangelands. Cost-share contracts as of June 30, 1970, include 10,466,248 acres which were being used as cropland at the time the contracts were signed. The plans of operation developed and made a part of the contracts provided for the conversion of 2,107,945 of these acres (about 20%) to permanently vegetated rangeland or other noncrop uses. fiscal year 1970, farmers and ranchers actually completed the establishment of 165,144 acres of permanent vegetative cover and reseeded 137,659 acres of deteriorating rangeland for which they received assistance under their cost-sharing contracts. During Technical Assistance Workload Installation services with contracted practices are programmed both annually and on a long-term basis. Such help must be made available when practices are scheduled for installation. The technical workload associated with contracted practices increases from year to year as more participants enter the program. This will continue until contract expiration balances with new contracting. Assignment of staff in work units to service Great Plains contracts has been primarily on a part-time basis in most counties. In 1970, about 370 man-years were used for technical services, including contract preparation. Technical time provided under this appropriation averaged less than one man-year per county. Program operations in some counties will require the full-time services of one or more technicians as the need for installation services increases. Applications for Assistance and Cost-Share Contracts Good Interest in the Great Plains Conservation Program continues to increase. progress is being made in committing farmers and ranchers to conservation development and operations. The following table shows facts and projections on applications for program assistance and cost-share contracts: Status of Contracts Signed The average size of farm and ranch units placed under contract in the fiscal year 1970 was 1,746 acres, while all units placed under contract through June 30, 1970 averaged 1,791 acres. There has been a gradual reduction in average size of land units placed under contract in recent years. The following table shows the status of cost-share contracts as of June 30, 1970: |