Photograph of the combining of vetch and Abruzzi rye for seed on the former idle land. Last year Bermal Hickman had 150 acres of vetch that grazed 130 head of cattle from November 20 to March 20. He said that the crop could have carried twice as many cattle. He estimates his yield of vetch seed, from 40 acres combined, at 60,000 pounds. He practices crop rotation, deffered grazing on 600 acres, trashy tillings and all fields that should be are terraced. He farms 780 acres under a 5 year cash lease with E. P. Kilgore, Brownwood, the owner. On the tractor are, left and right, Malcolm McKeehan, Boss (Bill) McKeehan and their father, an employee of Hickman's. TX-43, 108.

Photograph of Earl W. Smith and J.A. Killough, Soil Conservation Service technicians, examine a stack of sericea lespedeza hay. George E. Staner has 500 acres of sericea. OK-9792.

Photograph of Kerr Farms boss Tommy Heavener examining root growth of vetch being turned under for soil improvement. Vetch was planted following a sorghum crop harvested for silage. Vetch nodules can be seen as small white specks on the freshly broken soil. OK-1560-5.

Photograph of hand seeding by Theodore Noblett on his farm. He seeds sericea lespedeza with a hand-operated whirlwind seeder. This land was fertilized with 175 pounds of 0-20-0 fertilizer per acre before seeding. Seeding was done at the rate of 20 pounds of seed per acre. Mr. Noblett seeded and cross seeded this area to get an even stand and plans to use it for a permanent hay field. The field will be rolled with a packer after it is planted. OK-291-11.

Photograph of heads of silver bluestem (Andropogon saccharoides). TX-44, 659.

Photograph of pasture planting. Dairy cattle grazing on improved Bermuda grass pasture. Clovers have been overseeded according to Soil Conservation Service {SCS] recommendations. One cutting of hay has already been harvested from this pasture. OK-350-10.

Photograph of improve pasture, Cleve Frye Ranch. The land was cleared in March, 1955 and sodded to Bermuda grass and overseeded with Ladino clover in the spring of 1955. An application of 125 pounds per acre of 10-20-10 fertilizer was used. This pasture carried 40 head of cattle in 1955 and 30 head in 1956. With ample water in the pasture it can be used in a pasture rotation system to conserve the base grasses. OK-292-4.

Photograph of pasture development and improvement. Beef cattle are grazing on Bermuda pasture overseeded to Dallis grass, yellow hop, black medic and white Dutch clovers. 15 acres cleared and sodded this year. Mr. J. L. Jeffus, the district supervisor in the picture, says “In 1937 I started clearing and retiring 216 acres for pasture. With the assistance of CCC [the Civilian Conservation Corps] we cleared 40 acres of small trees and heavy undergrowth and retired 176 acres of cultivated land that in 1936 had overflowed 13 times before I made a crop. This is rich bottomland that is capable of producing a bale of cotton or 40 bushels of corn per acre but wet seasons made yields uncertain. I’ve moved the pasture every year and it carries 108 head of cattle the year round with only a little hay to help through the winter. The land is worth more in pasture than it be in cultivation even if I made a maximum crop every year. I believe regular mowing has increased the carrying capacity of this pasture four times.” TX-41, 227.

Photograph of improved pasture. Bermuda grass pasture planted in the spring of 1952. Fertilized with 100 pounds of 21-53-0 fertilizer per acre in the fall of 1952. In 1953, 100 pounds per acre of 0-60-0 fertilizer was applied. At the time of sprigging 25 tons of lime and 1000 pounds of Rock Phosphate were applied. In 1955, Mr. Boetto pastured 34 head of milking short born cattle on this 15 acre plot for most of the summer. The Bermuda grass was overseeded with ladino clover, Korean lespedeza, and yellow hop clover. This pasture was developed with the assistance of the Soil Conservation Service OK-292-1.

Photograph showing range management as the result of mowing sand sage plants. Very few weeds remain and a good stand of desireable range grasses is present one year after the mowing. OK-8507-B.

Photograph of Rogers, left, and Robert N. Wall, SCS technician, examining 30-acres field seeded to native grass in April, 1948. Rogers sowed little bluestem 10 lbs. an acre, blue grass 2 lbs. an acre, and sand lovegrass 1 lb. an acre. Drilled in 7-inch rows on row sorghum stubble of year before. Disked lightly. This field had been in cultivation about 20 years , mostly peanuts and row feed. "Wouldn't hardly pay gas and oil bill then," says Rogers. Planting first grazed in 1950 with 42 head of cattle June 15 to Sept. 1. Rogers' grazing plan is to use the planting some in spring, take off when about half used, then winter on the field. 7RP-III

Photograph of Murl Roark, SCS technician, and Mike Caruso, member of the South Caddo SCD board of supervisiors, examine portion of a 60-acre bluestem pasture planted in March, 1947. Field is almost entirely little bluestem. Green winter-grasses 12 cows and 12 calves on this 60 acres, along with 10 acres of well-established weeping lovegrass, and rests the pasture during the growing season. This native grass was seeded in 12-inch rows at a rate of 12 lbs. to an acre on badly eroded land. Green says the grass has ended erosion. 7RP-VIII

Photograph of Caruso, right and Ray Murrell, SCS technician, in 140-acre depleted mill land field which was seeded to native grass mixture in spring, 1949. Caruso plans to use this pasture during the winter and rest it during the growing season until grass is well established. No land preparation on this planting. Very sandy soil. Considerable wind and water erosion ahead of grass planting. This 140-acre planting fertilized in 1949 with 140 tons of lime and 20 tons of rock phosphate. 7oCT - VII.

Photograph of four acres of an 18-acre native grass pasture seeded March 16, 1947. These four acres were cut for hay on Aug 1, 1951. Hay yield was 242 bales. Figuring 50 bales to the ton, that's slightly more than two tons to an acre. Grass had never been grazed. Grass was mowed to within 4 inches of ground, averaged 10 inches in height when picture was taken (three weeks after mowing). Bluestem in distant background in part of same 1947 planting, was not out for hay. Easterling plans to use the 18-acre planting for winter grazing.

Photograph of Murl Roark, SCS technician examining Indiangrass seeded in 36-inch rows in spring, 1949. Ten acre planting. Rate 5 lbs. an acre. 7RR-II.

Photograph of cattle grazing on properly managed range. February calves creep-fed oats weighed 600 lbs. by September.

Photograph of a registered polled hereford bull grazing hairy vetch overseeded on fescue. Port fine sandy loam (90) soil.

Photograph of Harper County Commissioner Oden Sheppard (left), Ditch Valley Irrigation Company President Laurence Drake, and DC Clarence Stith (right) discuss operaton of irrigation water management system designed to protect new farm-to-market road in Harper County.

Photograph of Harper County Commissioner Oden Sheppard (left), Ditch Valley Irrigation Company President Laurence Drake, and DC Clarence Stith (right) discuss operaton of irrigation water management system designed to protect new farm-to-market road in Harper County.

Photograph of gully contol by use of fencing, diversion dams and loos rock overfalls. Has been protected 1.5 years and is now well stabilized.

Photograph of a registered polled hereford bull grazing hairy vetch overseeded on fescue. Port fine sandy loam (90).

Photograph of a Hardland range site in fair condition five miles west of Walters. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Range. Hardland range site. Foard silt. Fair condition." In the far distant background, some cattle are grazing in the adjacent field.

Photograph of a hooded pipe installed in new stock pond.

Photograph of "Jack Weeks hand-stripping Cheyenne Indiangrass seed."