Photograph of an UNIDENTIFED man with horse drawn farm equipment discing Bermudagrass roots in contour strips. The back of the photograph proclaims, “Discing in Bermuda grass roots in contour strips in an old pasture which has been taken by weeds.”

Photograph of dirt being spread over the partially compacted refuse. OK-3839-11.

Photograph of dirt being spread over the partially compacted refuse. OK-3839-11.

Photograph of the dragline used to excavate the trench and the bulldozer beginning the first stage of covering compacted refuse. OK-3839-10.

Photograph of two UNIDENTIFED workers picking melons from a field. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Picking melons from a field planted on the contour. Yield this year is much below average due to severe dry spell."

Photograph of 20 acre field which was too wet to be productive beore Campbell and two neighbors, with county help, put in a roadside ditch and Campbell put in field ditch in winter of 1947 This alfalfa crop yielded more than 800 bales to bring in $750 first 1951 cutting. In 1948 field produced $2350 alfalfa income. Drainage cost about $200. Results from drainage here and on adjoining farm owned by L.W. Clark and operated by Campbell have led to drawing of petition for group project that would drain about 2,500 acres, involve about 40 farms.

Photograph of Nolan Benton, WUC, Muskogee, Oklahoma, checking "tall corn" Class I land, Soil Unit is 4 BO. This corn following 2 years of fescue, soil is in excellent physical condition.

Photograph of productive soil maintained and improved on a 2% slope by use of conservation practices. Land is terraced and contour farmed and crops are rotated. Soil improving crops are used regularly. The crop of oats, now on the land show lodging because of excessive rainfall as did practically 100% of all small grain in the district in 1957. Oats were 5 feet high and promised a good yield when the rains started. Soil Unit 6CP.

Photograph of Nolan Denton, WUC, Muskogee, Oklahoma, checking "tall corn" - Class I land, Soil Unit 4 BO. This corn following 2 years of fescue, soil is in excellent physical condition.

Photograph of a farm pond with an earth-filled dam. Loose rock rip-rap and spillway. This is quite typical of farm pond construction in this area. The water is low due to the severe hot and dry summer. Some farm ponds supply the only stock water available on many farms. OK-5332.

Photograph of a very poor shack in which five African-Americans live. Notice the sheet iron used in patching up the sides and the roof and how the shack tilts at an angle. The occupants are feeding the hogs right at the back porch. OK-5305.

Photograph of W. E. Rowsey farm, Muskogee, Oklhaoma. Clyde Easton, Soil Conservation Service [SCS] project manager discussing a soil conservation program with W. E. Rowsey, owner of 100 farms in eastern Oklahoma. OK-5300.

Photograph of Nolan Denton, WUC, discusses soil management program with Fred Metzger for Soil Unit 8H BO, Class I. Early hybrid corn following soybeans for seed. Rotation includes alfalfa, corn, soybeans, cotton, wheat and vetch. It looked like up to a 50 to 60 bushel yield at hard roasting ear stage after a very dry season. Metzger is a strong believer in soil improving crops. OK-70-9.

Photograph of Nolan Denton, Work Unit Conservationist [WUC], Muskogee, Oklahoma, checking “tall corn” on Class I land, Soil Unit 4 BO. This corn following 2 years of fescues, has soil in excellent physical condition. OK-70-10.

Photograph of Nolan Denton, Work Unit Conservationist [WUC], Muskogee, Oklahoma, checking “tall corn” on Class I land, Soil Unit 4 BO. This corn following 2 years of fescues, has soil in excellent physical condition. OK-70-10.

Photograph of the Warner-Borum-Warner Farm. The large farm pond here is almost the only available water supply for a large herd of cattle during severe dry spells. Mr. Borum and his son are on the horses. OK-5294.

Photograph of the Warner-Borum-Warner Farm. Mr. Borum is looking over his herd of Whiteface cattle which are dependent on this farm pond as a water supply during severe dry spells. Grazing is a serious problem here with the grass almost totally dried out. OK-5295.

Photograph of the Culton boys at well in which the water level has risen 6 to 8 feet in the last two years since terraces were built and contour farming has been practiced. OK-5296.

Photograph of George Mueller family and house. One of the better tenant houses and farmyards in eastern Oklahoma. OK-5307.

Photograph of strip cropping with Lespedeza, soy beans and corn. Unterraced field. This view is to be compared with OKLA 5310, which shows a nearby field which has the same soil and is about the same slope, but which is planted in straight rows up and down the slopes and the cotton is very poor, as, in this season of very slight rainfall, what did fall was kept on the contour-farmed field, but was lost on the other. OK-5311.

Photograph of strip cropping with Lespedeza, soy beans and corn. Unterraced field. This view is to be compared with OKLA 5310, which shows a nearby field which has the same soil and is about the same slope, but which is planted in straight rows up and down the slopes and the cotton is very poor, as, in this season of very slight rainfall, what did fall was kept on the contour-farmed field, but was lost on the other. OK-5311.

Photograph of SCS personnel explaining contour farming and crop rotation to African-American farmers. OK-5502.

Photograph of Mr. Ramsey, owner, conferring with Mr. Badwick, tenant, on contour-planted cotton field. Sudan strip visible in the background. [OK ID no. illegible].

Photograph of Earl Smith, SCS Agent, discussing the advantages of contour farming and strip cropping. OK-5299.