Photograph of an UNIDENTIFED worker harvesting ensilage on the H. C. Hitch Ranch. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Harvesting Ensilage. Harvesting irrigated ensilage on the H. C. Hitch Ranch southeast of Guymon. Field averaged 15 tons per acre."

Photograph of several unseen UNIDENTIFED workers filling one of eight trench silos with ensilage on the H. C. Hitch Ranch. One of the UNIDENTIFED workers is driving the tractor. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Filling one of the 8 trench silos on the H. C. Hitch Ranch, Guymon, Oklahoma. 18,000 tons of ensilage was stored in the silos."

Photograph of several unseen UNIDENTIFED workers filling one of eight trench silos with ensilage on the H. C. Hitch Ranch. One of the UNIDENTIFED workers is driving the tractor. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Filling one of the 8 trench silos on the H. C. Hitch Ranch, Guymon, Oklahoma. 18,000 tons of ensilage was stored in the silos."

Photograph of filling one of the 8 trench silos on the H.C. Hitch Ranch, Guymon, Oklahoma. 18,000 tons of ensilage was stored in the silos.

Photograph of Glen Brewer overseeding badly depleted Land Clearance, Cultivation & Brush and Weed Control under his Great Plains Conservation Program contract. The sagebrush has been treated with a one-way plow prior to seeding. An estimated 70-80% of the sagebrush was killed by the one-way plowing, leaving ample residue to protect the land from blowing and provide a firm seedbed for seeding grasses. OK-680-6.

Photograph of Glenn Brewer overseeding badly depleted range land under his Great Plains Conservation Program contract. The sagebrush has beentreated with a one-way plow prior to seeding. An estimated 70-80% of the sagebrush was killed by the one-way, leaving ample residue to protect from blowing and a firm seedbed for seeding grasses.

Photograph of a fence line contrast. The pasture on the left has been heavily grazed with sheep. No rains have occurred in 1953. The result is that the range is almost bare. The pasture on the right has not been used as heavily and some clover still remains. TX-48-566.

Photograph of bindweed control. The field corner is abandoned due to bindweed. Bigtop dalea [legume], silver bluestem [grass], threeawn [grass] and sand dropseed [grass] are crowding the bindweed. OK-342-3.

Photograph of baled hay dots this 250-acre block of irrigated alfalfa. This ranch also irrigates wheat and sand lovegrass. Three wells with reservoirs are used for irrigating water. II HP 2

Photograph of Mexican cattle grazing 27-acre irragated pasture tall fescue orchard and rye grass and ladine clover planted early part of 1952 prior to irrigation system. May 1952 rain brought pasture crop up. Pasture has been irrigated 3 times this spring. 120 yearling steer are graziing here. They alternate with 17-acre pasture. Those cattle have made average gain of three pounds daily each, Jones says.

Photograph of SCS Tech. John Bailey checking the seed heads of the wheat in this irrigated 60 acre field. Good tall growth of wheat was attributed to conditioning of the soil with alfalfa for six years. Wggins is to change from flood irrigation to level border. SCS Engineers designed irrigation system. III HP 2.

Photograph of Norman Fischer, one of Louis Fischer’s three sons who operate a farm with him, shows how a sub-surface tillage implement operates, cutting weed roots, loosening soil and mixing residue into the surface. This type of equipment is coming into greater use as a means of controlling wind erosion in western Oklahoma blowing areas. This tillage also helps control water erosion which Norman says sometimes does more damage more quickly than wind erosion. OK-10, 721.

Photograph of Fischer’s Wheat Bowl Farm, Hooker, Oklahoma. side view showing V-shaped shovels or blades of sub-surface tillage implement of the kind used exclusively by the Fischers (See OK-10, 721-23). II HP 2X. OK-10, 724.

Photograph showing the V-shaped shovels of blades of a subsurface tillage instrument up out of the soil (see OK-10-721 and 10-722). II HP 2-X. OK-10-723.

Photograph of Fischer’s Wheat Bowl Farm, Hooker, Oklahoma. Side view of sub-surface tillage equipment being used on this farm comprising 16 scattered quarter sections (See OK-10, 721). II HP 2X. OK-10, 722.

Photograph of Norman Fischer (left) shows Technician John Bailey the effectiveness of properly-managed residue in controlling wind erosion and conserving moisture. This wheat is in good condition though at the time the picture was taken, rain was needed for further growth. In June 1952, Fischer harvested 22 bushels of wheat per acre despite the drought. He left the stubble 8 to 12 inches tall. In the first week in July, he worked the field with a sub-surface plow with blades or shovels as set from 3.5 to 4 inches deep, leaving residue in the surface. He repeated the operation in mid-August to cut weeds and volunteer wheat. Drilled wheat in a deep furrow on September 20, 1952. OK-10, 725.

Photograph of Norman Fischer sitting on a tractor and showing how a sub-surface tillage implement operates. The original photograph sleeve proclaims, "Norman Fischer, one of Louis Fischer's three sons who operate farm with him, shows how sub-surface tillage implement operates, cutting weed roots, loosening soil and mixing residue into surface. This type of equipment is coming into greater use as a means of controlling wind erosion in west Oklahoma blow areas. This tillage also helps control water erosion, which Norman says sometimes does more damage quicker than wind erosion. II HP 2-K."

Photograph of Soil Conservation Service [SCS] technician John Bailey checks the seed heads of the wheat in this irrigated 60-acre field. Good tall growth of the wheat was attributed to conditioning of the soil with alfalfa for six years. Wiggins is to change from flood irrigation to level border. SCS Engineers designed the irrigation system. III HP 2. OK-10, 769.

Photograph of a joint meeting of the County Agents and Work Unit Conservationists [WUCs} in the Panhandle of Oklahoma. The purpose of the meeting was to orient personnel on procedures for use of the county soil testing laboratories, and discuss fertilizer recommendations. This was the last of a series of meetings that covered the state. Robert O. Woodward, Extension Agronomist, is leading the discussion. OK-138-1.

Photograph of joint meeting of County Agents and WUCs in Panhandle of Oklahoma. Purpose of meeting was to orient personnel on procedures for use of county soil testing laboratories and discuss fertilizer recommendations. This was the last of a series of meetings that covered the State. Robert O. Woodward, Extension Agronomist, is leadiing the discussion.

Photograph of a field to be returned, by irrigation, to alfalfa. Irrigation well will be located in the foreground. Alfalfa was produced in this field for about 30 years prior to 1934, with irrigation water supplied from the Beaver River. Impossible to take water from river since floods have cut the bank of the creek.

Photograph of bank erosion on Cold Water Creek, with heavy damage to farmstead imminent. The edge of the bank is 500 feet from the house shown in the photo. OK-370.

Photograph of a rotary drill used to making test wells for irrigation. OK-357.

Photograph of the Dust Bowl, Texas County, in 1934.