Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 9, Number 50, DeMotte, Jasper County, 2 November 1939 — WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AIDED BY FARM PROGRAM [ARTICLE]

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AIDED BY FARM PROGRAM

The Jasper county farmer who carries out soil-building practices on his farm under*the AAA Farm Pro gram U his . snH but is co-operating with the sportsmen of the county, points out Rollin J. Stewart, chairman of the ( ounty Agricultural Conservation commit tee Virtually every practice with which a farmer may earn part of Jiis soil building allowance is also of benefit to wildlife, Mr. Stewart said. At a recent wildlife conference in Washington, additional soil improvement practices beneficial to game and bird life were recommended for inclusion in the 1940 farm program. Under the farm program, farmers of Jasper county have in recent year-, earned soil-building- payment for seedings of alfalfa, sweet clover, ami native grasses. All of these, Mi. Stewart explains, provide feed ami cover and increase nesting ,ii< a Food, cover and nesting grounds are also provided by the jfractices seeding depleted pasture and deferring grazing to permit, natural i <•- seeding. Many of the erosion control practices of the program also are a boon to wildlife, Mr. Stewart said. Terracing and strip cropping, for example, provide nesting ground and shelter, while reservoirs and dam” increase the water available'for fish and wild game ami raise the wafer table for a greater growth of food and cover for land animals ami wild f owl. Planting of trees and shrubs is one of the most valuable practices, in conserving animals and bird . Not only are cover and nesting placeprovided, but the fruit of tree and shrubs is an important curie of food for wildlife.