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Show TABLE 10.-Estimated approximate land use conversion needed [Thousand acres] Present land use Projected changes in land use l Type Area Land suit- able for cul- tivation Land suit- able for grass Woodland Miscellaneous Land in cultivation Land in grass..... Woodland........ Miscellaneous..... Total....... 119,120 149, 700 12, 360 10, 490 105, 580 3,060 140 13, 060 146, 550 80 480 90 12,140 10, 490 291, 670 108, 780 159, 690 12,710 10, 490 1 Estimated conversions reflect full shifts to grass or woods of land at present in cultivation but not suited for cultiva- tion. Acreages suggested for conversion of land use are based on land capabilities, type of farming, and experience in conservation farm planning. These data do not apply to any Federal land. Source r Department of Agriculture. Incomplete information indicates that substantial changes -will be necessary to adjust farm land use to land capabilities. Some lands now cultivated should be in grass or woodland. A very small area could safely be shifted from grass and woodland into cultivation. Estimates of the land use con- versions that should or could be made, including private and State and other local lands, are shown in table 10. The net desirable decrease in cultivated land in the basin is estimated at about 10.5 million acres. Of the present land in cultivation, about 13 million acres should go into grass and 480,000 into forest and woodlands. This estimated change in land use is largely in areas of critical erosion. Most of this is dry farm land of the plains area that was used to grow wheat and flax during and after World War II. The capability classes of land in private and local public ownership by major types of land use are indicated in table 11. Cropland.-The croplands of the Missouri Basin need a rehabilitation program in order to control erosion, rebuild the soil, prevent destructive runoff, increase water production, and stabilize agricultural production. Such a program is essentially a task for the 582,000 farmers of the basin. They need technical assistance to help plan the land use adjust- ments, to inaugurate the necessary practices, and to install the necessary improvements on the land. At present^ this program is carried out along three lines: through education by a system of county TABLE 11.-Estimated approximate area in land-capability classes, by land use [Thousand acres] Land-capability class * Land use In cultivation In grass Woodland Miscellaneous Total I........... 8,310 41, 000 44, 700 13, 490 940 9,040 1,640 1,950 8,550 14,450 13, 450 4,930 59, 710 45, 940 720 420 310 690 670 610 5,060 4,590 10 10 40 50 10 1,320 9,060 10, 690 49, 900 59,890 27, 620 6,480 73, 810 52,170 2,050 9,060 II............. Ill............ IV........... V............. VI......... VII......... VIII.......... Unclassified.... Total..... 119,120 149, 700 12, 360 10, 490 291, 670 1 Class I land is nearly level, with deep, productive top- soil. It needs little special care to keep it in good condition. Classes II and III need more care and protection because of danger of erosion, excess water, or some other unfavorable factor. Class IV land can be used for limited cultivation without damage, but must have special care. Land in the other four classes is not suited for cultivation. Class V land has few limitations for grazing or woodland use. Class VI land is moderately limited. Class VII land is severely limited for grazing or woodland use. Class VIII land can be used safely only for wildlife, recreation, or watershed protection purposes. (All Federal lands omitted.) 209 |
