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~ " c ..... ,.'- than is consistent with good production. Shortage of water in July and August makes the establishment of stands hazardous. The young plants fre~ently drouth out during July and August. Consequently, farmers have been reluctant to plow hay and pasture land as long as fair yields are obtained. The soils in the area respond well to fall plowing. When fall plowed, they mellow over the winter and can be easily worked into a desirable seedbed and planted early the following spring. The young plants utilize winter soil mositure more effectiv&ly:_ and-begin growth one totWQ, we.€kS: earlLer than when the land is plowed in the spring. This practice has been frequently handicapped or prevented ~ lack of water during the latter part of the growing season. The soils dry out and become so hard that fall plowing becomes impractical. Fertilizer use has consisted primarily of barnyard manure. Commercial fertilizers have been used sparingly. With a supplemental water supply, increased use of commercial fertilizer can be expected. Response from phosphate on alfalfa, and nitrogen on pasture and meadow hay in similar areas with adequate water supplies has been substantial. A surplus of irrigation water during May and June and a shortage during July and August has resulted in poor irrigation from the standpoint of plant needs. The oft expressed goal of farmers is to have all fields wet when the water supply fails, usually about July 1. This results in over- irrigation during the forepart of the growing season and underirrigation during the latter part. Both are detrimental to optimum plant growth. Farmers are generally aware that they overirrigate during the forepart of the season, but feel this to be more desirable than being caught with dry fields and no water. During a specific crop year the exact date the water supply will fail is unknown. Development of the project is expected to result in an overall improvement in cultural practices. Development of the project is not expected to affect the type of crops produced. Supplemental irrigation water will, however, increase the reliability of crop production and allow farmers greater freedom in adjusting acreages of crops to obtain balanced feed supplies for live- stock. 'Itis anticipated that grass hay will continue'to be prOduced on the lower lying lands and to some extent on the steeper lands which are subject to erosion. Grasses readily invade alfalfa stands and on the lower lying lands, soil moisture conditions are more favorable for grasses than alfalfa. With a late-season water supply three cuttings of alfalfa will be possible in the lower portion of the project area. The projected crop distribution by evaluation areas is shown in table 9. - 26 ..;