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<br />"""I <br />~ <br /> <br />c <br /> <br />... <br /> <br />CHAPTER V <br /> <br />c' <br /> <br />REGULAR ACTIVITIES OF THE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF <br />AGRICULTURE PARTICULARLY AFFECTED BY <br />THE SMITH FORK ProJECT <br /> <br />Introduction <br /> <br />The U. S. Department of Agriculture and Colorado State University are carrying <br />out a number of agricultural activities in Delta County, Colorado. This is <br />being done under regularly established programs. With the increased <br />agricultural activity brought about by the Smith Fork project, these regular <br />programs will need to be accelerated. Increased amounts of assistance from <br />these programs will aid and accelerate the development of project lands. <br /> <br />Agricultural Education and Information <br /> <br />The Colorado Cooperative Extension Service maintains an office at Delta. The <br />services of a resident extensIon agent, assistant extension agent, home <br />demonstration agent, and the nonresident specialists, located on the campus <br />at Fort Collins are available to farmers in the project area. Additional <br />information and educational services will be required. This is particularly <br />true in connection with any expansion in the dairy and livestock industry. <br />Additional information and education in connection with better irrigation <br />water management and pasture development will also be needed. <br /> <br />Technical Services <br /> <br />The Smith Fork project lies within the Delta Soil Conservation District. The <br />Soil Conservation Service has a work unit at Paonia staffed with a work unit <br />conservationist and an enginee~ing aid. Other Soil Conservation Service <br />assistance is available through their offices at Delta, Montrose and Grand <br />Junction, including specialist assistance in soils, engineering, agronomy, <br />biology, range and woodland management. <br /> <br />Additional technical services and on-site assistance from Soil Conservation <br />Service technicians will be required in connection with the planning and <br />application of conservation measures, such as land leveling, farm irrigation <br />systems, water management, grass management, soil fertility management and <br />drainage. <br /> <br />Farm Financing <br /> <br />At the present time there is one active operating Farmers Home Administration <br />Loan in the project area. There are no Farm Ownership, Farm Housing, or <br />Soil and Water Conservation loans in the project area at this time. Farmers <br />Home Administration Loan programs have been limited due to inadequate irrigation <br />water supplies. The present stream flow water rights provide dependable full <br />season irrigation water to only a limited number of farms having earliest <br />decrees and being favorably located with respect to the irrigation ditch. <br />system. <br /> <br />- 56 - <br />