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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Large-scnle whent farming is the principnl agricultural activity <br />on the plains portion with ranching activities confined mostly to the <br />"breaks" of the Canadian o.nd the shallow areas bordering the draimge ways <br />of the uplands. <br /> <br />The aren conto.inod 6,300 acres irrigated on 35 farms in 1950. The <br />approximate location of tho individual irrigation developments is shown in <br />Figure 1. Except for t"O wells located along Falo Duro Creek in southern <br />Hansford County, the developments in this area have taken place within the <br />past 4 or 5 years. <br /> <br />Any appraisal of the scatterod irrigation dovelopments in this ar~. <br />must take cogrizaIlce of the situation that exists und has existed throughout <br />the period of development. The main factors contributing individuo.lly and <br />collectively in the recent spread of dovelopment are as follows: <br /> <br />1. Tho presence of natural gas for fuel, usually free of cost. <br /> <br />2. A number of years in which the price and production of <br />,rheat was good to fair. <br /> <br />3. Increased oil and gas production resulted in additional or <br />,nndfall gains to many during the good wheat and cattle lieurs. <br /> <br />4. Noney spent on irrigation >lell development could be <br />amortized as land d€;velopment costs theroby escaping income to.xes. <br /> <br />The forecoing created a situntion ,Therein it was possible for land <br />ownors to experiment. The results are reflected in the post,Tar irrigation <br />expansion. <br /> <br />Hater Supplv <br /> <br />The WQter used for irrigation in this area is obtained from sands <br />and gravels of the Ogallala formation (see description of water source in <br />Dallao County discussion). The >later bearing forrmtion is reported to be <br />considerably thicker in the areas of u€;v01opment than in the DallDJll County <br />arGil.. <br /> <br />Tho water snpply is ample and of good quality for domestic and <br />present irrigation reqc\iremcnts. <br /> <br />Irrigation Works <br /> <br />Excepting the ,Tells drilled in tlw canyon along Palo Duro Creek, <br />the >lells in this area Qre deep. Drilling depths for most ,/Clls on the <br />plc.ins top approach 500 feet, ,Ii th some of thorn in excess of' this. I{ell <br />yields are reportedly better than those of other High Flains irrigated areas. <br />pumping lifts, however, are considerably greater than those of other areas, <br />ranging from around 350 to over 500 feet. 'l.b/ <br /> <br />'l.b/ County agent reports. <br /> <br />27 <br />