Changes in Farm Organization Resulting from Soil Conservation Practices in Washington County, Nebraska

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the adjustments in farm organization that would result from adopting complete soil conserving programs on farms in Washington County, Nebraska. The county lies in the eastern tier of counties of the state, its southern boundary being six miles north of Omaha. It is bounded on the north by Burt County, on the east by the Missouri River and the state of Iowa, on the south by Douglas County and on the west by Dodge County. In a study of this kind a number of questions naturally arise. Some of them applicable to conservation farming are: 1. Will the family living be lowered if conservation farming is followed? 2. What influence will the shift from grain crops to grasses and legumes have upon the net income of the farm family? 3. Will there be a change in the type of livestock and other products produced for market? 4. Will the total amount of feed produced on the farm be lowered with a shift to grasses and legumes? 5. Will a change in the size of the farm unit be necessary with the shift to conservation farming in order to maintain the old level of income? 6. Will farmers follow the recommendations of the Conservationists? In this study an attempt will be made to show the changes in farm organization that have taken place on Washington County farms during recent years and to point out some of the changes in farm organization that can be expected when farmers follow the conservation plan of farming completely. Advisor: Frank Mille