The Deer Creek Conservation District and Custer County Conservation District held their annual land judging contest recently, with students from Thomas Fay Custer, Arapaho-Butler, Clinton and Burns Flat participating. The teams met at Western Technology Center in Weatherford and judges sites on land owned by Dean Wilson.

The TFC team of Garet Crispin, Conner Simmons, Tyler Mannering and Sam Jones took home the top team honors. Placing second was the team of Andy Moon, Jordan Miller, Austin Moon and Miles McKinley of TFC.

The top individuals were Garet Crispin, TFC, first place; Andy Moon, TFC, second place; and Dylan Seitter, TFC, third place.

The contest is held to assist in educating youth and provide them with the expertise of proper identification of various soil types. Fields and farms vary in value and in use due to varying productivity of the soil. Soils have distinct characteristics and specific soils are adapted for different uses.

Properly classifying soils is invaluable for knowledge of land characteristics and recognizing them. A land judging contest is a tool which tests an individual’s knowledge of types of soil and their uses. Conservation measures and proper use o f the land can also be determined.

Proper identification of soils helps investors, home gardeners, and those who manage farms. Knowledge of soil characteristics is necessary in determining the value of land and selecting which crops to grow.

Land can be judged much like animals, farm or horticultural crops. When judging land, the students look for clues as to how well the land can produce crops or be used for other purposes.

Soil characteristics, climate and topography are good clues to the soil’s capabilities, but close examination of the soil texture, structure, depth, permeability, reaction, degree of erosion, slope, drainage and flooding are necessary to classify land into capability classes.

In land judging, the major factors affecting how the land can be used must be determined. These factors are used to correctly recommend conservation practices and fertilizers for conserving the soil.

Land judging can help to:

-Understand the basic soil differences

-Know how soil properties affect crop growth

-Know why soils respond differently to management practices

-Realize the influence of land features on production and land protection

-Select suitable soil and water conservation practices

-Determine land capability class

-Determine proper use and treatment

DCCD can help you with your spring grass seed needs. Call the office at 580-772-7670 for pricing and for special orders.

Survivor Fescue

Plains Bluestem

Texas Tough Bermuda

Yard Bermuda

Weeping Lovegrass

Native Mix

Seed Oats (by order)

                   The Deer Creek Conservation District reminds it is time to start thinking about your spring and summer gardens. DCCD will again offer bulk seed to the public this planting season. The district will have several from which to choose.

            For sale are “Kentucky Wonder” bush beans, “Contender” bush beans, “Kentucky Wonder” pole beans, “Little Marvel” English peas, “Oregon Sugar Pod” edible pod peas, “Kandy Korn” corn, “Jubilee” Corn, “Peaches N’ Cream” corn, “Detroit Dark Red” beets, “Hales Best Jumbo” cantaloupe, “Danver’s 126″ carrots, “Snowball Cauliflower”, “Lucullus” swiss chard, “Georgia” collards, “Boston Pickling” cucumbers, “Garden Sweet Burpless” hybrid cucumbers, “Bibb” lettuce, “Buttercrunch” lettuce, “Tendergreen” mustard,  ”Clemson Spineless” okra, “Emerald” okra, “Small Sugar” pumpkin, “Jack-o-Lantern” pumpkins , “Cherry Belle” radishes, “Bloomsdale” spinach, “Black Zucchini” squash, “Straightneck” squash, “Crookneck” squash, “Purple Top” turnips, “Black Diamond” watermelon, “Sugar Baby” watermelon and “Blackeye #5″ cowpeas and “Pinkeye” purplehull cowpeas.

            The seeds prices vary depending on the type of seed.  

            DCCD also has seed potatoes, onion sets and onion plants available. “Yukon Gold” and “Lasoda” potatoes are 65 cents per pound. “White Bermuda” and “Yellow Vidalia” onion plants run $1.25 per bundle. Red or white onion sets are $1.00 per pounds. Also available is a hybrid asparagus at $3.50 for a bundle of ten.

            Deer Creek Conservation District also has Survivor Fescue seed available for those shady areas of your yard. The spring planting season is March 1-April 30.

            Stop by the DCCD office at 300 S. Broadway in Weatherford or call at (580) 772-7670.