Bezner, Jody 1985-12-20
Jody Bezner discusses farming in Dallam County, Texas.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Jody Bezner
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: December 20, 1985
Location: Dalhart, Texas
Interviewer: Richard Mason
Length: 44 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1:
b. Seymore, Texas (1941),
Familymoved to Hereford, Texas: 1952,
Bezner graduated from Texas Tech (1964),
Moved to Dalhart (1964),
Irrigation farming in Hereford, Texas,
Row water irrigation/Flood irrigation,
Land purchased in Dalhart,
Native grassland,
Water availability,
Test pumping irrigation well,
Drilling new wells,
Location,
Breaking of land,
Other dry-land farmers in county,
Bezner's land,
Leveling,
Side row sprinkler system,
Benefits,
Farming techniques,
Hereford, Texas, compared to Dalhart, Texas,
Migration of East Texans to West Texas,
Reasons ,
Increase in value of West Texas land,
Room for expansion,
Ranch land in Dalhart area,
Speculative interest inland,
Increase in land value made cow-calf operations unfeasible,
Crops raised in Dalhart,
Benefits of corn over milo,
Market for corn,
Feedlots in Hereford area,
Seed production,
Hybrid sorghums,
Corn (again),
Water table,
Changes in static water level,
Variance over the county,
Advantages of shallow water,
Water Wells,
Energy source used to power wells,
Cost of natural gas,
Conservation consciousness and irrigation change,
Attempts to switch from corn back to milo,
Stimulus for irrigation change,
Fuel cost (again),
Drilling cost,
Boom and bust in cattle feeding industry,
Effects in Dalhart area
Tape 1, Side 2:
Development of irrigative agriculture on the South Plains,
1960s,
1970s,
Influx of corn belt farmers,
Mennonite farmers from Kansas,
Difference in lifestyle,
North Plains water district,
Dallam County's non-membership,
Opposition,
Soil Conservation Service,
Local support,
Conservation projects,
Cultivation practices on the South Plains,
Blank listing,
Stubble mulch as a technique,
Stocker cattle operations,
Drought concerns,
Benefits of irrigation,
Drought years,
Definition of drought
Range Dates: 1941-1985
Bulk Dates: 1964-1985
Access Information
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Transcript:
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