Hatch, Harvey 1983-19-13
Harvey Hatch gives a brief history of cotton farming in the Animas Valley of New Mexico.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Harvey Hatch
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: September 13, 1983
Location: Brownwood, Texas
Interviewer: Richard Mason
Length: 1 hour
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Father with Federal Land Bank,
Suggested Animas Valley New Mexico,
Purchased land from rancher,
Water well,
Farming,
Crops in 1950s,
Clearing of land,
Fuel,
Varieties of cotton grown,
Problems,
Planting methods,
Soil and water characteristics,
Cost of irrigation,
Farm production costs,
Today,
1950,
Fuel,
Labor,
Decline in yield over last ten years,
Weather as a factor,
Vegetable raising,
Labor prohibitive,
Grapes,
Peach orchard,
Cotton,
Harvest methods,
Gin,
Gin operators,
Establishment and financing,
Jim Griffin oversaw building,
Cooperatives,
Animas Valley Growers Association,
Reasons for failure,
Beginning of Cotton City,
Land purchase,
Businesses and school,
Source of farm necessities,
Machinery,
Fertilizer,
Fertilizer business,
Beginning,
Alkalai problems in area,
Effect of irrigation,
Treatment for alkalai,
Closing of the basin,
Conversion of water for use by investors,
Effects of basin closure.
Tape 1, Side 2: Basin closure (continued),
Attempts to fight water conversion,
Water required for raising cotton,
Water for raising alfalfa,
Cotton (again),
Irrigation methods,
Ditch vs. sprinkler irrigation,
Land leveling,
Conservation techniques,
Animas Valley farming history,
Early 1950s,
Effect of allotment program,
Views on government involvement in farming,
Things that hurt the valley,
Purchase of cotton by grade,
Drought problems,
Rainfall,
Discussion of map of the basin.
Range Dates: 1950-1983
Bulk Dates: 1950-1938
Access Information
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Transcript:
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