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Soil expert concerned about county farmland SECTION 2 • PAGE 11 • PLAINDEALER HERALD. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21.19S4 A representative of the USDA Soil Service who has been styding land use in the McHenry County Area since August, says he has some serious concerns. "I'm surprised at the amount of fall plowing and especially concerned with the number of soybean acres that were plowed," District Con­ servationist Dave Brandt said. He says wind erosion could be a serious problem in McHenry County. "I don't recall wind erosion trouble when I was in southern Illinois," he added. "Soybeans tend to losen the ground and mellow it out. With shorter stubble than corn, soybean ground can use the coverage to lessen wind and water erosion." Both Ed Weskeraa, Soil and Water Conservation District manager, and Brandt notice more fall plowing than usual this year. Relatively quick har­ vesting after weather finally cooperated and mild December weather may account for part of the plethora of plowing.' Some farmers explain if they wait until spring, the turnover is "slabby" and the land won't dry out. Brandt says.use of a chisel plow-minimum tillage technique- would be a step in the right direction. He suggests farmers edge into minimum - till and no-till gradually-try one field in 1985, for example. The Soil Con­ servation District has two corn planters for both minimum till and no-till planting. "Minimum aqd no-till cut back on trips across the field. They reduce expenses, lessen the amount of work, preserve the soil and also important-they lessen the compaction,' summarized Brandt. Brandt stressed another concern is the state govern­ ment's requirement to reduce erosion significantly. By Jan. 1, all land with less than a five percent slope, must be under erosion control with erosion limited to four to five tons per acre per year. All other land must erode no more than eight to ten tons. Guidelines on measuring erosion have been established by the USDA Soil Conservation Service. "If farmers don't do an adequate job of erosion control voluntarily, mandatory controls may be imposed," Brandt ob­ served. Farm Bureau supports voluntary compliance and has been urging farmers to follow guidelines and step up con­ servation practices. RTA 1984 budget stable By Cliff Ward Platodaaler Herald New* Service The Regional Transportation Authority is moving towards adoption of a 1985 budget after ending 1984 with one of its most financially stable years in recent history. A public hearing on the RTA budget was held in the McHenry County Courthouse this week - one of the final steps in the budget-adoption process that must be completed by Dec. 31. The preliminary 1985 RTA budget calls for expenses of $487.8 million with anticipated revenues of $486.9 million. The $900,000 deficit will be made up from the 1985 beginning balance otm tttfMnthe RTA experts to have on hand. "It's a balanced budget - that's sort of a milestone," RTA planner Bruce Moffat said at the hearing. The budget, which includes the operating budgets of the Chicago Transit Authority and the suburban bus and rail boards, calls for continued service levels and fares through 1985. However, RTA spokesman Rissa Marguilius said a fare hike may be instituted in 1906 to keep up with a state mandate that demands 50 percent of RTA revenues come from fares. "The budget provides for the continued stable funding for public transportation for 1985 but clearly indicates that cost- cutting or modest fare increases (e.g., about 10 percent) will be required in 1986 and in sub- sesquent years to meet the 50 percent farebox recovery ratio," Marguilius said in a statement she read at the opening of the hearing.. In McHenry County, the budget outlines no new bus or rail services but does not outline any service reductions, either. A $500,000 renovation project on the spur rail line that connects McHenry and Crystal Lake has been included in the rail board's budget. Other rail capital im­ provements tentatively set for ches and improvements to rolling stock and facilities, according to the RTA. Fixed bus routes in the county are expected to remain the same through next year. Algonquin Township is expected to join the Dial-A-Ride paratransit system in 1985. In addition to Algonquin, the suburban bus division has programmed seven new paratransit vehicles in the county, including vehicles "which will be used to improve service in Woodstock, AfcHenry Township and the countywide paratransit service," according to the RTA. 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