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4 CapitalPress.com January 9, 2015 ‘Perfect storm’ pushes onion prices below costs By SEAN ELLIS Capital Press NYSSA, Ore. — U.S. onion prices have plummeted signifi- cantly from last year’s levels. “The open market prices right now are below the cost of production. It’s making it pretty tough for growers right now,” said Oregon farmer Reid Saito. Jumbo yellows are going for about $5 per 50-pound bag now, compared with $12 last year, said Kay Riley, manager of Snake River Produce in Nys- sa. Medium yellows are fetch- ing between $3.50-$4 per bag, compared with $10 last year. “Demand has been a little on the lackluster side for about eight or nine months now,” Ri- Sean Ellis/Capital Press Onions are harvested in a field near Nampa, Idaho, in September. Onion prices have fallen significantly from last year’s levels and are below the cost of production for many growers. ley said. Owyhee Produce General Manager Shay Myers said pric- es, on a per bag unit, are 20 to 30 percent below normal. “These prices we’re seeing are definitely below the cost of production,” he said. “There’s just no money to be made off of onions right now.” The price decline is the re- sult of several negative factors, Myers said, including limited exports to Pacific Rim and Cen- tral American countries, where a lot of U.S. onions traditional- ly end up. “They’re still being shipped to those countries but at a much, much slower pace,” he said. Asian countries have an am- ple supply of onions this year and are importing less from the United States. When there are opportunities to export onions to those nations, it’s difficult to get them shipped because of the West Coast port slowdown, Myers said. The Russian embargo on certain agricultural commod- ities is also a major factor, he added. Onions from the U.S. are not on the list of banned items, but onions from Europe are and a lot of those onions are ending up in nations that typically import a lot of U.S. onions. Central American countries that are usually major custom- ers of U.S. onions “are flooded with Dutch and Spanish onions right now,” Myers said. The Treasure Valley area of Idaho and Eastern Oregon typi- cally produces 1 billion pounds of yellow, red and white bulb onions a year, about 25 percent of the nation’s supply. Plantings in the region were up 8 percent this year, Myers said. “Eight percent of 1 billion pounds ends up being a whole lot of extra onions.” Freight rates are up 27 per- cent over last year on a cost- per-unit basis, Myers said, and just finding enough trucks has been a problem as well, Saito said. Myers said all those fac- tors have added up to a perfect storm when it comes to onion prices. “It’s a multitude of factors that have come together at the same time,” he said. “Consid- ering all those negative things that are happening right now, I’m glad to be where we’re at.” Saito said growers are hop- ing things turn around in 2015. “2015 is a new year and growers around here are pretty resilient,’ he said. “I think the majority of them will find a way to make it through this.” ODA hopes bird flu cooped up Bird flu strikes By DON JENKINS Capital Press A bird flu outbreak that has barred U.S. poultry from some overseas markets has apparently been contained to one southern Oregon backyard flock, Ore- gon Department of Agriculture spokesman Bruce Pokarney said Dec. 30. “We feel very good. Noth- ing has spread from that site,” he said. “We’re pretty confident any danger of spreading from the original premises is over.” A contagious and lethal avian influenza strain was confirmed Dec. 19 in a 100-bird flock in Winston in Douglas County. The highly pathogenic H5N8 virus killed 20 guinea fowl and two chickens. It was the first outbreak of highly pathogenic bird flu in U.S. poultry in a decade and came three days after the virus was confirmed in a wild duck and captive falcon in Washing- ton. Although the virus has not appeared in commercial flocks, several countries have restricted U.S. poultry imports. “It’s been a catastrophe — that one backyard flock,” USA Poultry & Egg Export Council President Jim Sumner said Dec. 31. “It’s cost us a few hundred million dollars.” Pokarney said the other birds in the Winston flock were euth- anized, and the premises have been disinfected. The owner had not been moving birds off his property, Pokarney said. “He wasn’t in- troducing the birds to anywhere else.” The U.S. Department of Ag- riculture will continue checking other backyard flocks in the area for several more weeks, accord- ing to USDA spokeswoman Jo- elle Hayden. South Korea, Thailand, South Africa and Russia have banned U.S. poultry and poultry products from their countries. Canada, Japan and Singapore have imposed restrictions on Oregon poultry. Hong Kong Stephen R Ausmus/USDA-ARS Chickens are raised in an indoor facility in this file photo. A bird flu outbreak that has barred U.S. poultry from some overseas markets has apparently been contained to one southern Oregon backyard flock, ODA officials say . banned poultry and poultry products specifically from Douglas County. Sumner said other countries have halted issuing import per- mits, effectively banning U.S. poultry. South Korea alone imported U.S. raw poultry products worth $78 million between January and September of this year, ac- cording to the export council. The USDA issued a state- ment Dec. 30 accusing countries of overreacting and ignoring “sound science.” “Unfortunately, some coun- tries have decided to place far more restrictive measures than necessary on U.S. poultry, in- cluding, in a few instances, bans on imports of all U.S. poultry and poultry products,” the USDA stated. “We disagree with these actions and are tak- ing a number of steps to address LEGAL LEGAL REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS NOTICE is hereby given that The Odessa Public Development Authority (OPDA) will receive Proposals as established in the complete Request for Proposals for the project generally described as: Biodiesel Production Facility, Odessa, WA. Please obtain the full requirements for proposals at www.odessapda.com or by calling 509-982-7850 or by email at info@odessapda.com. Odessa Public Development Authority. Clark Kagele, President them and help support the U.S. poultry industry.” Avian influenza has not caused human health problems in the U.S. Health officials say infected birds are safe to con- sume if properly cooked. Even if the outbreak is con- tained, there may be more trade restrictions coming, and bans could be in place for several months, Sumner said. “Some countries look for an excuse to stick it to us,” he said. To guard against further out- breaks, agriculture officials have been urging backyard flock owners to keep wild birds away from their poultry. The Winston guinea fowl and chickens ranged free out- doors on property with a pond and marsh. Officials suspect the domestic birds contracted the virus from migratory waterfowl. A northern pintail duck found dead in December at Wis- er Lake in Whatcom County in northwest Washington tested positive for highly pathogenic H5N2. A captive gyrfalcon fed wild duck shot at the same lake died and tested positive for high- ly pathogenic H5N8. Washington Fish and Wild- life waterfowl section manag- er Don Kraege said more than 200 wild birds have been tested since then, but none had bird flu. Officials plan to continue testing migrating waterfowl in northwest and southwest Wash- ington for a few more weeks. The birds have largely stopped for the winter and won’t range far unless pushed south by harsh weather, Kraege said. “We just have to wait and see the results from this to see where we go next,” he said. Wild birds commonly carry avian influenza, but it’s rarely fa- tal to them. Even the wild duck that had the highly pathogenic virus, died of another disease. Low pathogenic bird flu, less contagious and less deadly to poultry, is more common but still inspires trade restrictions. New highly pathogenic bird flu cases continue to break out in Asia and Europe. On Dec. 29, a Japanese broiler breeder farm reported a high mortality rate. Authorities quickly identified highly patho- genic H5N8 as the cause. Some 37,000 chickens were destroyed, according to the World Organi- zation for Animal Health. Other countries reporting highly pathogenic bird flu outbreaks this month are Italy, Vietnam, Russia, the United Kingdom, Germany, India and Canada. Highly pathogenic H5N2, which shares gene segments with H5N8, has claimed 245,600 birds at 11 British Columbia commercial poultry farms in December. In addi- tion, an 85-bird noncommer- cial flock of ducks, chickens, geese and turkeys was infect- ed. The last outbreak was re- ported Dec. 19. backyard flock in Washington By DON JENKINS Capital Press A second Northwest back- yard flock has been infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza. The birds’ owner con- tacted the Washington De- partment of Agriculture after about 50 birds in a 150-bird flock of chickens, turkeys and domestic waterfowl in Ben- ton County in south-central Washington state died in the last week. WSDA said Jan. 2 that Washington State Universi- ty’s Animal Disease Diag- nostic Laboratory in Pullman confirmed that highly patho- genic H5 bird flu had infected the flock. Samples were sent Jan. 2 to a U.S. Department of Ag- riculture laboratory in Ames, Iowa, for more tests to pin- point the type of virus, WSDA spokesman Hector Castro said. The infection is likely to be another setback for the U.S. poultry industry. Several countries banned U.S. poultry and poultry prod- ucts after a 100-bird backyard flock in Douglas County in southern Oregon was struck with bird flu in December. Also in mid-December, a wild northern pintail duck and a captive gyrfalcon fed wild duck were found to have had highly pathogenic bird flu in Whatcom County in Wash- ington. No U.S. commercial flocks have been infected. USDA has characterized bans on U.S. poultry as an overreaction since avian influenza does not affect poultry meat or eggs, which remain safe to eat. Like the Oregon flock, the backyard flock near Benton City, west of the Tri-Cities, had access to the outdoors. The premises include a pond used by migratory waterfowl. Officials suspect the wild birds spread the virus to do- mestic birds. “The presence of the virus in migratory waterfowl is a risk to backyard poultry. One step owners should take is preventing contact between their birds and wild birds,” State Veterinarian Joe Baker said in a written statement. Castro said WSDA is working with the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health In- spection Service to contain the virus. Deaths or illness among domestic birds should be re- ported to the WSDA Avian Health Program at 1-800- 606-3056. For wild birds, contact the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife at 1-800-606- 8768. Highly pathogenic H5N2 bird flu claimed some 245,600 birds at 11 commer- cial poultry farms in British Columbia, Canada, between Dec. 1 and Dec. 17. An 85- bird backyard flock in the same area was reported in- fected Dec. 19. Highly pathogenic H5N8, related to the H5N2 strain, appeared in several Asian and European countries in November and December as migratory waterfowl that breed in Alaska and northeast Asia moved south. According to the World Organization for Animal Health, no humans have been infected. But the organization cautioned authorities to be on the alert because avian influ- enza strains mutate. Report: Bees need feed, humans need education By DON JENKINS Capital Press A new state report stresses restoring habitat, rather than Legal-1-2-7/#14 restricting pesticides, as the best way to help honeybees in Washington. “If you want to help bees, plant flowers,” said Washing- ton State University Island County Extension Director Tim Lawrence, a bee re- searcher and member of the Honey Bee Work Group. “We need acres and acres of flow- ers.” LEGAL 2-2/#7 SECRETARY OF STATE NOTICE OF TEMPORARY RULEMAKING Oregon Department of Agriculture, Food Safety & Animal Health Program, Administrative Rules Chapter #603, Sue Gooch, Rules Coordinator, (503) 986-4583. Adopt: 603-011-0800, 603-011-0810, 603-011-0820, 603-011-0830, 603-011-0840 RULE SUMMARY: These rules establish an emergency quar- antine in Douglas County, Ore- gon prohibiting the movement of poultry or poultry products into or out of Douglas County without a permit obtained from the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service. A quarantine is necessary to prevent the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N8, the spread of which could seri- ously prejudice the public health or welfare of the State of Oregon and pose a severe threat to the animal health of the United States. Rule to be effec- tive December 30, 2014 through June 27, 2015. 2-7//#4 The Legislature set up the 12-member group amid con- cern that pests, chemicals and development are making hon- eybees fewer and weaker. The panel has come back with a host of policy recom- mendations, many related to promoting bee-friendly practices among farmers and weed-control boards. “It’s going to involve huge amounts of coordination,” said Ephrata commercial beekeeper Tim Hiatt, another work group member. “We’re looking for a beekeeping in- dustry that is stable and grow- ing.” The report doesn’t attempt to assess the health of honey- bee colonies or whether bee populations are declining. The report does identify several threats and singles out para- LEGAL PURSUANT TO ORS CHAPTER 87 Notice is hereby given that the following vehicle will be sold, for cash to the highest bidder, on 1/19/2015. The sale will be held at 10:00 am by ANGEL AUTO REPAIR 120 N MAIN ST MT ANGEL, OR 2000 Volvo S80 T6 VIN = YV1TS90D1Y1087275 Amount due on lien $2,445.00 Reputed owner(s) Teresa Nolasco Guerrero Oregon Community CU Legal-2-2-5/#4 sitic Varroa mites as the single biggest problem for U.S. bee hives since 1987. More specifically to Washington, other problems include losing rural land, in- discriminate noxious weed control and farming practices that reduce plant diversity, ac- cording to the report. “Popular concerns about honeybees often seem to fo- cus on singular issues and a desire for simple solutions,” the report states. “However, the challenges beekeepers face are part of a broad and complex picture.” The report cites pesticide misuse as another threat, but the group rejected banning neonicotinoids, pesticides re- stricted by Europe and local jurisdictions such as Seattle, Spokane and Thurston County. “The evidence doesn’t sup- port that it’s going to do any good,” Lawrence said. “Most of what we can do about pes- ticides is education.” The report cites develop- ment as the state’s population grows as a fundamental prob- lem. Also, agriculture prac- tices such as monoculture, cutting alfalfa before flowers bloom and removing hedge- rows reduce bee forage, ac- cording to the report.