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About Capital press. (Salem, OR) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (April 14, 2017)
12 CapitalPress.com April 14, 2017 Hop farmers make improvements for clean water By GAIL OBERST For the Capital Press ONV17-7/#5 Salmon-Safe, a nonprofit organization that sets stan- dards for best practices has certified a growing number of hops growers in the region. Since 2012, Alluvial, Sodbuster, Annen Brothers, Goshie and Crosby hop farms in Oregon have joined the ranks of the certified, follow- ing a growing demand from craft breweries for eco-friend- ly ingredients. In Washington, Roy Farms, Green Acre Farms, BT Loftus Ranches, Cowiche Canyon Britt Farm and Perrault Farms are certified. In British Co- lumbia, Hooh Hops and Left Fields are certified, and so is the Sierra Nevada Estate Hop Farm in California. Why target hop growers in the effort to improve North- west waters? The Willamette and Yakima valleys, home to 90 percent of U.S. hops, are also key watersheds for wild salmon, according to Dan Kent of Salmon-Safe. A farm can earn certification using various methods to reduce its impact on the watershed. SERIES 3120R 3520R 3510H 4020R 4525R 4720H 6640 8050 24 - 80 hp., 4 wheel drive, Compact Synchro Shuttle; Hydro 24, 28, 35, 47hp Branson Model 4020R THE TRACTOR STORE (541) 342-5464 5450 W. 11 th , Eugene, OR Among those strategies: Re- ducing pesticides that are harmful to fish and wildlife, restoring stream buffers, re- ducing irrigation water use, creating areas for native plants, and ensuring that there is no runoff or erosion. Cer- tification is often in conjunc- tion with organic certification or other whole-farm plans. And, apparently, the mar- ket is demanding fish-friendly ingredients. Among breweries now using hops from Salm- on-Safe certified farms are Deschutes, Full Sail, Hop- works Urban, New Belgium, Sierra Nevada, Widmer, Wor- thy Brewing and many oth- ers. In 2015, Hopworks Ur- ban Brewery in Portland took the concept one step fur- ther, revised its wastewater treatment, and earned Salm- on-Safe certification for its entire brewery. Salmon-Safe innovations on the farm vary. Annen Brothers, for example, in- stalled an updated compost- ing system that keeps rotting vines and leaves from wash- ing into nearby streams, and Gail Oberst/For the Capital Press Blake Crosby uses solar power, wind turbines and reduced pesti- cides on his Salmon-Safe hops farm. stores cleaned-up water for reuse. Sodbuster Farms uses drip irrigation and has reformulat- ed chemical applications to its 900 acres of hops, halting runoff into the nearby Willa- mette River. Sodbuster Presi- dent Doug Weathers said he applies the same regimen to all of the 1,200 acres of ha- zelnuts and grass seed on his farm, earning the farm Wil- bur-Ellis’ Technology Grow- er of the Year award. Salmon-Safe projects on Crosby Hop Farm added to its credentials as a B Cor- poration, a designation for companies that have a pos- itive impact on society and the environment. Solar pan- els and wind turbines pow- er cold storage for Crosby’s T-90 hop pellets. Reduced pesticide use and expanded plantings for pollinators and along streams improved wa- ter quality. Hops are not the only operations looking to meet Salmon-Safe standards. More than 85,000 acres on nearly 500 farms on the West Coast have been certified in the past 20 years. For more information about Salmon-Safe, visit the web page at www.salmon- safe.org, or call the Portland office, 503-232-3750. 25 pc. Wire Lock....................................$313.50 48 x 100 6 mil 4yr Poly..........................$481.00 48 x 100 50% Knitted Shade Cloth......$576.00 Designed by the orchardist ...for the orchardist! 2- 96’ Roll-ups.......................................$549.00 16 pcs. Wire Lock for Top Board..........$200.64 30x96 Quonset 5’ On Center, 3’ Side walls..........$4,432 00 Bows 1 7 ⁄ 8 ” .095ga. / Legs 2 7 ⁄ 8 ” 8ga. Greenhouse Manufacturing & Supplies Specializing in Heavy Duty Greenhouse Frames Code and Non-Code 503-678-2700 • 800-347-2701 (Outside OR) www.ovg.com • ivans@ovg.com • FAX: 503-678-2700 20357 Hwy. 99E • Aurora, OR 97002 Prices good thru 4/30/17 ONV17-7/#7 • 127 hp Turbocharged Diesel Engine w/Cat.2 3-pt. Hitch • 95 hp PTO Continuous Duty • 10 Lug High Torque-High Capacity Wheel Motors w/Integral Brakes & Speed Sensor • 60 Gallon Diesel Cap. & Increased Ground Clearance • Skid Steer Quick Attach Front Tooling w/43 gpm High Flow Hydraulics • Increased Cab Space, Automotive Glass, Powder Coating, and Remodeled Interior The New Porter Orchard Boss Gen.2 is the culmination of 5 years of vigorous R&D in the field. Call us today to setup your demo and be a part of the future of orchard farming... ONV17-7/#5 30x96 Quonset 6’ On Center, 3’ Side walls..........$3,597 00 Bows 1 7 ⁄ 8 ” .095ga. / Legs 2 3 ⁄ 8 ”, 10ga. Call 541-929-2234 or visit www.portertractors.com 3178 W. Hills Rd., Philomath, OR 97370