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CapitalPress.com
June 9, 2017
People & Places
Helping the next generation
Nellie McAdams
asks: Who are the
next farmers and
where is their land?
Established 1928
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Corporate Officer
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Chief Operating Officer
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By ERIC MORTENSON
Capital Press
GASTON, Ore. — It was
the most telling sentiment
Nellie McAdams heard as
she toured the state, putting
on workshops to help farmers
and ranchers with the gut-
wrenching question of what
will happen to their land when
they retire.
It was beautiful and trag-
ic in the same breath. “We’re
so blessed to have this land,”
someone would say. “It’s such
a burden.”
It summed up an aspect of
Oregon agriculture, maybe
the emotional ledger, that may
not be seen in other business-
es. After all, McAdams said,
not many other business own-
ers live where they work.
“It’s more than just land,”
she said. “It’s heirloom, lega-
cy, your family heritage. Be-
ing a farmer isn’t just an occu-
pation, it’s an identity.
“You can’t retire from be-
ing yourself,” McAdams said.
“You’re passing over what
makes you, you.”
But eventually, farmland
must be passed on to some-
one, somehow. A son or
daughter may be interested
in taking over, but sometimes
they are not. Sometimes par-
ents aren’t willing to let go.
And sometimes, dealing with
the situation is like pulling the
bandage off family wounds.
Sale to a stranger has its
own pitfalls. Oregon has
many earnest agricultural
neophytes, but how many can
afford land and equipment? If
another farm is the buyer, will
it operate with the same care
as generations of family mem-
bers?
To McAdams, Farm Pres-
ervation Program director for
Rogue Farm Corps, the suc-
cession question has emerged
as one of the most critical is-
sues facing Oregon agriculture.
Among other work, Rogue
Farm Corps trains beginning
farmers, placing them in intern-
ships with commercial farms.
McAdams specializes in
farm succession, and has put
on workshops statewide to get
farm families thinking about
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and at additional mailing offices.
Eric Mortenson/Capital Press
Nellie McAdams at her family’s hazelnut farm near Gaston, Ore., which she is taking over from her parents. She helps farmers develop
succession plans that will keep farmland in production.
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Nellie McAdams
Occupation: Farm Preservation Pro-
gram director, Rogue Farm Corps.
Personal: 37, grew up in Southwest
Portland but spent weekends at the
family’s hazelnut farm in Gaston,
Ore. Her father, David, is a retired attorney; her mother, Nita, is a
retired teacher.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Dartmouth
College, law degree from Lewis & Clark College.
Career path: Consultant with Ecotrust, staff attorney for Friends
of Family Farmers, now with Rogue Farm Corps, http://www.rog-
uefarmcorps.org/, which provides training for beginning farmers.
Also on the board of directors for East Multnomah Soil and Water
Conservation District in the Portland area.
Eric Mortenson/Capital Press
Nellie McAdams walks down a row in her family’s hazelnut orchard.
The family has about 400 acres, including about 100 acres in
hazelnut trees, 150 in second-growth timber and about 150 acres
leased for clover seed, grass seed and winter wheat.
how they want to handle the
transition.
It’s an issue McAdams
is familiar with; she’s taking
over the family farm from her
parents. The family has about
400 acres, including about 100
acres in hazelnut trees, 150
in second-growth timber and
about 150 acres leased for clo-
ver seed, grass seed and winter
wheat.
In her workshops, McAd-
ams urges farmers to consult
with an estate attorney, and
maybe even a family coun-
selor.
McAdams would like
to see a program, perhaps
through OSU Extension, that
makes more farm succession
experts available to help fam-
ilies work through the finan-
cial and personal issues.
She urges people to start
planning. “A lot of farmers
don’t know what the next step
is,” she said.
Again, she’s working from
experience. Her father, David
McAdams, is an estate attor-
ney who worked the farm
on weekends, and the family
had its own work to do when
it came time for succession
planning.
Her specialty: Farm succession research and planning.
Notable: From December to May did 38 presentations, traveling
7,260 miles and speaking to 1,396 people.
News Staff
N. California
Tim Hearden .................... 530-605-3072
E Idaho
John O’Connell ................. 208-421-4347
Idaho
Carol Ryan Dumas .......... 208-860-3898
Boise
Sean Ellis .......................... 208-914-8264
Central Washington
Dan Wheat ........................ 509-699-9099
E Washington
Matthew Weaver .............. 509-688-9923
Common thread: Even as they reach or surpass retirement age,
farmers and ranchers have intense physical and emotional ties to
the land, and it is difficult for them to let go.
Oregon
Eric Mortenson ................ 503-412-8846
Mateusz Perkowski .......... 800-882-6789
Groundbreaking work: Co-wrote “The Future of Oregon
Agricultural Land” with cohorts from Oregon State University and
Portland State University. Report showed average age of Oregon
farmers is near 60, and that 64 percent of state ag land could
change hands over the next two decades as they retire or die.
“How that land changes hands, who acquires it, and what they do
with the land will impact Oregon for generations,” the report said.
Graphic artist
Alan Kenaga ..................... 800-882-6789
Seeking solutions: She’s among the backers of House Bill 3249
in the Oregon Legislature. The bill includes funding for working
land easements, covenants and conservation management plans,
as well as succession training and a tax study.
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They agreed to set it up in
a way that Nellie McAdams
will be able to take over the
farm and buy out her younger
brother, who loves the farm
but wasn’t interested in farm-
ing.
But every Christmas, just
to be sure, the family takes out
the will and talks it over.
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Calendar
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To submit an event go to the
Community Events calendar on the
home page of our website at www.
capitalpress.com and click on “Sub-
mit an Event.” Calendar items can
also be mailed to Capital Press,
1400 Broadway St. NE, Salem, OR
97301 or emailed to newsroom@
capitalpress.com.
Saturday, June 10
PDX Hempfest Expo. 8 a.m.-8
p.m. Portland Expo Center, 2060 N.
Marine Drive, Portland, Ore. More
than 100 exhibitors and 40 speakers
on subjects such as best practices.
Cost: $20. Website: http://pdxhemp-
festexpo.com/
Wednesday, June 14
Six-week Forestry Short Course.
9 a.m.-noon. Federal Building
meeting room, Seventh Street and
College Avenue, St. Maries, Idaho.
This course will be six successive
Wednesdays. The $38 fee includes
resource material. Register by phone
at 208-245-2422 before June 7.
Thursday-Friday
June 15-16
2017 Interpera Congress.
Wenatchee Confluence Technolo-
gy Center, 285 Technology Center
Way, Wenatchee, Wash. The con-
ference features presentations
from world experts on emerg-
ing pear varieties, high-density
planting, root stock, harvest and
packing house mechanization,
integrated pest management suc-
cesses, export trade flows and
successful practices for building
consumer demand. http://ncwctc.
com.
Friday-Sunday
June 16-18
Glenwood Ketchum Kalf Ro-
deo and Bull Bash. Glenwood
Rodeo Grounds, Trout Lake High-
way, Glenwood, Wash. The Bull
Bash starts at 7 p.m. June 16, fol-
lowed by the rodeo, which starts at
12:30 p.m. June 17-18. Website:
http://business.gorge.net/
glenwoodrodeo.
Saturday, June 17
Forest Thinning and Pruning
Field Day. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. University
of Idaho Extension office, 1808 N.
Third St., Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
Whether you have problems with
insects, disease or concerns about
fire, the response from foresters is
nearly universal: Thin your forest.
Presentations about thinning and
financial assistance will be followed
by a field trip to a thinned stand. A
$20 fee includes a field notebook or
publications. Register by June 9.
Tuesday, June 20
Trees and Taxes workshop.
5-7:30 p.m. Coos County Exten-
sion Office, 631 Alder St., Myrtle
Point, Ore. This class is for anyone
with forest management expenses,
recent forest income or planning for
future income from their forestland.
Tammy Cushing, Extension specialist
in forest economics, management
and policy, will explain topics many
landowners are unaware of and
the special provisions in the Inter-
nal Revenue Code that pertain to
forestland and income generated
from the land. This session will help
improve the records you keep on
your forestland as well as minimize
the taxes that you pay for income
generated by your forest. Pre-reg-
istration is required by June 16. For
questions, call Shawna at 541-572-
5263. Website: http://extension.ore-
gonstate.edu/coos/.
Tuesday-Wednesday
June 20-21
Center for Produce Safety Re-
search Symposium. Hyatt Regency
Denver Tech Center, 7800 E. Tufts
Ave., Denver, Colo. Agricultural wa-
ter will kick off the program agen-
da. This session will focus on four
CPS-funded research programs that
will help stakeholders better under-
stand the factors involved in sourc-
ing, sampling, testing and treating
specific types of agricultural water.
Thursday, June 22
Oregon Angus Field Day. 4-10
p.m. Quail Valley Ranch, Prineville,
GASES / WELDING / SAFETY / FIRE
www.oxarc.com
Ore. Cattle on display, contests with
prizes, a meal and a time to visit.
For more information, contact Becky
Tekansik, Quail Valley Ranch, 541-
699-8562, or Dick Hubman, presi-
dent of the Oregon Angus Associa-
tion, 541-601-5495.
Saturday, June 24
Washington State Dairy Am-
bassador Coronation. 5-9 p.m. By-
rnes Performing Arts Center, 18821
Crown Ridge Blvd., Arlington, Wash.
Doors open at 5 p.m. with the pro-
gram beginning at 5:30. This year
dinner will not be provided; instead
there will be light hors d’oeuvres and
refreshments served during a short
intermission. Tickets purchased by
June 16 will be adults $20, students
$10, and under 6 years free. Tickets
purchased after June 16 or at the
door will be adults $25, students
$15, under 6 still free. For ticket
information, please contact Gloria
Edwards by email at gloria.wsdw@
hotmail.com or 360-273-7313. Web-
site: http://wastatedairywomen.org/
ambassador-contest.html
Tuesday, June 27
Range Field Day. 8:30 a.m.-4
p.m. Northern Great Basin Exper-
imental Range, 100 Placidea Butte
Road, Riley, Ore. Presentations
will include managing wildfires,
livestock grazing for fuels manage-
ment, safe sites and restoration of
sagebrush rangeland. For more
information, contact Chad Boyd,
office: 541-573-8939, cell: 541-
589-4990, email: chad.boyd@or-
egonstate.edu. To RSVP for lunch,
call Petrina White at 541-573-4085.
Wednesday-Saturday
June 28-July 1
128th Annual Washington State
Grange Convention. Ocean Shores
Convention Center, 120 W. Chance
a La Mer NW, Ocean Shores, Wash.
Thursday-Friday
June 29-30
3rd International Conference
on Livestock & Nutrition. 9 a.m.-7
p.m. Avani Atrium, 880 Phetch-
20 Northwest Locations
1-800-765-9055
aburi Road, Bangkok, Thailand.
The Bangkok Livestock Nutri-
tion Conference welcomes at-
tendees, presenters and exhibi-
tors from all over the world. The
theme is “Leading Innovation
in Livestock for Sustainable
Farming.” Cost: $699. Website:
http://livestocknutrition.confer-
enceseries.com/.
old West to the north Willamette
Valley each 4th of July and to give
those who attend a look at one of
the nation’s finest professional
rodeos and some of the most ex-
citing and colorful entertainment
offered anywhere. Information:
(503) 633-2011, tickets@stpaul-
rodeo.com, Website: http://www.
stpaulrodeo.com/
Friday, June 30
Saturday-Tuesday
July 1-4
Farm Practices to Support
Beneficial Insects. 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Day 2 of this two-day class will
offer a tour of Wandering Fields
farm in the Applegate area. Par-
ticipants will practice identifying
beneficials and observe how a
blend of hedgerows, cover crops,
flowering seed crops and native
plants creates a system of bio-
logical pest management. Par-
ticipation on Day 1 on June 9 is
a requirement to attend the tour.
Instructor: Dana Kristal and local
experts. Cost: $15 one/$25 two
from the same farm. Website:
http://bit.ly/JacksonSmallFarm-
Dream.
Bark Beetle Field Day. 8 a.m.-
5 p.m. University of Idaho Exten-
sion Kootenai County office, 1808
N. Third St., Coeur d’Alene, Ida-
ho. Participants will get first-hand
exposure to major bark beetles’
biology and research into con-
trolling bark beetles. Pre-register
by June 23. Cost: $20 ($22 with
a credit card at www.uidaho.edu/
BarkBeetle) Website: www.uida-
ho.edu/extension/forestry
Wednesday-Saturday
June 28-July 1
128th Annual Washington
State Grange Convention. Ocean
Shores Convention Center, 120
W. Chance a La Mer NW, Ocean
Shores, Wash.
Friday-Tuesday
June 30-July 4
St. Paul Rodeo. Rodeo Arena,
20045 Fourth St. NE, St. Paul,
Ore. The St. Paul Rodeo will
continue to bring a slice of the
9 months 4-H, FFA students & teachers .....$25
Visa and Mastercard accepted
To get information published
Mailing address:
Capital Press
P.O. Box 2048
Salem, OR 97308-2048
News: Contact the main office or news
staff member closest to you, send the in-
formation to newsroom@capitalpress.com
or mail it to “Newsroom,” c/o Capital Press.
Include a contact telephone number.
Molalla Buckeroo Rodeo, 815
Shirley St., Molalla, Ore. The Mo-
lalla Buckeroo Rodeo has been an
Oregon tradition since September
1913. 503-829-8388. Website:
http://www.molallabuckeroo.com/
Letters to the Editor: Send your
comments on agriculture-related public
issues to opinions@capitalpress.com, or
mail your letter to “Opinion,” c/o Capital
Press. Letters should be limited to
300 words. Deadline: Noon Monday.
Thursday-Sunday
July 6-9
Capital Press ag media
Marion County Fair. Oregon
State Fairgrounds, 2330 17th St.
NE, Salem, Ore. Website: http://
www.co.marion.or.us/CS/Fair
Friday-Saturday
July 7-8
Idaho State Ram Sale. Twin
Falls County Fair Grounds,
215 Fair Ave., Filer, Idaho. The
“Suffolk Show of the West” be-
gins at 6 p.m. Friday and con-
tinues at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
For more information, call 208-
344-2271 or email idahowool@
gmail.com Website: idahowool.
org
Friday, July 14-
Sunday, July 30
California State Fair. 10 a.m.-
10 p.m. Cal Expo Center, 1600
Exposition Blvd., Sacramento,
Calif. Website: www.castatefair.
org/
Saturday, July 15
Washington State Sheep Pro-
ducers Ram and Ewe Sale. 1:30-
6 p.m. Grant County Fairgrounds,
3953 Airway Drive NE, Moses
Lake, Wash. For questions, call
509-200-2112. Email: wssp@
gmx.com
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Index
California ...............................11
Idaho ...................................... 9
Markets ............................... 13
Opinion .................................. 6
Oregon ................................ 10
Washington ........................... 7
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