Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Capital press. (Salem, OR) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 31, 2018)
2 CapitalPress.com August 31, 2018 People & Places HARVESTER BOOSTS BROCCOLI Ron Pearmine hopes mechanical harvester will help growers, crop Western Innovator By GEORGE PLAVEN Capital Press GERVAIS, Ore. — Ron Pearmine describes himself as a “broccoli ambassador” for the Willamette Valley. This year, Pearmine is growing 175 acres of broc- coli at his family’s farm in Gervais, Ore. But the crop, while desirable, has declined significantly in the area due to labor shortages and rising production costs. Broccoli is harvested today almost exclusively by hand, with crews of about 20 people going over fields two or three times to maximize yields. Without enough workers, lo- cal farmers are growing just half as much broccoli as they were six years ago, according to NORPAC Foods, a farmers’ cooperative and food proces- sor based in Salem. Ever the engineer — he has a bachelor’s degree in computer science engineering — Pearmine began tinkering with machinery to come up with a solution. He created a mechanical harvester out of a 1976 Chisholm-Ryder bean picker that he believes could promote increased acreage, while replacing hand crews entirely. “I’m excited about it,” Pearmine said. “It does create a new opportunity for brocco- li here in the valley.” Pearmine’s goal is to machine-harvest 80 acres of broccoli at his farm this season. Other growers have also shown interest, allowing Pearmine to harvest several smaller plots in their fields. On Aug. 2, Pearmine mounted the harvester and began a trial run at Obersin- ner Farms on Howell Prairie Ron Pearmine Age: 68 Occupation: Farmer, Pearmine Farms Hometown: Gervais, Ore. Family: Wife, Pat, and kids Ernie, Molly, Alli and Grey George Plaven/Capital Press Ron Pearmine, of Pearmine Farms, tries out his mechanical broccoli harvester at Obersinner Farms near Silverton, Ore., filling large crates with broccoli bound for NORPAC Foods. between Salem and Silverton. It took 20 minutes to make one pass down a quarter-acre row, filling four large wooden crates with broccoli bound for NORPAC. “It works. It’s effective,” Pearmine said. “We could pick our broccoli mechanical- ly if we choose to. It’s a viable option.” ‘The big fail’ Pearmine is not the first to conceive of a mechanical broccoli harvester — though nothing has been developed so far that’s widely used com- mercially. Pearmine was inspired to come up with his own design after a trip to Case Equipment Manufacturing in North Da- kota, where he saw robots welding parts for machinery. If robots can weld, then he figured they can also pick broccoli. The first attempt came in 2013, or what Pearmine calls “the big fail.” Nothing about that system worked right, he said, and the setback lin- gered for several years before he went back to the drawing board. “I have an engineering brain, I guess you could say,” Pearmine said with a chuckle. By sheer innovation — or insanity, as Pearmine jokes — he assembled a working prototype last year by rigging the old bean picker with three rows of spinning blades in front, similar to a corn har- vester. Once cut, the broccoli is carried up a conveyor belt over a series of metal rollers that pinch off the leaves and dropped into bins on a flat trailer. Pearmine gave a presen- tation on the harvester at a NORPAC grower meeting in December 2017, where he caught the attention of fellow growers like Tom Fessler, of Fessler Farms in Woodburn, who agreed to participate in field trials. “There’s been talk we need to move in that direction,” Fessler said. “Ron took the bull by the horns, and devel- oped a machine.” Crop uniformity From a technical stand- point, Fessler said the harvest- er works well. The problem: It cuts everything at once, though broccoli often does not mature at the same rate. That means potentially sacrificing yield with machine harvesting, for the sake of ef- ficiency. “You’re going to have some (plants) that are slight- ly over-mature, some that are just right and quite a few that are on the small side, based on our experience right now,” Fessler said. Pearmine acknowledges that, unless broccoli fields are uniform in maturity, the har- vester has its drawbacks. “That’s part of the reason why I want to get it out, so guys can have that experi- ence,” Pearmine said. “How much do you want to give up on yield? If you don’t want to give up anything, you’ll con- tinue picking by hand.” Pearmine is nonetheless bullish that mechanical har- vesting will eventually prove to be a boon for the industry, reversing the trend of lost acreage brought on by mount- ing labor shortages. Labor costs Randy Lyons, vice presi- dent of agriculture services for NORPAC, said fewer work- ers combined with Oregon’s rising minimum wage have Education: Bachelor’s degree in computer science engineering, Oregon State University, 1972 ing expenses related to her treatment. Her mother, Jen- ny Thomas, said she doesn’t have words to describe how grateful she is for the “unbe- lievable” show of support. “Anyone who has had a sick child knows the kind of bills that come, and I’ve had to miss a lot of work,” she said. The lamb didn’t start out as a fundraising idea. Maddy just wanted to participate in a “normal” activity after finally finding a cancer treatment that was working and she was re- gaining some of her strength. She got Henry in May and began walking, feeding and grooming him. “I liked him because he liked to head butt me and he was always playful,” Maddy said. “I liked walking him around the house.” Jenny said the exercise was so good for Maddy — us- ing muscles she hadn’t used in months and giving her an incentive to stay outdoors — that doctors told her she could drop her occupation- al and physical therapy. She lost some of the weight that steroids in her treatment had caused her to gain, and color returned to her cheeks. “He gave her a purpose,” Jenny said. 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. Write “Calendar” in the subject line. Fair & Trade Show. Holiday Inn, Portland Airport, 8439 NE Colum- bia Blvd. Portland, Ore. The world’s largest trade show in the Christmas tree industry. Members have market exposure at the Tree Fair and Trade Show, where buyers and sellers meet. It also features industry equip- ment and supplies on display. Cost: $19-$29 Website: www.pnwcta.org Tuesday-Wednesday Sept. 18-19 Through Monday Sept. 3 Tuesday, Sept. 11 EO Media Group HERMISTON, Ore. — Henry the lamb might just be the most valuable lamb in history. When Maddy Thomas, an 11-year-old 4-H student from Echo, showed him at the Umatilla County Fair his sale brought in $23,200 — total- ing about $162 per pound at an auction where lambs were averaging $7 per pound. The auction marked the one-year anniversary of Mad- dy’s diagnosis of a brain tu- mor, and the money will go to help her family cover continu- driven the decline in broccoli production from 2,000 acres in 2012 to just 1,000 acres this year. To make up the difference, Lyons said the co-op is buying twice as much broccoli from Mexico to use in its line of soups and frozen vegetables. NORPAC is excited about the potential of Pearmine’s har- vester, Lyons added, though crop quality will be the ulti- mate test. “We’re working with him real closely to make sure what he’s bringing into the plant, we can make the best use of,” Lyons said. “It has to be as good as what’s in the market- place, or better.” In addition to NORPAC, Pearmine said he has received support from Wilco and Mar- ion Ag Services. After har- vest, he intends to compare machine-harvested yields to those of hand crews, and con- tinue working with partners to fine-tune the system. “People are interested. They’re supportive, and they’re excited,” Pearmine said. “It creates a new future, I think, for NORPAC and broc- coli.” Oregon State Fair. Oregon State Fair and Exposition Center, 2330 17th St. NE, Salem, Ore. https://or- egonstatefair.org/ Through Saturday Sept. 8 Eastern Idaho State Fair. Eastern Idaho State Fairgrounds, 97 Park St., Blackfoot, Idaho. Website: https://fun atthefair.com/ Through Sunday Sept. 23 Washington State Fair. 110 Ninth Ave. SW, Puyallup, Wash. Website: www.thefair.com/ Tuesday, Thursday Sept. 4, 6 Meat School 2018. 5:30-9 p.m. OSU Southern Oregon Research & Extension Center, Auditorium, 569 Hanley Road, Central Point, Ore. Friday-Saturday Sept. 7-8 60th Annual Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Association Tree Meat School 2018. 5:30-9 p.m. OSU Southern Oregon Research & Extension Center, Auditorium, 569 Hanley Road, Central Point, Ore. The fourth session of a series on producing and marketing grass-fed and grass-finished meat animals. The program covers cattle, sheep and goats. Details: https://exten- sion.oregonstate.edu/sorec/events/ grass-finished-meat-school-class- 1-5-part-series. Class 5, Sept. 18. Each class is 5:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18 Oregon Farm Bureau Classic Golf Tourney. 1 p.m. Stone Creek Golf Club, 14603 S. Stoneridge Drive, Oregon City, Ore. Contact: tiffany@oregonfb.org Meat School 2018. 5:30-9 p.m. OSU Southern Oregon Research & Extension Center, Auditorium, 569 Hanley Road, Central Point, Ore. The fifth session of a five-evening class series on producing and mar- keting grass-fed and grass-finished meat animals. Details: https://exten- sion.oregonstate.edu/sorec/events/ grass-finished-meat-school-class-1- 5-part-series. Saturday, Sept. 22 Hood River Hops Fest. Noon-8 p.m. Columbia Lot, Fifth and Co- lumbia, Hood River, Ore. The Hood River Hops Fest is an annual cele- bration of beer’s bitter friend, freshly harvested hops. Hood River County is surrounded by world-renowned hop growing regions, and since 2003 brewers have gathered each Sep- tember in downtown Hood River to share their fresh-hop beer creations. The family-friendly event features more than 50 breweries with more than 60 fresh-hop beers, plus a va- riety of food vendors, live music, and an awesome collectible mug. Web- site: http://hoodriver.org/hops-fest/ Friday-Sunday Oct. 12-14 Hood River Valley Harvest Fest. 1-6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat- urday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Hood River Event Site, North of Exit 63 off Interstate 84, Hood River, Ore. Celebrate Hood River’s harvest season. Presented by Pacific Pow- er and produced by the Hood River County Chamber of Commerce. Corporate Officers Heidi Wright Chief Operating Officer Rick Hansen Chief Financial Officer Capital Press Managers Joe Beach ..................Editor & Publisher Elizabeth Yutzie Sell .... Advertising Director Carl Sampson ................Managing Editor Jessica Boone ........ Production Manager Samantha McLaren .... Circulation Manager Entire contents copyright © 2018 EO Media Group dba Capital Press Capital Press (ISSN 0740-3704) is published weekly by EO Media Group, 1400 Broadway St. NE, Salem OR 97301. Periodicals postage paid at Portland, OR, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Capital Press, P.O. Box 2048 Salem, OR 97308-2048. To Reach Us Circulation ......................... 800-882-6789 Email ........ Circulation@capitalpress.com Main line ........................... 503-364-4431 Fax ................................... 503-370-4383 Advertising Fax ................ 503-364-2692 News Staff Idaho Carol Ryan Dumas .......... 208-860-3898 Boise Brad Carlson .................... 208-914-8264 Cent. Washington Dan Wheat ........................ 509-699-9099 W. Washington Don Jenkins ...................... 360-722-6975 E Washington Matthew Weaver .............. 509-688-9923 Oregon George Plaven ................. 406-560-1655 Mateusz Perkowski .......... 800-882-6789 Graphic artist Alan Kenaga ..................... 800-882-6789 To Place Classified Ads Ad fax .............................. 503-364-2692 or ...................................... 503-370-4383 Telephone (toll free) .......... 800-882-6789 Online ......www.capitalpress.com/classifieds Subscriptions Mail rates paid in advance Easy Pay U.S. $3.75/month (direct with- drawal from bank or credit card account) 1 year U.S. ...................................$49.99 2 years U.S. .................................$89.99 1 year Canada .................................$275 1 year other countries ......... call for quote 1 year Internet only .......................$49.99 1 year 4-H, FFA students and teachers ....$30 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. Courtesy of Marie Linnell Maddy Thomas, 11, with her market lamb, Henry, during the Uma- tilla County Fair Livestock Auction. The lamb brought in $23.200. Calendar Safety and Health in the Can- nabis Industry. Riverhouse, 3075 N. Highway 97, Bend, Ore. Topics for growers include OLCC require- ments, grow operations, extraction methods, fire regulations, worker protection and Oregon OSHA con- sultation services. Website: osha. oregon.gov/conferences Established 1928 Board of Directors Mike Forrester Steve Forrester Kathryn Brown Susan Rana Harrison Forrester Mike Omeg Cory Bollinger Jeff Rogers An independent newspaper published every Friday. Auction of lamb raises $23,200 for special 11-year-old By JADE MCDOWELL Capital Press This old-fashioned fall festival brings together more than 120 vendors of- fering local produce and food prod- ucts, plus arts and crafts, wine, cider and beer tastings. Held along the scenic Hood River waterfront, this is the Columbia River Gorge’s biggest celebration of the region’s incredible fall bounty. Website: http://hoodriver. org/harvest-fest/ Tuesday-Wednesday Oct. 23-24 Nutrient Management Con- ference. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Embassy Suites, 1441 Canyon Del Rey, Sea- side, Calif. The agenda will focus on the latest FREP-funded research results and practical applications of fertilizing materials for agricultural production in the state of California. Grower, CCA, and PCA credits will be requested. Website: https://www. cdfa.ca.gov/Is/ffldrs/frep/FREPCon- ference.html Friday-Sunday Nov. 9-11 Tilth Conference. Davenport Grand Hotel, 333 Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane, Wash. Tilth Con- ference brings together hundreds of farmers, producers, researchers and food system professionals for a weekend of learning, building rela- tionships and sharing best practices for growing a healthy food system The speakers will include Mai Nguy- en, who grows heirloom, ethnic grains in Sonoma, Calif., and is the California Organizer for the National Young Farmers Coalition, and Audra Mulkern, the founder of “The Female Farmer Project,” a documentary project chronicling the rise of wom- en working in agriculture. Website: www.tilthalliance.org Friday, Nov. 16 Denim and Diamonds Dinner Auction, 5-10 p.m. Salem Conven- tion Center, 200 Commercial St. SE, Salem, Ore. Oregon Aglink hosts Denim & Diamonds, an awards din- ner and auction, which raises funds for the Cultivating Common Ground initiative, ultimately supporting all of Aglink’s programs like Adopt a Farm- er and telling ag’s story. This event serves to recognize those who have gone above and beyond in advocat- ing the importance of agriculture to the economic, environmental and social well-being of the state of Ore- gon. Website: http://www.aglink.org/ event/denim-diamonds/ Wednesday-Friday Nov. 28-30 Washington Small Fruit Confer- ence & Lynden Ag Show. NW Wash- ington Fairgrounds, 1775 Front St., Lynden, Wash. The Washington Small Fruit Conference is a three- day conference with the latest rele- vant research information delivered by the scientists performing the re- search. Lunches each day are pro- vided. This conference is presented in association with the Lynden Ag Show, a trade show featuring ven- dors serving the small fruit commu- nity. Website: www.wasmallfruit.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. Capital Press ag media www.capitalpress.com www.FarmSeller.com marketplace.capitalpress.com www.facebook.com/capitalpress www.facebook.com/farmseller twitter.com/capitalpress www.youtube.com/capitalpressvideo Correction policy Accuracy is important to Capital Press staff and to our readers. If you see a misstatement, omission or factual error in a headline, story or photo caption, please call the Capital Press news department at 503-364-4431, or send email to newsroom@capitalpress.com. We want to publish corrections to set the record straight. Correction The first name of Chad Hig- gins, a professor at Oregon State University’s Biological and Environmental Engineer- ing program, was incorrect in a story on Page 10 of last week’s editions. The Capital Press regrets the error.