Wallowa County Chieftain
wallowa.com
News
March 18, 2015
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Melvilles seek to carry on a family farming legacy
“We grow wheat. Wheat legacy from his father and a joy of farming in seven
that
represents
locally grandfather. Both of Tim’s grandchildren inspires our
grown, family farmers,” said sons, Kurt and Kevin, have progress into the future.”
Tim and wife Audry began
For more information
Shepherd’s Grain co-found- followed the farming path.
experimenting with direct
er Fred Fleming. “By pur- 1RZD¿IWKJHQHUDWLRQZDLWV about Cornerstone Farms, call
seeding in the 1970s, shortly
chasing [our] products not in the wings. Establishing a 541-398-0166 or visit their
after establishing their own
only do you become a food sound business, progressive website: www.cornerstone-
proprietorship not far from
activist, you also become a practices, conservation and farmsjv.com.
where Audry’s family home-
disciple to save the family
steaded in the 1880s. Accord-
farm.”
ing to Kurt, when very early
Other associations Cor-
Thank You Wallowa County Farmers & Ranchers!
on, the family witnessed the
nerstone Farms works with
disastrous effects of a down-
to promote growers’ inter-
SRXURQDMXVWFXOWLYDWHG¿HOG
ests, research, and collab-
Jennifer Hobbs photo
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oration include: The Food
(which emerged unscathed) it Kurt Melville explains how a commercial no-till seed drill $OOLDQFH 3DFL¿F 1RUWKZHVW
works. The family will likely soon replace this machine with Direct Seed Association, Co-
“sealed the deal.”
No-till requires more a low disturbance drill that looks similar, but leaves a nearly lumbia Basin Agricultural
management and crop rota- invisible footprint on the field.
Research Center, and Ore-
tion in order to limit disease
gon Wheat Growers League.
and pest issues, but the long-
Much
of
what
the
Mel-
But at the end of the day, the
For more
term aim is to reduce the
villes grow is sold as seed; most important relationships
information
need for “inputs” (agricultur-
Cornerstone Farms is also to the Melvilles are found at
Call: Cornerstone Farms,
al chemicals) by increasing
D FHUWL¿HG VHHG ZDUHKRXVH home.
541-398-0166
the health — and diversity
According to Kurt Melville,
“The greatest farming
Old Fashioned
Website: www.corner-
— of the soil.
many criteria must be met to legacy is one that can be left
311 W. Main Street
stonefarmsjv.com.
“Back in the ’80s, Dad
qualify for seed production. for our future generations,”
Values
Enterprise, Oregon
just did wheat and barley,”
Producers have to go through states the Cornerstone Farms,
541-426-2100
said Kurt. “Now we have
VWULFWFHUWL¿FDWLRQDQGLQVSHF J.V. site. “Tim received that
peas, mustard, Timothy hay, the energy consumed by the tion processes, but there is
alfalfa, canola and others in operation.
also a higher value placed on
Keeping the farm going the end product.
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intensive from a manage- through the years has includ-
The Melvilles have culti-
ment standpoint, but direct ed leasing and renting land in vated both local and regional
seeding has already been addition to what they own, as partnerships in an effort to
widely adopted in many well as creating custom farm- keep costs down and max-
countries with zero govern- ing and harvesting services. imize value-add in every-
ment subsidies. I think that’s These and other strategies thing they produce. One key
proof that this is the most allow them to leverage their partnership Tim Melville
cost-effective way as well as resources in a market that highlights is with Shepherd’s
RIWHQ KDV YHU\ VOHQGHU SUR¿W Grain. Cornerstone Farm is
better ecologically.”
The family has embraced margins.
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the advantages of evolving
“The cost of machinery tainable growers who raise
technology. For example, and land continues to go up wheat for the Spokane-based
global positioning systems faster than the commodity mill whose goal is to produce
are installed in many of the that we are producing goes a high-quality product that
Open 7 Days
farm’s implements to allow up,” said son Kevin Melville, fosters a strong connection
a Week
precise placement and appli- who manages approximately between producer and con-
cation of seed and fertilizer; 1,000 irrigated acres under K sumer. A person who pur-
CLASSES
these devices prevent waste & K Farms, LLC. “Change is FKDVHV D EDJ RI ÀRXU IURP
& RETREATS
and over-application that always hard no matter what Shepherd’s Grain can use the
could happen due to driver you’re doing, but you have serial number on the package
Fabulous Fabrics:
error. There are also several to be willing to diversify to to discover which farm grew
Batiks • Westerns
solar projects on site to offset make it work.”
the crop it came from.
CattleCountryQuilts.com • 541-432-6669
Continued from Page A8
Sales & Service
Proudly
supporting our
local farmers
and ranchers!
Wildlifes
Heritage Plaza • 203 N. Main Street Joseph Florals • Notions
Continued from Page A8
2005). Grazing continues to to be a major part of Wallowa
be a major part of the Wallowa County’s economy and com-
as being A.C. Smith. Yet, one County economy and social munity. With wise management
RIWKH¿UVWLQGLYLGXDOVWRUHF structure. The livestock indus- of the land, the collaboration of
ognize Wallowa County for try still produces approximately the local managers of the fed-
its value as grazing land was 50% of the agricultural money eral lands and the knowledge
James Tulley in 1871.
in Wallowa County. Agricul- of local land owners/managers;
ture accounts for approximately FDWWOH UDQFKLQJ ZLOO EH SUR¿W
An Era of Legislation
19% of the county’s income.
able and sustainable.
The 1992 listing of the
Change is inevitable, but
Tidbits were compiled from
Snake River Chinook Salm- with the perseverance that Wal- the Wallowa County OSU Ex-
RQ ZDV WKH ¿UVW OLVWLQJ RI DQ lowa County stockmen have WHQVLRQ 6HUYLFH 2I¿FH¶V ZHE
DQDGURPRXV ¿VK LQ WKH 8QLW shown for over a century, the site, www.extension.oregon-
ed States, and spotlighted ar- livestock industry will continue state.edu/wallowa
eas with the salmon. Wallowa
County happened to be one of
those areas.
1910s
1940s
1970s
2000s
Current Situation
Sheep 300,000 65,000 15,000
1,500
Over 60% ownership of
cattle operations is at least
Beef
18,000 28,000 26,000 27,000
two generations old (Williams,
Animal Counts
Proudly supporting agriculture in Wallowa County!
- Concrete
- Pit Run
- Fill Material
- Sand
- Top Soil
- Crushed Rock
- 3/4", 1.5", 3"
Delivered or U-Haul - Washed Rock
541-426-0240
- 1.5", 3/4", 3/8"
68088 Lewiston Hwy • 3 miles north of Enterprise
Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm
Did You Know...
You should remove the leafy green tops
from radishes, beets, turnips, and carrots
before refrigerating.
The greens pull moisture from the
vegetables causing them to lose freshness.
If you’re going to use the greens, wrap
and refrigerate them seperately.
Email questions and thoughts to
sherri4@myfrontiermail.com
Currie’s Farm Direct Market
FOR
IRRIGATION
SUPPLIES
38036+26(6),77,1*6&877+5($'3,3(68&7,21/$<)/$7+26(675$,1(566&5((16
&$0/2&.),77,1*69$/9(65,6(56635,1./(5667$1'6<$5':$//+<'5$176
Your Local
Source For
Open Friday and Saturdays
8am to 3pm in Joseph (next to laundromat)
208 S RIVER STREET
ENTERPRISE
541-426-3344
www.jbbane.com
CCB#187543
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We all depend on agriculture. Around here agriculture
is the engine that makes our economy go. When something’s
good for agriculture, it’s good for our community. We would
like to take this opportunity to thank our area farmers,
ranchers, & producers for all they do to make our
area a better place to live.
Enterprise Branch • 101 Hogan Street • 541-426-4205
Serving Wallowa County agriculture since 1954.