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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (July 21, 2022)
10 | SPRING RAIN | WALLOWA COUNTY Damp spring leaves growers optimistic about hay crop By JEFF BUDLONG AND BILL BRADSHAW Wallowa County Chieftain W ALLOWA COUNTY — The recent run of rain combined with steadily increasing temperatures has many ranchers and farmers feeling good. But for a group that has battled the extremes in recent years, they are remaining cautiously optimistic. “We bank up feed this time of year, and to have moisture and cool weather to pro- vide for sustained growth between late May and early June really set us up for the year,” said Todd Nash, a Wallowa County rancher and president of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association. “From my side of the fence, and the cattle’s side of the fence, it could rain all summer as far as I am concerned.” The spring moisture helped ease the con- cerns of ranchers and farmers who endured cold weather that slowed the growth of for- age in April and May. snow falling in the mountains even into early June, the snowpack is strong and will lessen the burden on those who rely on melt- ing snow to irrigate their fi elds and pas- tures. Nash said that hauling water for live- “I DON’T THINK ANYBODY’S COMPLAINING ABOUT EXTRA MOISTURE. IT’S BEEN A BLESSING BOTH FOR THE STOCKGROWERS AND US.” — Mark Butterield, chairman, Wallowa County Hay Growers “The forage has bust loose and it is won- derful to have it again because we were without last year,” said Nash, noting the extremely hot, dry summer of 2021, which included record-breaking heat in late June. This year, by contrast, with signifi cant Despite the abundance of forage that has grown, it can come with a downside. When it begins to dry in July and August, it brings the all too familiar threat of wildfi re with it, Nash said. Nash said the moisture is a benefi t for Wallowa County farmers because their crops tend to be harvested later than in neighboring counties, but he has heard some concerns of crop rust, plant diseases caused by pathogenic fungi. Making hay stock will be unnecessary unlike the past few years, unless it is a common practice for a rancher. “(Hauling water) is not a normal practice for Wallowa County,” he said. “It only hap- pens in extreme years.” With the faucet fi nally slowing down at the end of June, and warmer temperatures arriving, farmers who grow alfalfa and timo- thy grass were able to get their fi rst cutting in. See Hay, Page 15 Cattle graze in a pasture below a farmhouse along Dobbin Road south of Enterprise on Thursday, June 23, 2022. Bill Bradshaw/Wallowa County Chieftain
