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2 CapitalPress.com June 12, 2015 People & Places Researcher focuses on ‘Ag of the Middle’ Amanda Oborne looks for ways to help medium-size farm operations Western Innovator By ERIC MORTENSON Amanda Oborne Capital Press PORTLAND — Amanda Oborne raised some eyebrows — and a lot of interest — as lead author and editor of the “Oregon Food Infrastructure Gap Analysis.” The report by Ecotrust, a Portland nonprofit, takes a deep look at the problems holding back Oregon’s “Ag of the Middle” — producers too big to survive by selling only at farmers’ markets or to CSAs, but too small to com- pete in commodities markets. Oborne, who is vice pres- ident of food and farms for Ecotrust, demonstrated in the report that many mid-sized producers spend so much time picking, packing, label- ing and distributing that they don’t have time to grow their businesses. At the same time, many students, prisoners, hospital patients and assisted living or nursing home residents don’t Occupation: Vice president of food and farms for Ecotrust, a Portland nonprofit. In the news because: Lead Eric Mortenson/Capital Press Amanda Oborne, lead author of a report on Oregon’s “Ag of the Middle,” says market infrastructure improvements will benefit mid-sized producers. have access to local, mini- mally processed, sustainably produced food because the economies of scale push it out of their price range. Expanding on one of the report’s themes, Oborne said institutions have “massive purchasing power” that could bring more nutritious food to thousands of low-income and vulnerable people. “That purchasing power, if harnessed even a little bit for the benefit of the local econo- my, would have huge impacts on the regional food system,” Oborne said by email. “These are not Whole Foods Market shoppers. The most direct route to getting good, nu- trient-dense food to them is via those food service opera- tions.” She said larger producers can adjust operations to di- vert some production to local markets, but it’s in our interest to help small farmers grow as well. “I believe having a broad base of people who know how to produce food is going to matter in the long run,” she said. “Feeding ourselves has guided the course of human history. Those societies who can do it well are resilient, those who can’t are at risk. For that reason alone, I think letting food production be- come an abstraction is a dan- gerous path. “I don’t think all small producers should get big,” Oborne said, “but I hope those that want to can get the sup- port they need.” author and editor of “Oregon Food Infrastructure Gap Analysis.” http://www.ecotrust. org/publication/regional-food-in- frastructure/ Personal: Age 41, mom to Olivia, 10, and Hudson, 8. Cheerfully describes her food preference as an “omnivore without a dilemma.” Background: Holds an undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis, and a master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Com- munications from Northwestern University. Grew up spending summers visiting Oregon rela- tives, moved here in 2006. Professional: Joined Ecotrust in 2010, first working as sales and marketing director of Food- Hub, an online service that links producers and buyers. Lamb and wool show features youths’ efforts By JAN JACKSON Online For the Capital Press TURNER, Ore. — Parents, teachers and children of all ages focused on sheep during the 78th annual Marion County Lamb and Wool Show on June 6. Originally started in 1937 so local farmers could show their sheep, the event morphed into a family friendly educa- tional experience that focuses on youth. The 2015 show included about 40 Peewees (pre-4-H), 4-H and FFA kids who showed 70 registered and commercial ewes and feeder and market lambs. Sheep grower Kraig Ohling, of Shedd, Ore., considers the event a family tradition. “I started as a judge in 1972,” Ohling said. “My chil- www.marioncountylamband- woolshow.yolasite.com Jan Jackson/For the Capital Press Nine-year-old Jackie Leao of Silverton, Ore., communes with her lamb after winning second place in the showmanship event at the Marion County Lamb and Wool Show on June 6 in Turner, Ore. dren and grandchildren have shown their lambs here and to- day I’m watching my 5-year-old great-grandson show a sheep he owns. It is a great experience for these young people. It teaches them responsibility, helps them learn how to deal with the public as well as helps them get ready to show at their county fairs.” Andrea Leao, an Oregon State University 4-H coordina- tor from Silverton, Ore., was there watching her four daugh- ters — ages 3, 7, 9 and 12 — show their family market lambs. “It is particularly good for my 9-year-old daughter, Jackie, who is an autistic special needs student,” Leao said. “Also a member of Silver Adventures Livestock 4-H Club, the pro- gram gives her a place where she can compete with peers when academics and sports are not as easy for her. She entered this year for the first time and she was really excited to have her lamb take a second place in showmanship.” Jula Galvin, the event coor- dinator who has been volunteer- ing for the event since her chil- dren participated in 2003, was pleased with this year’s show and even more encouraged about its future. “We are seeing more young peewees coming up and their parents are becoming more in- volved,” Galvin said. “This year’s judges were impressed with the quality of the lambs that were shown Saturday and said there was a large number that were of the quality that could have gone to market that very day.” Norway students see U.S. forestry and Christmas tree industries operate By MITCH LIES For the Capital Press BANKS, Ore. — Eighteen college forestry students from Norway visited a Banks, Ore., Christmas tree farm June 3 as part of a two-week stint here to study Northwest farm and for- estry practices. The students, mostly se- niors, peppered farm owner Mark Schmidlin with questions: How many trees does he plant per acre, they wanted to know. What percentage of the trees make top grade? How much fertilizer does he add and when? How does he harvest the trees? How long does it take to produce a Christmas tree? How does he process and transport them? From the Norwegian Uni- versity of Life Sciences, the students were primarily inter- ested in forestry operations, but also wanted to see a Christmas tree farm. Tour organizer, Olav Hoibo, who is spending a year’s sabbatical at the College of For- estry at Oregon State University, called Schmidlin and arranged the stop. Two of the students, includ- ing Lars Raaen, said their fam- ilies are involved in Christmas tree production. And, according to Raaen, many Norwegian families decorate their homes each holiday season with a Christmas tree. “Christmas trees are as big in Norway as they are here,” Raaen said. Among forestry stops, the students visited forest products operations in British Columbia, Washington and Oregon. Birger Eikenes, a forest tech- nology professor at the Norwe- gian university and one of three professors to make the trip, said Mitch Lies/For the Capital Press Banks, Ore., farmer Mark Schmidlin tells college students from Norway, who are touring Northwest forestry and farm operations, how the Northwest Christmas tree industry processes and transports trees. The students are spending two weeks in the Northwest. the students already knew a lot about U.S. forest products prac- tices. “But it is another thing to go and see with your own eyes,” he said. “They wanted to go out and see how forestry is done in other places,” Eikenes said. “We wanted to see how things are done on the other side of the water,” said Terje Olav Ryd, “and see if it is as big as we expected. We always hear that everything is bigger in America. “It is,” he said. The students were next headed to Northern California to view Sequoia trees and Coastal redwoods, Eikenes said. “There is nothing that size in Norway,” Eikenes said, noting that trees in Norway are more similar in size to East Coast trees. Of course, there are a lot of similarities between the two countries, the students said, in- cluding environmental regula- tions. “We have a lot of environ- mental rules that will shut down areas for a while,” said Ingebord Anker-Rasch. Also, she said, like here, the industry has mechanized its harvest in recent years, and is recovering from a lengthy eco- nomic downturn. Forestry Shortcourse, 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. West Bonner Library, Priest River, Idaho, 208-446-1680. This 6-session program will help forest owners understand ecology, silvi- culture, wildlife and other topics. Saturday, June 13 Rickreall Gun Show, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Polk County Fair Grounds, Rickreall, Ore., 50.-62.-.048. Sunday, June 14 Rickreall Gun Show continues, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. Polk County Fair Grounds, Rickreall, Ore., 50.-62.-.048. Monday, June 15 Purchasing and Owning Rural and Established 1928 Board of directors Mike Forrester ..........................President Steve Forrester Kathryn Brown Sid Freeman .................. Outside director Mike Omeg .................... Outside director Corporate officer John Perry Chief operating officer Capital Press Managers Mike O’Brien .............................Publisher Joe Beach ..................................... Editor Elizabeth Yutzie Sell .... Advertising Director Carl Sampson ................Managing Editor Barbara Nipp ......... Production Manager Samantha McLaren .... Circulation Manager Entire contents copyright © 2015 EO Media Group dba Capital Press An independent newspaper published every Friday. Capital Press (ISSN 0740-.704) is published weekly by EO Media Group, 1400 Broadway St. NE, Salem OR 97.01. 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Box 2048 Salem, OR 97.08-2048 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. 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 .00 words. Deadline: Noon Monday. Capital Press ag media www.capitalpress.com www.FarmSeller.com www.AgDirectoryWest.com www.OnlyAg.com www.facebook.com/capitalpress www.facebook.com/farmseller www.facebook.com/onlyAGdotcom twitter.com/capitalpress www.youtube.com/capitalpressvideo www.blogriculture.com Index Calendar Friday, June 12 Capital Press Small Farm Property, 5: .0-8:.0 p.m. Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center, Central Point, Ore., 541-776-7.71. June 15, 22 and 29. Get the facts about wells, septic systems, zoning require- ments and limitations, special as- sessments, water and soil needs, farm product marketing restrictions and water rights. Single attendance $45. Bring spouse or partner for additional 50 cents. Register online at http://extension.oregonstate.edu/ sorec/farms. Call 541-776-7.71, ext. 208. Friday, June 19 Forestry Shortcourse, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. West Bonner Library, Priest River, Idaho, 208-446-1680. Saturday, June 20 Humane Chicken Processing Sem- inar, 10 a.m.-2: .0 p.m. Oakville Regional Event Center, Oakville, Wash., .60-858-1.17. This seminar will describe humane methods for processing chickens using equipment that can be rented from the county extension office. Wednesday, June 24 Importance of Beneficial Insects on the Farm, 1-5 p.m. Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center, Central Point, Ore., 541- 776-7.71. Instructor: Gwendolyn Ellen, Integrated Plant Protection Center, Oregon State University. This class will cover the basics of agricultural biodiversity and how you can increase it. Also covered will be information on habitat and practices Northwest farmers use to keep beneficial insects (including native pollinators) on the farm. Class includes a tour of flowering plants and beneficial insects on the farm. Register online at http://extension. oregonstate.edu/sorec/farms Friday, June 26 Forestry Shortcourse, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. West Bonner Library, Priest River, Idaho, 208-446-1680. Tuesday, June 30 Poplar for Biofuels field tour, 10: .0 a.m. -1 p.m. Hayden Demonstration Site, Hayden, Idaho, 25.-241- 504.. Learn about the latest biofuel and biochemical devel- opments in the Pacific North- west. Topics include growing hybrid poplar as a short rotation woody energy crop; sustainable production and environmental impacts on soil water and wildlife; best areas to develop biofuel and biochemical industries; and biomass production tour highlighting operational and research poplar plots. Friday, July 3 Forestry Shortcourse, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. West Bonner Library, Priest River, Idaho, 208-446-1680. California ...............................11 Dairy .................................... 14 Drought ................................. 4 Idaho .................................... 10 Markets ............................... 16 Opinion .................................. 6 Oregon .................................. 8 Washington ........................... 9 Correction In a story last week on Page . about brothers Ebin Barnett, Ben Prindle and Matthew Prindle, makers of Thinksect cricket flour and the Entobar, the source of the crickets was incorrect. The crickets are raised in Thailand. The Capital Press regrets the error.