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August 28, 2015 CapitalPress.com 9 Oregon Judge says ‘no’ to motorized vehicles for juniper removal in wilderness Nearly 80,000 acres declared off-limits for helping sage grouse recovery By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI Capital Press A federal judge has ruled that it’s unlawful to use mo- torized vehicles to remove ju- niper from nearly 80,000 acres in the vicinity of Oregon’s Steens Mountain. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is cutting juniper from roughly 336,000 acres in the Steens Mountain Co- operative Management Area because the trees are crowding out native vegetation. Juniper removal is import- ant to ranchers because it’s expected to prevent further population declines of the sage grouse, a candidate for Endan- gered Species Act protection. If the bird is listed as threat- ened or endangered, ranchers fear further restrictions on cat- tle grazing in its habitat. U.S. District Judge Garr King has now ruled that us- ing motorized vehicles with- in “wilderness study areas” is prohibited by a federal law that governs management of the Steens Mountain area. The BLM argued that there’s an exception to the ve- hicle ban for “administrative purposes” — including juni- per removal — but King sided with the Oregon Natural Des- ert Association, which filed a lawsuit against the practice. The judge said that BLM was interpreting the “administrative purposes” language too broadly. “The BLM’s interpretation places no limit on what falls in the category of ‘administra- tive,’” he said. “BLM — as the agency charged with imple- menting Congress’ enactments — could call any activity ‘ad- ministrative’ since its job is to ‘administer’ the laws.” Supporters of juniper re- moval worry that the ruling will complicate activities within the 79,600 acres des- ignated as “wilderness study areas” inside the project’s boundaries. John O’Keefe, presi- dent-elect of the Oregon Cat- tlemen’s Association, said the task of removing juniper from enormous swaths of land is difficult enough without oner- ous restrictions on equipment. “We’ve got to use the most efficient means we can. These laws can be problematic from time to time,” he said. It’s unfortunate ONDA wants to limit such tools, as juniper removal is beneficial to the ecosystem that the group wants protected, O’Keefe said. “To do this effectively, we have to do this fairly large- scale,” he said. Dan Morse, ONDA’s con- Eric Mortenson/Capital Press file A mature juniper tree lies where it was cut. A federal judge has ruled that motorized vehicles cannot be used to aid in juniper removal if it takes place within a wilderness area. servation director, said the group’s lawsuit was intended to enforce the intentions of Con- gress when it banned motorized vehicles in wilderness study areas. The vehicle prohibition is meant to preserve the values of solitude and dispersed rec- reation, as well as prevent soil disturbances, he said. Juniper treatments can continue with people on the ground, rather than heavy machinery and all-terrain ve- hicles, Morse said. “We don’t oppose the project’s basic purpose.” Grass seed, wine grape growers discuss herbicide drift answers Oregon’s By MITCH LIES For the Capital Press AMITY, Ore. — Grass seed farmer Denny Wilfong was en- thused to learn that the Oregon Seed Council and the Oregon Winegrowers Association were organizing a tour to address is- sues of herbicide drift between grass seed fields and vineyards. So much so, in fact, that Wil- fong volunteered to host the first stop on the Aug. 19 tour. “What it boils down to, is the Willamette Valley is bless- ed with weather that allows us to produce the best grass seed, wine grapes and blueberries in the world,” Wilfong said. “We’re really fortunate. So we just have to figure out a way to make it all work together and make it all fit.” On the tour, chemical deal- ers, licensed pesticide applica- tors, grass seed and wine grape growers addressed a gathering of legislators, state agency of- ficials, county commissioners, extension agents, timber own- ers and others. Wilfong, of Wilfong Farms in Dallas, Ore., said he takes several steps to avoid damag- ing wine grapes when spraying broadleaf herbicides. Among them, he, at times, sprays at less than optimum timing to avoid applying compounds during bud break in grapes, Mitch Lies/For the Capital Press Wine grape grower Bill Sweat, in a vineyard outside Amity, Ore., on Aug. 19, addresses participants during a farm tour that was arranged to help wine grape and grass seed growers co-exist. uses nonvolatile formulations of herbicides and adds an- ti-drift agents to tankmixes. Katie Fast, a neighbor of Wilfong, said she and her hus- band, Kirk, alert neighbor- ing wine grape grower Dave Coelho when they are going to spray, and tell him what com- pounds they plan to apply. “Working with our neigh- bors cooperatively is very im- portant to us,” Fast said. “It is time that we are taking out of our day, and it takes effort, but I think it is important.” Coehlo told participants he appreciates hearing from the Fasts, particularly during bud break. Wine grapes are susceptible to herbicide injury at several points during a growing sea- son, said Alex Cabrera of the OVS subsidiary Results Part- ners, but never more so than during bud break. Injury at that point not only affects the current year’s grape crop, but also the next year’s crop and possibly subsequent years’ crops, he said. “That early-season is very delicate,” Cabrera said. Cabrera’s presentation at the second stop on the tour was fol- lowed by a presentation from Bill Hubbell, general manager of Wilco-Winfield. Hubbell showed growers examples of application technology avail- able to reduce herbicide drift, including interlock nozzles. “You still have wind issues to deal with,” Hubbell said, “but you can get a lot more con- trol of your application.” Bob Eccles of Wilbur-Ellis Co. told participants the opti- mal conditions for spraying are when wind is blowing away from sensitive areas at a speed of between 4 and 10 mph. At less than 4 mph, the chances of volatilization are increased, and drift issues come into play when applying pesticides at wind speeds in excess of 10 mph, he said. Eccles also advised growers to read pesticide labels. “There is a lot of new in- formation on those labels,” he said, including information on how droplet size can affect spray quality, and other tidbits growers can use to their ad- vantage.” Oregon Department of Ag- riculture Director Katy Coba, who participated in the tour, said she was pleased to see the wine grape and grass seed growers working to resolve what at times has been a con- tentious issue. “I think that both sides are to be commended to be will- ing to talk to each other about their concerns and take the next step to do this tour,” she said. “Our whole focus is co-ex- istence,” she said. “The best people to solve these issues are the people that are out on the ground.” Mount Emily wolves strike once more By ERIC MORTENSON Capital Press For the second time in Au- gust and third time since June, Oregon’s Mount Emily wolf pack is blamed for killing a sheep in the northeast corner of the state. A herder on Aug. 15 found a partially consumed sheep in a timbered area of Nine Mile Ridge, in Umatilla County. The site was near a bedding ground on public land. Wildlife biologists examined the carcass. The sheep’s stom- ach and thoracic cavity had been eaten, as had muscle and tissue from the neck, ribs, shoulders and front legs. Bite mark size and placement were consistent with a wolf attack, according a report by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. GPS data from a collared wolf showed at least one pack member was in the area when the attack most likely occurred. Previous ODFW investigations showed pack members killed sheep Aug. 4 and June 22. Family nursery specializes in water gardens By GAIL OBERST For the Capital Press INDEPENDENCE, Ore. — The Matteo family’s Inde- pendence Nursery and Water Gardens specializes in plants and fish that suit water fea- tures, but it didn’t start out that way. Marylou started the busi- ness in 1987 with Ash Creek in her backyard. Her husband, the late Joe Matteo, joined the business a few years later. In 2003, their son, Ed, a retired Navy Seabee, joined the busi- ness with his wife, April. The Matteos started the nursery without specific spe- cialties, but as demand and their own interests grew, they quickly gravitated to water plants and related ac- cessories. Inside the business building are aquariums full of pond-loving fish and the accessories needed to main- tain water features, plants and fish. Outside, the nursery displays hundreds of plants that grow in water on the edges of ponds. The Matteos’ small nurs- ery on the border between Monmouth and Indepen- dence is a mecca for the ar- ea’s water-feature lovers. While there is a variety of shrubs and trees at Indepen- dence Nursery, most of these serve to provide shade and shelter for the water ponds. For example, there are about 25 varieties of maples for sale, and more than 70 va- rieties of shade-loving hosta, some of which the Matteos have propagated since they opened. “Mom loved the hosta,” said Ed, pulling out the varie- gated “Independence” hosta, a variety the nursery has car- ried since 2006. There are 25 varieties of water lilies for sale in col- ors pink, white, yellow, red and even some that change colors during the course of the day. Plantain lilies, water hyacinth, rushes, cat- tails, dwarf water bamboo, reeds, wapato, and more are available in the nursery’s six greenhouses. Demonstration ponds are scattered through- out the nursery, some filled with gambusia or mosqui- tofish, the perfect pet for the Oregon water feature, Ed said. The fish don’t have to be fed, and they tolerate extreme temperatures, from hot to cold. More Online Read the full story with water garden tips at: www.CapitalPress.com 35-1/#4 Slug researcher will speak at meetings By MITCH LIES For the Capital Press In 2009, Pennsylvania State University entomologist John Tooker said he “naively waded into the slug world” after slug problems were the topic of 50 percent of his extension calls that year. Today Tooker is one of the few U.S. researchers actively engaged in slug research. Tooker will be a featured speaker at the Oregon State Uni- versity seed crop and cereal pro- duction meetings in September. Tooker also will speak at a seminar on the OSU campus, scheduled from 3 to 4 p.m. on Sept. 9 in room 4000 of the Agriculture and Life Sciences Building. Sujayo Rao, field crop en- tomologist at Oregon State University, said that while Mid-Atlantic cropping patterns are different from Oregon’s, she believes Tooker can pro- vide Oregon growers valuable insight on a problem that has beset them in recent years. An industry study recently calculated the economic impact of slugs on Oregon grass seed crops at just under $100 million annually, or about 20 percent of the crops’ farm gate value. “Clearly slugs are a big is- sue, and John Tooker is one of the few researchers nationwide who is doing research on slugs,” Rao said. “This seemed like a good opportunity to bring him to Oregon.” In a Penn State Universi- ty Department of Entomology research report, Tooker noted that a 2010 survey of Mid-At- lantic corn and soybean grow- ers, showed that 82 percent of respondents identified slugs as their most challenging pest. The report also included findings that cover crops, in- cluding cereal rye and clo- vers, helped limit slug dam- age by providing alternative feed sources for slugs. And it included information that minimal tillage — even light discing in the spring — helped reduce slug pressure. Research in Oregon also has shown that tillage — even bien- nial tillage — provided signifi- cant benefits in slug control over continuous no till. “Dr. Tooker’s visit pro- vides an opportunity for us to learn about his slug manage- ment successes and challenges, while enlightening him about our challenges,” Rao said. “His awareness about our situation has potential for benefiting us at many levels.” In addition to Tooker’s pre- sentations, OSU Extension plant pathologist specialist Cindy Oc- amb will provide presentations on the impacts of barley yellow dwarf virus in perennial ryegrass and tall fescue. OSU Extension weeds specialist Andy Hult- ing will look at Italian ryegrass, roughstalk bluegrass and annu- al bluegrass in wheat and seed crops. And OSU Extension cere- als specialist Mike Flowers will provide a look at winter wheat varieties, grain protein, and dis- eases growers faced in 2015. 35-7/#13