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October 23, 2015 CapitalPress.com 7 Pumpkin patch idea grows into popular stop By DAN WHEAT Capital Press Tim Hearden/Capital Press Freshly harvested walnuts are loaded onto a truck at Lindauer Riv- er Ranch in Red Bluff, Calif., on Oct. 19 to be taken to processing. The walnut harvest is ongoing in California. Growers face price slide amid record walnut harvest By TIM HEARDEN Capital Press RED BLUFF, Calif. — Wal- nut growers in California are moving quickly through their harvest of an anticipated record crop as a price slide heralds the first sign of vulnerability for the Golden State’s enduring nut boom. With harvests entering their final stages, growers say they’re on a pace to at least flirt with the National Agricultural Statistics Service projection of a record 575,000-ton crop despite the drought and a lack of chilling hours last winter. Relatively mild summer temperatures helped the crop, and growers used surface water where available and groundwa- ter when necessary to provide adequate water to the trees, NASS reported. At Lindauer River Ranch in Red Bluff, yields from the young walnut groves are set to double again this year, farm manager Michael Vasey said. “I’d say we’ve got a pretty strong crop,” Vasey said. “My walnuts are in growth mode. They’re young and coming on. It’s more than last year.” Vasey has company with his young orchards. Of the 300,000 bearing acres of walnuts in Cal- ifornia this year, 45,000 of those acres have come online since 2010, according to USDA fig- ures. The new acreage comes as growers are experiencing their first protracted price slide in years. The average price per pound to the grower dropped from $2.05 in 2013 to about $1.80 last year, and this year’s average price is expected to be around $1.20, Vasey said. Several factors have led to the softening of prices, includ- ing the increase in production, a slowing economy in China and shipping delays caused by the port slowdown last winter, Vasey said. “The port ... issue hurt us last year and it’s kind of been sliding ever since,” he said. “The upside of that is we have an opportunity to develop domestic consump- tion. Prices (for consumers) were getting a little stiff.” Many growers have planted nut trees in the past decade as burgeoning global demand, ide- al growing conditions and the misfortunes of other crops such as prunes and table olives have fueled a steep rise in profitability for walnuts, almonds and pista- chios. The price per ton and total value of walnuts have more than doubled since 2008, according to NASS. The nut’s price went from $1,280 per ton that year to $3,230 last year, while the crop’s total annual value bal- looned from $558 million to $1.8 billion during that period, the agency reported. How much of those gains will be given back during the current slide is still unknown, said Hal Crain, president of farming operations for Los Mo- linos, Calif.-based Crain Ranch. EAST WENATCHEE, Wash. — Annie’s Fun Farm is a popular new attraction in the Wenatchee area, par- ticularly after school and on weekends, when hun- dreds of parents and kids swarm through. They want the family experience of picking that perfect pumpkin fresh from the field and don’t mind a few amusements with it. There are several acres of pumpkins and acorn squash to choose from and a corn maze, an apple sling shot, a corn box instead of sand box, hay rides and a big dragon castle bounce house to explore. And there are hot dogs, chips, chili dogs, water, soda and kettle corn. “Originally, we were just going to sell pumpkins and then we started think- ing bigger and bigger,” said Annie Weaver, 35, a former bartender and waitress who was looking for something different to do. Her father, former Wenatchee High School music director Dan Jack- son, and her boyfriend, Nate Perkins, a domestic fruit salesman at Chelan Fresh Marketing in Chelan, fronted the money to get Weaver started. She leased 14 acres at the corner of South Mary Avenue and Grant Road on the east edge of East Wenatchee where plenty of people drive by on their way to Pangborn Memorial Airport. A sign close to the road proclaims: “Annie’s Fun Farm — U Pick.” It’s been open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily since Oct. 1 and will close at the end of the month. The field is picked over from what it once was, but there are orange and white (ghost) pumpkins left. Weaver is thinking about selling Christmas trees at the same Dan Wheat/Capital Press Dan Jackson has been helping his daughter, Annie Weaver, run Annie’s Fun Farm in East Wenatchee, Wash. The inflatible dragon castle in the background is an added attraction. Jamie Horn, of Quincy, Wash., helps his son, Jamison, launch an apple at a scare crow with a sling shot at Annie’s Fun Farm in East Wenatchee, Wash., on Oct. 19. location in December. Liliann Ward, 10, and her brother, Quinton, 12, helped hand seed pumpkins and squash on hot days in June and remain faith- ful helpers with whatever needs doing. “We spotted the drag- on and drove up here from Quincy for the day,” said Jamie Horn as he helped his kids with a powerful sling shot attached to a wood frame for sending apples flying dozens of yards at scare crows. “We were looking for some place close that was open on weekdays,” he said. “Was that fun, guys?” Weaver asked Horn’s kids. “Yes it was,” he replied. “We’ll be hearing about it for a couple of weeks.” Neighbors Richard and Caroline Mitchell said they love seeing all the people and excited kids but that more parking is needed. Jake Chanley, of Pehast- in, hauled two large pump- kins to his car for his fami- ly and said they had a good time. “Compared to the stress of planting and hoping cus- tomers would come, this is the fun part,” Weaver said. “It’s pure joy to see kids’ smiles and be able to bring something like this to Wenatchee.” FALL INTO SAVINGS 0% for 3 years TRACTORS JD 6125M, 175 hrs., Regular cab, MFWD, 24-spd. tran., H340 loader w/suspension..........$112,000 Four Lakes, #DG777037 Case IH STX325, 5813 hrs 325hp, 4WD, PS trans, 3pt, 4 remotes, 14.9R-46 duals ...................................$96,000 Tekoa, #107500 Case IH STX450, 7627 hrs, 450hp, 4WD, PS trans, front & rear weights, 800/70R-38 duals.$99,500 Tekoa, #100728 JD 9560RT, 88 hrs, 36” Tracks, 5 Remotes, 1000 PTO, HID Lights..........................$425,000 Fall River Mills, #902075 Case IH JX1095N, 2885 hrs, Narrow Cab, MFWD, 3 pt, 540 PTO, front weight pkg........................................................ ...................................$27,000 McMinnville, #HJC036490 JD 6115R, 753 hrs, Premium Cab, IVT trans, MFWD, Autotrack ready, 2 remotes....$103,300 Salem, #799261 Kubota M9960, 150 hrs, Open Station, ROPS, MFWD, LA1353 Loader..................$45,900 Central Point #54397 JD 9630, 2138 hrs, 4WD, PS trans, Auto Track ready, 800/70R-38 duals, HID lights.....$199,000 Tekoa #18545 JD 9620, 4438 hrs, 4WD, PS trans, 800/70R-38 duals, 4 remotes, fresh engine.........$180,000 Moscow, #30510 JD 9320, 5247 hrs, 4WD, PS trans, 710/70R-38 duals, 4 remotes, Bareback..................$125,000 Colfax #31662 JD 9300, 7126 hrs., 4WD, PS Trans., 3pt, 1000 PTO, 620/42 Duals, 5 Remotes....$109,900 $105,500, Salem, #30202 JD 8630R, 812 hrs, ILS Axle, IVT Trans., 4 Remotes, 710/70R-42 Duals.............$285,000 Harrisburg, #72619A JD 7280R, 299 hrs, Cab, IVT Trans, TLS Front Axle, Set up for loader......................$227,500 Madras #13029 JD 8770, 14,749 hrs, 4WD, 3 remotes, bare back, 24 spd. Power Quad Trans, duals................$33,000 Tekoa #3214 JD 9200, 7381 hrs, 4WD, 4 Remotes, 20.8-42 Duals, Quad Range Trans...................................$81,000 Tekoa #30476 JD 8770, 7675 hrs, 4WD, Quad Range Trans, 20.8-42 Duals, 3 Remotes..............................$50,000 Walla Walla #4681 JD 9400, 7644 hrs., 4WD, PS Trans., 1000 PTO, 710-42 Duals, 4 Remotes..$105,900 $99,900, Tangent, #41372 JD 8630R, 957 Hrs, IVT Trans, ILS Axle, 4 Remotes, 620/70R-46 Duals.....................$269,000 Donald, #71414 JD 9560R, 222 hrs, 4WD, Dual 800/70R-38, PS Trans, Auto Track Ready...............$374,000 Walla Walla #7998 JD 9300, 9631 hrs, 4WD, 24 spd Trans., 3 PT, No PTO, 4 Remotes.........................$59,900, McMinnville, #40643 SEEDING EQUIPMENT JD 455, 50’ Rahco Hitch 2-Section Folding Drill, Plain Grain, 7.5” Spacing.................. $99,500 Colfax, #740162 Case IH 800, 60’ Precision Air Drill w/Liquid Fertilizer......... .........................................................$95,000 Tekoa #4012 JD 1890, 35’ single chute, tow behind, Ag Pro 70 Bu. seed delivery.............................$145,000 Moscow #AF740108 Case IH PXT600, 30’ Row Between Configuration, 3- Section, 12” Spacing...........$37,000 Moscow, #J0014812 JD 455, 35’ 3-Sections Folding, 7.5” Sapcing 2x13 Press Wheels............................................$29,900 Tekoa, #1519 GP 1018ST, 35’ 3-Section Folding, 10” Spacing, Hoe Openers, 21’ Press Wheel........................$6,000 Pomeroy, #GP1036H 0.9% for 5 years! TILLAGE Kuhn HRB-302D Power Harrow, 9’10” working width, Packer Roller..............................$13,000 Madras #H3329 Kuhn HR4504 Power Harrow, 15’ working width, Maxi Pack Roller.................................$20,900 Madras #A0259 JD 2210, 32’ Flex Field Cultivator, 9” Sweeps, 3-Bar Coil Tine Harrow. Never Used......$61,900 Hillsboro #760005 JD 510, 17’ 10” rigid frame disk ripper, 7-shank, spring trip standards................................$17,000 Tekoa #OX003232 JD 2625 Disk, 31’ JD Tandem folding disk........................... .....................................$64,500 $61,900 Colfax #750111 Wilrich V957DD Disk Ripper, 14’ Wilrich disk ripper, 9 shanks.....................................$26,500 Merrill #457580 Frontier TM5124 Disk, 24’ Frontier Tandem folding disk.. ................................................$53,000 McMinnville #101 COMBINES Case IH 7010, 1120 hrs, Level Land, 2016 BPU platform..... ...............................................$140,000 Tangent #202887 JD 9860 3046 hrs, Hillco Leveler, Duals, 4WD....................... ...............................................$200,000 Moscow #710792 JD 9650STS, 3343 hrs, Small Grain, 914P BPU Platform, straw chopper........................$87,000 Tangent, #685747 Case IH 2588, 1809 hrs, small grain, hillside, 30’ cutting platform..........................$210,000 Walla Walla #303583 .............................TEMP PRICE REDUCTION: $199,999 JD 9650STS, 2246 hrs, Small Grain, 914P BPU Platform, straw chopper.................$92,500 McMinnville, #685945 JD 9650STS, 3456 hrs, Small Grain, 914P BPU Platform, straw chopper........................$80,000 Tangent, #686102 JD 9650STS, 3557 hrs, Small Grain, straw chopper.............. ...........................................$99,950, Harrisburg, #686910 JD S680, 881 hrs, 35% Rahco Leveler, 635F Platform, Stoess Cart........................ $436,300 Four Lakes, #755668 JD S680, 1246 hrs, Rahco Leveler, 4WD, 635F Platform & Cart............................................$486,525 Tekoa, #746303 JD S690, 824 hrs, 35% Rahco Leveler, 635F Platform, Stoess Cart...............................$578,000 Colfax, #745738 JD 9750STS, 2500 hrs, Hillco Leveler, Small Grain, Button Tread Duals..............................$131,000 Colfax, #686502 JD 9750STS, 3230 hrs, Rahco Leveler, 4WD, 930R Platform and Cart...................................$130,000 Colfax, #691057 JD 9770STS, 1462 hrs, Rahco 35% Leveler, 4WD, Small Grain........................................$295,000 Colfax, #730456 JD 9860STS, 2727 hrs, Rahco 35% Leveler, 30’ 630R Platform, Stoess Cart.......................................$249,000 Colfax, #710739 UTILITY VEHICLES JD 855D, 1011 hrs, Diesel, 4x4, Front Bumper, Hyd. Bed Lift, Canopy, Bed Liner. $10,625 Tangent, #BM040482 JD 850D, 688 hrs, Diesel, 4x4, Winch, Hyd. Dump, Front Bumper, All Terrain Tires....$9,800 Four Lakes, #32453 JD 850D, 337 hrs, Diesel, 4x4, Hyd. Dump, Knobby Tires, Olive & Black.............$9,400 McMinnville, #DT020061 JD HPX, Diesel, 4x4, Canopy, All Terrain Tires, Front Bumper.....................$9,800 Salem, #DM110816 Kubota RTV900, 330 hrs, Diesel, 4x4, Canopy, All Terrain Tires, Grill Guard, Hyd. Dump.$7,999 Moscow #70627 All financing on approved credit. Financing special applies only to select pieces of equipment. See dealer for details and qualifying units. 43-7/#5 43-7/#7