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November 27, 2015 CapitalPress.com 5 Scenic status recommended for two Oregon rivers If finalized, the designations could restrict land uses and new water rights By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI Capital Press Oregon’s Molalla and Chet- co rivers are one step closer to state designations as scenic wa- terways, which could limit new water rights and restrict land uses along their shores. The Oregon Water Resourc- es Commission voted on Nov. 20 to recommend the scenic river designations to Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, who is ex- pected to make a decision in January 2016. If Brown approves the des- ignations, they can still be over- turned by state lawmakers if they pass legislation reversing the actions. Oregon hasn’t designated any new scenic rivers since 1988, but state agencies now plan to evaluate nominations on a regular basis, said Chris Havel, associate director of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The commission overseeing OPRD signed off on the scenic designations before they were referred to the Oregon Water Resources Commission. If scenic designations for the Molalla and Chetco rivers are ¿QDOL]HG ODQGRZQHUV ZRXOG have to obtain permits from OPRD before logging, mining or building structures within a quarter-mile of their banks. Only a portion of the rivers would be designated as scenic, however, and landowners can negotiate with OPRD about mitigating negative scenic impacts of the activity, Havel said. If the agency isn’t able to reach an agreement with the landowner, it can delay the planned activity by a year, he Vole problems mount in Eastern Idaho By JOHN O’CONNELL Capital Press IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Eastern Idaho alfalfa pro- ducers are mulling options to better control a vole outbreak that has already forced some JURZHUV WR SXOO ¿HOGV RXW RI hay prematurely. Following consecutive mild winters and another mild IDOO YROHV KDYH EHHQ SUROL¿F throughout the state, but espe- cially in Eastern Idaho’s no- WLOO DQG DOIDOID ¿HOGV ZKHUH their burrows are left in tact. University of Idaho Ex- tension cereals educator John +RJJH VDLG KH¶V ¿HOGHG VHY- eral calls from alfalfa growers seeking advice on protecting crops from voles, which ha- ven’t been held in check by ]LQF SKRVSKLGH WKH UHJLRQ¶V rodenticide of choice. Hogge said growers have started discussions about forming emergency vole abatement districts. Some have also contacted the Idaho State Department of Agricul- ture about the need for emer- gency labels for additional vole-control products. Hogge estimated the cost RI EX\LQJ DQG DSSO\LQJ ]LQF phosphide at $20 per acre and said some growers have made three or four applications, with little impact. “We’re just not seeing a lot of kill with it,” Hogge said. Hogge believes abatement districts would provide re- sources to help farmers ad- dress future vole problems, including funds, a greater focus on research and coordi- QDWLRQRIHIIRUWVWR¿QGPRUH effective treatment options. Terreton grower Steve Shively anticipates having to tear out a no-till winter wheat ¿HOGQH[WVSULQJGXHWRKHDY\ vole damage. He’s been mak- ing phone calls recently ad- vocating for some kind of emergency vole disaster dec- laration. Eastern Idaho grower Will Ricks, president of the Idaho Hay and Forage Association, said voles will be a major top- ic when his board meets on Dec. 11. He supports pursuing abatement districts, believing WKH DOIDOID LQGXVWU\ EHQH¿WV the state’s overall economy and public assistance is ap- propriate. “It’s getting to the epidem- said. Some jurisdictions, how- ever, may refuse to issue nec- essary permits unless OPRD approves of the project. The Grande Ronde River was also considered for a scenic designation, but OPRD rejected the idea due to limited public access and strong local opposi- tion, Havel said. Local landowners largely supported the designations for the Molalla and Chetco rivers, said Rachel Lovellford, a hy- drologist for the Oregon Water Resources Department. During its Nov. 20 meeting, the Oregon Water Resources Commission also approved annually protecting more than 1 million acre feet of water in the Chetco River and 300,000 acre feet in the Molalla River to HQVXUHVFHQLFÀRZV The allocation for scenic ÀRZV GRHVQ¶W DIIHFW H[LVWLQJ water rights, but could limit new water right permits within the designated area or upriver from it, Lovellford said. Top U.S. beef export markets, Jan.-Sept. 2015 Quantity (U.S. tons) Country Jan.-Sept. 2014 2015 Percent change Value ($1,000) Jan.-Sept. 2014 2015 Percent change Japan 174,894 147,915 -15% 983,103 809,628 -18% S. Korea 88,287 94,973 8 567,694 582,073 3 Canada 108,399 94,243 -13 775,040 683,607 -12 Mexico 118,104 90,844 -24 682,106 599,821 -12 Hong Kong 102,142 79,257 -30 752,505 537,021 -29 World total 648,768 -13 708,733 Source: USDA, compiled by U.S. Meat Export Federation 4.6 million 4.1 million -10 Capital Press graphic Strong dollar, faltering economies challenge U.S. meat exports Zeroing in on beef, exports to Japan and Hong Kong de- FOLQHGGUDVWLFDOO\LQWKH¿UVWQLQH A strong U.S. dollar, weak- months of the year. They were ening foreign economies and down by nearly 24,475 metric stiff competition have made it tons to Japan and 30,241 metric an uphill climb for U.S. meat ex- tons to Hong Kong, for a loss of ports in retaining market share, $173.5 million and $115.5 mil- but 2016 has a brighter outlook. lion, respectively, according to Beef exports were down 13 USMEF. Part of the problem in Japan percent in volume and 10 per- cent in value year over year in is the serious competitive disad- WKH¿UVWQLQHPRQWKVRIWKH\HDU vantage the U.S. faces compared and while pork exports held with Australia, which enjoys a steady in quantity, they were 10 percent lower tariff on beef, down 16 percent in value, ac- said John Haggard, USMEF se- cording to USDA statistics com- QLRUYLFHSUHVLGHQW$VLD3DFL¿F On top of that was the port piled by the U.S. Meat Export strike on the West Coast, which Federation. “We’re dealing in a market- caused a sinking of chilled ship- place internationally that’s been PHQWVWR-DSDQLQWKH¿UVWTXDU- shrinking for the last couple of ter of the year, which are going years. This is a trend that hope- WR EH GLI¿FXOW WR PDNHXS KH fully will be reversed in 2016, said. As for China, it presents an but it’s been a tough year ” SMEF President and CEO Phil uneven picture of economic Seng said in a media call last and commodity weakness and ZHHN IURP WKH RUJDQL]DWLRQ¶V strong demand. While all the strategic planning conference in restaurants aren’t full all the time anymore, food service re- Tucson. Global beef trade is expected ceipts are growing at a robust to be valued at just over $34 bil- average of 7 percent to 8 percent lion in 2015, down from $36.7 annually, he said. That’s driving record beef billion in 2014. Worldwide pork Courtesy of University of Idaho trade of muscle cuts is projected LPSRUWV LQWR &KLQD %UD]LO KDV 7KLV-HIIHUVRQ&RXQW\DOÀDID¿HOGLQ(DVWHUQ,GDKRKDVEHHQULGGOHGZLWKYROHGDPDJH*URZHUVDUH at $14 billion, down from about re-established access there PXOOLQJDGGLWLRQDOZD\VWRDGGUHVVWKHPRVWH[WUHPHYROHSUHVVXUHWKHUHJLRQKDVHYHUIDFHG $16.5 billion last year, according and it — along with Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina — is to USMEF. ic stage. It’s the worst I’ve inches of snow, which would istrants, which is a mandatory “But I still would say the seeing near-record volumes of ever seen,” Ricks said. melt suddenly, allowing water step in the process. EHQH¿WV RI LQWHUQDWLRQDO WUDGH beef product moving to China. Ricks estimates voles have WR¿OOYROHKROHVDQGWKHQUH- Idaho requires abatement are still paramount and very In addition, Australian is taking cut yields by 35 percent in IUHH]HDVLFH districts to be created at the much in the eyes of the produc- advantage of its recent free trade VRPH RI KLV DOIDOID ¿HOGV Lloyd Knight, with ISDA, county level. County commis- ers and the whole fabric of the agreement and has started to ship live cattle there, he said. He said some growers in the said growers have contacted sioners are allowed to create industry,” he said. One bright spot in the region Blackfoot area have already his agency about obtaining emergency, temporary abate- In 2014, the value of exports taken out alfalfa a couple of emergency special needs la- ment districts, but the districts brought $286 per head to U.S. is recovery of beef exports to years ahead of schedule. EHOV WR XVH ]LQF SKRVSKLGH PXVW XOWLPDWHO\ EH UDWL¿HG beef producers and close to $50 South Korea after a tumultu- Ultimately, Ricks ex- in triticale and another ro- by a public vote. That might per head to pork producers, he ous history of the U.S. trying to gain access and consumer con- plained winter weather con- denticide approved only in be a heavy lift, said Bingham said. ditions will have the greatest ¿HOG ERUGHUV FDOOHG 5R]RO County Commissioner Mark “So the dividends of the in- ¿GHQFH7KLV\HDUKDVEHHQWKH effect on vole numbers. The IRU JHQHUDO ¿HOG XVH .QLJKW Bair. ternational marketplace I think best year in terms of restored ideal weather scenario would said ISDA has received no “I don’t know how we are still very, very dramatic,” he FRQVXPHU FRQ¿GHQFH DQG WKH numbers show it, he said. involve receiving about 4 requests yet from product reg- would do that,” Bair said. said. By CAROL RYAN DUMAS Capital Press 48-1/#4N