Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Capital press. (Salem, OR) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 11, 2015)
December 11, 2015 CapitalPress.com Klamath Basin restoration project area Klamath Basin watershed Dams slated for removal La Pine 58 97 N 138 25 miles CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK OREGON 97 5 Upper Klamath Lake 140 Klamath Falls 199 Crescent City Kl John C. Boyle Dam Iron Gate Dam Copco dams 1 and 2 101 CALIFORNIA 89 Pacific Ocean Ore. Area in detail Eureka Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; www.klamathrestoration.org Alan Kenaga/Capital Press 299 Nev. 5 Draft bill on Klamath water doesn’t include dam removal By TIM HEARDEN Capital Press With deep divisions re- maining in Congress over a proposal to remove four dams from the Klamath River, U.S. Rep. Greg Walden unveiled a bill Dec. 3 to address other aspects of the Klamath Basin’s water agreements. The Oregon Republican’s draft proposal would imple- ment water-sharing agree- ments in the upper basin and the U.S. Bureau of Reclama- tion’s Klamath Project worked out in 2010 while transfering federal lands and economic de- velopment funds to the Klam- ath Tribes in exchange for waiving senior water rights. The bill punts on the issue of dam removal, which has been a sticking point in Con- gress since 2011, by putting its approval in the lap of the Fed- eral Energy Regulatory Com- mission. Tribal leaders have made dam removal a condition for their participating in the Klamath pact. The bill’s unveiling came after what Walden spokesman Andrew Malcolm described as a “frank” meeting Dec. 3 in- volving West Coast lawmakers on both sides of the issue. The meeting included Oregon’s Democratic Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden as well as Cal- ifornia Republican Reps. Tom McClintock and Doug LaMal- fa, two staunch opponents of removing the dams. “I think it was a good dis- cussion,” Malcolm said. “It was helpful to have everyone from both chambers and both parties in the same room. They had a frank exchange of views about what is possible in both chambers, and discussions are ongoing.” Walden’s bill got a cool reception from proponents of the Klamath agreements, who have warned that water-shar- ing components of the pacts could crumble if Congress doesn’t authorize the package before the end of the year. Rough year for hay growers, exporters By DAN WHEAT Capital Press Klamath Co. REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK In a joint statement after the meeting, Wyden and Merkley called Walden’s bill “a step forward” but lamented that it omits a dam removal provision “that is central to the bargain worked out over years with blood, sweat and tears.” They also said Walden’s proposal to give 100,000 acres of U.S. Forest Service land each to Klamath and Siskiyou counties for economic devel- opment is “a known non-start- er” in the Senate, where Wyden’s bill to authorize the Klamath agreements has lan- guished since early this year. “Congressman Walden told us all that he understood that dam removal had to be part of the bill or else irrigators would face water uncertainty,” Karuk Tribe councilman Josh Saxon said in a statement. “The draft bill he released ... leaves out dam removal and instead re- places it with a giveaway of public lands. Communities in the basin left partisanship at the door to hammer out a solu- tion. Mr. Walden must do the same.” Don Gentry, the Klam- ath Tribes’ chairman, said Walden’s draft proposal is “en- couraging” but that the tribes can’t support it without dam removal, which he has said is necessary to ensure that fi sh- eries key to their economy and culture will be preserved into the future. Gentry said he is aware of instances when willing owners took out dams without needing congressional approval, but it’s not clear how a process be- fore FERC would work. “We don’t really understand fully how that would occur or how long that would take,” he told the Capital Press. “We do know our members voted for the whole package, including dam removal, so this puts us in a situation that if legislation were to move forward without dam removal, our members would be getting together at the start of next year to deter- mine what that means.” ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Hay exporters in Ellens- burg and throughout the West Coast are struggling through their worst season in at least seven years. A buildup of supply and the loss of shipments from last winter’s work slowdown at West Coast ports and the resulting loss of market share in Japan and South Korea to Australian oaten hay produc- ers has impacted sales and profi ts. It’s all led to the longest fl at market in years, says Mark T. Anderson, president and CEO of Anderson Hay & Grain Co. Inc. in Ellensburg. Anderson is one of the largest hay exporters in the United States with offi ces in Ellens- burg, Oregon, California and China. “We hope we’ve hit bot- tom and buyer confi dence will pick up some. Our hope is that after the fi rst of the year they will have a new quota in Korea and we’ll see the pipeline clean up some with a lot of very reasonably priced quality hay that will fi nd its way out,” Anderson said. The market has been fl at most of the year and for at least a month exporters in Ellensburg have cut hours at their hay presses, and their yards are full because de- mand is so light. “I would say every hay plant is looking for more orders every week to keep things busy,” Anderson said. The situation is the same for exporters up and down the coast, he said. The fl at market is longer and more severe than the col- lapse in 2008, Anderson said. Back then high prices of oth- er commodities, like corn and wheat, led to an increase in hay prices until they reached a point that overseas buyers quit buying and found less expensive alternatives. Sales were good and then crashed. This time the decline has been more gradual. “This is worse than 2008 and 2009 because it’s not just alfalfa but all hay and straw products caused by mass dis- ruption of the supply chain by the port slowdown,” An- derson said. Spain and South America have taken U.S. market share overseas in alfalfa and Aus- tralian oaten hay replaced Washington Timothy in Ja- pan and Korea, he said. Most of the carryover of 2014 hay from the port slow- down has worked its way through the system but it left a “fl at, sluggish” market with 2015 crop sitting or moving slowly, he said. There isn’t a lot of profi t margin for growers or export- ers with some product mov- Bird fl u tests inconclusive on Oregon duck Capital Press A wild duck harvested last month in Morrow County in Eastern Oregon had Eurasian bird fl u, but tests were un- able to determine whether the strain was a danger to poultry, according to the U.S. Depart- ment of Agriculture. A sample from the hunt- er-shot mallard was collected Nov. 7 by the Oregon Depart- ment of Fish and Wildlife. ODFW state veterinarian Colin Gillin said Dec. 4 that preliminary test results caused concern. The duck would have been the fi rst confi rmed case of highly pathogenic bird fl u in the U.S. since July. The USDA declared Nov. 18 to the World Organization for Animal Health that the U.S. was free of bird fl u, which had prompt- ed trade bans on U.S. poultry products. The Morrow County duck had Eurasian H5 bird fl u, but tests to further defi ne the type and pinpoint the strength of the virus were inconclusive, according to USDA. “The testing was unable to determine the exact strain of the viruses or whether they were high pathogenic or low pathogenic,” the USDA’s An- imal and Plant Health Inspec- tion Service announced Friday. There are dozens of bird fl u strains. The strains that killed millions of birds last winter and spring were H5N8, a high- ly pathogenic Eurasian virus, and H5N2, a highly pathogen- ic mix of Eurasian and North American strains. Migratory waterfowl carry the virus and spread the disease to poul- try fl ocks. Highly pathogenic bird fl u struck poultry farms in British Columbia, Canada, in early December 2014. The virus was then detected in a wild duck across the bor- der in Washington in mid-De- cember, the fi rst U.S. case of highly pathogenic bird fl u in a decade. The virus eventually spread to 15 states and claimed 48 million birds, the largest ani- mal health emergency in U.S. history, according to USDA. To be on-guard for bird fl u’s return, federal and state agencies have tested more than 24,000 wild birds in the U.S. since July 1. Dan Wheat/Capital Press Freshly-loaded hay hits the highway near George, Wash., June 8 in this fi le photo. A buildup of supply and the loss of shipments from last winter’s work slowdown at West Coast ports and the resulting loss of market share in Japan and South Korea to Australian oaten hay producers has impacted export sales and profi ts. ing at or below break-even and some barely above, he said. Mike Cobb, owner of C&C Farm Trucks Inc., Ephrata, said a lot of growers have 30 to 50 percent more hay than normal still in their yards this time of year. He said he sells 10,000 tons a year to Anderson Hay & Grain and has 1,500 tons left from 2014 and 5,000 tons of 2015. Normally, he would have 3,000 to 4,000 tons of the current year left and none of the year before, he said. “Every bale is contract- ed for. They’ll move it, but we’ll probably feel this port thing for another three to four years,” Cobb said. It takes time, he said, for exporters to win overseas buyers back. Some exporters reneged on contracts or renegotiat- ed them downward in price seven years ago, Cobb said, adding that he hasn’t heard of any of that this year. Some of his stacks have been renumbered but that’s because wrong numbers were put on them, he said. “Anderson did not change the price. The contract is the same. I’ve dealt with Ander- son for years and they’ve al- ways been real good,” Cobb said. Four other northern Co- lumbia Basin and Ellensburg growers said they have more than normal supplies but have not heard of anyone re- neging on contracts. “The hay market had a good run the last few years. 2015 was a tough year. It started OK but the market softened through the whole season so at the end of the year we’re well below cost of production,” said Shawn Clausen, a Warden, Wash., hay grower. Good hay is selling for $180 per ton and clean ex- port, no-test hay for $150 and 3 Years @ 0% TRACTORS JD 6170R, 1427 hrs., Cab, MFWD, IVT, Loader Ready, 710- 38 Single Rears, 3 Remotes...............................$157,000 Merrill #DD008813 JD 8770, 7675 hrs, 4WD, Quad Range Trans, 20.8-42 Duals, 3 Remotes..............................$42,500 Walla Walla #4681 JD 8770, 14,749 hrs, 4WD, 3 Remotes, Bare Back, 24 spd. Power Quad Trans, Duals...............$33,000 Tekoa #3214 JD 6125M, 174 hrs., Regular Cab, MFWD, 24-spd. Tran., H340 Loader w/Suspension.........$112,000 Four Lakes, #DG777037 Case IH JX1095N, 2885 hrs, Narrow Cab, MFWD, 3 pt, 540 PTO, Front Weight Pkg.....$27,000 McMinnville, #36490 JD 5095MH, 1395 Hrs, High Clearance, MFWD, Row Crop Tires, Dual speed PTO.......$42,000 Gresham #5M280001 JD 6430, 5740 Hrs, Premium Cab, MFWD, PQ trans., Auto Trac ready, Row Crop Tires....$55,000 Salem #OH525703 JD 6520L, 7845 Hrs, Low Profile Cab, PQ Trans., MFWD, Dual Speed PTO, 2 Remotes $52,000 Donald #OH499635 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......................$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 Merrill #13029 JD 9200, 7381 Hrs, 4WD, 4 Remotes, 20.8-42 Duals, Quad Range Trans...................................$79,900 Tekoa #30476 JD 9400, 7644 Hrs., 4WD, PS Trans., 1000 PTO, 710-42 Duals, 4 Remotes.....................$99,900, Tangent, #41372 JD 8630R, 1011 Hrs, IVT Trans, ILS Axle, 4 Remotes, 620/70R-46 Duals.....................$262,999 Donald, #71414 CAT D6-9U Bulldozer, 19,000 Hrs., Cable Blade, Canopy, Electric Start...............................$2,900 Tekoa #PM60430 JD 9560R, 222 Hrs, 4WD, 800/55R-46 Opti Trac Duals, 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 COMBINES JD S670, 280 hrs, 18% Rahco 4-way sidehill leveler, 615P BPU Platform........................$455,000 Tangent #765553 feeder hay less than that, he said. Supreme and premium alfalfa sold for $300 to $370 per ton in California in 2014, driven by a shortage before the port slowdown. Feeder grade was $220 to $240 and now has fallen under $100 in places. Anderson also said some exporters renegotiated and reneged on contracts in 2008 but that he never has and that he hasn’t heard of any of that this year. Contracts normally don’t have renego- tiation clauses and to do so is a breach of contract, he said. While times are tough, Anderson said he hasn’t heard of any exporters go- ing out of business or of any mergers. “Everyone’s situation is different,” he said. “Tough markets create different dy- namics. I think everyone is pretty use to battling through the storm.” 5 Years @ 0.9% COMBINES continued Case IH 7010, 1120 Hrs, Level Land, 2016 BPU Platform (grass seed combine)............$140,000 Tangent #202887 JD T670, 1127 Hrs., Small Grain, MacDon BPU Platform (grass seed combine).........$189,000 Donald #0A084501 JD T670, 1170 hrs., Small Grain, MacDon BPU Platform (grass seed combine)...........$189,000 Salem #0A084492 JD 9650STS, 3343 Hrs, Small Grain, 914P BPU Platform, (grass seed combine).............$87,000 Tangent, #685747 JD 9650STS, 3557 Hrs, Small Grain, Straw Chopper (grass seed combine).................. $91,500 Harrisburg, #686910 JD 9650STS, 2246 Hrs, Small Grain, 914P BPU Platform, Straw Chopper................$85,000 McMinnville, #685945 Case IH 2588, 1809 Hrs, Small Grain, Hillside, 30’ Cutting Platform..........................$210,000 Walla Walla #303538 JD 9650STS, 3456 Hrs, Small Grain, 914P BPU Platform, Straw Chopper.......................$80,000 Tangent, #686102 JD 9600, 5869 Hrs., 35% Rahco Leveler, 930R Cutting Platform and Cart.................Moscow, #650604 $25,000 JD 9600, 6985 Hrs., 35% Rahco Leveler, 930R Cutting Platform and Cart................ Moscow, #640650 $25,000 JD S680, 660 Hrs., 35% Rahco Leveler, 935F Platform, Stoess Cart......................$475,000 Walla Walla #747035 JD 7722, 1462 Hrs., 44% Leveler, JD 224 Cutting Platform.. ......................Moscow #615983 MAKE OFFER! $10,000 JD 9660, 3195 Hrs., Small Grain, 914P Belt Pickup Platform (grass seed combine).............$125,000 Madras #706475 JD 9770, 901 Hrs, Hillco Leveler, Straw Chopper, Duals....... ..............................................$365,000 Moscow #741350 JDS670, 652 hrs, Rahco Leveler, 4WD, 630R platform with cart...........................................$432,000 Colfax, #765261 21 Ag & Turf locations in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Northern California. papemachinery.com 541-681-5363 50-4/#7 By DON JENKINS 3 All financing on approved credit. Financing special applies only to select pieces of equipment. See dealer for details and qualifying units. 50-2/#5