2
CapitalPress.com
July 29, 2016
People & Places
A smart app for growers
Chandra Krintz
develops program
that delivers
information directly
to farmers
Western
Innovator
By TIM HEARDEN
Capital Press
Chandra Krintz has always
had an admiration for agricul-
ture, having grown up on a
farm in Indiana. But her irst
love has always been comput-
ers.
When she was 8, her fa-
ther, a junior high school
teacher and principal, brought
a computer home from the
school for the summer so it
wouldn’t be stolen, she said.
“I just dove in,” Krintz
said. “I wrote my irst com-
puter program at age 8 and it
changed my life. … I loved
designing systems and solv-
ing problems. It’s been my
life ever since.”
Now a computer science
professor and researcher at
the University of Califor-
nia-Santa Barbara, Krintz has
come “full circle,” she said.
She’s developing a digital
program called SmartFarm,
which seeks to help growers
identify real-time conditions
in their ields and run their op-
erations more eficiently.
“It’s Amazon.com for ag,”
she said. “Amazon was the
irst example of a smart shop.
… We want to do something
analogous to that with Smart-
Farm.
Using tiny fence-like sen-
sors that Krintz says are “su-
per-cheap,” SmartFarm will
virtually monitor the condi-
tions of each plant and the soil
around it and compile it with
Chandra Krintz
Occupation: Professor of
computer science, University
of California-Santa Barbara
Residence: Santa Barbara,
Calif.
Website: http://www.
cs.ucsb.edu/~ckrintz/
Courtesy of UCSB
Chandra Krintz, a computer science professor at the University of
California-Santa Barbara, is leading a project called SmartFarm
that aims to help growers use data and technology to make their
operations more eficient.
other data such as weather
forecasts to show a grower
speciically where the needs
are.
The program, which will
work as a phone or tablet app,
will also enable growers to
more eficiently tackle such
tasks as irrigation scheduling
and soil health management.
“It will make predictions
of the future, like when a frost
is likely to occur, so when you
take actions to prevent frost
damage you can do that more
accurately,” Krintz said. “We
work with pistachio growers,
and they turn on their water
when it’s 9 degrees above a
hard freeze. We believe that
by taking very precise mea-
surements at the plant level,
we’ll collect individual in-
formation … that will help a
farmer make better decisions
than what is possible today.
“Right now a farmer looks
at statewide weather infor-
mation and sees that it might
freeze,” she said. “We can
tell you, ‘These are the trees
that are going to have a hard
frost.’”
Krintz and fellow UCSB
researcher Rich Wolski, a
former chief technology of-
icer at Eucalyptus Systems,
are testing their system on a
20-acre experimental farm
in a natural reserve north of
Santa Barbara. They’re also
collaborating through the UC
Cooperative Extension with
about 20 growers throughout
California, Krintz said.
“We’re kind of taking it
from the tech angle,” she said.
“We are not farmers or ranch-
ers, but we feel like agricul-
ture today is underserved by
technology given the boom
(in digital data use).”
For Krintz, spending time
on farms is all too familiar.
Her family raised corn, soy-
beans and alfalfa on 8 acres
in rural Indiana, where her
father — who was also raised
on a farm — passed on to her
a love for the earth and soil,
she said.
She moved to Southern
California in the early ’90s to
work in the computer indus-
try, later earning a bachelor’s
degree from California State
University-Northridge and a
master’s degree and doctor-
ate in computer science from
UC-San Diego. She joined the
UCSB faculty in 2001.
Krintz said the SmartFarm
technology will be provided
free to growers, who will own
the data they load into the sys-
tem. The hardware will be in-
expensive, and because farm-
ers and ranchers are busy, the
researchers are trying to make
the system as easy as possible
to use, she said.
“It has to make sense for
growers,” she said.
The system will come on-
line by the end of this year and
the software will be available
online for people to try, Krintz
said. She said the researchers
hope the technology is some-
day commonly used by farm-
ers around the world.
“I’m super excited,” she
said. “I think the future looks
tremendously bright. Even
though growers and ranchers
are facing many, many chal-
lenges, there’s been such a
boom on the consumer side
with data analytics. Every-
thing that’s done by Amazon,
Google and Facebook can be
applied to problems farmers
have, and because these big,
huge companies have done it
for millions of people, we can
do it for individuals as well.
“We have no other choice”
but to make better use of
technology in agriculture,
Krintz said. “We have to pro-
duce enough food to feed 9
billion people by 2050, and
7 billion people today. We
think automation and com-
puting can really simplify
what farmers do today. I real-
ly believe that.”
Extra-large steer named Buford stars at auction
By JANAE SARGENT
Capital Press
LEBANON, Ore. — Coy
Cowart and three friends joked
about how many hamburgers
his giant steer Buford would
make.
They decided the steer
would produce 3,600 quar-
ter-pounder hamburgers.
Buford is not your average
steer. Weighing in at 2,175
pounds, he brought 83 cents
per pound at Cowart’s Lebanon
Auction Yard on July 21. When
Cowart stood next to Buford in
the auction ring, the steer tow-
ered over him.
Buford was nearly twice
as heavy as the average steer,
which typically weighs approx-
imately 1,200 pounds.
Cowart called Buford his
pet steer, having raised him for
four years.
“He was always the most
gentle guy,” Cowart said.
“When I would call him in he
would lead all of the other cattle
in with him.
Cowart said he would have
liked to keep Buford longer to
see how much bigger he would
get but that he became too big
Janae Sargent/Capital Press
Coy Cowart sold his pet steer Buford July 21 at his Lebanon Auction Yard for 83 cents per pound.
Buford weighed in at 2,170 pounds, making him nearly 1,000 pounds heavier than an average steer.
to manage with the other cattle.
Cowart is co-owner of
Lebanon Auction Yard with
his wife, Helen, son Terry and
daughter-in-law Lezlie. He
started the auction yard in 1987
after he retired from a career in
construction.
“I never thought I would
own a business before I retired,”
Cowart said. “At 54 years old I
spent a lifetime making money
for other people and thought,
Why not do it for myself?”
When Cowart started the
auction yard there were 18
other auction yards in Oregon
— now there are eight. Three
are left in the Willamette Val-
ley.
Diversiication has been
a big contributor to Cowart’s
success. He said he realized
early on that auctioning dairy
cows wouldn’t be enough to
sustain his family so he began
investing in other areas.
The auction yard now
sells farm equipment and an-
imals and provides trucking
services, contracts cattle and
transports hay and feed.
Cowart expanded the auc-
tion yard last year with the
addition of a 100-by-240-foot
barn and expects to put in an-
other, bigger barn later this
year.
Cowart said family is a
huge part of Lebanon Auc-
tion Yard and his life. He
has 12 grandchildren and 8
great-grandchildren that help
out at the auction yard and in
his garden at home.
“I believe in God, family
and the nation,” Cowart said,
quoting Republican presiden-
tial candidate Donald Trump.
Cowart said he encourages
all of his children and grand-
children to own their own
businesses.
He spoke proudly of his
grandson, Matt Cowart, who
in 2015 opened a brewery in
Lebanon, Ore. Cowart said
he takes out-of-town business
associates and friends to Con-
version Brewing whenever
they are visiting.
He said everyone at Leba-
non Auction Yard is like fami-
ly, whether they are related or
not.
In selling Buford, Cow-
art said most people don’t
want to eat pets once they’ve
named them but that he won’t
have that problem.
“I’ll have no problem eat-
ing Buford,” Cowart said.
“He’s going to make some
good steaks.”
Capital Press
Established 1928
Board of directors
Mike Forrester ..........................President
Steve Forrester
Kathryn Brown
Sid Freeman .................. Outside director
Mike Omeg .................... Outside director
Corporate oficer
John Perry
Chief operating oficer
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 © 2016
EO Media Group
dba Capital Press
An independent newspaper
published every Friday.
Capital Press (ISSN 0740-3704) is
published weekly by EO Media Group,
1400 Broadway St. NE, Salem OR 97301.
Periodicals postage paid at Portland, OR,
and at additional mailing ofices.
POSTMASTER: send address changes to
Capital Press, P.O. Box 2048 Salem, OR
97308-2048.
To Reach Us
Toll free ............................. 800-882-6789
Main line ........................... 503-364-4431
Fax ................................... 503-370-4383
Advertising Fax ................ 503-364-2692
News Staff
N. California
Tim Hearden .................... 530-605-3072
E Idaho
John O’Connell ................. 208-421-4347
Idaho
Carol Ryan Dumas .......... 208-860-3898
Boise
Sean Ellis .......................... 208-914-8264
Central Washington
Dan Wheat ........................ 509-699-9099
E Washington
Matthew Weaver .............. 509-688-9923
Oregon
Eric Mortenson ................ 503-412-8846
Mateusz Perkowski .......... 800-882-6789
Graphic artist
Alan Kenaga ..................... 800-882-6789
To Place Classiied Ads
Ad fax .............................. 503-364-2692
or ...................................... 503-370-4383
Telephone (toll free) .......... 866-435-2965
Online ......www.capitalpress.com/classiieds
Subscriptions
Mail rates paid in advance
Easy Pay U.S. $3.75/month (direct with-
drawal from bank or credit card account)
1 year U.S. ...................................$49.99
2 years U.S. .................................$89.99
1 year Canada .................................$275
1 year other countries ......... call for quote
1 year Internet only .......................$49.99
1 year 4-H, FFA students and teachers ....$30
9 months 4-H, FFA students & teachers .....$25
Visa and Mastercard accepted
To get information published
Mailing address:
Capital Press
P.O. Box 2048
Salem, OR 97308-2048
News: Contact the main ofice 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
300 words. Deadline: Noon Monday.
Capital Press ag media
Calendar
Sponsored by:
To submit an event go to the
Community Events calendar on the
home page of our website at www.
capitalpress.com and click on “Sub-
mit an Event.” Calendar items can
also be mailed to Capital Press,
1400 Broadway St. NE, Salem, OR
97301.
Friday, July 29
Hood River County Fair, noon-
11 p.m. Hood River County Fair-
grounds, 3020 Wy’east Road, Hood
River, Ore. Gates open at noon
each day, carnival rides begin at 1
p.m. General admission is $8 per
adult Wednesday and Thursday,
and $10 per adult on Friday and
Saturday. Children ages 6-12 (in-
clusive) are admitted for $3 every
day; children younger than 6 are
admitted free. Season tickets are
available ($30 for adults, $10 ages
6-12 inclusive). Fair parking is free.
Saturday and Sunday
July 30-31
The Great Oregon Steam-Up,
9 a.m.-5 p.m. The Great Oregon
Steam-Up is the largest event at
Antique Powerland during the year
and it involves all of the museums
and many other participants. One
of the unique aspects of the event
is that most of the equipment is
operating. 3995 Brooklake Road
NE, Brooks, Ore. Daily admission
$12 per person, 12 and under free.
www.antiquepowerland.com/html/
steam-up.html
Hood River County Fair, noon-
11 p.m. Hood River County Fair-
grounds, 3020 Wy’east Road, Hood
River, Ore. Gates open at noon
each day, carnival rides begin at 1
p.m. General admission is $8 per
adult Wednesday and Thursday,
and $10 per adult on Friday and
Saturday. Children ages 6-12 (in-
clusive) are admitted for $3 every
day; children younger than 6 are
admitted free. Season tickets are
available ($30 for adults, $10 ages
6-12 inclusive). Fair parking is free.
Saturday and Sunday
Aug. 6-7
The Great Oregon Steam-Up,
GASES / WELDING / SAFETY / FIRE
www.oxarc.com
9 a.m.-5 p.m. The Great Oregon
Steam-Up is the largest event at
Antique Powerland during the year
and it involves all of the museums
and many other participants. One
of the unique aspects of the event
is that most of the equipment is
operating. 3995 Brooklake Road
NE, Brooks, Ore. Daily admission
$12 per person, 12 and under free.
www.antiquepowerland.com/html/
steam-up.html
Sunday, Aug. 7
“Raised Country” Music Festi-
val, 1 p.m. Antelope Church lawn,
Antelope, Ore. The festival kicks
off at 1 p.m. with Joni Harms, fol-
lowed by an authentic Chuckwagon
Barbecue with Paradise Rose and
the harmonies of Central Oregon’s
Mud Springs Gospel Band, while
the kids stay busy with the ranch
animal petting area, face painting
and other activities. Headlining the
festival at 3:45 p.m. will be Susie
McEntire.
Saturday, Aug. 13
Harvest Fest, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
20 Northwest Locations
Yamhill Valley Heritage Center,
11275 SW Durham Lane, McMin-
nville, Ore. Threshing, binding and
baling oats using vintage farm equip-
ment, horses and mules; “Parade of
Power” tractor parade at 1 p.m. each
day; pioneer kids’ activities, pedal
tractors and petting animals. $5
admission, kids under 12 are free.
www.yamhillcountyhistory.org
Oregon Cannabis Growers
Fair, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Oregon State
Fairgrounds, 2330 17th St. NE,
Salem. Over age 21 only. https://
oregoncannabisgrowersfair.com/
Sunday, Aug. 14
Harvest Fest, noon-4 p.m.
Yamhill Valley Heritage Center,
11275 SW Durham Lane, McMin-
nville, Ore. Threshing, binding and
baling oats using vintage farm
equipment, horses and mules;
“Parade of Power” tractor parade
at 1 p.m. each day; pioneer kids’
activities, pedal tractors and pet-
ting animals. $5 admission, kids
under 12 are free. www.yamhill-
countyhistory.org
1-800-765-9055
Oregon Cannabis Growers Fair,
10 a.m.-4 p.m., Oregon State
Fairgrounds, 2330 17th St.
NE, Salem. Over age 21 only.
https://oregoncannabisgrowers-
fair.com/
Tuesday, Aug. 16
Oregon Soil and Water Com-
mission Meeting, 8:30 a.m.-12:30
p.m. Hilton Garden Inn, 3528
Gateway St., Springield, Ore.
www.oregon.gov/ODA/programs/
NaturalResources/SWCD/Pages/
SWCC.aspx
Practical Food Safety & HACCP
Workshop. This is a comprehen-
sive, three-day workshop, designed
for those individuals responsible
for implementing and managing a
HACCP system in a food manu-
facturing facility. Participants who
pass a inal test will receive a cer-
tiicate of completion. Idaho Water
Center, 322 E. Front St., Boise,
Idaho. Cost: $650. www.techhelp.
org/events/273/practical-food-safe-
ty-haccp-workshop-august-16-18-
in-boise/
www.capitalpress.com
www.FarmSeller.com
www.AgDirectoryWest.com
marketplace.capitalpress.com
www.facebook.com/capitalpress
www.facebook.com/farmseller
www.facebook.com/onlyAGdotcom
twitter.com/capitalpress
www.youtube.com/capitalpressvideo
www.blogriculture.com
Index
Markets ............................... 13
Opinion .................................. 6
Correction policy
Accuracy is important to Capital
Press staff and to our readers.
If you see a misstatement,
omission or factual error in a
headline, story or photo caption,
please call the Capital Press
news department at
503-364-4431, or send email to
newsroom@capitalpress.com.
We want to publish corrections to
set the record straight.