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2 CapitalPress.com October 7, 2016 People & Places Seeking a better Christmas tree Gary Chastagner wants to take needles out of holiday season Western Innovator Capital Press Gary Chastagner Age: 68 Position: Washington State University professor of plant pathology at Puyallup research center Don Jenkins/Capital Press Washington State University plant pathologist Gary Chastagner researches Christmas trees at the school’s research center in Puyallup. The American Phytopatho- logical Society awarded him the Excellence in Extension Award in 2011 for his re- search. A university proile called him “Mr. Christmas Tree.” “Boy, as an industry, did we get lucky when he decid- ed to do research in our in- dustry,” said Philomath, Ore., Christmas tree grower Betty Malone, chairwoman of the national Christmas Tree Pro- motion Board. “You can trust what he says because he is so precise about his research,” she said. Chastagner said he’s not sure when he will retire. But until he does, he will contin- ue working on a career-long project: Keeping Christmas trees from making a mess. “If we can eliminate nee- dle shedding, that would be a major improvement in the overall quality of trees,” Chastagner said. It was needles that got Chastagner into Christmas tree research. Chastagner was hired in 1978 by WSU to research or- namental bulbs and turf grass. At the time, however, the plant disease Swiss nee- dle cast was rampant among Douglas irs in the Paciic Northwest. Needles turned yellow and fell off. Some 84 percent of the Douglas irs on Christmas trees in Oregon and Washington Christmas tree plantations were infected in 1981, according to a USDA publication. The Legislature gave WSU money to study the problem, but the school needed a re- searcher. “I was the new kid on the block. The dean came into my ofice — it’s probably the only time the dean has been in my ofice — and wanted to know if I would be willing to work on Christmas trees,” Chastagner said. Research and solutions fol- lowed, namely the application of an inexpensive fungicide. Only 13 percent of thousands of trees surveyed between 1987 and 2007 had the disease, according to the same USDA publication. “We got a clear path to solving the problem, thanks to Gary,” Malone said. The success kept the North- west Christmas industry from losing millions of dollars. Oregon leads the country in Christmas tree production. Washington ranks ifth. Some 92 percent of the trees are sent to other states or countries, according to the Paciic Northwest Christmas Tree Association. California is the No. 1 mar- ket, but trees also travel as far away as China, Japan and the Philippines. Some people like to have their trees up for weeks, test- ing the limits of even well-wa- tered irs to keep their needles. Industry surveys indicate that consumers cite needle loss as a top reason for being dissatis- ied with a real tree. “It’s absolutely primary,” Malone said. Chastagner and colleagues at several other U.S. universi- ties and in Denmark are col- laborating on a multi-year re- By BRENNA WIEGAND For the Capital Press Calendar Brenna Wiegand/For the Capital Press Dana Childers of Medford, Ore., and 2-year-old “Made You Look” prepare to enter the ring at the American Boer Goat Association show Oct. 1. Childers says the demand for goat meat in the U.S. is skyrocketing because of the country’s growing ethnic population. milk goats. “When people think of goats they think of skin- ny, bony dairy goats; not the breeds being grown just for the meat and that with- 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. Ranchers of the Northwest will take part. Friday, Oct. 7 Oregon’s Bounty: A Celebra- tion of the Harvest. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oregon State Capitol, 900 Court St. NE, Salem. Attractions ranging from a giant chinook salmon to a free pumpkin patch and an old-time tractor display are planned. www. oregoncapitol.com Perrydale Corn Feed. 4:30-8 p.m. Perrydale High School, 7445 Perrydale Road, Amity, Ore. The Perrydale FFA corn feed is a fun family community event, a good meal and a football game. Cost: $25 for a family, $12 couple, $7.50 individual. Friday-Sunday Oct. 7-9 Schafer Meadows Fiber Arts Festival, noon-5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Grays Harbor Coun- ty Fairgrounds Rabbit and Poultry Barn, Elma, Wash. The Alpaca Saturday, Oct. 8 Northwest Farmers Union An- nual Convention and Meeting. Wal- la Walla Community College, Walla Walla, Wash. www.nwfu.org Monday, Oct. 10 Why Save Farmland Discus- sion. 6 p.m. Boise State University Jordan Ballroom, 1700 University Drive, Boise. The Treasure Valley Food Coalition is launching this initiative with a series of questions: Why is the time right for preserv- ing farmland in the Treasure Val- ley? What is the value of farmland in ive months can provide a 100-pound goat that’s ready to butcher,” Dana Childers of Medford, Ore., said. Her 2-year-old doe, ‘Made you Look,’ weighs 225 pounds; her males reach about 300 pounds. With a 4-H beginning, 15-year-old Megan Walton and her older sister Riley started Little Star Farm at their home in Aurora, Ore. “Goats are popular around the world because they can go in groups; they’re easy to eat because the bone-to-meat ratio is better than cows and they’re easier to keep cool in the heat because of their ears,” Megan Walton said. The care they put into their animals can yield healthy re- turns, to which Childers can attest. “The more that you show and the more that you promote your herd, the more money there is,” said Childers who, with husband Bruce, owns Childers Show Goats. “Artii- cial insemination can be pretty expensive; you’re looking at about $100 for a single straw, but with the right buck the ba- bies will sell like mad.” Bruce Childers would like to see goat meat take its right- ful place in American refrig- erators. preservation in the Treasure Valley (economic, cultural, environmen- tal)? Who is already working on farmland preservation in the TV? How can we work together moving forward? www.treasurevalleyfood- coalition.org Gorge Fruit and Craft Fair. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Hood River County Fairgrounds, 3020 Wy’east Road, Odell, Ore. www.hoodriverfair.org Tuesday, Oct. 11 2016 National FFA Convention and Expo. Bankers Life Field House and Indiana Convention Center, In- dianapolis, Indiana. www.ffa.org Why Save Farmland Discussion continues at 6 p.m. at the College of Idaho’s Langroise Auditorium, 2112 Cleveland Blvd., Caldwell, Idaho. www.treasurevalleyfoodcoalition.org Saturday-Sunday Oct. 15-16 All About Fruit Show, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Clackamas County Fairplex, Canby, Ore. This is an opportunity to taste hundreds of pears, ap- ples, kiwis and grapes and order a custom-grafted tree. Speakers will answer questions and an ID Team will identify “mystery” ap- ples. www.homeorchardsociety.org/ events/2016-fruit-show/ Wednesday-Saturday Oct. 19-22 Friday-Saturday Oct. 21-22 Montana Farmers Union Con- vention, Best Western Heritage Inn, Great Falls, Montana. montana- farmersunion.com Saturday, Oct. 22 Oregon Agriculture in the Classroom 16th Annual Fall Har- vest Dinner and Fundraiser, 5 p.m. CH2M Hill Alumni Center, Oregon State University, 725 SW 26th St., Corvallis. The social hour and silent auction start at 5 An independent newspaper published every Friday. Favorite Christmas tree: Noble ir Periodicals postage paid at Portland, OR, and at additional mailing ofices. search project to identify trees with superior needle-retention genetics. Christmas trees of various types are being grown in dif- ferent conditions. Branches will be sent to Chastagner to test needle retention. “We are trying to identify genes that are associated with good needle retention and genes that are associated with resistance to Phytophthora root rot,” he said in an email following up an interview. “There has been some dis- cussion about genetically mod- iied trees, but our understand- ing of the genes that control desirable Christmas tree traits is very limited at this time,” he said. “A few years ago there were a number of stories in the media about using a gene from jellyish to make trees that glowed in the dark. These tend to get a lot of press, but the reality is that genetically modify Christmas trees is not something that is likely in the foreseeable future.” “I think if people tried it and it was prepared properly, it would become a highly con- sumed meat,” he said. “Goat meat is so much better for you than other red meats and really tastes good if prepared properly. Goat meat would really appeal to people who are health conscious and want meat, if they really knew what it was.” The word’s getting out, thanks to word-of-mouth Facebook-style. “Facebook is amazing,” Dana Childers said. “I’ve put goats on there and had them sell within 10 minutes. Web- sites are great, but the volume of people you can reach in a minute on Facebook is amaz- ing.” The family goat may also be coming back into vogue. “A lot of people are get- ting 5-acre plots now and goats could work very well there because you put ive goats where you can put one cow,” Kilgore said. “A family can handle them easily and still have other jobs.” 20 Northwest Locations Entire contents copyright © 2016 EO Media Group dba Capital Press Capital Press (ISSN 0740-3704) is published weekly by EO Media Group, 1400 Broadway St. NE, Salem OR 97301. GASES / WELDING / SAFETY / FIRE www.oxarc.com 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 Education: Bachelor’s de- gree, 1971 California State University, Fresno; master’s degree 1973 and Ph.D. 1976 University of California-Da- vis. Boer goats spotlighted at Oregon show McMINNVILLE, Ore. — The fact that many were expecting twins didn’t keep nearly 100 top meat goats from congregating at the American Boer Goat Associa- tion’s Fall Show and Sale Oct. 1-2 at the Yamhill County Fairgrounds. South African Boer goats, with their white bodies and red heads, are docile, fertile animals with rapid growth and density of frame. “About 60 to 70 percent of the world eats goat meat,” Ruth Kilgore, president of the Oregon Meat Goat Producers, said. “With our growing eth- nic population, the demand for goat meat in the U.S. ex- ceeds our ability to keep up.” In 2014 the U.S. imported more than 43 million pounds of goat meat, primarily from Australia, for a total value of $94.7 million, according to North Carolina State Univer- sity. Before the Boers arrived in the U.S. in 1993 people ate 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 By DON JENKINS PUYALLUP, Wash. — As beits a scientist who studies Christmas trees, Gary Chast- agner discusses his research with good cheer. Not that the job is a holiday. The Washington State Univer- sity plant pathologist tackles problems that would make a pre-reformed Grinch smile. Slugs and yellowjackets lurk in irs, and no one wants that under the tree. Like other crops, Christ- mas trees are threatened by pests and pathogens. Unlike other crops, Christmas trees compete with artiicial facsim- iles. An organization called the American Tree Christmas Association touts the purport- ed ecological beneits of faux over ir. “Everyone knows the envi- ronmental value of trees, and here we are, selling trees! That have been cut off!” Chastagner said. “I don’t know of any oth- er agricultural crop marketed as a tree — that’s been harvest- ed. Even though it’s grown as a crop and replanted.” Chastagner, 68, has studied Christmas trees over a nearly 40-year career at WSU’s re- search center in Puyallup. The research has been wide-ranging. He evaluated tree stands to see which ones hold enough water to slake a cut ir’s thirst (very few). He set up a Christmas tree lot in Tempe, Ariz., to test how Pa- ciic Northwest irs weather desert heat. The lot was not proitable, but the venture yielded information to help other retailers, Chastagner said. Capital Press 1-800-765-9055 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 and the oral auction at 7:45. or- egonaitc.org/ Tuesday-Wednesday Oct. 25-26 Oregon Society of Weed Sci- ence Annual Meeting, 8 a.m. Best Western Hood River Inn, 1108 E. Marina Way, Hood River, Ore. Wednesday-Friday Oct. 26-28 FSPCA Preventive Controls for Animal Food Course, 8 a.m. Sprin- ghill Suites by Marriott,424 E. Park Center Blvd., Boise, Idaho. The course will cover an overview of the FSMA requirements for animal food, current good manufacturing practice requirements, animal food safety hazards, an overview of the food safety plan and other related issues. Cost: $650/person for 2 or more people from the same compa- ny registering at the same time or $720 per individual. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Capital Press, P.O. Box 2048 Salem, OR 97308-2048. 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