August 4, 2017
CapitalPress.com
7
State denies reconsideration for mega-dairy
Opponents may
file lawsuit to stop
operation
By GEORGE PLAVEN
EO Media Group
Despite concerns of water
pollution and contamination,
the agencies responsible for
permitting a 30,000-cow dairy
farm in Morrow County, Ore.,
will not be reconsidering their
decision.
Lost Valley Farm, located
on a portion of what used to
be the Boardman Tree Farm,
was issued a controversial
wastewater handling permit
March 31 from the Oregon
Department of Agriculture
and Department of Environ-
mental Quality, which to-
gether administer the state’s
confined animal feeding oper-
ations, or CAFOs.
Opponents of the dairy
filed what’s known as a peti-
tion for reconsideration, ask-
ing regulators to take a closer
look at whether the permit
does enough to protect sur-
face water and groundwater
sources. On July 25, ODA
and DEQ issued a 10-page
order denying the request and
potentially setting the state for
a future lawsuit.
Ivan Maluski, policy di-
rector for Friends of Family
Farmers in Salem, issued a
statement saying attorneys are
reviewing the order. He said
there is a “clear indication
that Oregon has a broken sys-
tem for CAFO permitting,”
while specifically criticizing
ODA, DEQ and Gov. Kate
Brown.
“These mega-operations
pollute the air with no envi-
ronmental oversight, they put
our limited groundwater at
risk, and though Oregon has
lost nearly 40 percent of our
dairy farms over the past de-
cade with small and mid-sized
farms getting hit the hardest,
the governor and her agencies
are bending over backward to
open the door for out-of-state
factory farms like Lost Val-
ley,” Maluski said.
Lost Valley Farm is owned
by Greg te Velde, a Califor-
nia dairyman who has been
milking cows in Oregon
since 2002. He used to run
Willow Creek Dairy on land
leased from Threemile Can-
yon Farms before relocating
and expanding his business,
which sells milk to Tillamook
Cheese at the Port of Morrow.
In the lead-up to permit-
ting, ODA and DEQ were
flooded with 4,200 public
comments, mostly in opposi-
tion to Lost Valley. The cam-
paign was spearheaded by a
coalition of environmental,
animal rights and small farm
groups including Friends of
Family Farmers, the Animal
Legal Defense Fund, Center
for Biological Diversity, Cen-
ter for Food Safety, Columbia
Riverkeeper, Food & Water
Watch, Humane Oregon, Hu-
mane Society of the United
States, Oregon Physicians for
Social Responsibility and Or-
egon Rural Action.
They argue that Lost Val-
ley — which at full capacity
is expected to generate 187
million gallons of waste-
water and manure annually
— poses a significant risk of
groundwater and surface wa-
ter contamination, while also
exacerbating elevated levels
of groundwater nitrates in the
lower Umatilla Basin.
Regulators have insisted
their permit for Lost Valley
is the most protective of any
to date, requiring 11 ground-
water monitoring wells and a
minimum of three annual in-
spections.
Te Velde has also defended
the farm’s management prac-
tices. Wastewater is stored
in lagoons on site and then
mixed at specific agronomic
rates with irrigation to help
grow feed crops for the cows.
Monitoring wells are sup-
posed to ensure the soil is not
being overloaded with the ni-
trogen-rich water.
Lost Valley has been op-
erating for several months
now, so far bringing in 16,000
total animals with 8,700 be-
ing milking cows. The dairy
expects to gradually build its
full herd of 30,000 animals
over the next several years.
Farm sponsors ‘Goateclipse’ fundraiser
By ALIYA HALL
Capital Press
The McPhillips Farm in Mc-
Minnville, Ore., is throwing a
different type of eclipse party.
Called “Goateclipse,” will
be a campout with the McPhil-
lips family and their herd of 35
Toggenberg goats at their farm.
The event will be from noon
Sunday, Aug. 20, to noon Mon-
day, Aug. 21. The eclipse will
be the morning of Aug. 21.
Ramsey McPhillips, owner
of the 150-year-old McPhillips
Farm, said that he had the idea
to throw an eclipse party for
friends and family, but decided
to open it to the public.
“It’s like an eclipse petting
zoo,” he said.
Activities include petting
goats, swimming in the Yam-
hill River and showing movies
in the barn and house, McPhil-
lips said. There will also be a
bring-your-own-bottle cocktail
party, a barbecue and a cowboy
blackberry pancake breakfast.
Goateclipse is a fundraiser
for the McPhillips family to
“offset legal fees necessary to
go before the Oregon Supreme
Court to stop the expansion
Matthew Weaver/Capital Press
Technician Lynnzie Paulson moves a grain sample July 31 at the
Washington State Department of Agriculture grain inspection office
in Spokane Valley.
Early harvest reports: No
falling number problems
Photos courtesy of Ramsey McPhilips
Tony Velasquez, one of the cowboys who will be making breakfast,
snuggles with one of the goats, Ester.
By MATTHEW WEAVER
Capital Press
of Riverbend Landfill in wine
country,” according to the
Goateclipse press release.
The family has been fight-
ing the landfill expansion for
the past nine years.
In addition to goats, the
McPhillips farm also has 100
sheep and one turkey.
“Goats are like dogs, you
can pet them and they’re very
Information
Tickets are $100 a person
and available at http://bit.
ly/2h0Alch. For more informa-
tion, call 503-223-7777.
friendly,” McPhillips said.
“People love goats and it tru-
ly is one of the most beautiful
farms, if I do say so myself.”
The 150-year-old McPhillips
Farm has a herd of 35 Tog-
genberg goats. McPhillips said
that goats are like dogs, “very
friendly.”
Washington, Oregon make region a blueberry powerhouse
By DAN WHEAT
Capital Press
MONITOR, Wash. — It’s
a relatively cool 80 degrees
at mid-morning as the Kamen
and Hanna families head into
Crazy Larry’s Blueberry Farm
on what will be a 95-degree
day.
Owner
Larry
Rawls
demonstrates how to roll
blueberries off the bush with
his thumbs into his cupped
hands.
Jason and Courtney Hanna,
of DeKalb, Ill., are visiting his
sister, Bridget Kamen, and her
husband, of Wenatchee. It’s a
treat to come pick, Courtney
says, because she doesn’t
know of any blueberry farms
in Illinois.
Rawls’ 1.75-acre U-pick
blueberry farm, in Monitor
about five miles northwest of
Wenatchee, is one end of the
spectrum of Washington’s
growing blueberry industry.
The other end is large com-
mercial producers such as
Zirkle Fruit Co., Yakima, a
tree fruit leader that branched
into blueberries.
Consumer awareness of
health benefits of blueberries
is driving continuing demand,
and pushing production in
Washington, Oregon, Michi-
gan and Georgia.
Washington
surpassed
Georgia to become national
leader in 2015. Washington
held the title in 2016, at 120
million pounds, and is fore-
cast to keep it this year.
Oregon was a close sec-
ond in 2016 but is expected
to place third this year, be-
hind Michigan, said Alan
Schreiber, executive director
of the Washington State Blue-
berry Commission in Pasco.
“It’s more accurate to think
of Oregon and Washington as
a common growing region,”
Schreiber said.
The two states are similar
in attributes, making them a
strong force in the industry,
he said.
For one, they have a longer
production window than most
growing regions. Washington
picking starts in mid-June
and ends in October when the
Photos by Dan Wheat/Capital Press
Kamen and Hanna family children, with grandma, head out to pick blueberries July 26 at Crazy Larry’s
Blueberry Farm, in Monitor, Wash.
Bridget
Kamen, 34, of
Wenatchee,
Wash,, picks
Draper variety
blueberries July
26 at Crazy
Larry’s Blue-
berry Farm,
Monitor, Wash.
only other region still picking
is British Columbia.
Washington has a great-
er capacity than most states
to divert fresh blueberries to
processing since its industry
began on the west side of the
state where disease is great-
er and it was easier to make
money by processing, Sch-
reiber said.
Another benefit is the dry
climate of the eastern sides of
both states, which basically
eliminates disease.
Several Oregon fresh
packers procure blueberries
from Washington, the blue-
berry commissions of the two
states coordinate research and
are planning a joint trade mis-
sion to Vietnam this fall, Sch-
reiber said.
“Several people on my
board have financial ties with
Oregon guys. There’s a lot of
inter-connectivity,” he said.
It’s not all rosy. Small
commercial producers have
a hard time competing and
one potentially large player,
Stemilt Growers, Wenatchee,
got in and then got out.
Teri Miller, co-own-
er of Miller Orchards and
fruit stand in Peshastin and
a founder of Cascade Farm
Lands, an agri-tourism group
in the Wenatchee Valley, said
blueberries have peaked.
Small growers in the valley
tried and quit because they
couldn’t make enough money,
she said.
“Blueberries are very labor
intensive and all of ag is short
on labor,” she said.
“Economic pressures of
scale exist in blueberries like
they do in apples and potatoes
and wheat. Particularly in the
fresh market, it’s hard to be a
small blueberry grower,” Sch-
reiber said.
SPOKANE
VALLEY,
Wash. — It might just be a
normal year for wheat quality,
said Mark Marshall, grain in-
spection office supervisor for
the Washington State Depart-
ment of Agriculture.
“The first one I’ve seen in
a long time,” he said.
The workers at the office
are running 100 to 200 sam-
ples per day, said Scott Stein-
bacher, WSDA acting region-
al manager.
Inspectors will put in six
additional hours every Satur-
day during harvest, if needed,
Steinbacher said — and if
falling number again becomes
a problem this year.
Falling number is a test
that measures starch damage
in wheat that affects the qual-
ity of baked goods, noodles
and other foods.
Last year, farmers were
caught off-guard when 44
percent of soft white wheat
samples and 42 percent of
club wheat samples tested
below 300, the industry stan-
dard.
The problem did not make
its way to international buy-
ers. Industry officials esti-
mate the problem cost farm-
ers more than $30 million in
dockage for the lower-quality
wheat.
This year, most wheat
samples are testing above
300, Steinbacher said.
Fewer places are now ask-
ing for falling number sam-
ples, he said.
“At first we were, but they
were all 350 to 450, so every-
body kind of backed off from
running every single sample,”
he said.
The Idaho Wheat Com-
mission said grain handlers
are reporting good quality and
yields, and no falling number
problems.
Oregon Wheat CEO Blake
Rowe agreed.
“Falling numbers look
fine,” Rowe added. “Always
a few low tests in the mix, but
no broad problem like was
seen in Washington last year.”
Glen Squires, CEO of the
Washington Grain Commis-
sion, said he hasn’t heard
any reports of falling number
problems.
“It’s always a concern,
but it’s not raining, so far,”
he said. “I think people are
watching it. There’s a whole
bunch of harvest still to hap-
pen, but so far, so good.”
The few samples testing
below 300 are from last year’s
crop, Steinbacher said. Some
grain elevators are transfer-
ring wheat from 2016 that’s
been stored, he said.
Steinbacher and Marshall
double check any low falling
number reading that comes up.
“It was last year’s crop but
one of us saw it and the first
thing we did was say, ‘Wait,
wait, where’s it from? What is
it?’” Steinbacher said.
Now Hiring:
Executive Director
Job Location: Oregon Aglink
7360 SW Hunziker St. • Portland, OR
The Organization:
Oregon Aglink, formerly known as the Agri-Business Council of Oregon (ABC), is a private, non-profit volunteer
membership organization dedicated to growing Oregon agriculture through education and promotion. Established in
1966, Oregon Aglink seeks to bridge the gap between urban and rural Oregonians.
In bringing together farmers, ranchers, and processors throughout the state, we work to preserve and enhance
Oregon agriculture by showcasing its importance to the economy and lifestyle of Oregon. We accomplish this through
our Cultivating Common Ground initiative as we share Agʼs story.
JOB SUMMARY:
Serve as the Executive Director of Oregon Aglink, provide leadership and oversee day-to-day administration of
the association. In addition, this position is responsible for the development and marketing of Aglinkʼs role in
agriculture throughout the Northwest.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
• Minimum of 5 years of supervisory or managerial
experience, preferably with non-profit organizations.
• Excellent organizational, financial, and administrative
skills.
• Demonstrate excellent oral and written communications
skills, including persuasive presentations.
• Successful experience in fundraising, marketing and
familiarity with grant applications.
• Successful experience in coordinating large events,
involving volunteers and staff.
• Demonstrates effective relationship building with the
board, members, volunteers as well as sponsors.
• Meets deadlines and handles pressure well.
• Familiarity with agriculture and the Northwest is highly
desirable.
• BA or BS from an accredited college or university is
required.
MAJOR DUTIES:
• Responsible for day-to-day administration of the
organization.
• Serves as the lead spokesperson for media and other
public forums.
• Maintains, develops and implements an effective
public relations program.
• Develops and implements fundraising strategies for
the organization. This includes event planning and
sponsorship solicitation, corporate giving and grant
writing/facilitation.
• Provides leadership to staff and evaluates individual /
team performance.
• Develops, monitors and communicates budget
information in coordination with the Executive
Committee, Board of Directors and individual
committees.
• Works closely with the associationʼs leadership to
implement and meet Strategic Planning Goals.
• Maintains and develops effective communications with
the associationʼs membership.
• Develops programs, products and services for
membership benefit.
• Provides leadership and promotes an effective
membership marketing program.
• Performs other functions as assigned by the President
or Executive Committee.
• A team player; willing to do tasks regardless of size or
scope of project.
Salary: Competitive salary and benefits based on experience.
Submit cover letter and resume to info@aglink.org by August 31, 2017.
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