Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Capital press. (Salem, OR) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 19, 2018)
8 CapitalPress.com January 19, 2018 Federal payments to Idaho agriculture drop 44 percent By SEAN ELLIS Capital Press BOISE — Total federal government payments to Idaho farmers and ranchers declined an estimated 44 percent in fiscal year 2017. According to University of Idaho’s annual “Financial Condition of Idaho Agriculture” report, the state’s producers received $89 million in government pay- ments in fiscal 2017. That amount accounted for 4.6 percent of Idaho farmers’ and ranchers’ total net farm income in fiscal 2017, while govern- ment payments nationwide accounted for 17.7 percent of total U.S. net farm income. Fewer than 1 percent of total U.S. farm payments went to Idaho producers, ac- cording to the report. In a phrase that UI Agricultural Econ- omist and report co-author Garth Taylor repeats to lawmakers often, including this year while going over the highlights of the report, “Idaho farmers don’t farm the gov- ernment.” Idaho agriculture is much less reliant on federal government payments than the rest of the U.S. because farmers in this state don’t grow many acres of crops that receive the bulk of government payments related to farm bill programs, said UI Ag- ricultural Economist and report co-author Ben Eborn. He said most of the government pay- ments Idaho farmers and ranchers re- ceived in fiscal 2017 were from the Price Loss Coverage and Agriculture Risk Cov- erage programs. Both are authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill and help compensate growers when commodity prices are low. Most of the PLC and ARC payments that Idaho producers received in fiscal 2017 were related to low grain prices, Eb- orn said. Milk program payments in Idaho were down in 2017 due to slightly higher milk prices, he said. Despite “Snowmageddon,” as the state’s harsh winter last year is called, “we saw very little disaster payments (in 2017) even with the flooding and snow damage,” Taylor said. “Mostly, it was ARC and PLC kicking in with these low prices.” The rest of the government payments to Idaho farmers and ranchers in fiscal 2017 came from the farm bill’s conser- vation programs, and those were down significantly as well, Eborn said. Winegrowers toast state senator with first leadership award By GEORGE PLAVEN Capital Press SALEM — Oregon wine- growers raised a glass Jan. 10 to state Sen. Jackie Winters, R-Salem, presenting the 20- year lawmaker with the first Oregon Wine Leadership Award. Jim Bernau, founder and winemaker at Willamette Valley Vineyards, gave the award on behalf of the Ore- gon Winegrowers Associa- tion, which wrapped up its annual meeting and legis- lative reception at the state Capitol. The award recognized Winters for her role in pro- moting the Oregon wine in- dustry, which now generates more than $3.35 billion in statewide economic impact. “I’ve watched over the years an industry that has come into its very own,” Winters said. “I think it’s only going to get bigger ceeds going to Travel Ore- gon for wine and culinary tourism programs. Winters was also a force behind planning for Senate Bill 841 in 2013, a compre- hensive winery land use bill that, in part, allows permit- ted use wineries to have pro- fessional kitchen facilities, and to pair food with wine. “In a pretty big way, George Plaven/Capital Press we are the creature of the Jim Bernau, founder and winemaker at Willamette Valley Vineyards, changes in public policy that have been made over the last presents state Sen. Jackie Winters, R-Salem, with the first Oregon 40 years,” Bernau said. Wine Leadership Award on Wednesday at the state Capitol. Legislators like Winters and better.” can brag about our wines!” are a big part of that momen- tum, Bernau added. The Oregon Winegrowers Winters said. “They are shoul- Association represents 725 Bernau, who established wineries and more than 1,000 Willamette Valley Vineyards der-to-shoulder behind our vineyards, though Winters in 1983, ran down a list of industry,” he said. The Oregon Winegrow- said she can remember the Winters’ contributions to naysayers who insisted Ore- the industry. Just last ses- ers Association will continue gon wines would never catch sion, she helped to secure to award the Oregon Wine $500,000 for marketing and Leadership Award to those on. “It’s been a growth indus- research, and in 2013 she who take a strong role in pro- try that has done not only a was the chief sponsor for moting, as well as advancing, tremendous job with eco- creating Oregon Wine Coun- the Oregon wine community, nomic development, but we try license plates, with pro- the group announced. Tim Hearden/For the Capital Press Volunteer Amado Ascencio hangs a shade tarp on the outside of a horse arena at the Tehama District Fairgrounds in Red Bluff, Calif., on Jan. 15 in preparation for the Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale, to be held Jan. 23-27. Bull sale consigners look for post-drought rebound By TIM HEARDEN For the Capital Press RED BLUFF, Calif. — Consigners will look for an end to a drought-induced de- cline in prices when as many as 423 bulls are marched through the Don Smith Pavil- ion here on Jan. 27. Total winning bids for the Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale’s marquee event have topped the $1 million mark for seven straight years, but last year’s $1.1 million paid for 288 bulls — for an average price of $3,819 — continued a slide blamed largely on Cali- fornia’s prolonged drought. The number fell short of the nearly $1.49 million that bidders shelled out for 305 bulls in 2016 for an aver- age of $4,885 and the record $1.56 million paid for 238 bulls in 2015 for an average of $6,554. “We saw in the past few years some all-time highs in cattle prices, and things have moderated a bit,” sale manag- er Adam Owens said. “Things are looking pretty good with California getting some de- cent rain finally.” The U.S. cattle inventory has been growing in recent months as ranchers replenish their herds, buoyed in part by rising per capita beef con- sumption in the U.S. and in SAGE Fact #147 The miles one ton of cargo can be transported on one gallon of fuel: Semi Truck: 59 miles Train: 202 Miles Barge: 514 miles 3-1/101 3-1/101 some export destinations such as Japan, industry insiders say. The 77th annual bull sale is one of four auctions to be held next week in Red Bluff. The bidding will begin with the ninth annual online feed- er and replacement heifer sale on Jan. 25. Last year about 75 lots were sold in the Western Vid- eo Market-hosted sale, with lot prices topping out at $143 per hundredweight for weaned heifers and $173 per hundred- weight for weaned steers. That was down significantly from the previous year’s $234 and $252, respectively. The 2015 sale topped out at $287 and $299, respectively. In all, 85 horses and 20 stock dogs will be offered in their respective sales Jan. 26. In 2017, 69 geldings gen- erated $682,760, down from the $755,250 received in 2016 for 104 horses. Last year’s sale of 14 cat- tle dogs fetched a total of $85,750, with the top dog selling for $20,000 to El Rancho de Casey in Jarrell, Texas. For the first time this year, all of the auctions will include online bidding and will be streamed live at www. DVAuction.com. “Actually we’re way be- hind the curve on that, for several reasons,” Owens said, referring to online bidding. “We’re an event and not just an auction, so we really want people to come. But some just can’t.” The auctions will be held amid a packed week that will also include a trade show with 175 vendors, a Western art contest, a kickoff breakfast, beef forums and seminars and a bull riding competition. This year, a popular raf- fle of donated items to ben- efit youth agricultural pro- grams has been moved from Wednesday to Friday night, Jan. 26, just before the geld- ing sale, so it can draw more people, Owens said. As many as 500 tickets will be sold, and top prizes will include a pickup truck. In the raffle’s place on Jan. 24 will be a night of casino games as part of the buyers’ and consigners’ dinner, which is open to the public. Tickets are $20. For information on all of the week’s activities, visit www.redbluffbullsale.com. 3-1/102
