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April 27, 2018 CapitalPress.com 9 Ramaswamy to oversee NW colleges, universities Proudest of NIFA’s focus on producers By MATTHEW WEAVER Capital Press Capital Press File Potatoes for processing are harvested near Pingree, Idaho. In Idaho and Malheur County, Ore., pro- cessors had used 54.1 million hundredweight of potatoes as of April 1, according to NASS. Potato stocks on par with last year By BRAD CARLSON Capital Press As farmers begin to plant the 2018 potato crop, about one-third of last year’s crop remains in storage, the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service reports. That percent- age is on par with last year. Last season, farmers grew fewer acres of potatoes than the previous year, Idaho Pota- to Commission President and CEO Frank Muir said. Idaho, which produces nearly one-third of the nation’s potatoes, grew 131.3 million hundredweight last year, down from 2016 production of 139.3 million hundredweight. About 38 percent of the 2017 crop re- mains in storage. Washington, the sec- ond-largest potato producer, had a crop of 99.0 million hun- dredweight and has 30 percent of its crop remaining. Oregon grew 21.4 million hundredweight and has one- third of its crop remaining. Overall, NASS said the 13 major potato-production states held 133.6 million hundred- weight in storage April 1, up 2 percent from a year ago. Potato disappearance, at 266 million hundredweight, was down 3 percent. Season- to-date shrink and loss, at 19 million hundredweight, was down 8 percent. In the eight largest pota- to-processing states, proces- sors had used 146 million hun- dredweight for the season as of April 1, up 1 percent from a year earlier, NASS reported. In Idaho and in Malheur County, Ore., processors had used 54.1 million hundred- weight for the season as of April 1, down 1 percent from a year earlier. In other Oregon counties and the state of Washington combined, processors used 61.8 million hundredweight for the season, also down slightly. Dehydrated usage account- ed for 25.8 million hundred- weight of the total processed, down 3 percent. In Wilder, Idaho, Doug Gross grows potatoes for the fresh market and for process- ing. He was to start planting April 19. “We are right on schedule with a normal year,” he said, referring to his potato plant- ings. He sees good planting conditions on his southwest Idaho farm, including soil tem- peratures on track with 10-year averages. Gross said adequate water bodes well for production, but final 2018 results will depend largely on summer growing conditions and weather. “We just have to see what the weather brings,” he said. Sonny Ramaswamy will return to the Pacific North- west after his role as director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture ends next month. Ramaswamy’s six-year term with NIFA ends May 5. President Barack Obama appointed him in 2012. He formerly was dean of Oregon State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences. In July, he will become president and CEO of the Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities, and reside in Seattle. “It is in the world of edu- cation,” Ramaswamy told the Capital Press. The commission provides oversight and holds univer- sities accountable, Rama- wasamy said. He will oversee 162 colleges and universities, including public and land- grant universities, communi- ty colleges, private nonprofit and private for-profit schools. “The intent is to make sure students that attend these institutions do get their ed- ucation,” Ramaswamy said. “Once they’re educated, that they have the skills and knowl- edge to become contributing members of society. There’s some very critical expectations that society has.” Sonny As an Ramaswamy accrediting body, the commission evaluates the institutions, Ra- maswamy said. “Institutions could certain- ly be in trouble if they don’t make sure they’re offering the kind of educational op- portunity, including research experiences and experiential education,” he said. The new job will allow Ramaswamy to continue to advocate for agriculture. He told the commission board he needed to remain a proponent, he said, serving on boards or testifying at congressional hearings about food, agricul- ture and forestry if the oppor- tunity arises. Ramaswamy declined to comment whether the Trump administration would have asked him to be continue with NIFA. “It’s not my call,” he said. “At the end of the day, it is the Trump administration’s call and Secretary (Sonny) Perdue’s call.” He is proudest of the rec- ognition for NIFA as a sci- ence agency that’s deeply interested in protecting the in- terests of farmers and ranch- ers, he said. “I continually remind- ed folks at and outside of NIFA, it’s not just productiv- ity of our farming system — you’ve got to worry about the profitability as well,” he said. “Anything and everything we can do from a scientific and extension perspective to put a few more dollars in the pock- ets of our producers.” He expects that priority to continue at NIFA after he departs. “Absolutely,” he said. “These priorities are not any different from anybody else.” A registered indepen- dent, Ramaswamy said he approached problems as a scientist. Addressing climate change, and continuing water challenges are all part of that, he said. “We may disagree on the cause of (climate change), but we know, farmers know that’s happening, and it’s an existential threat,” he said. “Look at the droughts that are happening right now, snowpack in the Cascades and other places — these are really highly concerning. We have to do everything we can, and I guarantee you Secretary Sonny Perdue’s focus is on it.” NIFA has also been heav- ily invested in addressing America’s opioid crisis, Ra- maswamy said. Ag Fest to honor 3 groups for their ag efforts Capital Press SALEM — Oregon Ag Fest will honor three school groups Sunday, April 29, for their ef- forts to expand agricultural ed- ucation in the state. Receiving first place and a $1,000 award is the Urban Farm Program at College Hill High School in Corvallis. The Urban Farm gives at-risk fresh- men and sophomores a real-life farm and business experience to develop their leadership, teamwork and problem-solv- ing skills. This takes place on a half-acre with 30 laying hens, a farmers’ market stand and a student employment program that allows 3-4 students to work and run the urban farm stand from June to August. Echo FFA will receive the $600 second-place award for its agricultural advocacy proj- ects, which include partnering with Ag In the Classroom at the elementary schools, ag sci- ence activities with the middle school and a petting zoo for the community during FFA week in March. Receiving the third-place award of $400 will be the North Powder Farm to School Program, which involves all grades of the school in garden and poultry production. It be- gan nine years ago as a way to bring fresh, local products into the school cafeteria and to teach children the origin of their food. The local food bank also utilizes products from the farm in its weekly food distri- bution. The purpose of the Ag Fest Agricultural Education Award is to reward student organiza- tions, nonprofit organizations or classrooms that promote and educate Oregonians about agriculture and extend the Or- egon Ag Fest mission beyond its annual, two-day, interactive event. “As Oregon Ag Fest cel- ebrates 31 years of growing awareness for the importance of agriculture in our commu- nities, we are proud to contin- ue to support the agricultural education outreach efforts of nonprofit and student organi- zations this year,” Jake Wil- son, Oregon Ag Fest chair- man, said in a press release. “Oregon Ag Fest is dedicated to educating the public about the importance of agricul- ture, and we see this award as a way to encourage and support student groups that have programs and activi- ties aimed to accomplish the same thing.” The awards ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 29, on the main stage in the Jackman Long Building at the Oregon State Fairgrounds during the 31st Annual Oregon Ag Fest. Oregon Department of Agriculture Director Alexis Taylor will present the awards. The awards ceremony will top off a weekend of agricultur- al adventures at Ag Fest, which is in its 31st year. Ag Fest will be at the Ore- gon State Fairgrounds in Salem at 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 28, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, April 29. Children 12 and under are admitted free and parking is free. Admission is $9 for ages 13 and over. All activities center around locally grown products, which allows families to learn about and celebrate the diverse world of Oregon agriculture. “Our goal is to help kids gain a better understanding of the importance of agriculture to Oregon’s rural landscape, and to emphasize that most food starts on a farm somewhere and in Oregon we’re lucky enough to grow over 200 varieties of crops,” said Wilson, the Ag Fest chairman. Members of the public can kick off their visit to Ag Fest from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 28, with an old-fashioned ranch-style breakfast. Included are hot- cakes, ham, Oregon-grown fruit toppings, scrambled eggs, juice, coffee and milk prepared by Linn County 4-H groups. Cost is $6 for adults; children under 3 are free. Proceeds from the breakfast provide scholarships for 4-H camp and leader training. High court grills Washington lawyers on tribal treaty rights By DON JENKINS Capital Press Washington’s solicitor general faced tough question- ing Wednesday from Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, who said he was “struggling” to accept that other interests can outweigh the treaty rights of 21 Western Washington tribes. Gorsuch said Washing- ton’s appeal of a court order to replace more than 800 fish-impeding culverts “boils down” to whether the state can affect tribal fishing in the pursuit of public benefits. He said he didn’t see anything in the treaties that says tribal fishing rights “may be com- pletely eliminated, if neces- sary, to meet other domestic needs.” “Which is,” Gorsuch told the state’s attorney, Noah Pur- cell, “the position you’re tak- ing, I think, before this court.” The questioning came during oral arguments in the latest phase of litigation the Justice Department started in 1970 against the state on be- half of the tribes that signed the Stevens treaties in 1854 and 1855. A previous phase allocated up to half the fish to tribes. Al- though the case before the Su- preme Court stems from a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals order to replace culverts, the larger question is to what extent the treaties obligate Washington to protect salmon habitat. Washington argues that the order to remove culverts makes every “significant hu- man activity” a potential trea- ty violation, a concern echoed by farm groups and some oth- er states, including Idaho, that have treaty tribes. Eight justices are decid- ing the case. Justice Anthony Kennedy, often a swing vote, recused himself because he participated in a 1985 circuit court ruling regarding the treaties. Gorsuch may play a pivotal role in whether the court reaches a decision or deadlocks. Native American groups endorsed his appoint- ment by President Donald Trump based on his record on the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. At the outset, Purcell ac- knowledged the state made a mistake when it told the cir- cuit court that it had the right to completely block every salmon-bearing stream. He said the state could not cause a “large decline.” 17-3/100