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2 CapitalPress.com June 29, 2018 People & Places Sheep can improve rangeland Capital Press Established 1928 Board of Directors Mike Forrester Steve Forrester Kathryn Brown Susan Rana Harrison Forrester Mike Omeg Cory Bollinger Jeff Rogers J. Bret Taylor supervises unique sheep grazing studies in Idaho By DIANNA TROYER For the Capital Press When sheep are grazed at certain intensities during spring and fall, they can help rehabilitate sagebrush habitat after it has burned, accord- ing to innovative studies at the USDA’s Agricultural Re- search Service U.S. Sheep Experiment Station in eastern Idaho. “We’re looking at the best ways to manage sagebrush steppe in the Upper Mountain West, so it can be sustainable for sage grouse habitat as well as livestock production,” said J. Bret Taylor, research leader and supervisory animal scien- tist at the station near Dubois. Taylor, an expert in live- stock production and nutrition, focuses on ways to improve lifetime production yield of range sheep and shrub- land health and sustainability. “The sagebrush steppe is fascinating to me because it’s an important shrubland eco- system that provides many, many diverse benefits,” he said. Fire simulation In 2008 and 2009, 16 pas- tures with sagebrush were burned at the station, simu- lating how wildfires on public land throughout the West have scorched habitat essential for sage grouse, a species of con- cern. As the pastures began re- covering, several scenarios were created to investigate how different intensities of spring and fall grazing affect sagebrush and other plant growth. Burned habitats recov- ered best when pastures were grazed lightly in spring, then rested for a year or two. The same pastures could be grazed moderately in the fall annual- ly. “Placing more emphasis on fall grazing has improved the recovering habitat,” he said. In spring, sheep tend to eat their favorite plants of grass and forbs and avoid sage- brush. As a result, repeated heavy spring grazing tends to promote greater density of sagebrush, reduce plant diver- sity, and give rise to invasive plants, the study has shown. In the fall, however, sheep tend to graze on all types of plants including some sage- brush. Essentially, the sheep are pruning the sagebrush, preventing it from growing too thickly. “If sagebrush canopy be- comes too dense, it’s unsuit- able for grouse or livestock and increases risk of wild- fire,” Taylor said. “As sheep eat dried plants in fall, they’re scattering and cultivating the seeds. We’re grazing sheep in such a way to keep sagebrush at an optimal canopy cover.” Acquired taste Sheep do not consume much sagebrush. Howev- er, researchers have noticed some sheep eat more sage- brush than others. Taylor compared it to how some people are genetically predisposed to enjoy the fla- Western Innovator J. Bret Taylor Occupation: Research lead- er and supervisory animal scientist at the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station near Dubois, Idaho Age: 49 Education: Bachelor’s degrees in biochemistry and animal science, West Texas A&M University; master’s degree and Ph.D. from New Mexico State University in ruminant nutrition and molecular biology with emphasis in toxicology; Courtesy of Sam Cox J. Bret Taylor is supervising studies in eastern Idaho on the effect of sheep grazing on sagebrush steppe after it has burned. vor of some foods. “Some people naturally like broccoli or black coffee, while others don’t,” he said. “Studies have shown it’s due to a person’s genetic code.” To identify sheep that are inclined to eat more sagebrush than other sheep, researchers tested the reaction of rams to- ward a bitter compound that was placed in their drinking water. “The bitter flavor didn’t bother some rams at all, while others disliked it and wouldn’t drink the water,” Taylor said. “We’ll breed the rams that didn’t seem to notice the bit- terness to ewes this fall and see if their offspring will con- sume more sagebrush.” In both studies, Taylor credits cooperators, Melinda Ellison and Joel Yelich from the University of Idaho’s Nancy M. Cummings Re- search, Extension and Educa- tion Center in Salmon. “The studies will help pro- Author, editor: Authored or co-authored more than 90 peer-reviewed articles; a former division and associ- ate editor for the Journal of Animal Science and guest editor for the Animal Fron- tiers journal Memberships: Society for Range Management, American Society of Animal Science, International Soci- ety for Selenium Research; a past president of the Western Section American Society of Animal Science. Family: Wife and two children For the Capital Press SALEM, Ore. — Kirk Hutchinson, former agricul- ture instructor and FFA advis- er at Perrydale High School in Amity Ore., has come out of retirement to become ex- ecutive director of the newly organized Future Natural Re- source Leaders of Oregon. Chartered in 2016, the or- ganization is the first state- wide Career Technical Educa- tion program in the nation for students who wish to pursue careers in forestry, outdoor recreation, fish and wildlife, ecology, environmental sci- ence or other areas of natu- ral resources. The group held its second annual conven- tion April 27-28 at Hopkins Demonstration Forest in Ore- gon City. The organization is the brainchild of Reynold Gard- ner, agriculture and natural resource systems specialist for the Oregon Department of Education, and Peter Matzka, Oregon State University Clackamas County forest- ry outreach coordinator. It is modeled after the 90-year-old nationwide FFA program that provides a vital connection between classroom study, real world applications, leadership training and career placement. Matzka, who led the group Courtesy Photo Students try out a log harvesting simulator at the Future Natural Resource Leaders annual convention. Kirk Hutchinson, executive director of the Future Natural Resource Leaders of Oregon. through the first year to get it started, will continue to work with Hutchinson as its advis- er. “My ultimate goal is ed- ucation, and to that end I am challenged to build a career education organization that does the best possible for these kids,” Hutchinson said. “We had 125 kids or so from 11 schools attend the conven- tion, we have five or six more (schools) that are ready to be on board.” The five-year plan antici- pates 50 schools enrolled in the program. “It’s thanks to the help, support and enthusiasm of students, teachers, industry representatives and other part- ners, that we have had a re- markable year of growth and chickens and pigs every morn- ing before school and thought I wanted to be a farmer when I grew up,” Hutchinson said. “I went to Portland Commu- nity College and learned to be a welder but didn’t like sitting in fumes all day so went to OSU and studied agriculture. I had never heard of FFA or seen a ‘blue jacket’ and when I found out that you could teach agriculture, I decided I would teach for 10 years and then be a farmer. I taught two years in St. Paul, came to Perrydale in 1984 and stayed there until I retired in 2011.” During the first day of the convention, students heard talks from representatives of Seneca Sawmill Co. and Basco Logging and partici- pated in technical events that Jan Jackson/For the Capital Press development,” Hutchinson said. “We’ve been fortunate to have a great group of Ca- reer Technical Education in- structors that have understood the importance of broadening the kids’ education beyond the classroom, putting time and effort into these kids out- side of their regular teaching duties.” Hutchinson, who was born and raised on a small farm in southwest Portland’s Multnomah Village, attend- ed Wilson High School be- fore achieving agriculture and teaching degrees from Oregon State University. His award-winning years as an agriculture teacher and FFA adviser at Perrydale High School are legendary. “I milked the cow, fed the ducers make decisions about the length and location of grazing and be conscientious about forage availability, season of grazing and sage grouse habitat,” he said. included such topics as com- pass and pacing, ground log scaling, job interviews, map reading, timber cruising and tree identification. The next day included skill events such as arbor tree climbing, ax throwing, cross- cut bucking, spur tree climb- ing, cable splicing, choker setting, chainsaw bucking and log rolling. “FNRL isn’t just about coming to convention and sawing logs and throwing a few axes, however,” Hutchin- son said. “It is learning how to work hard, be on time, be respectful and learn to work in groups. Many will work in jobs we don’t even know about today so it is important get away from specific knowl- edge and focus on the type of worker you are. We need to prepare these kids to be suc- cessful in any job that may come their way.” This summer they will de- velop a handbook for chapters at the local and state levels. “It is this education beyond the classroom that I believe helps make lifelong learners and to help them realize that what we learn today will just be background for what we do tomorrow is important.” For more info call Kirk Hutchinson at 503-550-0471 or email him at hutchfnrl@ gmail.com Calendar 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 or emailed to newsroom@capital- press.com. Write “Calendar” in the subject line. Saturday, June 30 Goats/Sheep Parasite Man- agement SIPM. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. OSU Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center Auditorium, 569 Hanley Road, Central Point, Ore. This one-day class on Sustainable Integrated Parasite Management (SIPM) will include learning about: managed grazing, 5-point checks, fecal egg counts, body condition scor- ing, condensed tannin feeds, nutri- tional management, culling/selection and copper-oxide wire particles. Cost: $45 one-day event. https://extension. oregonstate.edu Sunday-Wednesday July 1-4 geneprorodeo.com/ Molalla Buckeroo Rodeo. 5 p.m. Buckeroo Rodeo Grounds, 815 Shir- ley St., Molalla, Ore. Join us in cele- brating our nation’s birthday with non- stop rodeo action, mutton bustin’, a carnival midway, food and vendors. A fireworks show, live music and dance follow each evening performance. Website: http://www.molallabuckeroo. com Caneberry Field Day. 1-5 p.m. OSU North Willamette Research and Extension Center, 15210 NE Miley Road, Aurora, Ore. This is the annual field day for commercial and back- yard caneberry growers. Sponsored by Oregon State University. Website: http://oregonstate.edu/dept/NWREC/ Tuesday-Saturday July 3-7 St. Paul Rodeo. 7:30 p.m. Ro- deo Grounds, Main Street, St. Paul, Ore. The 83rd annual St. Paul Rodeo runs July 3-7 and celebrates Inde- pendence Day with five days of fun. Website: http://www.stpaulrodeo.com Eugene Pro Rodeo. 5 p.m. Ro- deo Grounds, 90751 Prairie Road, Eugene, Ore. Rodeo, dances and fireworks are featured. Closed Thurs- day, July 5. Website: http://www.eu- Wednesday, July 11 Forestry Shortcourse. 9 a.m.- noon. Sandpoint Orchard, 10881 N. Boyer Road, Sandpoint, Idaho. This is the fourth session of a six-session course on forest ecology, silviculture, wildlife habitat, and other forestry topics. Cost: $38 Email: cschnepf@ uidaho.edu Friday, July 13 Forest Root Disease Workshop. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. UI Extension, Koote- nai County, 1808 N. Third St., Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. This program is aimed at both forest managers and forest landowners who are interested in learning more about forest root dis- eases. The event spends the morn- ing indoors learning about the basics. The afternoon is spent outside in the forest. This workshop is limited to 35 participants. Cost: $20 by mail, $22 online. Website: http://www.uidaho. edu/extension/forestry/ Forestry Shortcourse. 9 a.m.- noon. Sandpoint Orchard, 10881 N. Boyer Road, Sandpoint, Idaho. This is the fifth session of a six-session course on forest ecology, silviculture, wildlife habitat, and other forestry topics. Cost: $38 Email: cschnepf@ uidaho.edu Friday-Sunday July 13-29 Friday, July 20 California State Fair. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. California Expo Center, 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento, Calif. California’s state fair brings out the best is the state’s agriculture. Web- site: http://www.castatefair.org Wednesday, July 18 Blueberry Field Day. 1-5 p.m. OSU North Willamette Research and Extension Center, 15210 NE Miley Road, Aurora, Ore. This is the annual field day for commercial and back- yard growers. Sponsored by Oregon State University. Website: http://ore- gonstate.edu/dept/NWREC/ Rick Hansen Chief Financial Officer Capital Press Managers Joe Beach ..................Editor & Publisher Elizabeth Yutzie Sell .... Advertising Director Carl Sampson ................Managing Editor Jessica Boone ........ Production Manager Samantha McLaren .... Circulation Manager Entire contents copyright © 2018 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 offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Capital Press, P.O. Box 2048 Salem, OR 97308-2048. To Reach Us Circulation ......................... 800-882-6789 Email ........ 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