Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Capital press. (Salem, OR) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 25, 2019)
2 CapitalPress.com Friday, January 25, 2019 People & Places Point man on elk intrusion Randy Good represents cattlemen in Washington’s battle over elk EMPOWERING PRODUCERS OF FOOD & FIBER Established 1928 Board of Directors Western Innovator By DON JENKINS Capital Press Randy Good Age: 70 To focus minds on the damage caused by elk, Western Washington cat- tleman Randy Good talks to decision-makers, orga- nizes bus tours, seeks allies and attends meeting after meeting. He’s been at it for sev- eral years. Asked if he’s seen results, he says “no,” but that he won’t give up. “I learned a long time ago, you just keep at it and sooner or later, you’ll hit the right person,” said Good, 70. Good has been at the forefront of a long-running struggle by eastern Skagit County landowners to get elk off their pastures and fields. Farmers report exten- sive damage to fences, pas- tures, hay bales and plants. They worry about elk drop- pings contaminating crops and elk spreading hoof dis- ease to livestock. An ongoing survey of farmers suggests elk are causing roughly $1.5 mil- lion damage to agriculture a year, according to the Skagit County Assessor’s Office. Good estimates his losses at $46,000 a year because he’s had to abandon raising beef cattle in a field occupied by elk. “It’s a sad, sad situa- tion,” he said. Fish and Wildlife and Native American tribes imported elk from Mount St. Helens in 2003 and 2005 to enlarge the North Cascades herd. The plan worked. The department agrees too many elk have moved from the hills, where they were released, onto agricultural land. Fish and Wildlife and Job: Rancher, former dairy farmer Positions: Vice president of Skagit County Cattlemen’s As- sociation, president of Friends of Skagit County Education: Skagit Valley Com- munity College Don Jenkins/Capital Press Sedro-Woolley, Wash., rancher Randy Good stands in his field and by a fence damaged by elk. Elk are a continuous problem for farms in eastern Skagit County, as Good continuously reminds the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. tribes have helped land- owners haze elk and put up fences, but landowners say the problem has outgrown hazing and fences. The department issues some kill permits to let land- owners shoot an elk, but the permits are meant to con- trol damage and are too few to stop the herd from grow- ing. At least some of the nine tribes involved in man- aging the herd oppose more hunting. Lawmakers directed Fish and Wildlife to reduce the number of elk on farmland, but the department has not had any apparent success. State Sen. Keith Wag- oner, a Republican who represents eastern Skagit County, said Good and allies have kept the issue in front of wildlife officials. “They have their atten- tion. I’m sure they do,” said Wagoner, who said he’s interested in testing beefed-up fencing to keep elk off farms. “I think it’s been very helpful. Randy has been persistent to the point of annoyance.” Good’s remarks — writ- ten and verbal — about Fish and Wildlife’s inability to move elk are pointed. He delivers the comments as a landowner, vice president of the Skagit County Cattle- men’s Association and presi- dent of the Friends of Skagit County, a group founded to promote protection of rural land. Asked if he’s enjoying the political arena at all, he says no. “I’d rather be home farm- ing all the time,” he said. For more than three decades, Good and his wife, Aileen, had a dairy farm. Good now raises beef cat- tle on a field not occupied by elk. In lobbying Fish and Wildlife for action, he’s joined by other landowners, such as beef rancher John Jonasson, who figures elk have breached his fences 25 to 30 times. “Randy does most of the actual coordinating,” Jon- asson said. “He’s doing an outstanding job. He’s been staying in their face about it. He’s not going to back down if he knows he’s right.” Good organized a bus tour in early December for new Fish and Wildlife Director Kelly Susewind to see the elk. Good said he was hoping for four hours, but got two. The tour ended at a library, where farmers described the damages. “Randy did a great job on that. He had everything timed down to the minute,” Jonasson said. Good has organized other bus tours and also gone to Olympia. Last April, Good, Jonas- son and three other Skagit County residents went to a Fish and Wildlife Com- mission meeting and spoke during the period when peo- ple have three minutes to talk about whatever they want. Good presented the case in his typical way. First, he reminded the commissioners of their role. “You are our only voice with the DFW,” Good said. He stated the problem: “Our frustrations are at a tip- ping point in eastern Skagit County with the intrusion of elk onto our agricultural valley floor for the past 10 years.” Then, he quoted state law: Nothing in Fish and Wildlife’s mandate shall be construed to infringe on Cause: Getting elk off farms and ranches, including his, in eastern Skagit County, Wash. landowners controlling their property. “Please advise the DFW to follow the law as man- dated,” Good said. Several Fish and Wild- life commissioners agreed something should be done. Jonasson said their cause usually gets a good recep- tion in Olympia. “We do feel generally pretty good when we leave there,” he said. “But at some point, a human being needs results, not just talk.” Good said he learned a lot about working in the public arena beginning in the early 1990s by being on a com- mittee that advises a high school agricultural program. “You don’t want advisory committees to be a rubber stamp for the government,” he said. Good’s tips for farmer involvement include: Doc- ument everything, attend every meeting possible, find allies who are willing to speak up and get to the top officials. “I learned many years ago you have to get to the right person and inform them, or otherwise you’re spinning your wheels,” he said. SATURDAY-SUNDAY, JAN. 26-27 Two-Day Consigned Machinery Auction: 9 a.m., Woodburn Auction Yard, 597 S. Pacific Hwy., Woodburn, Ore. Saturday: tools, lawn and gar- den implements, machine tools, cars and trucks, tractors, excavators, attach- ments, trailers. Sunday: Field equip- ment and attachments, hay equipment, livestock gates, chutes and panels, irri- gation https://woodburnauction.com. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 30 Cattlecon19: Ernest N. Morial Con- vention Center, 900 Convention Cen- ter Blvd., New Orleans. https://bit. ly/2ycMLDW. Central Oregon Forage Sem- inar: 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m., 4-H Clo- ver Club Building, 502 S.E. Lynn Blvd., Prineville. Sponsored by Central Ore- gon Hay Growers’ Association and OSU Extension Service. RSVP to OSU Crook County Extension Service (541-447- 6228) or email to Kim.herber@oregon- state.edu by Jan. 25. http://www.oreg- onhaygrowers.com. THURSDAY, JAN. 31 Cattlecon19: Ernest N. Morial Con- vention Center, 900 Convention Cen- ter Blvd., New Orleans. https://bit. ly/2ycMLDW. Quincy FFA Donkey Basketball Game: 7-10 p.m., Quincy High School, 16 Sixth Ave. SE, Quincy, Wash. The Quincy FFA will host the Donkey Bas- ketball Game as a fundraiser. Informa- tion: Contact the FFA officers or advi- sors at 509-787-3501. $8 for adults, $6 students (ages 7-12) and kids $4. All seats are general admission and are available at the door for $1 more. http:// rcool@qsd.wednet.edu. FRIDAY, FEB. 1 Cattlecon19: Ernest N. Morial Con- vention Center, 900 Convention Cen- ter Blvd., New Orleans. https://bit. ly/2ycMLDW. SATURDAY, FEB. 2 Public Car Auction: 8 a.m., Oregon State Fairgrounds, 2330 17th St. NE, Salem. Petersen Auto Group Classic and Specialty Automobiles http://petersen- collectorcars.com/ Pesticide Collection Event — Washington County, Ore. 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Valley Agronomics, 986 N Holladay St., Cornelius. Forms are available on the Tualatin SWCD web- site. Submission details are included in the form. Information: Contact Mike Mason of Clean Harbor Environmental Services at (503) 742-7105 or mason. michaelr@cleanharbors.com. Charlotte Trowbridge, charlotte.trowbridge@ tualatinswcd.org, 503-277-3709. https://www.swcd.net/event/free-ag- ricultural-commercial-pesticide-collec- tion-event/. SUNDAY, FEB. 3 North American Strawberry Growers Association Conference: Wyndam Orlando Resort, 8001 Inter- national Drive, Orlando. http://www. nasga.org. MONDAY, FEB. 4 North American Strawberry Growers Association Conference: TUESDAY, FEB. 5 Lawyer Nursery Auction: 11 a.m., Musser Bros. Auctions and Real Estate, 7515 Meridian Road SE, Olympia. A 169.58± acre farm is offered at pub- lic auction. Lawyer Nursery has oper- ated a successful root-stock nursery at this location since 1988. https://mbauc- tion.com/. North American Strawberry Growers Association Conference: Wyndam Orlando Resort, 8001 Inter- national Drive, Orlando. http://www. nasga.org. Spokane Ag Expo and Pacific Northwest Farm Forum: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane, Wash. The annual Spokane Ag Expo provides a showcase for agricultural equipment and related products to the farmer, rancher and customer. Pacific North- west Farm Forum spotlights major speaker events during the show, and seminars ranging across a wide spec- trum of current topics of interest to full-time and part-time farmers, ranch- ers and agricultural producers. http:// AgShow.org. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 6 North American Strawberry Growers Association Conference: Wyndam Orlando Resort, 8001 Inter- national Drive, Orlando. http://www. nasga.org. Soil Health Workshop: 9 a.m., Best Western Burley Inn, 800 N. Over- land Ave., Burley, Idaho. Featuring Jay Fuhrer, a soil health specialist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Bismarck, N.D., who will talk about regenerative agriculture. Also featured is a presentation on carbonics by Keith Burns, a no-till farming and seed expert. ewcswcd@gmail.com, 208-572-3369. Spokane Ag Expo and Pacific Northwest Farm Forum: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane, Wash. http://AgShow.org. THURSDAY, FEB. 7 Spokane Ag Expo and Pacific Northwest Farm Forum: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane, Wash. http://AgShow.org. SATURDAY, FEB. 9 Heavy Equipment & Public Con- signment Auction: 9 a.m., Commer- cial Industrial Auctioneers, 13231 SE Division St., Portland. Heavy equip- ment, trucks, trailers, cars, tools, city and county fleet vehicles and bank- ruptcy items. www.commercialindus- trialauctions.com TUESDAY, FEB. 12 Produce Safety Rule Course: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Clarion Inn Ontario, 1249 Tapadera Ave., Ontario, Ore. The Pro- duce Safety Rule is part of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s efforts to carry out its Food Safety Modernization Act. The course is slated to cover identi- fying microbial risks, reducing risks, and how to best start using recommended produce-safety practices on the farm. Instructors will discuss a safety plan’s parts and how to start writing one. They will detail the rule’s requirements and how to meet them. $35. https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/produce-safe- ty-alliance-psa-grower-training-tick- ets-53020538859. Walla Walla Food Producers Workshop: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Walla Walla County Fairgrounds Community Cen- ter, 363 Orchard St., Walla Walla, Wash. The meeting with food producers will include a discussion on the feasi- bility of a Walla Walla food hub, cov- ering a 400-square-mile distribution area. Jeff Mathias, jeffm@bmacww.org, 509-524-5218. https://slcceep.wufoo. com/forms/walla-walla-food-produc- ers-workshop-registration/ Lost Valley Farm: 5 p.m., Martella Livestock Market, 16140 CA-99, Tipton, Calif. 2,500 Head Jersey & Cross Heifers from 4 months to 10 months. Also sell- ing 500 Holsteins from Frings Ranch. Heifers will be sorted by size, age and breed and vet checked for reproductive soundness prior to sale. http://www. amlivestockauction.com/. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 13 Changing Hands in Baker City — Workshop on Farm/Ranch Trans- fer and Access: 8 a.m.-3:45 p.m., Geiser Grand Hotel, 1996 Main St., Baker City, Ore. Join Rogue Farm Corps for “Chang- ing Hands: A Workshop on Farm Trans- fer and Access to Land.” This work- shop is a part of a series that will bring together retiring and aspiring farmers for a full day of training on land access and succession planning. We will also have facilitated networking through- out the day to introduce landseekers to landowners. If you are a retiring farmer, come learn from experts about how to pass on your business to the next generation and assess its profitabil- ity. If you are an aspiring farmer, come learn about creative ways to start your farm business with topics on finding and leasing agricultural land, business planning and accessing financing. The workshop starts with breakfast at 8 a.m. The program begins at 8:30 a.m. and goes until 3:45 p.m., with breakfast and lunch included. Ashley Rood, ashley@ roguefarmcorps.org, (971) 409-6806. $20. https://bit.ly/2MexZlW. THURSDAY, FEB. 14 Organicology 2019: Hilton Port- land and Executive Tower, 921 SW Sixth Ave., Portland. Organicology seeks to bring all of the stakeholder groups to the table to not only develop skills in their own areas of activity but to gain exposure to the challenges and accom- plishments of those in other areas of the trade and movement. http://www. organicology.org/welcome/. PNW Pollinator Summit and Con- ference: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., CH2M Hill Alumni Center, Oregon State University, 725 SW 26th St., Corvallis. A two-day conference and an additional day of workshops designed to “connect-the- dots” between research, extension and application. This meeting is for exten- sion agents, natural resource profes- Corporate Officers Heidi Wright Chief Operating Officer 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 © 2019 EO Media Group dba Capital Press An independent newspaper published every Friday. Capital Press (ISSN 0740-3704) is published weekly by EO Media Group, 2870 Broadway NE, Salem OR 97303. 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 ........... Circulation@capitalpress.com Main line .............................503-364-4431 News Staff Idaho Carol Ryan Dumas ..............208-860-3898 Boise Brad Carlson .......................208-914-8264 Central Washington Dan Wheat ..........................509-699-9099 Western Washington Don Jenkins .........................360-722-6975 Eastern Washington Matthew Weaver ................509-688-9923 Oregon George Plaven ....................406-560-1655 Mateusz Perkowski .............800-882-6789 Graphic artist Alan Kenaga ........................800-882-6789 CALENDAR Wyndam Orlando Resort, 8001 Inter- national Drive, Orlando. http://www. nasga.org. Oregon Blueberry Conference: 7:55 a.m.-6 p.m., Salem Convention Center, 200 Commercial St., Salem. A season recap and market projections, export markets, trade show and indus- try reception are among the many top- ics and events scheduled for this year’s conference. http://oregonblueberry. com. Mike Forrester Steve Forrester Kathryn Brown Susan Rana Harrison Forrester Mike Omeg Cory Bollinger Jeff Rogers sionals, land managers, educators, as well as pollinator enthusiasts who want to develop or enhance the pollinator programming in their area. Conference talks will be mixed with discussion ses- sions, allowing participants to network and identify local knowledge and edu- cation gaps. https://www.oregonbee- project.org/pnwpollinators2019. FRIDAY, FEB. 15 Organicology 2019: Hilton Port- land and Executive Tower, 921 SW Sixth Ave., Portland. http://www.organicol- ogy.org/welcome/. PNW Pollinator Summit and Conference: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., CH2M Hill Alumni Center, Oregon State Uni- versity, 725 SW 26th St., Corvallis. https://www.oregonbeeproject.org/ pnwpollinators2019. Bosma Milk Co. Complete Dairy Dispersal: 10 a.m., 13805 Ave. 160, 13805 Avenue 160, Tipton, Calif. 3,500 head Jerseys Milking and Dry, 3,500 head Jersey heifers. Selling in conjunc- tion with the World Ag Expo http:// www.overlandstockyard.com/ SATURDAY, FEB. 16 Organicology 2019: Hilton Port- land and Executive Tower, 921 SW Sixth Ave., Portland. http://www.organicol- ogy.org/welcome/ PNW Pollinator Summit and Conference: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., CH2M Hill Alumni Center, Oregon State Uni- versity, 725 SW 26th St., Corvallis. https://www.oregonbeeproject.org/ pnwpollinators2019. 2019 Organic Agriculture Research Forum: 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Hil- ton Portland and Executive Tower, 921 SW Sixth Ave., Portland. The forum will feature innovative presentations from researchers across all disciplines related to organic farming and food systems. https://ofrf.org SATURDAY, FEB 16 Farm Transition Play & Workshop: 4-8 p.m., Jessie Mays Community Hall, 30975 NW Hillcrest St., North Plains, Ore. Who’s going to get the farm? And what are they going to do with it? Will your future plans for your land create har- mony or strife for your family? Or have you even started to think that far ahead? Join the Tualatin Soil and Water Conser- vation District, Rogue Farm Corps, and instructors from Oregon and Iowa to learn how to plan for the future of your farm. Free event with dinner included. Agenda includes a performance of “Map of My Kingdom,” a play about the issue of land transition followed by a discussion and a presentation and Q&A with attor- ney Maria Schmidlkofer of Schwabe, Wil- liamson & Wyatt. Charlotte Trowbridge, charlotte.trowbridge@tualatinswcd.org, 503-277-3709. https://www.swcd.net/ event/farm-transition-workshop/ SUNDAY, FEB. 17 ”Map of My Kingdom” — Hood River: 6:30-8 p.m., Wy’east Middle School Auditorium, 3000 Wyeast Road, Hood River, Ore. Who’s going to get the farm, and what are they going to do with it? Will your future plans for your land create harmony or strife for your family? Or have you even started to think that far ahead? “Map of my Kingdom,” a play commis- sioned by Practical Farmers of Iowa and written by Iowa’s Poet Laureate Mary Swander, tackles the critical issue of land transition. In the drama, Angela Mar- tin, a lawyer and mediator in land transi- tion disputes, shares stories of how farm- ers and landowners she has worked with over the years approached their land successions. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the one-hour performance beginning at 6:30. The event includes a brief panel discussion facilitated by Mary Swan- der. A $10 donation is requested.This event is made possible with generous contributions from Gorge Grown Food Network, Columbia Gorge Winegrow- ers, Six Rivers Mediation Center, Best Western Plus Hood River Inn, Solstice Wood Fire Cafe & Bar and several private donors. 10. https://www.facebook.com/ events/359649488192946. TUESDAY, FEB. 19 Changing Hands in Medford: Workshop on Farm/Ranch Transfer and Land Access: 8 a.m.-3:45 p.m., Central Point Extension, 569 Hanley Road, Cen- tral Point, Ore. Join Rogue Farm Corps for “Changing Hands: A Workshop on Farm Transfer and Access to Land.” This work- shop is a part of a series that will bring together retiring and aspiring farmers for a full day of training on land access and succession planning. We will also have facilitated networking throughout the day to introduce landseekers to land- owners. If you are a retiring farmer, come learn from experts about how to pass on your business to the next generation and assess its profitability. If you are an aspir- ing farmer, come learn about creative ways to start your farm business with topics on finding and leasing agricul- tural land, business planning and access- ing financing. The workshop starts with breakfast at 8 a.m. The program begins at 8:30 a.m. and goes until 3:45 p.m., with breakfast and lunch included. Ashley Rood, ashley@roguefarmcorps.org, (971) 409-6806.$20. https://www.eventbrite. com/e/changing-hands-in-medford- workshop-on-farm-transfer-and-access- to-land-tickets-54297683834. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 20 Redmond Ranch/Farm Transfer Workshop: 1-5 p.m., Deschutes County Fairground, North Hall, Ochoco Room, 3800 SW Airport Way, Redmond, Ore. Learn how to pass your farm or ranch to the next generation at this free event. Agenda includes a performance of “Map of My Kingdom” and discussion with the author and a presentation and Q&A with an attorney about ranch/farm suc- cession planning and a presentation by the Deschutes Land Trust about how a working land easement can be part of a succession plan. “Map of My King- dom” is a play commissioned by Prac- tical Farmers of Iowa and written by Iowa’s Poet Laureate, Mary Swander. It tackles the critical issue of land tran- sition. In the drama, Angela Martin, a lawyer and mediator in land transition disputes, shares stories of how farm- ers and landowners she has worked with over the years approached suc- cession planning. Some families almost came to blows struggling to resolve the sale or transfer of their land — dissolv- ing relationships. Others found peace- fully rational solutions that focused not only on the viability of the family, but also of the land.RSVP to nellie @ rog- uefarmcorps.org or 971-409-6806. Nel- lie McAdams, nellie@roguefarmcorps. org, 9714096806. https://www.face- book.com/events/2109485942423212/. Designer Randy Wrighthouse .............800-882-6789 To Place Classified Ads Telephone (toll free) ............800-882-6789 Online ...........CapitalPress.com/classifieds Subscriptions Mail rates paid in advance Easy Pay U.S. $4 /month (direct withdrawal from bank or credit card account) 1 year U.S. ......................................$49.99 2 years U.S. .....................................$89.99 1 year Canada .....................................$275 1 year other countries ...........call for quote 1 year Internet only .........................$49.99 1 year 4-H, FFA students/teachers .......$30 9 months 4-H, FFA students/teachers ..$25 Visa and Mastercard accepted To get information published Mailing address: Capital Press P.O. Box 2048 Salem, OR 97308-2048 News: Contact the main office or news staff member closest to you, send the information to newsroom@capitalpress.com or mail it to “Newsroom,” c/o Capital Press. Include a contact telephone number. Letters to the Editor: Send your comments on agriculture-related public issues to opinions@capitalpress.com, or mail your letter to “Opinion,” c/o Capital Press. Letters should be limited to 300 words. Deadline: Noon Monday. Capital Press ag media CapitalPress.com FarmSeller.com MarketPlace.capitalpress.com facebook.com/CapitalPress facebook.com/FarmSeller twitter.com/CapitalPress youtube.com/CapitalPressvideo Index Opinion ...................................................6 Markets .................................................11 Correction policy Accuracy is important to Capital Press staff and to our readers. If you see a misstatement, omission or factual error in a headline, story or photo caption, please call the Capital Press news department at 503-364-4431, or send email to newsroom@capitalpress.com. We want to publish corrections to set the record straight.
