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Friday, February 19, 2021 CapitalPress.com 5 Quarantine lifted at Oregon mink farm Group petitions state officials to prohibit mink By GEORGE PLAVEN Capital Press George Plaven/Capital Press File Field workers pick hemp flowers at Hemptown USA’s Oregon farm in Central Point in late September, 2019. Economic sectors talk hemp’s potential at virtual symposium By GEORGE PLAVEN Capital Press Hemp advocates envi- sion the versatile crop will play a prominent role in the U.S. economy in 30 years, used regularly in the pro- duction of everyday prod- ucts including food, fiber, fuel, pharmaceuticals and building materials. But getting to that point is not so simple. Lawmakers must adopt policies to ease the regu- latory burden on farmers and processors. Scientists must conduct the research and development needed to pioneer new technolo- gies. Breeders must con- tinue studying hemp genet- ics that best serve such wide-ranging markets. That was the underlying theme of the first National Hemp Symposium — looking ahead to 2050, and finding the roadmap for a thriving industry. More than 20 speak- ers gave presentations during the two-day vir- tual event, hosted by Oregon State Universi- ty’s Global Hemp Inno- vation Center and sanc- tioned by the National Academy of Sciences Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources. Jay Noller, director and lead researcher at the cen- ter, said the program’s focus is advancing hemp so that it is embraced by all business sectors. “It’s all the expected potentials for this crop,” Noller said. “How can it get there, and what can be done?” According to one indus- try estimate, hemp con- tributed at least $4 billion to the economy across the U.S. in 2020 and could contribute nearly $16 bil- lion by 2025. Part of that growth could come from compa- nies like 3M, a multina- tional conglomerate that produces more than 60,000 products. Don Davidson, global new product marketing manager for 3M, said cus- tomers across the board are asking for more sus- tainable and zero-land- fill solutions, which hemp could offer. He speculated that hemp could be a key ingredient in new indus- trial-strength adhesives, tapes and even fabrics to make N95 masks amid the coronavirus pandemic. “Certainly, there are a lot of areas we are looking at,” Davidson said. “We know the future is com- ing at us very fast now. I’m excited to see how hemp can be part of some of those next-generation solutions.” John Plaza, CEO of SkyNRG Americas, a com- pany focused on producing sustainable aviation fuel, is also looking at hemp as a possible feedstock for both biomass and oilseed. Plaza got his start pro- ducing biofuel in Washing- ton state, importing canola oil from Canada to use at a refinery in Grays Harbor. That led him to consider other alternative feed- stocks, and specifically hemp. Under the Paris Climate Agreement, Plaza said the U.S. will need to produce 32 billion gallons per year of low-carbon biofuel by 2030 to meet its projected consumption. Current eth- anol capacity is roughly 16 billion gallons per year, and biodiesel is roughly 3.5 billion gallons, allow- ing for potential growth for hemp-based fuels. But Plaza added that feedstock would likely need to come from waste streams to make economic sense. “Fuels have to be the last item in line for mone- tization of a crop,” he said. “We’ve seen that time and time again.” Elsewhere in the trans- portation sector, Gregg Baumbaugh, CEO of Flex- Form Technologies, said the company is interested in adding natural hemp fiber to its repertoire, making lightweight pan- els used in the interiors of cars, trucks and airplanes. For that to happen, Baumbaugh said it must pass rigorous auto manu- facturer standards and test- ing for weight, density, moisture content and, criti- cally, mold and mildew. “When we buy fibers now, we have specifica- tions that must be met,” Baumbaugh said. “Our material has to be very, very clean, so that when they mold it and put the veneer on there, it is a very smooth surface. ... What’s important to them is cost and quality.” SALEM — The Oregon Department of Agriculture has lifted its quarantine on a mink farm where animals previ- ously tested positive for COVID-19. The farm, which has not been iden- tified for privacy reasons, was ini- tially placed under quarantine on Nov. 24 after 10 mink tested positive for the virus. A quarantine means no ani- mal products were allowed to leave the facility. Since then, ODA has followed up with five rounds of additional test- ing. Samples were sent to the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Labo- ratory, which confirmed the last two rounds came back virus-free. ODA officially lifted the quarantine on Feb. 11. Dr. Ryan Scholz, state veteri- narian, said getting to this result involved collaboration between state and federal agencies, as well as cooperation from the farmer. He said the virus did not mutate, nor was it On Feb. 11, the Oregon Department of Agriculture lifted the quarantine on the Oregon mink farm previously affected by COVID-19. detected in any nearby wildlife. “This is a best-case scenario, and we are sharing what we have learned with others,” Scholz said. Not everyone agrees. Environmental groups opposed to fur farms have expressed concerns about the virus spilling into the wild, creating a potential reservoir for future transmission. The Center for Biolog- ical Diversity has petitioned the Ore- gon Department of Fish and Wildlife to add mink to the state’s prohibited spe- cies list. A hearing on the petition is sched- uled for March 19. Lori Burd, environmental health director for the group, also criticized ODA for not sampling enough mink to justify lifting the quarantine. Rounds of testing were based on 62 samples, out of approximately 12,000 animals at the farm. “It’s disturbing that after testing no more than .5% of the animals, they rushed to lift the quarantine despite the grave implications another outbreak would pose to workers and wild ani- mals,” Burd said. Indeed, two mink that tested pos- itive for low levels of the virus did escape from the farm during the quar- antine. They were later recaptured by USDA Wildlife Services, which was trapping and testing nearby wild- life under the direction of ODFW biologists. No other animals tested positive for the virus outside the farm. That includes 10 opossums, three cats, two skunks and one other mink. The USDA and CDC say there is currently no evidence that animals, including mink, play a significant role in transmitting the virus to humans. Health officials believe the mink were originally infected by other humans at the farm. Bill would expand cropland firefighting options By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI Capital Press Cropland owners in Oregon would be eligible to join rangeland fire pro- tection associations under a bill that seeks to improve their access to equip- ment and training. Areas that produce dryland wheat are prone to wildfire — as evidenced by the devastating Substation Fire in 2018, which burned 78,000 acres in Wasco and Sherman counties — but currently cannot be included in RFPAs. “During harvest time, ripe grain crops are a tinder box. A lightning strike, a spark of any kind, or chaff fall- ing on a hot engine can cause a crop fire,” said Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena, during a recent legislative hearing. Hansell has introduced legislation that would allow RFPAs to be orga- nized on “land used for cultivating crops” in addition to rangeland and undeveloped areas. Supporters say Senate Bill 590 will enhance firefight- ing resources in rural communities. “Wildfire does not adhere to bound- aries, it does not stop at fence lines or changes in landownership, or rangeland or cropland,” said Amanda Hoey, CEO of the Oregon Wheat Growers League. By forming or joining an RFPA, farmers could better coordinate with state agencies on firefighting and acquire surplus firefighting equipment from the Courtesy of Molly Belshe The Substation Fire burns through standing wheat in Sherman County, Ore. State lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow cropland owners to join rangeland fire protection associations, which can acquire surplus fed- eral equipment and access state training. federal government, Hoey said. “Though it may be surplus and at the end of its useful life in the eyes of particular agencies, small groups like RFPAs can still get a lot of use out of some of this equipment,” said Michael Kelly, a farmer and volunteer firefighter in Wasco County. Perhaps more importantly, forming an RFPA would allow cropland owners to establish a closer relationship with the Oregon Department of Forestry and other professional firefighting organiza- tions, he said. Currently, farmers who volunteer to fight fires are often seen as a liability, he said. “That makes communication and teamwork all but impossible during an actual fire.” Farmers in RFPAs would receive training from the ODF, which would given them “legitimacy” among profes- sional organizations, according to Kelly. Aside from training, the agency can help RFPAs apply for grants, make legal filings and pay for liability insurance. Kelly said farmers in his area have organized into a fire district, but the structure isn’t a good fit because they lack employees, tax revenue support or professional equipment. Volunteer farm- ers fight fires with water tanks attached to pickup trucks and with tillage imple- ments on their tractors. “We are an RFPA, we just don’t reap any of the benefits,” he said. Roger Beyer, a lobbyist for the Ore- gon Small Woodlands Association, said the financial impacts on the state’s Department of Forestry must be consid- ered as part of the discussion about SB 590. Two ousted by conservation commission appeal to high court By DON JENKINS Capital Press Two Thurston County farmers petitioned the Washington Supreme Court on Tuesday, claiming the State Conservation Com- mission should pay for tak- ing a shortcut to remove them as conservation dis- trict supervisors. Eric Johnson and Rich- ard Mankamyer allege the Court of Appeals Divi- sion II erred in denying them penalties and attorney fees, even though the court agreed they should have been tried under more for- mal proceedings. Johnson and Mankamyer are asking the Supreme Court to review the lower court’s ruling. The conser- vation commission declined to comment. The conservation com- mission in 2019 voted to remove Johnson and Mankamyer from the Thur- ston Conversation District board after a one-day hear- ing conducted under the law guiding public meetings. The appeals court ruled the conservation commis- sion should have granted Johnson and Mankamyer’s request for a formal adjudica- tion under the state’s Admin- istrative Procedure Act. Trying Johnson and Mankamyer in a more infor- mal hearing was a misuse and violation of the Open Public Meetings Act, accord- ing to the appeals court. Nevertheless, the court declined to award Johnson and Mankamyer penalties or attorney fees. The three- judge panel ruled the hearing was fair enough. In the petition to the Supreme Court, Johnson and Mankamyer’s attorney, Shawn Timothy Newman, argues the appeal court’s rul- ing conflicts with prior rul- ings awarding fees for violat- ing the Open Public Meetings Act. Johnson and Mankamyer blamed conflicts with staff members and two other supervisors over conser- vation district’s direction and priorities. The board’s fifth supervisor spoke out in support of Johnson and Mankamyer. The conservation com- mission, meeting in execu- tive session, decided Johnson and Mankamyer had inter- fered with district operations and acted inappropriately. Johnson and Mankamyer, whose terms would have expired by now, are not seek- ing a return to the board. WE SPECIALIZE IN BULK BAGS! BAGS: • Seed Bags • Fertilizer Bags • Feed Bags • Potato Bags • Printed Bags • Plain Bags • Bulk Bags • Totes • Woven Polypropylene • Bopp • Polyethylene • Pocket Bags • Roll Stock & More! 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