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CapitalPress.com
Friday, April 9, 2021
People & Places
Creating ‘chemoscape’ pastures
By SIERRA DAWN McCLAIN
Capital Press
MONMOUTH, Ore. —
Some farmers believe forage
is more than salad — it’s also
medicine.
Grazing experts say Jon
Bansen, an Oregon dairy
farmer, is pushing the bound-
aries of pasture management
— including harnessing nat-
ural medicinal properties of
forages to boost animal and
environmental health.
Bansen, 57, manages a
600-acre farm with more
than 200 dairy cows and
speaks in Oregon State Uni-
versity classes.
Bansen has been experi-
menting with pasture mixes
for more than two decades,
and he’s lately been innovat-
ing with chemical landscapes
known as “chemoscapes.”
“I think that this is a highly
innovative pasture manage-
ment system,” said Serkan
Ates, OSU assistant profes-
sor of livestock and forage
systems.
A chemoscape works like
this.
Plants have primary and
secondary
metabolisms.
The primary metabolism
is involved in growth and
development, and the main
metabolites produced are
carbohydrates and proteins.
The secondary metab-
olism involves a plant’s
defense against environmen-
tal stresses. Plant secondary
metabolites, or PSM, such as
tannins and terpenes, often
have natural medicinal prop-
EMPOWERING PRODUCERS OF FOOD & FIBER
Established 1928
Capital Press Managers
Joe Beach ..................... Editor & Publisher
Anne Long ................Advertising Manager
Western
Innovator
JON BANSEN
Age: 57
Hometown: Ferndale,
Calif.
Family: Wife, Julianne,
and four children
David Nevala/Organic Valley
Julianne and Jon Bansen on their farm near Monmouth, Ore.
erties with the potential to
enhance livestock production.
Different plants produce
different PSMs. Chicory is
a de-wormer, plantain helps
reduce nitrogen concentra-
tion in urine and some forb
varieties lead to fewer masti-
tis cases.
Growing plants with vary-
ing types and concentrations
of PSMs creates a diverse
array of medicinal chemicals
in the landscape — thus the
name “chemoscape.”
Researchers say that in
most animal grazing systems,
farmers focus feeding efforts
“almost exclusively” on pri-
mary metabolites — planting
forages high in protein, for
instance.
What’s often overlooked
in grazing, experts say, is
the potential to use second-
ary metabolites at appropri-
ate doses to provide medici-
nal benefits to animals.
And that is where Bansen
shines.
He has seeded plant vari-
eties intended to boost his
dairy cows’ immune sys-
tems. Over time, he said, the
improved forage mixes have
lifted his profits, increased
organic matter in his soil and
led to cows with fewer health
problems.
“It’s hard to stick your
finger on it and say: ‘This is
exactly when our cows gave
us less trouble with this or
that.’ But we’ve seen big
changes over time,” he said.
Some plants work together
synergistically. For example,
it takes multiple plants’ bio-
chemicals working together
to kill cattle ticks.
On his farm, Bansen has
tested many plant interactions.
“Biology’s a concert,” he
said. “The plants are in con-
cert amongst themselves.”
Classical music was play-
ing from his truck.
Bansen also is strategic
about pasture flavor profiles.
“Ruminants don’t want
to eat the same darn forage
every day of their lives,” said
Bansen.
He sometimes uses flavors
to sway cow behavior.
Cows don’t like the bit-
Occupation: Runs
Double J Jerseys Inc.,
Monmouth, Ore.; an own-
er-member of Organic
Valley
Education: Biology de-
gree from Dana College
in Blair, Neb.
Carl Sampson .................. Managing Editor
Jessica Boone ............ Production Manager
Samantha McLaren ....Circulation Manager
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ter taste of curly dock, for
example, so it often grows
unchecked. To prompt his
cows to eat curly dock, Ban-
sen planted plantain and chic-
ory alongside it to offset curly
dock’s bitterness. It worked.
“Training cows to eat
weeds seems like a crack-a-
doodle-dandy idea until you
try it,” said Bansen.
Ates, the OSU researcher,
said while chemoscaping is
rare in the U.S., he’s excited
it’s catching on.
“Jon is more advanced
than many of us in trying
new ideas,” he said.
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Oregon
Co-op celebrates 100 years in business
By CRAIG REED
For the Capital Press
ROSEBURG, Ore. —
Adapting to its customers’
needs through the years.
Melvin Burke, the gen-
eral manager of the Doug-
las County Farmers Co-op,
said that’s been the key to
the cooperative reaching
its 100-year anniversary
this month. Burke has been
the general manager of the
Roseburg-based business for
the past 19 years.
“There’s not very many
businesses that can talk
about and celebrate 100
years,” said Burke. “It’s just
a good success story. There
have been years that were
lean, but through loyal cus-
tomers the co-op has been
able to survive. We’re going
to celebrate that success and
that 100-year milestone all
year.”
It was back in 1921 that a
handful of Douglas County
farmers decided a cooper-
ative would get them a bet-
ter response when order-
ing seed, livestock feed,
fertilizer and equipment.
They figured ordering in
bulk would also save them
some money. The co-op was
named the Douglas County
Farm Bureau Cooperative
Exchange.
Craig Reed/For the Capital Press
Douglas County Farmers Co-op General Manager Mel-
vin Burke says the business has survived for 100 years
because of its ability to adapt to customers’ needs.
Burke has been the co-op’s general manager for the
past 19 years.
It proved to be a success-
ful venture.
While there have been
ups and downs through
the years, today the Rose-
burg-based business, now
known as the Douglas
County Farmers Co-op, con-
tinues to be viable. It had
sales of $20.7 million in
2018, $21.7 million in 2019
and $22.9 million in 2020.
The co-op has proven
to be a survivor, having
endured the Great Depres-
sion, World War II, the Rose-
burg Blast in 1959, major
floods and snowstorms in
the county and most recently
the COVID-19 pandemic.
The blast leveled the co-op’s
building on Southeast Wash-
ington Avenue. The business
re-opened three days later at
three temporary sites. A year
later, the co-op returned to
its newly constructed build-
ing on Southeast Washing-
ton Avenue.
The co-op expanded in
1977 by opening a fertil-
izer storage and sales facil-
ity in Wilbur, Ore. Further
expansion followed when
5 acres alongside North-
east Stephens Street in
Roseburg was purchased.
A 24,000-square-foot store,
convenience store, deli and
fuel station were built and
opened to the public in 2003.
In 2013, the co-op
expanded into Winston,
Ore., leasing what had pre-
viously been a hardware
store. The positive customer
response to that store led the
co-op to purchase 4.7 acres
on the west edge of Win-
ston. Plans call for ground
breaking and the start of
construction this month on
a 16,000-square-foot retail
store, a 5,800-square-foot
convenience store and deli
and fuel station.
While the co-op was
started by farmers and
focused on their specific
needs, the business’ inven-
tory has broadened through
the years and so has the
store’s visitors. In addition
to large and small farm and
ranch owners, the co-op
caters to those who work in
their yards and gardens.
Douglas County Farm-
ers Co-op has almost 6,000
members, but it is open to
anybody who is in need of
livestock and pet supplies,
lawn and garden supplies,
hardware, plumbing and
irrigation products, seed and
fertilizer, fence materials
and apparel.
The membership fee
is $50. Members receive
an annual financial return
based on their purchases and
the co-op’s net profitabil-
ity. In 2020, $169,000 was
returned to members.
Helping the co-op’s man-
agement staff make deci-
sions is the board of direc-
tors. They are chairman
Guy Kennerly, vice chair
Kurt Spencer, secretary Troy
Michaels, Richard Holcomb
and George Sandberg. All
five are involved in agricul-
ture in Douglas County.
Burke said the co-op has
made changes in its product
inventory according to the
needs of customers.
“We know what custom-
ers are willing to buy from
us and we have to have those
products when they are
wanted and at a competitive,
affordable price,” he said.
Burke said many of the
co-op’s 104 employees are
livestock owners, farm-
ers or gardeners themselves
so they can provide valu-
able advice from their own
experiences.
“Our loyal customers and
employees have helped us
be here for 100 years and
we’re going to be here for
the long term,” Burke said.
“Without either of them we
wouldn’t be in business.”
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Raybould elected as Potatoes USA board chairman
The Potatoes USA board
at its March 11 meeting
elected Jaren Raybould of St.
Anthony, Idaho, as chairman.
He previously served as
first vice chairman and acting
chairman following the unex-
pected death of Chairman
Marty Myers in December.
Raybould is in his sixth
year on the board. He
co-chaired its Domestic Mar-
keting Committee for three
years
and
served on
the Admin-
istrative
Committee.
He has
been manag-
Jaren
ing member
Raybould
of Raybould
Brothers
Farms since 2003. He grows
Russet Burbank and Norko-
tah potatoes for retail and sup-
plies Five Guys restaurants.
He serves on the Yellowstone
Soil Conservation District
board and Idaho-Eastern Ore-
gon Potato Committee.
“I get to be part of some-
thing bigger than myself and
witness the day-to-day mir-
acle of growing and raising
potatoes that feed thousands
of families across the coun-
try,” Raybould said in a Pota-
toes USA news release. “The
work I do wouldn’t be the
same without the phenomenal
individuals that are involved
in the potato industry. Every-
one is independent, competi-
tive and innovative.”
As board chair, he said
he will prioritize restoring
demand to pre-pandemic lev-
els. He said he believes that
by continuing to adapt the
organization’s marketing pro-
grams, the industry will con-
tinue to discover new ways
to encourage people around
the world to eat more U.S.
potatoes.
Raybould said he plans to
encourage the industry to con-
tinue to adapt to meet chang-
ing market needs.
Potatoes USA is the
national marketing and pro-
motion board for the 2,500
potato farming families oper-
ating in the U.S.
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.
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Index
CALENDAR
Submit upcoming ag-related
events on www.capitalpress.com
or by email to newsroom@capital-
press.com.
SATURDAY APRIL 10
101st Annual California Ram
Sale: 9 a.m., 4500 S. Laspina St.,
Tulare, Calif. The California Wool
Growers Association will host the
101st Annual California Ram Sale
on Saturday, April 10, at the Inter-
national Agri-Center in Tulare, Calif.
Ram sale information, including
the sale catalog, schedule, lodging
information and directions are is
available on the CWGA website at
www.californiawoolgrowers.org To
request a Ram Sale Catalog, contact
the CWGA office at 916-444-8122 or
info@woolgrowers.org
FRIDAY, APRIL 16
AgForestry Leadership Class
41 Graduation: 5 p.m. Red Lion
Hotel, Wenatchee, Wash. Celebrate
the graduation of AgForestry Lead-
ership Class 41. This celebration was
rescheduled from its origination
April 10 date. Table sponsorships
are available. Cost: $60/adults, $20/
child. Website: http://agforestry.
org/graduation-class-41/
FRIDAY-SUNDAY
APRIL 23-25
Oregon Ag Fest (drive-thru):
11 a.m.-5 p.m. Clackamas County
Event Center, 694 NE Fourth Ave.,
Canby, Ore. Join us for the Drive
Thru Ag Fest to experience the
incredible world of Oregon agricul-
ture, in a fun-filled, drive thru envi-
ronment, and leave our event with
an “Ag-venture” kit filled with activ-
ities, seedlings and more to con-
tinue the fun at home. The three-
day event, aimed to help families
Dairy .....................................................10
better understand where their
food, fiber and flora come from, is a
unique learning experience, where
drive-by exhibits make learning
about Oregon’s vast agricultural
industry educational and entertain-
ing. Tickets are $22 per vehicle and
are available online at https://orag-
fest.com/
FRIDAY-SUNDAY
MAY 14-16
California FFA’s 93rd State
Leadership Conference (online):
This year California FFA members
from all corners of the state will
have access to the premier leader-
ship event offered by our associa-
tion as it will be delivered through
a multi-faceted online platform.
The conference will be three days
jam packed with learning, growth
and inspiration. Website: www.cal-
aged.org
Markets .................................................12
MONDAY-THURSDAY
MAY 24-27
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.
Natural Products Expo West
(online): Virtual presentations and
an online trade show focusing on
natural products and foods. Web-
site: www.expowest.com/
Opinion ...................................................6
Correction policy
Accuracy is important to Capital Press
staff and to our readers.
We want to publish corrections
to set the record straight.