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CapitalPress.com
Friday, April 9, 2021
Trade report: U.S. blueberry industry doing fine Washington potato
industry tallies
cost of COVID-19
precautions
By DON JENKINS
Capital Press
The U.S. International Trade Commis-
sion found signs that blueberry farms are
reasonably profitable, rejecting claims that
growers need protection from foreign com-
petitors, a report issued Monday states.
The report to U.S. Trade Representative
Katherine Tai details why the five-mem-
ber trade commission in February unan-
imously voted against putting up trade
barriers to safeguard American blueberry
farmers.
Although some producers lost money
between 2015 and 2019, the industry over-
all planted more berries, employed more
people, paid higher wages and increased
sales, according to the report.
“With respect to profitability, we find
that there is no clear trend sufficient to sup-
port a finding of threat of serious injury,”
according to the commission.
Tai’s predecessor, Robert Lighthizer,
asked the commission to investigate
whether fruit from several countries seri-
ously harmed or threatened to harm the
U.S. blueberry industry.
The commission looked at industry
trends over the five-year period, taking tes-
timony and reviewing financial informa-
tion from public sources and confidential
questionnaires.
By several measurements, the blueberry
industry thrived, according to the commis-
sion. “We find it persuasive in this case that
the industry reported substantial operating
profits.”
The American Blueberry Growers Alli-
ance, a trade group that sought the inves-
tigation, claimed that a surge of imports
in the spring and fall suppressed lucrative
early and late harvest prices.
“The reality for American blueberry
By MATTHEW WEAVER
Capital Press
Sierra Dawn McClain/Capital Press File
The U.S. International Trade Commission concludes that imports are not seriously
harming the U.S. blueberry industry.
farmers is that foreign imports targeting
the U.S. blueberry market have had a dev-
astating impact on the domestic blueberry
market — causing great hardship for fam-
ily-owned farm operations,” an alliance
spokeswoman said Tuesday in an email.
Canada, Chile, Mexico, Peru and
Argentina intervened in the investigation,
as did U.S. farm and food companies with
international operations.
Representatives testified that foreign
farmers supply blueberries to U.S. con-
sumers during off-seasons.
The trade commission concluded that
peak-season prices — during May, June
and July — are generally rising, offset-
ting any loss of revenue for the shoulder
seasons.
The commission rejected a claim that
foreign countries are poised to flood the
U.S. with more blueberries.
“Indeed the record often indicates that
exports to the United States will account for
a declining share of shipments for foreign
producers,” according to the commission.
The industry’s average hourly wage
rose from $16.51 in 2015 to $20.51 in
2020, according to the report.
“We observe that labor availability was
a frequently cited issue for U.S. growers,
which suggests that employment levels
likely would have been greater if U.S. pro-
ducers had been able to obtain additional
workers,” the report stated.
Lighthizer sought the investigation
under a U.S. trade law that allows the pres-
ident to erect trade barriers, such as tariffs
or quotas, to protect an industry from seri-
ous harm.
The investigation drew wide interest
from farm groups. Organizations whose
members rely on foreign trade cautioned
the commission against starting a trade
war. Other groups that rely on U.S. con-
sumers urged the commission to safeguard
American agriculture.
Debate over banning Oregon mink farms centers on coronavirus
By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI
Capital Press
SALEM — Arguments over
whether lawmakers should pro-
hibit mink farms in Oregon
recently centered on whether
coronavirus risks from such
operations are either unjustifi-
able or exaggerated.
Proponents of Senate Bill
832, which would ban mink
farming within nine months of
enactment, argue the animals
pose a unique danger for spread-
ing the coronavirus and amplify-
ing its hazards to humans.
Mink are the only species
known to get infected by the
virus and then transmit it back to
people, said Jim Keen, a veteri-
narian who serves on the veteri-
nary council of the Animal Well-
ness Action nonprofit.
The animals are housed
in stressful conditions under
which the virus can more readily
spread, adding to the risk of new
variants developing, Keen said.
The species is also considered
a top candidate for the “missing
link” that transmitted the corona-
Mateusz Perkowski/Capital Press File
Joe Ruef holds a mink at his
farm in Mt. Angel, Ore. Ruef
recently testified against
a bill that would ban mink
farming in Oregon.
virus between bats and humans,
starting or accelerating the pan-
demic, he said.
Oregon has only five mink
farms. One facility had an out-
break of the coronavirus during
which three of the animals
escaped, said Lori Ann Burd,
environmental health program
director for the Center for Bio-
logical Diversity nonprofit.
Aside from the threat to pub-
lic health, escaped mink can
imperil related species such as
river otters, fishers and martens,
Burd said.
“This is not an attack on Ore-
gon agriculture. This is looking
at the threat five operations pose
to us,” she said.
John Easley, a veterinar-
ian and mink industry consul-
tant, countered that mink farms
have developed new biosecu-
rity measures aimed at thwart-
ing coronavirus spread, in col-
laboration with federal and state
agencies.
A vaccine against the coro-
navirus has been developed for
mink, which will further reduce
the chances of transmission and
mutations, Easley said.
Denmark, which euthanized
17 million mink after an out-
break, had 1,100 mink farms
in an area one-third the size of
Wisconsin, so the odds of virus
transmission among them was
much higher, he said.
Even so, the animals clear
the disease quickly and pose
a minimal threat to the public
health, Easley said. “The deci-
sion to cull an entire industry
was not warranted. The science
did not support that.”
Opponents of SB 832 claimed
that battling the coronavirus pan-
demic is merely a pretext for ani-
mal rights organizations to ban
fur production, which has long
been their aim.
The bill’s critics also argued
that prohibiting a single agri-
cultural sector would set a terri-
ble precedent for the state’s farm
industry.
Mink farmers testified that
provisions in SB 832 that would
provide them with loans and
training could not compensate
for the loss of their operations.
Joe Ruef, a mink farmer near
Mt. Angel, said his family has
been in the industry for 50
years and would have no other
uses for the associated equip-
ment and would squander valu-
able genetics if the bill passes.
“We make every effort to
keep our employees safe and
our mink safe,” he said.
It cost Washington potato farmers $2,532 per
month and potato packers $4,340 per month to
supply and manage COVID-19 precautions, a
Washington State University survey found.
Farmers spent 17 hours per month and
packers spent 49 hours per month manag-
ing COVID safety protocols, according to the
survey, which was done by the university’s
IMPACT Center.
There were 43 grower responses, a 20%
response rate. Packers-shippers provided 15
responses, a 28% response rate.
The average farm in the survey had 1,889
acres in potatoes. The largest farm was 8,000
acres, and the smallest was 175 acres.
The survey was conducted Oct. 26-Dec. 8.
The average respondent reported total COVID
costs of $24,116.
The Washington Potato Commission wanted
to use information from the survey to convey to
legislators that farmers were taking COVID-19
seriously and to tally the costs associated with
keeping employees safe, commission director
of government affairs Matt Harris told the Cap-
ital Press.
According to the survey:
• Seventeen farmers said they experi-
enced delays in planting or harvest due to
worker absences or shortages, while 18 had
not. About 290 working days were lost with
a financial loss of $920,000 due to the delays.
• Fourteen farmers said they experienced
efficiency losses in potato grading due to
social distancing. The survey says those farm-
ers averaged a $16,000 loss, for a total loss
estimate of $176,000.
• Ten packers had an average delay of 13
working days due to worker absences or short-
ages, with an average loss of $162,560.
• Four packers said they experienced effi-
ciency losses. Each had an average loss of
$43,750, for a total of $175,000.
• Growers averaged 25 temperature checks
per day, and estimated four hours of routine san-
itizing and five additional hours of sanitizing.
• Twenty growers spent an average of
$22,443 purchasing new permanent equip-
ment or structures, such as hand washing sta-
tions or hand sanitizing stands, for a total cost
of $448,850.
• Twenty growers spent an average of $5,005
purchasing disposable equipment, such as
masks, other personal protective equipment,
thermometers or hand sanitizer, for a total cost
of $160,150.
The costs of keeping employees and the food
supply safe can’t be recouped, Harris said.
“We can’t demand more money for our pro-
duce because historically farms and farmers
are price takers,” he said. “As these costs are
incurred, prices for all food will start to rise.
You just can’t keep producing food for a loss.
Will banks lend if you’re always losing money?
Probably not.”
Whether those costs continue or increase
depends on the availability of supplies, Harris
said.
Even with COVID-19 vaccines rolling out to
farmworkers, safety protocols will continue,
but may be managed differently, Harris said.
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
04/19/2021. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2018 CHRYSLER PACIFICA VAN
VIN = 2C4RC1H76JR168609
Amount due on lien $1,535.00
Reputed owner(s)
JILL SCOBY
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
04/19/2021. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2019 JEEP CHEROKEE 4W
VIN = 1C4RJFBGXKC637741
Amount due on lien $1,535.00
Reputed owner(s)
THOMAS GANAHL LEWIS
USB LEASING LT-LESSOR
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
04/19/2021. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2014 VOLVO XC90 UT
VIN = YV4952CZ3E1691683
Amount due on lien $1,535.00
Reputed owner(s)
STACY COYNE HOUSER
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
04/19/2021. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2009 DODGE 3500 PU
VIN = 3D7MX38L19G511860
Amount due on lien $1,555.00
Reputed owner(s)
NICKOLOUS WAYNE DEVLIN
IRONWORKERS USA C.U
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
04/19/2021. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2018 KIA OPTIMA 4DR
VIN = 5XXGT4L30JG260496
Amount due on lien $2,435.00
Reputed owner(s)
DAWNIELLE M & GEORGE R POST JR
OREGON COMMUNITY C.U
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
04/19/2021. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
1996 OTHR R.T
VIN = 1R9FS2028T1093362
Amount due on lien $1,575.00
Reputed owner(s)
COPART
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
04/19/2021. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2016 TOYOTA PRIUS 4DR
VIN = JTDZN3EU5GJ045638
Amount due on lien $1,575.00
Reputed owner(s)
IBSA SUFIYAN MUSE
TOYOTA MOTOR CREDIT CORP
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
04/19/2021. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2013 TOYOTA 4RUNNER UT
VIN = JTEBU5JR4D5132738
Amount due on lien $1,595.00
Reputed owner(s)
LEE ROSS WRIGHT
UNITUS COMMUNITY C.U
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
04/19/2021. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2020 INDI ROADMSTR
VIN = 56KTKDBBXL3384766
Amount due on lien $1,535.00
Reputed owner(s)
COPART
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
04/19/2021. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2013 AUDI Q 7 LL
VIN = WA1DGAFE0DD013054
Amount due on lien $1,535.00
Reputed owner(s)
NORBERTO ACEVEDO MAGDELANO
COLUMBIA CREDIT UNION
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
04/19/2021. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2011 CHEV EXPRESS VAN
VIN = 1GB3G3BG5B1166052
Amount due on lien $1,535.00
Reputed owner(s)
IRS ENVIRONMENT OF PDX INC
WASHINGTON TRUST BANK
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
04/19/2021. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER UT
VIN = JTEDC3EH3C2009708
Amount due on lien $1,535.00
Reputed owner(s)
ZOUHAIR J & ZAKARYA BAZA
SOUND CREDIT UNION
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
04/12/2021. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2005 FORD F350 PU
VIN = 1FTWW31Y05EC00790
Amount due on lien $1,515.00
Reputed owner(s)
JOHN SELDON COMSTOCK
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
04/12/2021. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2018 DODGE CHARGER 4DR
VIN = 2C3CDXCT9JH180869
Amount due on lien $1,535.00
Reputed owner(s)
PAUL M SCHWEND & ANDREA G GASPAR
REGIONAL ACCEPTANCE CORP
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
04/12/2021. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2009 FORD F 150 PU
VIN = 1FTPW14V89FA34903
Amount due on lien $1,555.00
Reputed owner(s)
STEVEN F & GRACE K ATKINS
OREGON STATE CREDIT UNION
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
04/19/2021. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2019 JEEP CHEROKEE UT
VIN = 1C4RJFBGXKC637741
Amount due on lien $1,935.00
Reputed owner(s)
THOMAS GANAHL LEWIS
USB LEASING LT - LESSOR
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
04/19/2021. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
1971 V W BEETLE 2DR
VIN = 1112941653
Amount due on lien $1,575.00
Reputed owner(s)
HALEY A & AMY R BALLARD
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
04/19/2021. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2020 TOYOTA RAV 4 UT
VIN = 2T3G1RFV4LC110800
Amount due on lien $1,575.00
Reputed owner(s)
JUN CHEN
TOYOTA MOTOR CREDIT CORP
S239239-1
S239230-1
S239224-1
S239237-1
S239229-1
S239223-1
S239236-1
S239228-1
S239222-1
S239235-1
S239227-1
S237711-1
S239232-1
S239226-1
S237710-1
S239231-1
S239225-1
S237709-1
S239252-1
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
04/19/2021. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2016 FORD ESCAPE UT
VIN = 1FMCU9G94GUC00405
Amount due on lien $1,575.00
Reputed owner(s)
NORTH AMERICAN BREWERIES INC
BBL FLEET CO - LESSOR
S239251-1
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
04/19/2021. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2018 JEEP RENEGADE UT
VIN = ZACCJBAB4JPG87842
Amount due on lien $1,415.00
Reputed owner(s)
NICOLAS & STACI OTTO
WELLS FARGO AUTO
S239250-1
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
04/19/2021. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2018 TOYOTA CAMRY 4DR
VIN = JTNB11HK3J3042580
Amount due on lien $1,415.00
Reputed owner(s)
MOHAMED ADEN HASSAN
HYUNDAI MOTOR FINANCE
S239247-1
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
04/19/2021. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2017 TOYOTA CAMRY 4DR
VIN = 4T1BF1FK6HU712793
Amount due on lien $1,415.00
Reputed owner(s)
JOHN DUDLEY MARTIN
RELIABLE CREDIT ASSOCIATION INC
S239245-1
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
04/19/2021. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2016 HONDA CIVIC 4DR
VIN = 19XFC2F73GE216704
Amount due on lien $1,415.00
Reputed owner(s)
MICHELLE RUIZ
BK OF THE WEST
S239242-1
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
04/19/2021. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2012 JEEP WRANGLER 4W
VIN = 1C4BJWFG8CL206604
Amount due on lien $1,415.00
Reputed owner(s)
GIOVANNY OBREGON &
MARIA GUEVARA
ONPOINT COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION
