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Capital Press EMPOWERING PRODUCERS OF FOOD & FIBER Friday, May 20, 2022 Volume 95, Number 20 CapitalPress.com $2.00 GROWING ELECTRIC George Plaven/Capital Press Robert Wallace, executive director of the Wy’East Re- source Conservation and Development Area Council, demonstrates a new Solectrac compact electric tractor at his home in Dufur, Ore. Farmers, nonprofit groups experiment with eTractors By GEORGE PLAVEN Capital Press UFUR, Ore. — The first time Robert Wallace started an electric tractor, he was aston- ished by how quiet it was. “I didn’t know if it was on or not,” Wallace said. “It was the most mind-boggling thing. It took me probably two or three weeks to get used to, not having a constant rumble of noise.” Over the last year, Wallace has become well acquainted with the tractor as he used it to mow grass and perform other chores around his home near Dufur, Ore. His demonstrations are part of a unique project in Oregon, field testing electric D ‘I CONSIDER MYSELF JUST A REALIST. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY IF IT WORKS, OR IF IT DOESN’T WORK.’ Robert Wallace, executive director of the Wy’East Resource Conservation and Development Area Council tractors in rural agricultural areas like Dufur and allowing producers to see first- hand what they can do on farms and in orchards. Data from the trials were also used by Oregon State University in a newly released study comparing the cost of own- ership for battery- powered electric trac- tors to their diesel counterparts. Early results indicate the cost may be compara- ble, depending on several factors, includ- ing the purchase price, fuel prices and maintenance costs. Proponents of electric vehicles are quick to point out social and environmen- tal benefits such as reducing carbon emis- sions that contribute to climate change. But Wallace said his main focus is simply learning how the technology stacks up for rural areas. “I consider myself just a realist,” he said. “I want to be able to say if it works, or if it doesn’t work.” ‘Inevitable transition’ Wallace is executive director of the Wy’East Resource Conservation and Development Area Council, a regional nonprofit based in The Dalles, Ore., ded- icated to helping farms improve their energy and water efficiency. As a certified energy manager, Wallace has spent most of the last decade working with growers to optimize their irrigation See Electric, Page 9 Biden nominates ODA’s Alexis Taylor for trade role at USDA By SIERRA DAWN McCLAIN Capital Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Biden administration has tapped Oregon Depart- ment of Agriculture director Alexis Taylor to fill USDA’s top agricultural trade role. In a statement May 13, the White House named Tay- lor as its nominee as USDA Alexis Taylor undersecre- tary for trade and for- eign agricul- tural affairs, a position that has been vacant since President Biden took office. Taylor has not yet responded to the Capital Press’s request for comment. The job is of major importance to America’s farming sector. Farm groups nationwide have pressed for months for the Biden administration to fill the position. In her new role, Tay- lor will be an ambassador responsible for overseeing international negotiations related to agricultural trade, developing USDA’s trade policy, facilitating foreign market access and promot- ing U.S. agriculture. Taylor has many years of experience with U.S. agri- cultural trade policy, and her expected appointment was immediately welcomed by farm groups and lawmakers. “U.S. agricultural pro- ducers need to have a lead- ing voice on the world stage who can advocate for SEE RELATED STORY ON PAGE 3 free and fair trade, espe- cially in the Indo-Pacific region. Thankfully, Alexis Taylor has the right back- ground and experience to hit the ground running,” Sen. Chuck Grassley, a senior member of the Senate Agri- culture Committee, said in a statement. Grassley said he will support Taylor through- out the Senate confirmation process. In a joint statement, U.S. Wheat Associates and the National Asso- ciation of Wheat Grow- ers also welcomed Taylor’s appointment. “(National Association of Wheat Growers) welcomes President Biden nominating Alexis Taylor to this key role and encourage(s) the Senate Agriculture Committee to work diligently and expedi- tiously in considering this nomination,” said NAWG’s CEO, Chandler Goule. Ted McKinney, CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agri- culture, applauded Taylor’s See Taylor, Page 9 Mateusz Perkowski/Capital Press File Negotiations between the longshoremen’s union and container terminal owners have begun amid “terrible” port congestion, but experts are hopeful further prob- lems can be avoided. Labor talks begin amid port problems, but experts are cautiously optimistic By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI Capital Press Contract negotiations between the longshoremen’s union and container ter- minal owners along the West Coast have begun amid port congestion problems that are already crippling farm exports. However, experts are cautiously opti- mistic that talks between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association won’t fur- ther impede port operations. “I’m encouraged by the messages we feel we’re getting from both sides that they recognize what is at stake right now,” said Peter Friedmann, executive director of the Agriculture Transportation Coalition, which represents farm export- ers. “They have both been very willing to engage.” Negotiations began last week over the contract that governs wages, benefits and employment rules for the longshoremen who work at PMA terminals. The agree- ment expires on July 1. When the previous contract ended in mid-2014, it resulted in work slowdowns that cost businesses, including agricultural exporters, hundreds of millions of dollars. A deal was struck in 2015. Congestion at the ports is already con- sidered catastrophic in 2022, with agricul- tural exporters struggling to obtain empty shipping containers to send farm products to Asia, Friedmann said. See Labor, Page 9