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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2015)
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 3 FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015 Business & Ag Lands access: Commissioners meet with Forest Service management • MAP ACCURACY AT ISSUE BY TODD ARRIOLA Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com The Baker County Board of Commissioners held a work session on Wednes- day, April 29, at 9 a.m., in the Commission Chambers of the Baker County Court- house, the focus of which was a discussion with the United States Forest Service (USFS), regard- ing the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (WWNF) Travel Management Plan (TMP) and other issues. Present from the Board were Chair Bill Harvey, Commissioner Mark Ben- nett, Commissioner Tim Kerns, and Executive As- sistant Heidi Martin. Present representing the USFS were WWNF Supervisor Tom Montoya, WWNF Natural Resource Staff Officer Larry San- doval, WWNF Environ- mental Coordinator Cindy Christensen, and WWNF Whitman District Ranger Jeff Tomac. Attendees included Wanda and Tork Ballard, Ken Anderson, Ed Hardt, Marshall McComb, Gary Dielman, Lorrie Harvey, Alice Knapp, Suzette and Art Sappington, Jan Kerns, Ron Edge, Brenda Holly and Bobbie Danser. The first part of the informal session involved a discussion between the Board and the USFS team, and Harvey explained this process to the attendees. The second part involved a discussion between the attendees, the team and the Board. Bennett discussed with the team issues associated with the Existing Condi- tion Road Maps, related to the TMP, and said much work has been completed by Anderson and Hardt, compiling Revised Statute 2477 (RS 2477) maps, to aid in the effort. RS 2477 was enacted in 1866 by the U.S. Congress, which granted to counties and states a right-of-way across federal land, when a high- way was built. The Board emphasized the need for the USFS and the County to have the same base maps, with the same scale, in the same format, and with a high level of accuracy. Bennett said there is a lot of confu- sion. Christensen said the focus of the current ef- fort is what the existing Friday, April 24, 2015 — Eastern Oregon Prices trended generally steady compared to the same quality last week. Trade activity and demand picked up slightly this week. The continued good weather in several areas of Oregon has slowed down demand, as pasture grasses are growing causing end users to be able to turn animals out on pasture rather than purchase and feed additional hay. Export hay business seems to slowly be picking up, however continued issues with few containers available and backup of containers needing to be loaded at the shipping ports continues to slow down the ability to export hay overseas. Most producers have sold all that they plan to sell for this season. Eastern Oregon: No new sales confirmed. USDA Market News Service—AMS.USDA.gov — Cattle Market Report — Todd Arriola /The Baker County Press Representatives from the WWNF at left met with the three County Commission- ers (at right) Wednesday. conditions of the roads are. alternatives Baker County mation about what condi- Montoya said the best way submitted, and she said tions the roads are in. to accomplish the accuracy that survey results had Sappington discussed desired is to sit down with been placed on the Exist- some issues with the team the maps, and determine ing Condition Road Maps. and the Board, including the conditions, road by Ballard expressed concerns road closures, maintenance road, in order to clear up about using that informa- of roads, and forest timber some issues. tion as-is, and Christensen access. He explained Harvey asked Montoya if said the input requested that he sent a letter with this idea could be imple- was whether a road was his concerns to Regional mented, and Montoya said still being used. Ballard Forester Jim Peña, and yes. voiced concern again, Montoya said that Sap- Kerns asked Montoya stating that with a large pington should receive a about his background number of individuals response to that letter soon. working with communities surveying the roads, there Harvey asked Sappington and counties before, and would be conflict with to continue to follow up Montoya began discuss- opinions about what roads with the USFS, and to send ing his travel management were still being used. the Board a copy of that plan experience in 2006, as Harvey asked Chris- letter. a district ranger in Idaho, tensen about opportunities Anderson commented to and then in Nevada, from to go over the maps again the team about the impor- 2008-2011. He said these before a final decision, tance of mining resources, were positive experiences, because having the public access to those resources, and in Nevada, 90% of the gather information about and granted mining rights. roads were identified. road use is a monumental He talked about land Hardt asked Montoya task, and she responded use legal issues, but also whether a washed out that there will be, to at- discussed some solutions road in the Jarbidge River tempt to eliminate issues. to those, which would area was rebuilt, a major Wanda Ballard asked streamline processes and concern of Hardt’s, and Tomac why the Baker City improve the economy. Montoya said that it had watershed isn’t a high pri- Bennett said that the been completed to the ority, stating it’s a disaster roles and leadership of camp ground in the area. waiting to happen. Tomac the Baker County Natural Hardt discussed the 1872 responded that the City Resource Advisory Com- mining laws and RS 2477, and County watersheds mittee (NRAC) should be and expressed concerns are high priorities, but it’s established by the com- about road closures. very difficult and costly to mittee by the next regular Hardt asked Tomac about complete projects in the ar- Commission session, smaller logging operations eas, considering the terrain which is next Wednesday, opportunities associated and other issues. He said May 6. with bug infestation, and the officially designated Jan Kerns commented Tomac responded that watershed for Baker City that at the earliest public there are difficulties with is an area of 10,000 acres, meeting (next session), the amount of acreage and with additional acreage. she would like to discuss whether to complete proj- Ron Edge expressed criti- that topic with the Board. ects of that type through cisms to the Board about Kerns, the current Chair the U.S. Farm Bill, or via the litigation between the of NRAC, explained that another method. County and Columbia there are 18 members of Montoya was asked by Basin Helicopters, Inc., that committee, and that an attendee whether there’s initiated by the previ- the newer and less experi- a demand for logs from the ous Commission, but he enced members need to be regional timber industry, said he’s pleased with the brought up to speed con- to which Montoya replied efforts of the current Com- cerning laws, regulations, there is. He explained that missioners. and terminology. there is a demand from Danser asked Chris- The next session is a reg- industry in Oregon, Idaho tensen about road condi- ular, bi-monthly session, and Washington. tion surveys, and Chris- scheduled for Wednesday, Tork Ballard asked tensen said that an accurate May 6, 2015, at 9 a.m. Christensen about TMP map is desired, and infor- Wolf delisting one option The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission decided to direct staff to develop two options for delisting wolves from the state Endangered Species Act: one that would delist wolves in eastern Oregon (boundary Hwys 97-20- 395) and one that would delist wolves statewide. The state’s Wolf Plan calls for initiating a process to delist wolves from the state Endangered Species Act when Oregon reaches the objective of four breeding pairs for three consecutive years in eastern Oregon. This objective was met in early 2015. — Weekly Hay Report — “This is a success story,” said Russ Morgan, ODFW Wolf Coordinator in his presentation of the Biological Status Review. “Not very many years ago, we had no known wolves in Oregon. Now we not only have wolves, but the population is healthy and growing.” Much of the public testi- mony was against a delist- ing, and Commissioners noted that the option of no action also remained on the table. Commission Chair Finley said a final proposal may not be available until the fall. Firewood permits on sale Firewood permits for the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest will go on sale May 1. Personal-use firewood permits can be purchased for $5 per cord, with a four cord minimum and a 10-cord maximum. Personal-use firewood permits will be available at Forest Service offices and at several local vendors be- ginning May 1. Commer- cial firewood permits are only available at Ranger District Offices. Vendors will sell fire- wood permits in 4-cord packets. An additional vendor fee, up to $2, will be charged for each 4-cord, $20 firewood permit pur- chased at a local vendor. Firewood cutters will be required to keep a record of the date, time, and quantity of firewood removed. There is a chart on the front of the permit called the “Product Quan- tity Removal Record.” This requirement will be enforced. Additional information can be found in the Firewood Guide that accompanies each permit. Firewood cutters are required to carry an axe, a shovel, an 8 oz. capacity or larger fire extinguisher, and have their chainsaw equipped with an approved spark arrester. Wednesday, April 22, 2015 Vale, Oregon Cattle sold through the auction: 681 Steer Calves 300-400# Bulk 262.00-308.00 Top 310.00 400-500# Bulk 277.00-305.00 Top 310.00 500-600# Bulk 253.00-278.00 Top 281.00 Heifer Calves 300-400# Bulk 247.00-263.00 Top 270.00 400-500# Bulk 233.00-257.00 Top 265.00 500-600# Bulk 214.00-249.00 Top 254.00 Yearling Steers 600-700# Bulk 224.00-253.00 Top 258.00 700-800# Bulk 194.00-212.00 Top 217.00 800-900# Bulk N/A Top N/A 900-1,000# Bulk N/A Top N/A 600-700# 700-800# 800-900# 900-1,000# Yearling Heifers Bulk 204.00-231.00 Top 235.50 Bulk 184.00-212.00 Top 218.50 Bulk 166.00-181.00 Top 188.00 Bulk 154.00-169.00 Top 173.00 Thin Shelly Cows 82.00 - 93.00 Butcher Cows 95.00 - 107.00 Butcher Bulls 104.00 - 123.00 Stock Cows Yng. 1275.00 - 1900.00 Younger Hfrts. 114.00 - 146.00 Pairs B.M. - 1475.00 - 2200.00 ProducersLivestock.com 541-473-3136 — Log Price Report — Price per 1,000 board feet: Northeast Oregon Doug Fir is $415.00/mbf White fir is $365.00/mbf Ponderosa Pine is brought sold on diameter splits 6 to 11 inch dib $300 to $310/MBF 12 to 17 inch dib $350 to $375/MBF 18 to 23 inch dib $400 to $430/MBF 24 inch plus dib $450 to $500/MBF DIB is diameter inside bark at small end of log. MBF is thousand board feet lumber, net scale. People interested in selling logs should call and get specific quotes from saw mills. Courtesy of Arvid Andersen, Andersen Forestry Consulting — Precious Metals Report — Price per ounce, USD Gold: $1200.90 Silver: $16.57 Platinum: $1,155.63 Palladium: $776.85 Bloomberg.com — Ag Commodities — Corn: $363.25/bu/USD Wheat: $477.00/bu/USD Soybeans: $979.25/bu/USD Oats: $241.00 bu/USD Rough Rice: $10.27/cwt/USD Canola: $449.20 CAD/mwt Live Cattle: $151.13/lb./USD Feeder Cattle: $213.88/lb./USD Lean Hogs: $79.90/lb./USD Bloomberg.com
