THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 3
FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016
Business & Ag
— Weekly Hay Report —
Real Ranching Adventures
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 1
The adventures offered
include:
“Rodeo. We’ll share
our real family tradition.
Bucking horses and bulls,
single and team rop-
ing. Local cowboys and
cowgirls practice for rodeo
competitions.
“Buffalo. See these
majestic iconic animals up
close and personal as you
ride the feed wagon into
the herds.
“Cute Animals. Ride
the haywagon to feed
livestock. Milk a cow or
goat. February-March see
baby lambs, goats, calves,
horses; bottle feed or play
with!
“Branding. Get up close
for roping and branding
calves. Not for the faint of
heart!
“Animal Training. Start-
ing horses, training dogs
to work stock shows and
ranch, kids preparing for
4-H competitions.
“Cattle Drives. Come
along as cattle are moved
to pasture, to new grass
and home for the winter.
“Livestock care. Wean-
ing, vaccinating, preparing
cattle for sale, shipping
calves.
“Fencing. Learn how to
build a fence, fix fence, get
pasture ready for cattle.
Great for wildlife viewing
as well!
“Farming. See how crops
are grown and harvested.
See how irrigation is used.
Tour local gardens and
greenhouses, where the
Geiser’s restaurant pro-
duce comes from.
“Winery. Tour the local
winery; see how grapes
are grown, harvested,
made into wine. Includes
tasting a bottle of wine to
take home!
Said Sidway, “In recent
years, we’ve had increased
interest from travelers that
want to experience the
‘real west,’ which is our
own cowboy and ranch-
ing heritage. So on more
than a dozen occasions,
we’ve arranged for guests
to hang out at family rodeo
practice and so forth. The
feedback has been great.
For example, writers trav-
eled from Paris to write
about Lewis and Clark.
When they got out on a
local ranch, Baker County
just stole the story, which
morphed into the wild
west.”
She added, “We had
Friday, March 4, 2016 — Eastern Oregon
Prices trended generally steady compared to week
ago prices in a very limited test. Many producers
have decided to hold on to their hay for now, in
hopes for higher prices or to feed to their own ani-
mals. Many hay producers are sold out for the year.
Tons Price Range Wtd Avg
Alfalfa —Large Square Good/Premium
85 135.00-135.00 135.00
Last week:
Alfalfa —Large Square Good
40 120.00-120.00 120.00
Alfalfa / Orchard Mix —Small Square Premium
25 190.00-195.00 192.00
Timothy Grass—Small Square Premium
3 195.00-195.00 195.00
Meadow Grass—Small Square Good
2 150.00-150.00 150.00
USDA Market News Service—AMS.USDA.gov
— Cattle Market Report —
Submitted Photo
Guests took photos of buffalo feeding in Halfway.
planned to launch this
new offering in spring.
Then the plight of East-
ern Oregon ranchers was
suddenly brought to the
forefront of everyone’s
mind. We recognize that
no small business can do
much to change the course
of events.
“However, we see the
Geiser Grand’s ‘Ranch
Experience’ is our con-
tribution to better under-
standing by facilitating
real interaction and com-
munication with our local
ranchers. Proceeds go to
the ranchers, while they
pretty much go about their
daily business as usual, so
we’ve gotten good recep-
tion.
“Guests love this be-
cause it’s available 365
days per year, its easy and
really fun! And you don’t
have to be an overnight
guest at the hotel; it’s open
to everyone interested in
learning more about our
ranching heritage.”
2016 Women in Ag Conference
scheduled for March 19
On Saturday, Mar.
19, from 8:30 a.m. to
3:30 p.m., women from
Northeast Oregon have the
opportunity to participate
in the 2016 Women in
Agriculture Conference.
Organized by Washington
State University extension,
the one-day conference
brings together women at
31 locations in Washing-
ton, Idaho, Oregon and
Alaska for a unique oppor-
tunity to hear knowledge-
able speakers and inspir-
ing stories, network, and
take home practical advice
and new skills.
The conference will
be hosted at the Union
County Extension Office,
10507 N McAlister Rd., in
La Grande, with host site
facilitation by Sara Miller
from Northeast Oregon
Economic Development
District.
Early bird registration,
which is $25, includes a
communication workshop,
light breakfast, lunch, and
conference materials.
After March 18, regis-
tration increases to $30.
A limited number of
scholarships are available
for aspiring farmers, col-
lege agriculture students,
and 4-H and FFA mem-
bers.
Visit the website at
www.womeninag.wsu.edu
for registration and details,
or contact Miller at 541-
426-3598 or saramiller@
neoedd.org.
“Power Up Your Farm”
is the theme for this year’s
conference, with two sub-
themes:
Power Up Your Commu-
nications!
Facilitated by Wendy
Knopp and Michael Stolp
with Northwest Farm
Credit Services
Communication is the
most powerful tool for
building business and per-
sonal relationships. Peo-
ple’s ability to influence
people is directly related
to how they communicate.
This conference will help
attendees discover their
communication style and
how to use it to manage,
motivate, and influence
people. Attendees will
learn to “pull out” their
personality traits to change
as the situation changes.
Confidence in one’s ability
to be a successful farmer
will strengthen a farming
operation.
Power Up Your Farm!
Different personal-
ity styles affect the way
people interact with cus-
tomers, family, business
contacts, and employees.
Women farmers know
how to produce their prod-
uct. Sometimes, however,
their communication style
makes it difficult to sell
that product, motivate an
employee, convince a lend-
er or landlord, or get along
with family members or a
business partner.
Attendees will build
new skills to help them
build better teams, im-
prove decision-making,
and connect marketing to
what motivates prospects
and customers.
Oregon farmer Shelly
Boshart Davis will explain
how she improved her
communications approach
with people and how it
improved her business
strategies.
The conference is
designed for women who
have been farming for
years, as well as new and
aspiring farmers.
Supporting spouses,
students, interns or people
who own an agriculture-
related business are also
welcome.
The number of women
in agriculture grows every
year, and the conference
helps meet their need to
connect with other women
farmers and ranchers, and
share resources.
The Northeast Oregon
Economic Development
District’s mission is to
provide resources and
facilitate quality decision-
making for the benefit of
entrepreneurs, businesses
and communities in Baker,
Union, and Wallowa coun-
ties. Learn more about its
programs at neoedd.org.
County financial position focus of session
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The Baker County Board
of Commissioners held a
work session on Wednes-
day, March 9, 2016, 9 a.m.,
in the Commission Cham-
bers of the Baker County
Courthouse, in order to dis-
cuss the County’s financial
position, and to receive a
facilities update.
Present from the Board
were Commission Chair
Bill Harvey, Commission-
ers Mark Bennett and Tim
Kerns, and Executive As-
sistant Heidi Martin.
Attendance also included
Baker County Sheriff
Travis Ash, Baker County
Facilities Foreman Dan
McQuisten, Baker County
Administrative Service
Director Christena Cook,
Baker County Planning
Director Holly Kerns,
CPA Bruce Nichols, Baker
County Weed Master Arnie
Grammon, Baker County
Health Department Direc-
tor Robin Nudd, Baker
County Health Depart-
ment Registered Nurse
Alicia Hills, Baker County
Emergency Management
Director Jason Yencopal,
Baker County Emergency
Management Deputy Di-
rector Gary Timm, Baker
County 911 Consolidated
Dispatch Director Lindsey
Hope, and Baker County
Parks and Recreation Di-
rector Karen Spencer.
Harvey called the meet-
ing to order, and Cook
discussed details regard-
ing the County’s financial
situation, after providing a
revenue and expense report
(with estimations) to the
Board.
While no decisions were
made, as this was a work
session, several items were
discussed.
Revenue (fund balance
overage from the budget,
as of March 8, 2016) is es-
timated at $424,527, with
expenses estimated at a
total of $607,563.87, for a
difference of $183,036.87.
Expenses include: the
McCarty settlement, at
$306,000; BCLA union
negotiations, at $100,000;
ODOT building purchase
at $110,000; repairs/utili-
ties costs for the ODOT
building, at $31,511.89;
property by the Road
Department, at $57,051.98;
and a Parks Department
building lease, at $3,000.
Projected revenue for
fiscal year 2016-2017
includes estimated revenue
of $816,536.60, broken
down as: $700,000 from
Secure Rural Schools
(SRS); Title III funds, of
$80,000; rental amounts
totaling $12,105.60; and
Watermaster revenue of
$24,431.
Estimated costs for fiscal
year 2016-2017 includes a
total of $378,891, broken
down as: Justice Court
staffing adjustments, in
the amount of $11,422;
District Attorney software
(Karpell), in the amount of
$40,000; a Public Employ-
ees Retirement System
(PERS) increase of 20%,
in the amount of $174,300;
a medical/dental insurance
increase of 8.7%, in the
amount of $134,900; and a
property/liability insur-
ance increase of 9%, in the
amount of $18,269.
Also noted by Cook is
the contingency fund, in
the amount of $694,882.
SEE WORK SESSION
PAGE 10
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Vale, Oregon
Cattle sold through the auction: 1,127
Steer Calves
300-400# Bulk 206.00 - 221.00 Top 229.00
400-500# Bulk 182.00 - 217.00 Top 220.00
500-600# Bulk 176.00 - 201.00 Top 210.25
Heifer Calves
300-400# Bulk 167.00 - 191.00 Top 202.00
400-500# Bulk 164.00 - 197.00 Top 205.00
500-600# Bulk 149.00 - 173.00 Top 175.00
600-700#
700-800#
800-900#
900-1,000#
Yearling Steers
Bulk 154.00 - 179.00 Top 180.50
Bulk 144.00 - 156.00 Top 159.00
Bulk 127.00 - 140.00 Top 141.00
Bulk 121.00 - 136.00 Top 139.00
Yearling Heifers
600-700# Bulk 139.00 - 155.00 Top 156.00
700-800# Bulk 135.00 - 143.00 Top 160.00
800-900# Bulk 121.00 - 134.00 Top 135.00
900-1,000# Bulk N/A Top N/A
Thin Shelly Cows 44.00 - 61.00
Butcher Cows
66.00 - 75.00
Butcher Bulls 66.00 - 87.00
Stock Cows Yng. N/A
Younger Hfrts. 81.00 - 124.00
Stock Cows Older. - 975.00 - 1225.00
ProducersLivestock.com
541-473-3136
— Log Price Report —
Price per 1,000 board feet: Northeast Oregon
Currently the local log market is flooded with
fire salvage logs. The log buyer for Malheur
Lumber Co. stated they have all the logs they
need under contract and are not accepting any
new purchases. BCC/LLC of La Grande has
receive so many burned fire salvage logs they
are no longer accepting logs at the La Grande
log yard. Any additional pine logs have to be
delivered to the Elgin Log yard cut in plywood
lengths and to a 8 inch top. For these pine
logs cut in plywood lengths, BCC is offering
$280.00/mbf. They are also paying $410.00/
mbf for Doug Fir & Western Larch. For White
Fir they are offing $310.00/mbf. At the Pilot
Rock Saw Mill BCC is offing $360.00/mbf for a
12 to 15 inch top, for 16 to 19 inch top $400.00/
mbf & offing $425.00/mbf for 20 inch plus top
Courtesy of Arvid Andersen,
Andersen Forestry Consulting
— Precious Metals Report —
Price per ounce, USD
Gold: $1,265.60
Silver: $15.45
Platinum: $987.65
Palladium: $566.18
Bloomberg.com
— Ag Commodities —
Corn: $361.75/bu/USD
Wheat: $464.75/bu/USD
Soybeans: $883.75/bu/USD
Oats: $188.25 bu/USD
Rough Rice: $10.66/cwt/USD
Canola: $456.30 CAD/mwt
Live Cattle: $137.25/lb./USD
Feeder Cattle: $158.85/lb./USD
Lean Hogs: $68.98/lb./USD
Bloomberg.com