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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (April 29, 2016)
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 3 FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016 Business & Ag 420Ville’s customer base expands Friday, April 22, 2016 — Eastern Oregon BY EILEEN DRIVER 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. Eileen@TheBakerCountyPress.com On Wednesday, April 20 at 10:00 a.m., 420Ville, Huntington’s marijuana dispensary, held their official Grand Opening Celebration. Although they have been open for business for about a month and a half now, no other day would really be right for this celebration as April 20th—4/20—has been the unofficial Na- tional Marijuana Day since the 60s and the time 4:20 p.m. is to smoker’s what 5:00 p.m. is to alcohol consumption. Since its opening 420Ville has steadily increased its customer base, which is now up to approximately 130 to a 150 people a day. According to Steve De- Boer, advertising Manager for 420Ville, at the grand opening, “It’s only noon and we’ve already served Tons Price Range Wtd Avg Alfalfa—Large Square Fair 168 125.00-125.00 125.00 Three week ago results were: Alfalfa —Large Square Good 400 150.00-150.00 150.00 Alfalfa / Orchard Mix —Small Square Premium 10 195.00-195.00 195.00 USDA Market News Service—AMS.USDA.gov — Cattle Market Report — Eileen Driver / The Baker County Press Huntington’s new marijuana dispensary is serving up to 150 customers a day after only a month and a half in business. over 130 customers today and there doesn’t seem to be a break coming any time soon.” Customers were treated to a pulled pork lunch prepared and served by the Huntington Senior & Youth Organization, available by donation, as well as an abundance of hamburgers and hot dogs and there was no shortage of people willing to eat them. 420Ville carries an average of over 30 strains of both medical and recreational marijuana at any one time with five or six new strains coming in every week or so. Public comment given to USFS on Lostine Corridor project Since the initial project announcement on Febru- ary 2nd, the Wallowa- Whitman National Forest has received numerous public comments outlining support and concern for the proposed Lostine Cor- ridor Public Safety project. Varying parties, including residents, visitors, natural resource organizations, and business interests, have provided 35 pub- lic comments regarding the public safety project located on the 11 mile Lostine River corridor. The Lostine Corridor Public Safety Project seeks increased public safety in conjunction with improv- ing forest health and resiliency in the high-use public area leading into the Eagle Cap Wilderness. The proposed project aims to achieve its objective through removing hazard trees, reducing fuel loads, creating defensible areas, and thinning dense forest stands. Jake Lubera, Deputy District Ranger, said, “The public comments are extremely valuable input for us. It gives insight to how the public views these important public safety objectives in the project area.” Lubera also added, “I was happy to hear that the public consid- ers the Lostine Corridor Public Safety project an important project being undertaken by the Forest Service.” A Lostine Corridor landowner meeting on February 23 in Wallowa highlighted widespread support among the Cor- ridor property owners. Foremost among the land- owner concerns was the buildup of heavy fuel loads and hazard trees, which increases the possibility of a high-intensity fire in the Corridor. One landowner, whose family has lived in the Corridor for 75 years, was pleased with the proposed project and com- mented, “The density of the forest has increased as well as the people visiting the Lostine Canyon, which increases the risks of fires. So I am very happy to hear about the proactive project planned.” Another local Lostine resident considers the project as beneficial on two fronts. The safety project will not only tackle the area’s increasing public safety hazards but can also “provide wood products to local markets, including firewood,” and is a “win- win situation”. While removing hazard trees and thinning dense stands to reduce hazards received positive feedback, there were notes of unease that the project could be used as cover for indis- criminant logging. One person commented that the Forest Service should “not use wildfire safety as a reason and an excuse to approve logging the area.” The Forest Service answered that the project will only remove trees conforming to the hazard guidelines and where the health and resiliency of the forest will be improved. The public also asked for the Forest Service to consider the exceptional values that the Lostine Corridor contains. Many commenter’s views were that addressing the public safety issues is a way to maintain the values to all users of the Lostine Canyon, such as “campers, snowmobilers, cross-coun- try skiers, fishermen, and others.” Adding to this senti- ment, a representative from a local conservation group cautioned, while the project objective to reduce safety hazard is important and a Forest Service re- sponsibility, “it should not trump other values” and the Forest Service “should harmonize the diverse and important values associ- ated with the project area.” The feedback received concerning the proposed project will allow the Forest Service to further coordinate with the public and cooperating agencies in completing the environ- mental analysis by fall of 2016. This coordination will facilitate achieving the project’s public safety objectives while consider- ing the corridors remark- able values, such as scenic quality, recreation, historic sites, and habitat. Cattlemen: Wildfire assistance available, candidates speak COMPILED BY STAFF FROM MEETING AUDIO The Baker County Live- stock Association meeting was held April 20, 2016 at the Sunridge. Jake Bing- ham brought the meeting to order with about 25 people in attendance. Announcements were made that the Beef for Schools shipment date was April 24th, and that the Or- egon Cattlemen’s Associa- tion (OCA) midyear event is May 22, 23, and 24 in Sunriver, Oregon. Cheryl Martin gave an update about the 2015 Wildfire Assistance program. Applications are due May 19, 2016. Financial donations are provided to the OCA and from the Agri Beef Com- pany and Northwest Farm Credit, and have provided almost $30,000 in wildfire assistance. The application — Weekly Hay Report — form is in April/May Beef Magazine on page 20. Ed Trindle gave an update about his efforts to create a “grass bank” to assist with ranchers who lost pasture because of last summer’s fires. Trindle spent many hours working with personnel from the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service, and thought they had a plan ironed out, but in the end the federal agen- cies walked away from the agreement, in fact stating they never agreed to open up other allotments. These meetings were documented and had other members attending as witnesses. Elias Eiguren gave an update on the Owyhee Basin Stewardship Coali- tion. For more info go to www.ourlandourvoice.org Members were encouraged to go online and sign the petition. Mary Ellen Anderson is coordinating the 2nd annual Gridiron tailgate and Grill on Shirine Day, August 6th in the Geiser Pollman Park. They are looking for items for the silent auction. To help or donate, call Mary Ellen at 541-519-1224. All money from this event goes for purchasing the Shriner steer. County Commissioner candidates Kody Justus and Bruce Nichols were in attendance. Jeff Nelson had a previous engagement but sent a paper response to the list of items that were to be discussed. Jus- tus and Nichols each were given 15 minutes. SEE LIVESTOCK ASSOCIATION PAGE 8 Wednesday, April 20, 2016 Vale, Oregon Cattle sold through the auction: 950 Steer Calves 300-400# Bulk 167.00 - 191.00 Top 200.00 400-500# Bulk 161.00 - 189.00 Top 192.50 500-600# Bulk 161.00 - 189.00 Top 190.00 Heifer Calves 300-400# Bulk 149.00 - 171.00 Top 175.00 400-500# Bulk 149.00 - 161.00 Top 167.50 500-600# Bulk 142.00 - 154.00 Top 154.50 Yearling Steers 600-700# Bulk 149.00 - 177.00 Top 181.00 700-800# Bulk 129.00 - 152.00 Top 153.00 800-900# Bulk 126.00 - 134.00 Top 135.00 900-1,000# Bulk N/A Top N/A Yearling Heifers 600-700# Bulk 136.00 - 146.00 Top 147.00 700-800# Bulk 126.00 - 131.00 Top 133.00 800-900# Bulk 121.00 - 128.00 Top 131.00 900-1,000# Bulk N/A Top N/A Thin Shelly Cows 51.00 - 62.00 Butcher Cows 64.00 - 71.00 Butcher Bulls 71.00 - 86.00 Stock Cows Yng. 1375.00 - 1675.00 Pairs older. 1110.00 - 1290.00 Stock Cows Older. - 945.00 - 1290.00 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: $1,250.50 Silver: $17.30 Platinum: $1025.00 Palladium: $610.51 Bloomberg.com — Ag Commodities — Corn: $382.85/bu/USD Wheat: $481.50/bu/USD Soybeans: $1025.55/bu/USD Oats: $209.00 bu/USD Rough Rice: $11.03/cwt/USD Canola: $498.50 CAD/mwt Live Cattle: $116.88/lb./USD Feeder Cattle: $142.98/lb./USD Lean Hogs: $79.40/lb./USD Bloomberg.com
