THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 3
FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2016
Business & Ag
Forest Access for All holds
successful annual banquet
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The ever-growing organi-
zation, Forest Access for
All (FAFA) held a hugely
successful third annual
banquet, which raised
funds to help support its
solitary cause: “Keeping
public lands open to the
public.”
Over the past couple
years, FAFA has grown to
2,500 members spanning
several Oregon counties,
with ties to sister organiza-
tion in other states.
This year’s event, which
was held Saturday evening
at the Sunridge, packed the
banquet room nearly elbow
to elbow, and drew a host
of elected officials from
three states.
Among the attendees
were Oregon State Rep.
Greg Barreto of Cove,
Montana State Rep. Kerry
White, County Commis-
sioner Karen Skoog of
Pend Oreille County in
Washington, Baker County
Commissioner Bill Harvey,
and Grant County Sheriff
Glenn Palmer.
John George of Bates,
one of the group’s found-
ing members, served as
emcee for the evening,
which coincidentally was
his birthday.
George came out
strongly on the subject of
the United States Forest
Service’s (USFS) proposed
road closures. “We’re
not going to have it!” he
began.
George took a moment to
recognize Palmer who he
believes is currently under
political attack “because
he chose to stand up for
people like us.”
The statement drew thun-
derous applause.
George then took another
moment to recognize the
veterans in the room, with
many standing from nearly
every table ranging from
gray-haired senior citizens
to Eli Witham, newly
graduated from Marine
bootcamp.
White then took the mic,
speaking for about ten
minutes on how apathy de-
stroys and elections matt-
ter, and how his organiza-
tion, Citizens for Balanced
Use (CBU) was networked
with the agriculture indus-
try, recreationalists, timber
harvesters, hunters and
fishermen to protect public
lands for the public.
“We are in the fight of
our lives and the other side
has money,” he said. He
spoke of the left-leaning
environmental ideology
that he believes has infil-
trated federal agencies, and
the government in general.
“The old guard in D.C.
doesn’t care a hoot,” he
said. “We need to bring the
voice back more local.”
White said that the Trans-
fer of Public Lands back to
Friday, May 20, 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.
New crop hay is growing and will be harvested in
the upcoming months.
No new eastern Oregon sales confirmed. Last
week’s were:
Tons Price Range Wtd Avg
Alfalfa — Mid Square Good
150 190.00-190.00 190.00
Alfalfa — Small Square Premium
23 170.00-170.00 170.00
USDA Market News Service—AMS.USDA.gov
— Cattle Market Report —
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Vale, Oregon
Cattle sold through the auction: 619
Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press
Montana State Rep. Kerry White (at left), also of Citizens for Balanced Use and
the American Lands Council, presented a check for $500 to Forest Access for
All, which was accepted by that group’s President, Tork Ballard.
state or county level would
provide incentive for see-
ing those lands managed
properly.
Harvey briefly spoke
next. “It’s a fight for our
freedoms—those things
we get to do here in Baker
County. That’s worth fight-
ing for,” he said.
Harvey, like many in
the room, spoke to what
he says is the importance
of the County Commis-
sioners, or any agency
comprised by a board of
elected officials, to invoke
Coordination rather than
Cooperation as has hap-
pened historically.
Coordination by law is a
tool that gives local orga-
nization and agencies more
comparable footing with
federal agency power dur-
ing decisions such as road
closures and land access.
Skoog then spoke. “I wish
I had your group in our
county,” she said.
The Federal govern-
ment intends to more
than double the amount
of wilderness-designated
lands in her county alone
up in Washington state.
Skoog believes that
people come out fight-
ing when they’re on the
precipice, she said. But she
fears waning enthusiasm.
“Do not go away,” she
encouraged the audience.
“Be there consistently. The
opposition is out there and
they’re getting paid.”
Her county had become
part of a four-county group
in her area to combat
shrinking access.
“Other places, other
counties—they’re strug-
gling with the same issue,”
she said.
Skoog noted that because
of her stance against forest
closures, The Southern
Poverty Law Center in
Atlanta, Georgia, a self-
described progressive
group that labels nearly
900 conservative groups
and churches across the
U.S. as “radicals,” “hat-
ers,” and “terrorists” had
recently added her to their
list. Palmer has been for a
time, as were other audi-
ence members.
Judging by the cheers
and applause that rocked
the room, attendees consid-
ered Skoog’s new designa-
tion a compliment.
Skoog concluded her
speech with saying that
she sometimes thinks
people don’t pray for vic-
tory enough. “We can ask
for miracles,” she said,
and then led the room in
prayer.
George reclaimed the
room and explained that
three USFS items should
be on the radar’s of FAFA
members: The Blue Moun-
tain Forest Plan Revision
(BMFPR), The Travel
Management Plan (TMP)
and the Blue Mountain
Forest Resiliency Project
(BMFRP).
The BMFPR comment
period is closed, but 580
comments in support of
retaining access were
received by the USFS.
The objection round of the
process, first anticipated
around September of 2017,
may be coming as early as
late this year, George said.
So he asked those who
had originally commented
to prepare for that earlier
timing.
As for the TMP, on De-
cember 16, 2015, he said,
Subpart A was released,
showing a decommis-
sioning list of roads in
the Wallowa-Whitman
National Forests.
A presentation show-
ing the Subpart A maps
highlighting the USFS’s
proposed minimum neces-
sary roads was shown.
A possibility of 1,261
miles of roads are currently
marked for “decommis-
sioning” or closure.
Such roads would even-
tually be ripped out, gated
off, or blocked with a tank
trap.
Subpart A, said George,
springboards into the
future Subpart B, which
could designate the use
for the remaining roads,
e.g. some would be avail-
able for pickups, others
for ATVs, etc. A buffer
to which users would be
restricted is also typically
implemented along the
roads.
In Montana, the Helena
National Forest now has
a 30-foot buffer on either
side of the remaining
roads. Those wishing to
travel more than that dis-
tance off the road to pick
berries, mushroom hunt,
cut firewood, etc. are not
allowed to do so without
special permits.
Finally, the BMFRP,
according to George is
this: “We (the USFS) let
300,000 acres burn. Now
we’re going to step in and
say there’s a problem.”
George anticipates the
USFS will then attempt
to clean up that problem
while referring back to
Subpart A, thin trees, then
button up the areas that
have been newly man-
aged—effectively locking
citizens out.
“They’re going to screw
us out of our mountains if
we don’t get on it,” George
said.
In the Helena National
Forest’s situation, more
than half the preexisting
roads were eliminated.
The evening wrapped up
with silent and live auc-
tions, featuring auctioneer
Mib Dailey and items
donated by roughly 100
businesses throughout
northeast Oregon.
FAFA’s Executive Of-
ficers are: President Tork
Ballard, Vice President
Chuck Chase, Secretary
Wanda Ballard, Treasurer
Bobbie Danser, Public Af-
fairs Officer John Creigh-
ton and Web Designer Rob
Browning.
More information is
available at ForestAccess-
forAll.org.
Marvins expands employee purchase program
Employees of The Mar-
vin Companies now have
an easier way to enjoy and
take pride in owning the
products they’ve helped to
envision, design and build
thanks to an expanded em-
ployee discount program.
The new program offers
the company’s more than
5,000 employees industry-
leading window and door
solutions for up to 78 per-
cent off list price, ensuring
they are attainable for the
— Weekly Hay Report —
company’s workforce.
“At Marvin, we make the
best windows and doors in
the world. Marvin employ-
ees are producing the high-
est quality products while
we’re at work, and we
should all enjoy the high-
est quality products when
we’re in our homes,” said
Paul Marvin, President
of Marvin Windows and
Doors. “This program now
allows everyone in the or-
ganization the opportunity
to showcase the craftsman-
ship of our world-class
products at home.”
While an employee dis-
count program has been
available for many years,
the expanded program
significantly reduces the
cost of windows and doors
for employees and includes
full warranty coverage.
Employees may purchase
Marvin brand window
and door products at 70
percent off list price, and
Infinity window products
at 78 percent off list price.
“When building or remod-
eling, we want our employ-
ees to use the absolute best
products available – prod-
ucts that only The Marvin
Companies can produce,”
Marvin continued. “With
this expanded program,
Marvin employees can do
just that.”
For more about career
opportunities please visit
Marvin.com.
Steer Calves
300-400# Bulk N/A Top N/A
400-500# Bulk 137.00-166.00 Top 167.00
500-600# Bulk 153.00-176.00 Top 178.00
Heifer Calves
300-400# Bulk 142.00-153.00 Top 155.00
400-500# Bulk 137.00-149.00 Top 157.00
500-600# Bulk 132.00-149.00 Top 154.00
Yearling Steers
600-700# Bulk 136.00-157.00 Top 158.00
700-800# Bulk 131.00-144.00 Top 145.00
800-900# Bulk 112.00-129.00 Top 130.00
900-1,000# Bulk 108.00-119.00 Top 127.00
Yearling Heifers
600-700# Bulk 131.00-144.00 Top 146.00
700-800# Bulk N/A Top N/A
800-900# Bulk N/A Top N/A
900-1,000# Bulk N/A Top N/A
Thin Shelly Cows 49.00-66.00
Butcher Cows 68.00-81.00
Butcher Bulls 73.00-89.00
Pairs Yng. 1575.00-1860.00
Hfretts. 86.00-102.00
Pairs Older. - N/A
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: $1,224.50
Silver: $16.34
Platinum: $993.20
Palladium: $531.88
Bloomberg.com
— Ag Commodities —
Corn: $403.75/bu/USD
Wheat: $466.25/bu/USD
Soybeans: $1083.25/bu/USD
Oats: $190.00 bu/USD
Rough Rice: $1,077.00/cwt/USD
Canola: $525.60 CAD/mwt
Live Cattle: $113.75/lb./USD
Feeder Cattle: $142.75/lb./USD
Lean Hogs: $79.93/lb./USD
Bloomberg.com