i Record-Courier
9
THURSDAY, MARCH 17,2016
Bentz has Praise for Cattlemen
Baker County Cattlemen voted at their most recent meeting
to spend $10,000 to help defeat the proposed Owyhee
Canyonlands Monument designation.
Representative Bentz who addressed cattlemen at last
week's meeting at the Sunridge said in a telephone call with
the Record-Courier, "I understand how hard it was and how
long it took for the ranchers in Baker County to raise this kind
of money. Following this, however, individuals said this still
isn't enough and pledged to do more, which is amazing."
Bentz went on to say that unlike what happened in Harney
County and Nevada when people (from outside of the area in
the case of Harney County) acted unlawfully, Baker County
has made a decision which is positive and done in a manner
in which these kinds of circumstances should be handled.
"This is how to be taken seriously," said Bentz.
Record-Courier tile photo of Rep. Cliff Bentz
Assistance Available to Baker, Union
Woodland Owners to Reduce Wildfire Risk
Apply for financial assistance by April 15
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Private woodland owners in Baker and Union
counties can reduce the risk of catastrophic wild-
fire and improve forest health with financial sup-
port
from
USDA’s Natural
Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS). Interested
landowners should submit applications by April 15
at the USDA Service Centers in Baker City or La
Grande.
“We want woodland owners to be proactive and
help protect our community from wildfire—NRCS
has the financial and technical assistance to help
them do it,” said Jay Gibbs, NRCS basin team
leader. “By doing pre-commercial thinning and
slash treatments—and by mixing in some of their
own commercial logging—woodland owners can
build up natural defenses to wildfire, insects and
disease. Plus they can get healthier trees and en­
hanced wildlife habitat. It’s a win-win for every-
one.”
Conservation practices like pre-commercial
thinning and slash treatments reduce the amount
of “fuels” (such as dense, overstocked trees,
shrubs and invasive plants) that cause a wildfire
to spread higher into the canopy where it causes
the most damage. By thinning the woods, to a
manageable and healthy level, landowners can
significantly reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire
while also getting stronger and healthier trees.
NRCS offers financial assistance through the
Environmental Quality Incentives Program
(EQIP)—a voluntary Farm Bill program that reim-
burses landowners for a portion of the cost to im­
plementconservation practices, on private
agricultural lands, including grazed woodlands
and forests. The Oregon Department of Forestry
(ODF) is partnering with NRCS to provide techni­
cal assistance to participating woodland owners.
Technical assistance includes helping landowners
develop a forest management plan that ad-
dresses any specific threats to their property and
their personal land-use goals.
NRCS is providing the funding as part of the
East Face of the Elkhorn Mountains Project. This
large-scale forest restoration project will reduce
the threat of catastrophic wildfire on public and pri-
vate lands in the Baker and La Grande water-
sheds. The project targets forest restoration
activities across more than 20 miles of shared
boundary between private, state, and federal
lands in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.
This is the last year that NRCS and ODF will
write new contracts with private landowners
through the East Face project, but work will con­
tinue on-the-ground for several more years. Most
landowners sign-up for three-year contracts so
they can complete the necessary thinning and
slash treatments over a couple of field seasons.
Since the East Face project began in 2014, pri­
vate woodland owners have voluntarily signed up
to treat more than 4,700 acres in Baker and Union
counties. In the last two years, NRCS invested
$2.1 million for 49 contracts with private woodland
owners. This year NRCS has up to $375,000
available for new contracts.
To sign up or for more information about the
East Face project, contact the USDA Service
Center in La Grande: (541) 963-4178 or Baker
City: (541) 523-7121 or visit the NRCS Oregon
website at: www.or.nrcs.usda.gov.
Agricultural Construction
Employee Earns Certified
Technician Award
Reinke
is
pleased
to
announce that Bryon Olmsted
with Agricultural Construction,
Inc. in Baker City has earned
the Platinum PLUS (Proven
Leaders in Unmatched Serv­
ice) Certified Technician Award.
The prestigious award is the
most elite technical service
designation
awarded
by
Reinke.
“Being recognized as a
Platinum
PLUS
Certified
Technician is a remarkable
accomplishment,” said Tom
Palmertree, director of market­
ing, Reinke. “Bryon has
completed the most extensive
technical
service
training
available to Reinke dealers and
is to be commended for his
hard work.”
The Platinum PLUS Certified
Technician Program consists of
a series of six technical service training classes and tests. Olm­
sted received the Platinum PLUS award by scoring more than 90
percent on all six tests.
“We understand how important qualified service technicians are
to growers when they make their buying decisions,” added
Palmertree. ‘That’s the focus of our technical service programs,
to consistently build upon the level of service capabilities of
Reinke dealers across the country and further our commitment
to the industry.”
About the East Face Partnership
The East Face of the Elkhorn Mountains proj­
ect is funded by the Joint Chief’s Landscape Ini­
tiative—a collaboration between the chiefs of two
USDA agencies, the Natural Resources Conser­
vation Service (NRCS) and the U.S. Forest Serv­
ice. The project aims to accomplish goals of the
Cohesive Wildfire Strategy (CWS) by reducing the
risk of loss to catastrophic wildfire through forest
fuels reduction, restoring and maintaining, land­
scapes, and improving fire response.
The East Face project combines the skills and
expertise of the NRCS, the Forest Service, the
Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), the Ore­
gon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), and
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). These
agencies are working together to proactively ad­
dress wildfire issues in the East Face project area
with an “All Hands, All Lands” approach—span­
ning both public and private lands. The project tar­
gets fuels reduction treatments on more than
46,000 acres in the Wallowa-Whitman National
Forest; 1,224 acres of BLM land; 4,000 acres of
ODFW land; as well as adjacent private lands.
Bur Buttercup -
The Ugly Harbinger of Spring
£♦7 While we’d all prefer crocus and daffodils to remind us of
I
spring’s arrival, too often we’re confronted with Bur Buttercup in-
j- stead. You can choose to ignore it, at your own peril. Just don’t
I
plan on going bare-footed this summer.
In any case, conditions are perfect right now to treat this weed,
t
As long as we have temperatures near 50 F and low wind condi-
;
tions, it’s go time.
Originally from southeastern Europe, it is a member of the but-
;
tercup family and grows two to five inches in height. In early
; “ spring, bur buttercup sends up narrow-leaved stems tipped by
». - solitary, yellowed-petaled flowers. By mid-spring, it forms solid, 3
to 4-inch-tall mats.
The real problem with this weed is seen later on in the summer,
when spiny seed heads appear. When the seed head dries out
it becomes hard and sharp, regularly lodging in shoes, bare feet,
clothing, and even thin bicycle tires. It is also a nuisance with
dogs and cats, and actually can cause mild poisoning when they
try to clean their paws.
Bur Buttercup can also be toxic to livestock, especially sheep
*
and horses. Problems usually arise when animals are dry-lotted.
When there is little alternative forage present, it forces animals
, r to consume large quantities of this weed. In most cases, a lack
of general health within the herd is the result, although mortality
is not uncommon.
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This weed is found primarily on disturbed sites, but can also
spread out onto range and pasturelands with sufficient spring
moisture. Bur Buttercup can also quickly spread into sagebrush
range ground, occupying sites once held by native forbs and
grasses.
Bur buttercup can be controlled, but action is needed before it
. flowers and drops seed. In its late-winter seedling stage, it’s sus­
ceptible to foliar-applied herbicides like glyphosate, Weedmaster,
or 2,4rD. Use glyphosate (Roundup is a common brand) only as
» a spot-treatment on driveways and similar areas, as it will kill non-
L. target, preferred vegetation if not careful. As always, please read,
understand, and follow label directions when applying herbicides.
Solid stands of healthy, competitive grasses will not allow bur
buttercup to gain a foothold. If you’d rather not spray, digging will
work, but can be very
labor-intensive. More
information on control
methods can be ob­
tained by calling
Arnie Grammon, the
Baker County Nox­
ious Weed Supervi­
sor at 523-0618, or
stop by at Weed Of­
fice at 1050 South
Bridge in Baker City.
I ntermountain
L ivestock
60654 Livestock Rd. • La Grande, Oregon
541-963-2158
Sale Schedule
March 17 - Pair Special
., March 24 - Reg ular Sale
March 31 -
Regular Sale with Breeding Bulls
April 7 - Back to Grass Sale
April 14- Pair Special
April 21 - Regular ¿ale
April 28 - Pair and Feeder Sale
77? (Æ or FALSE?
Colorectal cancer
is the 2nd leading
cancer killer.
Both men
and women get
colorectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer
often starts
with no symptoms.
You can stop
this cancer
before it starts.
®9®Community Wellness Event
March 29th
March 30th
Community Events Center
lpm to 6pm
9amtolpm
2600 East Street
Walkthrough a
GIANT COLON I
Everyone will receive
a Swag Bag full of
Fill out a survey
awesome items!
GIFT BASKET!
to win a