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7A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2016 3URGXFHUVORRNDKHDGWR1HZ<HDU¿OOHGZLWKXQFHUWDLQWLHV Resolutions, some tongue- in-cheek, on the farm By CAROL RYAN DUMAS Capital Press The new year is a symbol of new beginnings in farm country, a time to look ahead to what the future may bring and to engage in that age-old tradition of making resolutions. Eastern Oregon wheat farmer Tyson Raymond has some tongue-in-cheek resolutions for 2016, starting with, “Get a little more rain, particularly in April and May.” Raymond, a member of the Oregon Board of Agriculture, also vows to pay closer attention to what successful farmers are doing and “do more of that.” Beyond that, he resolves: “Don’t buy my fuel and fertilizer at their yearly highs (again)” and “Don’t sell my wheat at yearly lows (again).” In addition, he said he’ll “try not to buy a tractor in August if they sell for $40,000 less in December” and he’s going to “try to grow wheat that weighs 60 pounds (a bushel) and is below 10 percent protein.” “If I can stick to these, I’m sure to have a better year than last,” he said. The staff at Our Table Cooperative, a 58-acre farm near Sherwood, southwest of Portland, put their heads together and came up with collective resolutions. “Feed more people and fewer deer. Invite more people to share meals with us on the farm. Grow the best tomato crop this region has ever known,” are on their list. Good cheer aside But good cheer aside, falling commodity prices, higher labor costs, tight water supplies and tighter regulations have for some producers set up 2016 to be more a matter of seeking resolutions instead of making them. In California, farmers will be honing their strat- egies to deal with new state wage-and-hour laws. Although most farmers pay more than mini- mum wage, the Jan. 1 increase from $9 to $10 an hour will have many making a comparable increase in what they pay their workers. “We’ve been paying well above the minimum wage for a long time, but it moves up the bottom,” said Michael Vasey, manager of Lindauer River Ranch, a prune and walnut operation in Red Bluff, California. “If your strategy is to pay $1 or $2 above the minimum wage, it moves up your wages more. ... I’m having to pay more to a vast majority of my employees,” he said. Another recently passed law requires growers to pay workers for required breaks even when they’re paid at a piece rate. “You have to pay them at the rate they’re earn- ing” while they’re picking, pruning or doing some other work. “It’s very complicated keeping track of the hours. It’s an individual calculation for each guy,” said Vasey, who is also president of the Teha- ma County Farm Bureau. A similar formula is applied to paid sick leave for piece-rate workers, which employers also must provide, he said. For example, “no-touch” riparian zones turn into kindling boxes that burn hot enough to wipe out all vegetation, opening the way for noxious weeds and poor water quality, he said. gage with the public. Each of us has the opportunity to affect change,” she said. Business sense Whether farmers and ranchers ultimately abide by their New Year’s resolutions, they might want to Projects and plans Nicole Berg, a Paterson, Washington, wheat take a little advice from an agricultural economist. ³1R WKH\¶YH JRW WR JHW WKHLU ¿QDQFLDOV WR- Water worries farmer and former president of the Washington As- Coming off a four-year drought, California pro- sociation of Wheat Growers, resolves to continue gether to just see where they are,” said Dave Kohl, GXFHUVVD\WKH\ZLOODOVREHPRUHHI¿FLHQWZLWKZD- to tell agriculture’s story to legislators in the year professor emeritus of agricultural and applied eco- ter — and pray the December deluge across much ahead and to see the various organizations in the nomics at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State of the state will continue through the winter and into wheat industry focus on the industry’s strategic plan University and a longtime partner in Northwest to move forward. spring. Farm Credit Services’ development program. ³:LWKIDUPLQJFKDQJHFDQEHGLI¿FXOWEXWLWLV “I do the rain dance. … It’s all about water and A lot of producers don’t like to do it, but it’s the rain, and we’re off to a good start,” said Marysville, always exciting to see some of the new things you No. 1 priority. In this time of economic reset in ag- California, rice grower Charley Mathews, a mem- can do with policy,” she said. riculture, it’ll be important to try to get a handle on As for resolutions, she said her family typically SURMHFWHGFDVKÀRZKHVDLG ber of the USA Rice Federation’s executive com- sticks with what they intend to do. mittee. They should also schedule a meeting with their “Farmers, all in all, what we say is what we do,” lender, and not wait too long to do that. With great He’s hoping California will receive at least av- erage precipitation this year to ease drought fears, she said. wealth in the agriculture sector primarily in the rear Ritzville, Washington, wheat farmer Mike Mill- view mirror, it’s going to be critical to work side-by- although forecasters say more than one wet winter er said he plans to be more VLGHZLWKWKHLUOHQGHUWRJDLQÀH[LELOLW\DQGRSWLRQV is likely needed to end the on the farm as he said. drought. ‘Good times don’t conservative margins shrink. “Hopefully we’ll get a If the operation is showing negative margins, good couple of years,” he He also hopes to adopt WKH\EHWWHUEHSUHSDUHGWREXLOGWKHLUFDVHIRU¿QDQF- last forever, nor said. a different marketing phi- ing, he said. do bad times last losophy, to take better “Regulators kind of gave ag a pass last year, but advantage of the highest I don’t think it’s going to happen this year. Building Regulatory rigors Dave Dashiell, a ranch- forever. Things can prices possible. that case is going to be very, very crucial for some $V DQ RI¿FHU RQ WKH producers,” he said. er in northeastern Wash- change in a New board of U.S. Wheat As- On the positive side, there’s opportunity if ington state, has lost hun- sociates and member of the they’ve positioned for it, he said. dreds of sheep to predators York minute.’ Washington Grain Com- in the past couple of years. “If they set some cash aside, they’re going to be mission, he also wants to able to get pretty good deals on equipment,” he said. +HVDLGVWDWHRI¿FLDOVSDLG Dave Kohl IRUFRQ¿UPHGZROINLOOV professor emeritus of agricultural and applied see the industry focus on In addition, some older farmers are thinking overseas markets. in 2014 and attributed his maybe it’s time to cash in following that so-called economics at Virginia Polytechnic Institute In Oregon, nursery “super cycle” of wealth; some pretty good assets are 2015 losses to cougars, owner Angela Bailey be- starting to soften, he said. leaving the future of his lieves 2016 will be a year of opportunity and re- ranch in doubt. “Producers who have positioned themselves are “You can make long-term plans and to a certain solves to be open to whatever change may accom- going to be able to grow,” he said. extent we’ve kind of done that, but then all of a sud- pany it. %XWKHFDXWLRQVSURGXFHUVWRJHWHI¿FLHQWEHIRUH “Just because we’ve always done something they get bigger. den the state decides we need to be out of the sheep business — that is the biggest thing holding us up one way, doesn’t mean we need to continue to do “Bigger isn’t better; better is better,” he said. right now, and I’m not in a very good mood about so,” she said. He also advises producers to take a note from Bailey, second vice president of the Oregon WRSÀLJKWPDQDJHUVDQGVLJQXSIRUWKUHHRUIRXUHG- it,” he said. He also pointed to regulations regarding sage Farm Bureau, owns Verna Jean Nursery east of ucational and training events and to network. grouse, waters of the U.S. and labor, saying, Portland, and with her husband, Larry, sells special- And they should make sure they take care of “They’re working pretty hard to put everybody out ty trees. She said 2015 was “great” for nursery sales, themselves — exercise, read, take time off, he said. and that in itself poses some challenges. of business that they can.” “I think that’s imperative, especially where “I will need to be deliberate, in the new year, in there’s a lot of stress,” he said. Dashiell said he and the Cattle Producers of Washington plan to emphasize to lawmakers the how I perform my duties in order to maximize my The year ahead is going to be leaner in most effectiveness in meeting all of our commitments. commodities, and agriculture is operating in more need for regulatory relief in 2016. Eastern Washington farmer Aaron Golladay, This will require some change in how I have histor- challenging times than in the past. Producers can’t ¿UVWYLFHSUHVLGHQWRIWKHVWDWH)DUP%XUHDXDOVR ically operated,” she said. control everything, but they are getting better at In addition, all Oregon agricultural employers managing what they can, he said. said he hopes to slow the tide of federal and state will have to come up with creative solutions to is- regulation. “Good times don’t last forever, nor do bad times “We’re going to get steamrolled on a lot of reg- sues such as a possible minimum wage increase, last forever. Things can change in a New York min- ulations coming. There’s something new almost paid sick leave and other labor issues, she said. ute,” he said. “Don’t even get me started with regulatory is- weekly right now,” he said. Producers should keep that in mind and keep He said he wishes he could get environmental sues,” she said. their chin off the ground during the year ahead, he With the average person now three generations said. groups to understand that farmers “believe in the environment more than probably anybody else” removed from the farm, producers must engage and Capital Press reporters Matthew Weaver in and that regulations can have unintended conse- inform legislators regarding ag issues, she said. Washington, Tim Hearden in California and Eric “Engage with state and national lawmakers. En- Mortenson in Oregon contributed to this story. quences. BY THE DAILY ASTORIAN C LASSIF IEDS IN D M IE A J TO LL •••••• •••• •••••• •••••• •• ••• ••• •••••• •••••• •• •• •• •• •••••• •• •••••• • •• • •••• • • •••••• • • •••• •••••• ••••• • • ••• •••••• •••••• •••••• •• •••••• ••••• •••••• •••••• ••••• •••••• • •••••• • •• •••••• ••••• •• • •••••• •••••• •• •••• •• ••••• •• •••••• •• ••• • • • •••• • • • ••••• •••••• •••••• • •• •••••• ••••• •••••• •••••• • •• •••••• ••••• •• • •••••• •••••• •• •••• ••••• •••••• •••• C A ODAY U R AD T E YO 11 C 2 A 3 L - P 25 -3 DS @ M 503 C LAS S S T I O F R IE IAN . C O DAI LYA ANNOUNCEMENTS 035 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 040 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lost & Found . . . 050 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Personals . . . . Professional Services 061 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bankruptcy EMPLOYMENT 060 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Babysitters, Child Care 070 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 080 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Help Wanted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Work Wanted E X MISCELLANEOUS 300 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jewelry s & Heavy Equipment 350 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Appliances . Furniture & H H Goods 365 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Antiques & Collectibles 375 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379-395 . . . . . . . . . . . Swap . . . . . . . . . . Misc. For Sale Meets & Garage Sales 400 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 430 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Misc. Wanted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arts & Crafts FINANCIAL ANIMALS/LIVESTOC 105-106 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Busi K ness For Sale- S ales Op 460 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Money To Lend 470 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Animal Boarding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fe ed-H ay-Gr ain REAL ESTATE 475-495 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 485 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anim al-Live stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pets & Supplies 150-200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Open Houses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . For Sale MARINE 160 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lots & Acreage 500-525 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marine . . . 205-275 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Homes Wanted AUTOMOBILE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rentals 285-290 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RV/Trailer Space 535-595 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Auto mobile OUR NORTH COAST CLASSIFIED SALES REP JAMIE CAN PLACE YOUR AD IN ALL OF THESE PUBLICATIONS THE DAILY ASTORIAN, CHINOOK OBSERVER, COAST MARKETPLACE, COAST WEEKEND, SEASIDE SIGNAL AND CANNON BE ACH GAZETTE THE DEADLINE FOR CLASSIFIED ADS is 1:00 p.m. the day before your ad is scheduled to run All classified ads require pre-payment TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL THE DAILY ASTORIAN: 503-325-3211 ext. 231 or 800-781-3211 ext. 231 www.dailyastorian.com •classifieds@dailyastorian.com THE DAILY ASTORIAN P.O. Box 210 • 949 Exchange St. Astoria, Oregon 97103 Outside Sales Entry-level Customer Service Representative for The Daily Astorian’s circulation department. A can-do attitude and willingness to learn are necessary. You will help customers in person, by phone and through email, plus do data-entry and create reports. This position is also a back-up driver, delivering products as needed. Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds and be willing to learn to drive a delivery van. Driving and criminal background checks will be completed pre-hire. Hours are generally 9 am to 6 pm, Monday through Friday. Benefits include paid time off (PTO), insurances and a 401(k)/Roth 401(k) retirement plan. Send resume and letter of interest to EO Media Group, PO Box 2048, Salem, OR 97308-2048, by fax to 503-371-2935 or e-mail to:hr@eomediagroup.com The Daily Astorian is seeking an outside salesperson who is passionate about helping local businesses be successful. Must demonstrate excellence in person- to-person sales and customer service, work well with a support team and be proficient with technology while managing time and required paperwork efficiently. This is a full-time position, working Monday through Friday with evenings and weekends off, plus paid holidays! REWARDING CAREER Base wage plus commission and mileage reimbursement make this a great opportunity for an aggressive sales professional. Benefits include paid time off (PTO), insurances and a 401(k)/ Roth 401(k) retirement plan. Send resume and letter of interest to EO Media Group, PO Box 2048, Salem, OR 97308-2048, by fax to 503-371-2935 or e-mail to:hr@eomediagroup.com
