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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (March 18, 2015)
NATIONAL AG DAY Wednesday, March 18, 2015 East Oregonian Page 9A Many groups support state agriculture Oregon farm facts Did you know? $OPRVWDOO2UHJRQIDUPVDUHIDPLO\RZQHG$ERXW SHUFHQWRI2UHJRQIDUPVDQGUDQFKHVDUHIDPLO\RZQHG DQGRSHUDWHG $ERXWSHUFHQWRIDOOMREVLQ2UHJRQDUHGLUHFWO\RU LQGLUHFWO\FRQQHFWHGWRIDUPLQJDQGUDQFKLQJRULQMREV 6RXUFH2UHJRQ)DUP%XUHDX By the numbers: Oregon farms in 2013 35,000 16.5 million 471 2,400 6RXUFH86'$1$66 1XPEHURIIDUPV /DQGLQIDUPVDFUHV $YHUDJHIDUPVL]HDFUHV 9DOXHSHUFURSODQGDFUHGROODUV Value ($ millions) 6HHGV $378.8 million :KHDWDQGSURGXFWV 241.5 )UXLWVDQGSUHSDUDWLRQV 235.8 9HJHWDEOHVDQGSUHSDUDWLRQV 152.4 'DLU\SURGXFWV 68.3 Acres Value 0LOOLRQV 0LOOLRQV Field crops +D\DOIDOIDWRQV :KHDWEX 3RWDWRHVFZW &RUQJUDLQEX +RSVOEV Fruits and nuts +D]HOQXWVWRQV :LQHJUDSHVWRQV %OXHEHUULHVOEV Vegetables 2QLRQVVWRUDJHFZW &RUQVZHHWFZW 6RXUFH268HVWLPDWH Production Livestock inventory $VRI-DQ Value of Oregon agriculture exports, 2012 Commodity Value of Oregon agriculture in 2013 Crop 6RXUFH86'$1$66 Commodity &DWWOHDQGFDOYHV %HHIFRZV 0LONFRZV &DWWOHRQIHHG 6KHHSDQGODPEV (ZHV Head PLOOLRQ 6RXUFH86'$1$66 Commodity Head 0DUNHWODPEV +RUVHVDQGPXOHV * 0LQNIHPDOHVEUHG +RJV † *RDWV *268HVWLPDWH † 'HF ONIONS: Average harvest produces 36 tons per acre Continued from 1A But Gehrke said it’s still far too early to en- sure a successful harvest. Mother Nature can EH¿FNOHDQGLIWKHVXPPHUKHDWEHFRPHVWRR intense it could shut down the onions’ growth and turn what promised to be above-average yields into just average yields — as it did a year ago. Onions are a warm weather vegetable, able to tolerate temperatures as high as 90-95 de- grees. However, Gehrke remembers last year when the region sweltered under two weeks of 100-plus degrees, which helped to curb a promising 2014 crop. “There’s no guarantees in farming,” he said. “There’s always hope. That’s what we do.” An average harvest usually produces 36 tons of onions per acre, Gehrke said. Work- HUVVKRXOG¿QLVKSODQWLQJDOO¿HOGVDW5LYHU Point Farms by early April, and the bulk of harvest for storage onions will take place in September. Statewide, Oregon’s onion crop was worth $143 million in 2013, ranking as the eighth most valuable agricultural commodity. In comparison to Umatilla and Morrow counties’ other top crops, potatoes generated more than $170 million (seventh), and wheat raked in $368 million (sixth). Gehrke said 2015 has so far been an ir- regular year on the farm. Such a warm Feb- ruary is not unheard of, but they are few and Staff photo by E.J. Harris Warmer winter conditions this year has allowed the cover crop, wheat, to grow earlier than normal. The cover crop offers protection to the young onion plants from the wind. far between. The weather actually had farm conditions about four weeks ahead of normal, though they could not plant until irrigation water became available on March 1. Once they get caught up on planting, Geh- rke said it’s up to workers to keep up on spray- ing and irrigation. “That’s a full-time job in itself,” he said. ³7KLQJVFDQFKDQJHLQWKH¿HOGYHU\IDVW´ ——— Contact George Plaven at gplaven@eas- toregonian.com or 541-564-4547. AGRICULTURE: Sustaining Future Generations Get involved or support an agricul- tural organization such as: • Oregon Farm Bureau Federation 9ROXQWDU\JUDVVURRWVQRQSUR¿WRU- ganization representing the interests of farmers and ranchers in the public and policy making arenas. 503-399-1701, www.oregonfb.org • FFA Organization Organization dedicated to devel- oping student potential for leadership, personal growth and career success in agricultural education. 503-507-6499, www.oregonffa. com • Northwest Horticultural Council NHC focuses on national and in- ternational policy issues affecting growers in Oregon, Idaho and Wash- ington. 509-453-3193, www.nwhort.org • Oregon 4-H Youth Develop- ment Education 4-H helps youth learn subject mat- ter and life skills through a process that helps them meet key develop- mental needs. 541-737-4444, oregon.4h.oregon- stat.edu • Oregon Cattlemen’s Association OCA is a membership organization promoting the Oregon cattle industry. 503-361-8941, orcattle.com • Oregon Dairy Council ODC is the nutrition education arm of the Oregon Dairy Products Com- mission. 503-229-5033, www.oregondairy- council.org • Oregon Farmers Markets As- sociation OFMA provides resources and promotion on behalf of farmers’ mar- kets, market vendors and farm-direct agriculture, and support to the com- munities that host them. 971-400-0581, www.oregonfarm- ersmarkets.org • Oregon Hop Growers Associ- ation The association supports growers and producers involved in Oregon hop production. 503-982-7600, www.oregonhops. org • Oregon Sheep Growers Associ- ation 26*$LVDQRQSUR¿WRUJDQL]DWLRQ that promotes the growth of and prof- itability of the sheep industry in Ore- gon and nationally. 503-364-5462, www.sheeporegon. com • Oregon Women for Agriculture This organization educates the membership and the public about the importance of agriculture. 503-243-3276, www.owaonline. org • Wallowa County Hay Growers Association The WFHGA promotes the quali- ty and availability of forage products made by area farmers. 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