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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (March 18, 2015)
Wallowa County Chieftain wallowa.com News March 18, 2015 A9 &HOHEUDWH1DWLRQDO$J'D\ Melvilles seek to carry on a family farming legacy “We grow wheat. Wheat legacy from his father and a joy of farming in seven that represents locally grandfather. Both of Tim’s grandchildren inspires our grown, family farmers,” said sons, Kurt and Kevin, have progress into the future.” Tim and wife Audry began For more information Shepherd’s Grain co-found- followed the farming path. experimenting with direct er Fred Fleming. “By pur- 1RZD¿IWKJHQHUDWLRQZDLWV about Cornerstone Farms, call seeding in the 1970s, shortly chasing [our] products not in the wings. Establishing a 541-398-0166 or visit their after establishing their own only do you become a food sound business, progressive website: www.cornerstone- proprietorship not far from activist, you also become a practices, conservation and farmsjv.com. where Audry’s family home- disciple to save the family steaded in the 1880s. Accord- farm.” ing to Kurt, when very early Other associations Cor- Thank You Wallowa County Farmers & Ranchers! on, the family witnessed the nerstone Farms works with disastrous effects of a down- to promote growers’ inter- SRXURQDMXVWFXOWLYDWHG¿HOG ests, research, and collab- Jennifer Hobbs photo QH[W WR D ¿HOG RI VWXEEOH oration include: The Food (which emerged unscathed) it Kurt Melville explains how a commercial no-till seed drill $OOLDQFH 3DFL¿F 1RUWKZHVW works. The family will likely soon replace this machine with Direct Seed Association, Co- “sealed the deal.” No-till requires more a low disturbance drill that looks similar, but leaves a nearly lumbia Basin Agricultural management and crop rota- invisible footprint on the field. Research Center, and Ore- tion in order to limit disease gon Wheat Growers League. and pest issues, but the long- Much of what the Mel- But at the end of the day, the For more term aim is to reduce the villes grow is sold as seed; most important relationships information need for “inputs” (agricultur- Cornerstone Farms is also to the Melvilles are found at Call: Cornerstone Farms, al chemicals) by increasing D FHUWL¿HG VHHG ZDUHKRXVH home. 541-398-0166 the health — and diversity According to Kurt Melville, “The greatest farming Old Fashioned Website: www.corner- — of the soil. many criteria must be met to legacy is one that can be left 311 W. Main Street stonefarmsjv.com. “Back in the ’80s, Dad qualify for seed production. for our future generations,” Values Enterprise, Oregon just did wheat and barley,” Producers have to go through states the Cornerstone Farms, 541-426-2100 said Kurt. “Now we have VWULFWFHUWL¿FDWLRQDQGLQVSHF J.V. site. “Tim received that peas, mustard, Timothy hay, the energy consumed by the tion processes, but there is alfalfa, canola and others in operation. also a higher value placed on Keeping the farm going the end product. WKH PL[ ,W¶V GH¿QLWHO\ PRUH intensive from a manage- through the years has includ- The Melvilles have culti- ment standpoint, but direct ed leasing and renting land in vated both local and regional seeding has already been addition to what they own, as partnerships in an effort to widely adopted in many well as creating custom farm- keep costs down and max- countries with zero govern- ing and harvesting services. imize value-add in every- ment subsidies. I think that’s These and other strategies thing they produce. One key proof that this is the most allow them to leverage their partnership Tim Melville cost-effective way as well as resources in a market that highlights is with Shepherd’s RIWHQ KDV YHU\ VOHQGHU SUR¿W Grain. Cornerstone Farm is better ecologically.” The family has embraced margins. RQHRIQHDUO\FHUWL¿HGVXV the advantages of evolving “The cost of machinery tainable growers who raise technology. For example, and land continues to go up wheat for the Spokane-based global positioning systems faster than the commodity mill whose goal is to produce are installed in many of the that we are producing goes a high-quality product that Open 7 Days farm’s implements to allow up,” said son Kevin Melville, fosters a strong connection a Week precise placement and appli- who manages approximately between producer and con- cation of seed and fertilizer; 1,000 irrigated acres under K sumer. A person who pur- CLASSES these devices prevent waste & K Farms, LLC. “Change is FKDVHV D EDJ RI ÀRXU IURP & RETREATS and over-application that always hard no matter what Shepherd’s Grain can use the could happen due to driver you’re doing, but you have serial number on the package Fabulous Fabrics: error. There are also several to be willing to diversify to to discover which farm grew Batiks • Westerns solar projects on site to offset make it work.” the crop it came from. CattleCountryQuilts.com • 541-432-6669 Continued from Page A8 Sales & Service Proudly supporting our local farmers and ranchers! Wildlifes Heritage Plaza • 203 N. Main Street Joseph Florals • Notions Continued from Page A8 2005). Grazing continues to to be a major part of Wallowa be a major part of the Wallowa County’s economy and com- as being A.C. Smith. Yet, one County economy and social munity. With wise management RIWKH¿UVWLQGLYLGXDOVWRUHF structure. The livestock indus- of the land, the collaboration of ognize Wallowa County for try still produces approximately the local managers of the fed- its value as grazing land was 50% of the agricultural money eral lands and the knowledge James Tulley in 1871. in Wallowa County. Agricul- of local land owners/managers; ture accounts for approximately FDWWOH UDQFKLQJ ZLOO EH SUR¿W An Era of Legislation 19% of the county’s income. able and sustainable. The 1992 listing of the Change is inevitable, but Tidbits were compiled from Snake River Chinook Salm- with the perseverance that Wal- the Wallowa County OSU Ex- RQ ZDV WKH ¿UVW OLVWLQJ RI DQ lowa County stockmen have WHQVLRQ 6HUYLFH 2I¿FH¶V ZHE DQDGURPRXV ¿VK LQ WKH 8QLW shown for over a century, the site, www.extension.oregon- ed States, and spotlighted ar- livestock industry will continue state.edu/wallowa eas with the salmon. Wallowa County happened to be one of those areas. 1910s 1940s 1970s 2000s Current Situation Sheep 300,000 65,000 15,000 1,500 Over 60% ownership of cattle operations is at least Beef 18,000 28,000 26,000 27,000 two generations old (Williams, Animal Counts Proudly supporting agriculture in Wallowa County! - Concrete - Pit Run - Fill Material - Sand - Top Soil - Crushed Rock - 3/4", 1.5", 3" Delivered or U-Haul - Washed Rock 541-426-0240 - 1.5", 3/4", 3/8" 68088 Lewiston Hwy • 3 miles north of Enterprise Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm Did You Know... You should remove the leafy green tops from radishes, beets, turnips, and carrots before refrigerating. The greens pull moisture from the vegetables causing them to lose freshness. If you’re going to use the greens, wrap and refrigerate them seperately. Email questions and thoughts to sherri4@myfrontiermail.com Currie’s Farm Direct Market FOR IRRIGATION SUPPLIES 38036+26(6),77,1*6&877+5($'3,3(68&7,21/$<)/$7+26(675$,1(566&5((16 &$0/2&.),77,1*69$/9(65,6(56635,1./(5667$1'6<$5':$//+<'5$176 Your Local Source For Open Friday and Saturdays 8am to 3pm in Joseph (next to laundromat) 208 S RIVER STREET ENTERPRISE 541-426-3344 www.jbbane.com CCB#187543 Find us on Facebook We all depend on agriculture. Around here agriculture is the engine that makes our economy go. When something’s good for agriculture, it’s good for our community. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our area farmers, ranchers, & producers for all they do to make our area a better place to live. Enterprise Branch • 101 Hogan Street • 541-426-4205 Serving Wallowa County agriculture since 1954.