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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (March 9, 2016)
A8 AG DAY Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, March 9, 2016 Perusing the journals of past Extension Service agents Here’s a look back at Grant County’s rich agricul- tural history from the journal pages of past OSU Extension Service agents: Dec. 1, 1927 - Dec. 1, 1928 Communities Served: Prairie City, John Day, Mount Vernon, Canyon City, Day- vile, Bear Valley, Izee, Mon- ument, Silvies, Fox Valley, Long Creek, Hamilton, Cot- tonwood, Ritter, Galena, Kim- berly, Top and Court Rock. There was a change of agents during the period of this report, D.E. Richards having served the county from December 1, 1927 to September 15, 1928, with R.G. Johnson, Jr. ¿lling out the year during the months of October and November. Grant County is essen- tially a range livestock coun- ty. In number of beef battle it ranks ¿fth among the various counties of the state with 29, 195 head. In number of sheep the county ranks ninth, hav- ing 99,870 head. These two sources provide more than 75% of the county’s agricul- tural income. There are 591 ranchers and stockmen in the coun- ty and the total agricultural wealth, including livestock buildings and equipment, according to the census, is $10,173,692. “On the evening of No- vember 24, a call was re- ceived that yearlings were dying from Blackleg at Izee, a Southworth Bros., Inc. Ranching with a passion for the sustainable use of our natural resources since 1885. Jack & Teresa Southworth, Ed Newton, Brad Smith Ken Harvey and Lucas Moore. Seneca, Oregon Family Owned for 33 Years Providing Grant County with feed and farm supplies for its agricultural industry. distance of 54 miles. By 9:30 a.m. of November 25, 95 head had been vaccinated by the County Agent. This rancher will now vaccinate on time. Delay cost him $210.00.” One livestock club, a pig club, was organized and com- pleted its work at Prairie City. The club had ten members including Phillip W. Kuhl, Jr., Gilbert Olp, Paul Olp, Robert Hall and Roland Bradford. Mrs. Echo Kuhl was leader. December 1, 1932 – Dec. 1, 1933 The major project on the program is forage improve- ment. It is vital to the live- stock man. If he can see a ton more hay, he can see more money to be made. If he has not the feed, the stock had bet- ter be dead. Alfalfa stands are not holding out in the John Day Valley in most places. Many ranches, which originally yielded well, have quit. This brings to mind the fact that perhaps there are some soil de¿ciencies. With the large percentage of range land in comparison to tillable land – and that tillable lands laying in long, narrow strips – there is a very de¿- nite need for some control of rodents and pests. A very ac- tive, continued control is nec- essary, and this project should never be lost sight of. Besides the above named larger issues, the County Agent’s of¿ce has been kept rather busy diagnosing and trying to diagnose other trou- bles. County Agent is not a Veterinarian – having had only two years of the work – but in many cases we are able to run down troubles or get help from the outside to diagnose it. At the present time, ac- tivities of the County Agent of Grant County include the following: Contributed/OSU Extension Grasshoppers threatened a large acreage of range land. This shows a CCC crew spreading poison bait in July, 1938. Contributed/OSU Extension Ladak Alfalfa in Bear Valley, 4,800 ft. elevation with frost almost every night. (1933) Regular County Agent Work Secretary of the Grant County Chapter of American Red Cross Member of the County Relief Committee Secretary of the Grant County Stockgrowers’ Asso- ciation Chairman of the Agricul- MARCIEL Dec. 1, 1937 – Nov. 30, 1938 Well Drilling & Pumps 311 N Canyon City Blvd, Canyon City 541-575-2050 J OHN D AY Proudly Supporting Eastern Oregon Agriculture NAPA IS PROUD TO SPONSOR E ASTERN O REGON ’ S tural Committees of Pomona Grange In charge of agricultural exhibits at the Grant County Fair Judge at the Prairie City Round Up Member of the ’62 Asso- ciation Member of John Day Chamber of Commerce Member of Farm Mort- gage Adjustment Committee 541-932-4334 • WWC#1606 • CCB#156965 • CPI#101 As tabulated by the Or- egon State Agricultural Col- lege Extension Service, 1926 to 1930 farm income for Grant County was $2,360,000. Of this amount, 86.5% was from animal products and 13.5% represented crop products, and these sold practically all within the county. The 1935 USDA census showed the livestock popula- tion in the county as 46,048 head of cattle and 118,870 head of sheep on 710 farms. The demand for services of the County Agent contin- ued during the year with a total of 3,221 calls received; 1,635 letters written; and 403 farm calls made. Further trials of Victory oats were established on the Guttridge ranch, Prairie City, 15 acres; Oliver Brothers, John Day, 6 acres; and Homer Barry ranch, John Day, 1 acre. Comparison of yields with Swedish Select and Markton oats under irrigated condi- tions showed that Victory oats out-yielded the other two va- rieties. Some improvement of meadows and a consider- able increase in the acreage of forage crops occurred in 1938. This increase in acreage followed closely recommen- dations of the County Agent of¿ce for seeding of Ladak alfalfa for dry land; smooth bromegrass in meadow mix- tures; and crested wheat grass on dry, idle crop land to con- trol soil erosion. December 1, 1942 – November 30, 1943 A GRICULTURE B USINESS . 6 3 JG31573'ZVGPUKQP3 3C PF3$GPP[3VJG3 3$ GCXGT3CTG3RTQWF3 3U WRRQTVGTU3QH3TWTCN3 3C ITKEWNVWTG W E HAVE BEEN HELPING KEEP FARM & RANCH EQUIPMENT RUNNING SMOOTHLY SINCE 1966. 530 NW Main St. • Suite 10 • John Day • 541-575-1911 3)TCPV3%QWPV[3'ZVGPUKQP 3)TQYKPI3VJG3PGZV3IGPGTCVKQP3 3QH3CITKEWNVWTCNKUVU3 721 W Main • John Day • 541-575-1850 North Fork Watershed Council 3;QWVJ3ICKP3MPQYNGFIG3 3FGXGNQR3NKHG3UMKNNU3CPF3HQTO3 3RQUKVKXG3CVVKVWFGU3VQ3 3RTGRCTG3VJGO3VQ3DGEQOG3 3ECRCDNG3TGURQPUKDNG3 3CPF3EQORCUUKQPCVG3CFWNVU In cooperation with the Fish and Wildlife Service as- sist producers with their prob- lems of predatory animal and rodent control. Familiarize farmers with county production goals and the need for increased produc- tion in the war effort. Develop a county victory garden program in coopera- tion with County USDA War Board, Defense Council, Nu- trition Council and Granges. The following outline in- dicates the progress of the vic- tory garden project in Grant County: Number of farm families in the county, 580. Estimated number of farm families growing gar- dens in 1943, 500. See JOURNALS, Page A9 John Day Basin Office Community Focused, Landscaped Reflected! Do you need help in the upper John Day basin: Oxbow Conservation Area Reducing Fire Hazard Battling Weed Species Improving Water Quality and Quantity Evaluating Range and Timber Resources Planning and Monitoring Forest Conservation Area Contact the North Fork John Day Watershed Council to see what we can do for you! 541-421-3018 www.nfjdwc.org Connecting Grant County Youth with Landowners to Make a Difference. Keep your eyes open this summer to view the work of our Youth Crew. Or, call to hire the Crew! The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs has a long tradition of natural resource stewardship. The John Day River basin is within the Tribes ceded lands and supporting sustainable agriculture and watershed restoration efforts are an important part of maintaining cultural foods and fish populations. The Tribes want to recognize the value of local agriculture, and the landowners that work to build and maintain the lands and communities that we live in. John Day Basin Office • 320 W. Main Street • John Day • (541) 575-1866 ext.11
