Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 18, 2017)
A4 Opinion Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, January 18, 2017 Contributed photo/Oregon State University A cow and calf drink from Catherine Creek in Northeast Oregon. Using GPS tracking collars over five grazing seasons on federal land, researchers determined cows spend 1 percent to 2.5 percent of their time in streams. Research helps better understand grazing near streams E nvironmental groups say cattle grazing on public rangeland trample and erode streambanks and pollute water. But a fi ve-year study of cattle grazing conducted by Oregon State University shows cattle spend only 1 to 2.5 percent of their time in streams or buffer areas. And rather than ranging up and down the length of streams in allotments, cattle used only 10 to 25 percent of the available stream area. The cows typically did not rest or graze near streams. Instead, they spent most of their time grazing on higher ground or resting in dry areas away from streams. John Williams, an OSU Extension rangeland expert in Wallowa County, said cows enter riparian areas for two reasons: “One is to drink, the other is to cross.” The study was done on a tight budget. Researchers built their own GPS collars, which generated location data every fi ve minutes. They attached the collars to 10 cows in three different herds. Over the course of fi ve years they collected 3.75 million data points. That data show that animals behave differently at different points in the grazing season. And that, Williams says, suggests that producers could use such data to increase the effi ciency of their operations. The fi ndings are potentially signifi cant. Now we know that cattle probably don’t cause as much damage to streams and riparian areas as popularly thought, and it’s possible to use real data to reduce damage further by better management. The study shows the value of testing assumptions, and using what’s learned to make things better. We encourage OSU to continue this line of inquiry, and for all parties to take note. F ARMER ’ S F ATE Without farmers By Brianna Walker To the Blue Mountain Eagle Farming is sometimes roman- ticized. Advertisements often show gorgeous girls in sun dresses and boots in rolling wheat fields. Mothers babywearing children in expensive wraps walking through idyllic fields of frolicking lambs. Farming is sometimes demon- ized. I once saw a shirt that read: “Farming: the art of losing money while working 400 hours a month to feed people who think you are trying to kill them.” To which I would respond, “Don’t gripe about a farmer with your mouth full.” But farming, to me, is just a set of catastrophes that have resulted in a lifestyle. A life- style I wouldn’t trade for any- thing — although 8-hour days and paid vacations seem pretty tempting! Everyone has probably seen the bumper sticker that says, “Once in your lifetime you’ll need a doc- tor, a lawyer, a policeman and a preacher. But you need a farmer three times a day.” Agri- culture is important and it goes beyond mere starvation. Without farm- Brianna ers... there would Walker be no farmer’s tans. Without farm- ers... who would be outstanding in their field? Without farmers... there would be no corn (whiskey), rice (sake), sugarcane (rum), wheat (beer), grapes (wine), agave (tequila). No farmers — no shot glasses. Without farmers... there would be no tractors. And a feud as big as the Hatfields and McCoys would never have taken place: red tractors vs green tractors. Farmer born and farmer bred... this girl’s tractor will never be red. There are so many things that are impossible with farming. Without farmers... ... there are no country roads to take you home. ... what happens in the barn ... wouldn’t. ... no one could be sheepish ... or the black sheep. ... no one could have a cow anymore. ... life would be hard to live high on the hog. ... partying wouldn’t be the same if the cows have no place to come home to. ... no one would chew the fat. ... you couldn’t farm out your kids to their grandparents any- more. ... agriculture wouldn’t be worth a hill of beans. ... there would be no first straw, so there could never be a last straw. ... you can’t bet the farm. ... there would be no spring chickens ... or old biddies ... or need to worry about putting all your eggs in one basket. ... there would be no reason to make hay while the sun shines. ... no one would understand reaping or sowing ... let alone reaping what you sow. But the biggest travesty of all? Without farmers ... there would be no farmer’s daughters! Brianna Walker occasion- ally writes about the Farm- er’s Fate for the Blue Mountain Eagle. L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR W HERE TO W RITE GRANT COUNTY • Grant County Courthouse — 201 S. Humbolt St., Suite 280, Canyon City 97820. Phone: 541-575-0059. Fax: 541- 575-2248. • Canyon City — P.O. Box 276, Canyon City 97820. Phone: 541-575-0509. Fax: 541-575-0515. Email: tocc1862@centu- rylink.net. • Dayville — P.O. Box 321, Dayville 97825. Phone: 541-987-2188. Fax: 541- 987-2187. Email:dville@ortelco.net • John Day — 450 E. Main St, John Day, 97845. Phone: 541-575-0028. Fax: 541- 575-1721. Email: cityjd@centurytel.net. • Long Creek — P.O. Box 489, Long Creek 97856. Phone: 541-421-3601. Fax: 541-421-3075. Email: info@cityofl ong- creek.com. • Monument — P.O. Box 426, Monument 97864. Phone and fax: 541-934-2025. Email: cityofmonument@centurytel.net. • Mt. Vernon — P.O. Box 647, Mt. Vernon 97865. Phone: 541-932-4688. Fax: 541-932-4222. Email: cmtv@ortelco.net. • Prairie City — P.O. Box 370, Prairie City 97869. Phone: 541-820-3605. Fax: 820-3566. Email: pchall@ortelco.net. • Seneca — P.O. Box 208, Seneca 97873. Phone and fax: 541-542-2161. Email: senecaoregon@gmail.com. SALEM • Gov. Kate Brown, D — 254 State Capitol, Salem 97310. Phone: 503-378- 3111. Fax: 503-378-6827. Website: www. governor.state.or.us/governor.html. • Oregon Legislature — State Capitol, Salem, 97310. Phone: (503) 986-1180. Website: www. leg.state.or.us (includes Oregon Constitution and Oregon Revised Statutes). Blue Mountain EAGLE P UBLISHED EVERY W EDNESDAY BY • State Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario (Dis- trict: 60), Room H-475, State Capitol, 900 Court St. N.E., Salem OR 97301. Phone: 503-986-1460. Email: rep.cliffbentz@state. or.us. Website: www.leg.state.or.us/bentz/ home.htm. • State Sen. Ted Ferrioli, R — (District 30) Room S-223, State Capitol, Salem 97310. Phone: 503-986-1950. Email: sen. tedferrioli@state.or.us. Email: TFER2@aol. com. Phone: 541-490-6528. Website: www. leg.state.or.us/ferrioli. • Oregon Legislative Information — (For updates on bills, services, capitol or messages for legislators) — 800-332-2313. Impressed by John Day To the Editor: This is just a general note to let the residents of John Day know how much we liked John Day when passing through and seeing it for the fi rst time. We were very impressed with your downtown area and the friendli- ness of the locals! Karen K Shrum Redmond L etters policy: Letters to the Editor is a forum for Blue Mountain Eagle readers to express themselves on local, state, national or world issues. Brevity is good, but longer letters will be asked to be contained to 350 words. No personal attacks; challenge the opinion, not the person. No thank-you letters. Submissions to this page become property of the Eagle. The Eagle reserves the right to edit letters for length and for content. Letters must be original and signed by the writer. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Writers should include a telephone number so they can be reached for questions. We must limit all contributors to one letter per person per month. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday. Send letters to editor@bmeagle.com, or Blue Mountain Eagle, 195 N. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845; or fax to 541-575-1244. WASHINGTON, D.C. • The White House, 1600 Pennsylva- nia Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20500; Phone-comments: 202-456-1111; Switch- board: 202-456-1414. • U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D — 516 Hart Senate Offi ce Building, Washington D.C. 20510. Phone: 202-224-5244. Email: wayne_kinney@wyden.senate.gov Website: http://wyden.senate.gov Fax: 202-228-2717. • U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D — 313 Hart Senate Offi ce Building, Washington D.C. 20510?. Phone: 202-224-3753. Email: senator@merkley.senate.gov. Fax: 202- 228-3997. Oregon offi ces include One World Trade Center, 121 S.W. Salmon St., Suite 1250, Portland, OR 97204; and 310 S.E. Second St., Suite 105, Pendleton, OR 97801. Phone: 503-326-3386; 541-278- 1129. Fax: 503-326-2990. • U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R — (Second District) 1404 Longworth Building, Wash- ington D.C. 20515. Phone: 202-225-6730. No direct email because of spam. Website: www.walden.house.gov Fax: 202-225-5774. Medford offi ce: 14 North Central, Suite 112, Medford, OR 97501. Phone: 541-776-4646. Fax: 541-779-0204. Grant County’s Weekly Newspaper P UBLISHER ............................... M ARISSA W ILLIAMS , MARISSA @ BMEAGLE . COM E DITOR .................................... S EAN H ART , EDITOR @ BMEAGLE . COM A DMINISTRATIVE A SSISTANT ........ J ACKIE O SBORNE , JACKIE @ BMEAGLE . COM R EPORTER ............................... R YLAN B OGGS , RYLAN @ BMEAGLE . COM C OMMUNITY N EWS .................... A NGEL C ARPENTER , ANGEL @ BMEAGLE . COM S PORTS ................................... A NGEL C ARPENTER , ANGEL @ BMEAGLE . COM M ARKETING R EP ....................... K IM K ELL , ADS @ BMEAGLE . COM O FFICE M ANAGER ..................... L INDSAY B ULLOCK , OFFICE @ BMEAGLE . COM 1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION RATES (including online access) Grant County .....................................$40 Everywhere else in U.S. .....................$51 Outside Continental U.S. ....................$60 Subscriptions must be paid prior to delivery MEMBER OREGON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION Email: www.MyEagleNews.com Phone: 541-575-0710 Periodicals Postage Paid at John Day and additional mailing offi ces. POSTMASTER send address changes to: Blue Mountain Eagle 195 N. Canyon Blvd. John Day, OR 97845-1187 USPS 226-340 Copyright © 2017 Blue Mountain Eagle All rights reserved. No part of this publication covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means — graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, taping or information storage and retrieval systems — without written permission of the publisher. www.facebook.com/MyEagleNews @MyEagleNews