Thursday, July 31, 1941
Undue Expansion
Frowned Upon by
Land Use Group
(Editor's note: This is the second
of a series of articles prepared by
the extension service at Oregon
btate college on the report and rec
ommendations of the Oregon land
use planning committee on how
Oregon's agricultural program may
best be adjusted to meet the im
pacts of war and national defense.)
Oregon agriculture, like that in
the nation as a whole, is faced with
a call to meet present food produc
tion emergencies and, at the same
time, avoid mistakes which led to
post-war disaster to the farming in-
dustry 20 years ago. With this in
mind, the state land use planning
committee, in its recent report on
adjusting Oregon agriculture to
meet the impacts of war on na
tional defense, cautioned against en
gaging in a general expansion pro
gram at this time.
They cited certain definite excep
tions to this generalization, however,
as it was felt that some crops may
well be increased. Expansion was
particularly frowned upon where it
would require increased indebted
ness or larger capital investment.
Provided contracts could be obtain
ed or markets otherwise assured,
Oregon producers suitably located
might well consier expanding the
production of certain seed crops, as
well as a limited number of spe
cialty crops such as fiber flax.
In any case, expansion needs to be
strictly limited' to present plant fa
cilities and the safest expansion is
from increased production per acre
or per animal by the utilization of
the best known practices, the com
mittee pointed out. Livestock pro
ducers, for example, can increase
their output by improving the qual
ity of the breeding stock or by the
use of more and better feeds.
In the grain-producing areas of
Oregon, particularly the Columbia
basin, increased swine and poultry
production appears to be justified,
the committee held. Feeder live
stock such as steers and barren
cows now on the ranges could be
moved in and handled on a com
bination pasture and feedlot basis,
or feedlot alone, until they reach
marketable condition. In western
Oregon, liestock operators might
undertake an intensive program
looking toward the control of brush
on lands which have been classified
as suitable for grazing and agricul
ture. The state committee is made up
of leading fanners from different
sections of the state and representa
tives of state and national agricul
tural agencies, with William A.
Schoenfeld, dean and director of ag
riculture at Oregon State college, as
chairman.
Heppner Gazette Times, Heppner. Oregon
juiuii rruir rroaucrion
Big Industry in State
The production of small fruits in
Oregon is on the increase and forms
an industry of real economic im
portance to this state, particularly
in the Willamette valley, according
to facts listed in a new extension
circular No. 371, entitled "Small
Fruits 1940." This circular is is
sued by the O. S. C. extension ser
vice in cooperation with the United
States department of agriculture,
and includes detailed production
and income statistics for Oregon by
counties.
The production of nine kinds of
small fruits in Oregon in 1940 was
estimated at 78,172,000 pounds, har
vested from 23,300 acres. This com
pares with a four-year average from
1936 to 1940 of 63,101,600 pounds
from 21,896 acres. Cash farm in
come from small fruits was estim
ated at $3,557,500 compared with the
four-year average of $3,433,260.
A relatively large proportion ot
the commercial fruit industry of the
United States is in Oregon, the cir
cular points out. Approximtely 6
per cent of the national cash farm
income from this source goes to Ore
gon producers. The production of
large amounts of small fruit annu
ally in Oregon provides raw mater
ieals for much canning and cold
packing business, from which addi
tional employment and income are
derived.
1 19 Acres of Wheat
Burn at Mankin Farm
The largest wheat loss by fire
in Morrow county so far this sea
son happened last Friday when 119
acres of 40 bushel wheat burned at
the Fred Mankin farm east of lone.
Ready response of neighbors and
friends kept the fire from spreading
to adjacent fields, and saved farm
buildings that were jeopardized,
said Mr. Mankin who was in town
yesterday. The fire was in the south
end of the field just south of the
farm house.
Mr. Mankin, reported having in
surance to partly cover the loss, but
was not insured for the amount of
yield the rest of the field was mak
ing, 42 bushels. Harvesting was pro
gressing in this field yesterday, Mr.
Mankin said. He expressed appre
ciation for the generous response of
firefighters.
Shortage of Technical
Men Causes Concern
Oregon State College A short
age of trained men in many tech
nical fields has been developed
within the past year, leading to an
effort by national leaders to encour
age students in these fields to com
plete their courses in collge and to
get qualified new students to enroll
in them, according to reports from
the heads of several schools and
departments here. Far more calls
for engineering graduates are be
ing received than can possibly be
filled as members of this year's
ciass were almost aii engaged in
advance.
Ivan DeArmond New
State Soils Specialist
Ivan DeArmond, until recently a
member of the area staff of the Soil
Conservation Service, has been ap
pointed extension soil conservation-
Page Three
ist for Oregon with headquarters at
Oregon State college, announces
William A. Schoenfeld, dean and di
rector of agriculture.
DeArmond is a graduate of O. S.
C. in 1928, after which he was in
industrial research work for two
years before joining the staff of
whst was then the Soil Erosion ser
vice at Pullman. With the organiza
tion of the Soil Conservation ser
vice he was transferred to Spokane,
and later to western Oregon as area
conservationist. He succeeds Grant
Perry who is now assistant county
agent in Baker county.
(CdDomipelODinig
Annmiimcemeint
Unusual price advances in all supplies used
in producing the home-town newspaper,
make it imperative that we advance the
subscription price.
Therefore, starting January
the price of the Heppner
Times will be $2.50 per year.
1 1942,
Gazette
The announcement is made at this
time to allow subscribers plenty of
time to renew at present ratcs--ONE
YEAR for $2.00, or THREE YEARS
for $5.00.
There will be increased quality at the new price!
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