Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 21, 1963)
County Agent's Office Farmers Take Keen Interest In County Rural Fire Control By N. C. ANDERSON Morrow County Rural Fire Con trol committee members meet ing last week expressed a lot of satisfaction with the interest that Morrow county farmers are tak ing in fire control. This interest extends into being more fire con scious, thereby preventing fires as well as having equipment available for quick control of fires that do get started, as well as cooperation in controlling fires in their community. The group agreed to continue to encourage more communities to develop a well-organized fire control program and to spend the remaining funds in their 1962-63 budget for two additional tank-pump units for communi ties lacking in fire control equip ment. These units have proved successful when placed In com munities with an individual who agrees to have it ready and on call in case of a fire. The new units will be added to four now placed with Jerry Bros nan, Buttercreck community; Don Heliker, West lone community; Harold Wright, Ruggs commun ity; and Kenneth Peck, Clark's Canyon, Social Ridge commun ity. ' Repairs and Improvements on equipment was authorized on mobile units which consist of a Jeep with pump, stationed at the Roy Martin ranch in the Norlh Lexington community; another Jeep at the Bob Riet mann ranch in the North lone community and a large six wheel drive pumper unit at the Walter Jacobs ranch. Discussed to some extent were ways of improving communications re lating to fires. Two main com munication problems exist. First, that of getting persons to route calls for equipment through the designated leader in each com munity and second, a follow-up report to these persons who have been asked to provide equip ment when the fire is controlled. Many times lack of this latter report will result in additional equipment being sent to a fire when it Is already under con trol or completely out. The committee asked the coun ty agent to get out a news letter urging individuals in areas where fire control units were in adequate to consider building such units, and to stress having available equipment ready when the fire season arrives. They further asked that everyone with such equipment list it with the county agent's office. A survey was made three years ago but other has been added. This, then, can be added to the fire equip ment mai located at (fiat uflice which is used in calling out needed equipment in an area. Member Ralph Crum reported iuu CM; 1ARVEST HAILSTONES Hail can dVitroy your grain, fruit, vegetables in minutes, then disappear leaving nothing to harvest. That's why CROP-HAIL INSURANCE is must. You get up to 100 crop damage coverage at low cost. Call or write this agency today. It Costs No More To Insure Now So Don't Wait! C. A. RUGGLES Insurance Agency Heppner Ph. 676-9625 utman FLYING, WEED SPRAYING CALL HOTEL HEPPNER Ph. 676-5515 enmo pyrnllpnt units in the lone area, among them individuals, Verner Troeclson, sam Lrawioru, Fmnklln T.indstrom and Sons. Herb Ekstrom, Fred and Norman Nelson, and D. O. Nelson, wno annii firp fififhtine equipment. He pointed out that this was only a partial list and thara wptp others that had equally efficient equipment ready in case ot a nre. i ne group aarooA nn n $2511.00 hndcpt for the new fiscal year which will be used for maintenance of exist ing equipment, feeling that most communities were now quite well served. Attending the meet ing were Andy van scnoiacK, Frank Anrlprsnn. Ron Currin. Charles Ruggles, Ileppner; Roy Martin, Lexington; Ralph Crum, Walter Jacobs, and Don Heliker, lone. Room for Few More On Cattle Day Junket If you are interested in at tending the Squaw Butte Exper iment Station Beef Cattle Day on Monday, March 25, there is still room for a couple more in a carload that are going over early that morning and return ing that evening. The morning session starts at 10:00 a.m. and will be held at the Poison Creek Grange hall, two miles east of Burns on Highway 78. The after noon session is a tour ot re search at the station. This is seven miles south of Burns on Highway 205. The program for the day looks interesting, if you didn't get one, we have extras at the office. Those who plan to pool transportation are Ebb Hughes, Ralph Beamer, Terry Thompson, and Dick Wilkinson. Jerry Rood Reports Taking Coyote Dens Jerry Rood, genial Morrow Umatilla trapper-hunter, reports taking two dens of coyotes on Wednesday and Thursday of last week. Jerry reports that this is quite early for finding new-born coyote pups, in fact about two weeks earlier than usual. The past year was evidently a good breeding season for coyotes, as was the case for domestic live stock as these first two dens con tained litters of nine and 12. The 12 pup litter was found un der a tumble weed in a scooped -out depression in the soil. Jerry reported that the litter looked iust like an old hen's nest when he came across it. Jerry says that hunters in neighboring counties have reported taking several litters ot bob cats, finding litters of eight which is quite unusual. Hunters, Jerry Kood and Carl MeDanleJ, are keeping coyole numbers down very well arid few complaints of livestock losses are received of late. 'Gopher Getter' Works; Dftnft are Baffled Knnnnth Pnlmpr Willow Creek rancher and the second to use the new "Gopher Getter' ma chine purchased recently by the Heppner Soil conservation uis trict, was in the office last weel and was quite happy with thi results. He had Just finished irri rrntlni the first field baited Whiln h unis hiiiinv. he renorted that his dogs were a bit baffled as to where all the gophers had gone, usually they kill a dozer or two each day during irrigation as they are drowned out. mi war nflpr hnltini' onlv two wen killed by the unhappy dogs. The halting machine has been kent quite busy the past couple of weeks and at tills writing is now being used by Harlan irawtora at the Hermann Ranch near Jor dan Elevator. Booklet Tells Research On Diverted Acres Crops A new OSU bulletin, "The Po tential of Oil Crops on Diverted Wheat Acres," came to my desk this week. It discusses research at exueriment stations in the Col umbia Basin in hopes of finding a new crop that could be grown on diverted wheat acres. Crops that have been tried are seed flax, Safflower, rape, castor bean, sunflower, soy bean, Cape Man gold, and Crambe. Seed flax and Safflower have been more promising for an area such as ours. Ray Dolven, Lexington, has a seeding of win ter flax and is putting in some spring flax varieties for com parison. We are going to wntch these nc. for yield and adaptability. Ap proximately 700 acres of Saf flower have been contracted by a half dozen ranchers, mostly in the lone area. Safflower has been grown on several occasions here and has not been too favorable as far as income per acre. How ever, with the good soil moisture conditions in the summerfallow now, and with the 1963 feed grain provision which allows Safflower to be grown on divert ed acres, income could be much better. Figuring the average di version payment which would be lost by growing Safflower on these acres, plus variable costs of tillage, seed and seeding, and harvest, we've estimated that tiic investment would about be $13.50 per acre. At the Pendleton Station av erage yields of Safflower unde; a 12 inch rainfall showed an average yield of 725 lbs. for an estimated gross return per acre of $27.00. This means then, that it would be possible to net $13. or 14. an acre in addition to qualifying your remaining barley production for the incen tive payment. The only draw back is that March 22 is the final date for signing up for the feed grain and wheat programs. If you want further particulars on these provisions see tho lo cal ASC office. We have contracts and particulars on safflower pn duction. Smouse's Soil Tests Bear Out Research Kenneth Smouse, lone, has for many years, followed a program of having soil tests taken per iodically, at least twice a year, to determine soil moisture and nitrogen in both stubble and summer fallow. It was interest ing to see results of these tests which were taken in February. Of particular interest was the difference in soil moisture in the stubble, comparing a field worked last fall with other fields that had not been disturbed. While there were 6Mi inches available moisture in the tirst three feet of the stubble land which had not been disturbed, there was three inches less in a field that Kenny had worked late last fall to get rid of a thistle cover. This bears out re search done at our experiment stations that fall tillage opens up the ground and is not a moisture conserving practice. Referendum 'No' Vote Threat To Bank Loans The Food and Agriculture Act of 1962 offers wheat growers a choice of two urograms in 14; one with a limited acreage of wheat, price support at a ?2.00 per bushel average tor mosi wheat marketed, and payments for reducing wheat acreage; the other with almost no limits on production or marketings, and with virtually no effective price support. The choice will be made in a referendum to be held this spring. A "Yes" vote by two-thirds or more of the growers voting in the referendum would put the first of these programs into effect, and it would apply to all wheat growers. A "No" vote by more than one-third of the referendum voters would put the second pro gram into effect, with partici pation voluntary. The basic 1964 wheat program includes a two-level system of price support with a bushel limit on marketings by any wheat grower at the higher support level; does away with the mini mum national allotment; and provides payments to farmers for retiring part of their wheat land. The USDA estimates that there will be 1.6 million allotments concerned in the forthcoming wheat referendum. In the 1962 referendum there were only 578, 000 allotments. The figures dif fer because this year the 15- acre grower is eligible to vote in the referendum, winch was not the cast last year. For every allotment htere were one and one-half eligible voters in 1962. The fractional votes being those of the farmer's wife, tenants and operators who having interest in the allotment were eligible. This vear with the 1.6 million allotments, 811,000 wives, oper ators and tenants could be vot ing one-third of the total numlei of potential voters 2.4 million. Morgan Beatty of Mil reported on his ih'ws program Wednes day evening, March 6, than an official of the Independent Bank ers Association, representing a LIVESTOCK LOSSES mount to ever $2 Billion annually, (according IjoUDofi m i to ) LI I USE OUR LIVESTOCK SUPPLY DEPARTMENT It li dilind to icrve vou in vovr Livestock Dixist Prtvtntion Program, Wl KATURI VACCINES and SUPPLIES We Give SSH Green Stamps HUMPHREYS REXALL DRUGS After Hours Call 676-9611 or 676-5542 HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES, illlllMillliSS OREGON'S Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow is Delores M. Overman of Ontario high school, Ontario. She will receive a $1,500 scholarship from General Mills for gaining the highest score in the state in a written homemaking examination. New OSU Bulletin Discusses Farm Cooperative Needs Farmer cooperatives need to grow in size, performance, and in ability to meet changing needs, reports an Oregon State University agricultural econo mist. Dr. Gerald E. Korzan says he believes that formation of new cooperatives in years ahead will be tew and far between not only because the cost of start ing a new cooperative is so high, but also because cooperatives al ready exist in most lines and in most areas. He says the need for cooperative enterprise may be greater than ever, but it must be met by existing rather than new cooperatives. His statements summarize re search findings reported in a, new bulletin available to Ore gon residents. Copies of "Farmer Cooperative Performance in a Changing Economy" are avail able at county extension offices or from the OSU bulletin clerk, Corvallis. The bulletin includes reports from research projects in several Western states. Among the conclusions reach ed is that many cooperatives in the west are ioo small to be efficient. Inability of small co operatives to measure up to the members' expectations results in Ifarmers taking their business elsewhere. The study shows that mergers could solve some problems by reducing unit costs and improv ing service. For example, an Ore gon study shows how five farmer cooperatives in a 20-mile area, doing a volume of business of from $950,000 to $1,700,000 an nually, could merge and save $15,500 each year in centralized bookkeeping alone. Another problem but without a simple solutionis that farm density is too small in some fcpareely settled areas to support a cooperative. large segment of American bankers, warned wheat farmers that a "no", vote in the 1964 wheat referendum threatened to shut off future farm loans for needed farm purchases. The as sociation is seriously concerned that a rejection of the '64 pro gram would slice the '64 income in half and leave him without the means to repay his bank loans. Perk up your fnr Knrtnnl Thursday, March 21, 1963 FAiKM news Crop Forecasting Advance Noted By Meteorologist OREGON STATE UNIVERS ITY Highly accurate forecasts of crop maturity and yield are now possible and crop quality forecasts will come in the near future, according to a nationally known agricultural meteorologist who is a visiting professor at Oregon State University. The forecasts will be possible early in the season perhaps as early as 12 to 20 days after plant ing, says Dr. Jen Yu (David) Wang. Revised yield forecasts have to be issued later in the season de pending on the current weather but maturity and quality tore casts can be made quite accur ately without using long-range weather forecasts, he insists. Wang has been in charge of crop forecast research at Uni versity of Wisconsin since 1957. Crop maturity date forecasts made 12 to 20 days after plant ing in 1961 proved to be 85 to 95 per cent accurate for sweet corn and peas. Last year, his forecasts cov ered yields as well as maturity date. For peas, the accuracy of these forecasts ranged from 75 to 99 per cent at various test sites and from 89 to 97 per cent for sweet corn. He expects to add quality fore casts to maturity and yield out look within five years. There aren't many crops that can't be forecast, he says. Such forecasts are of tremen dous value to the canning in dustry and to other agricultural interests, Wang pointed out. Wang's methods combine the ancient science of phenology with the latest electronic meas uring and recording instruments to give almost m i n u t e-by-minute information on the crop and environment. Phenology, a science dating back to ancient China, is the use of plants or animals as indi cators of weather conditions, he explains. More formally, it is a study of the relationships be tween various physical environ mental factors and periodic changes in growth and develop ment during the life cycles of plants and animals. A basic concept is that all plants have a certain minimum air temperature necessary for growth depending upon the en vironmental conditions. A cer tain number of these temper ature "units" are required for crop maturity, depending upon species and varieties. Air and soil temperatures and a number of other factors are (considered the significant ele ments, Wang says, and the planting-to-seedling stage as the significant period. Eight years of work at Uni versity of Wisconsin indicate that soil temperature at the early stage is the predetermin ing factor for maturity of sweet corn. Similarly, night tempera ture is the significant element at the reproductive stage of sweet corn, according to Wang. Wang uses electronic record ing devices to keep an "eye" on soil and air temperature, evaporation, precipitation, etc. Findings are plotted, predicting equations developed and work ed out on computers. Wang came to OSU to conduct a special series of seminars on agricultural meteorology. He was earlier a Weather Bureau Meteorologist and teacher in China and Formosa before com ing to this country for graduate work at University of Chicago and Wisconsin. Two books by Wang have been published the past year. One is home PAINT-BRUSHES PLY PANELS ARMSTRONG CEILING TILE Everything but the Elbow Grease! Tum-A-Lum HEPPNER "MATERIALLY YOURS" IRRIGON NEWS Mr. and Mrs. Bob Gasser and family drove to The Dalles Fri day to spend the week-end with Gasser's folks, Mr, and Mrs. Fred Gasser, and Mrs. Gasser's aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. George Lewis. The Bob Gassers returned to Irrigon Sunday. The Rev. Mr. and Mrs. John Kenney, Mrs. Myrtle Markham, Mrs. Eugene McCorkle and Barbara, attended the all-day District Fellowship meeting of the Assemblies of God churches held in Milton-Freewater Mon day. Mr. and Mrs. Chet Collins went to Springfield, Ore., Friday and visited Mrs. Collins' three sons and their families, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Knights and family, Mr. and Mrs.. Harold Knights and family and Mr. and Mrs. Elgin Knights and family. They re turned to Irrigon Tuesday, after stopping in Redmond to visit friends. Mr. and Mrs. Enoch Morgan of La Grande, were week -end guests at the home of Morgan's brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Rees Morgan. Mrs. Helen Mulkey is conval escing at her home, after spend ing 10 days as a patient In Good Shepherd hospital, folio wing surgery on ner iooi. Mrs. Jessie Cosner's grand daughter, Miss Nancy Lee Ray born of La Grande, was recently chosen as Union County Dairy Princess. Golden-Age Club members from Irrigon attending the Tues a 700-page "Bibliography of Ag ricultural Meteorolo p v :" the other is titled "Agricultural Met eorology. Notice of Sale of State Farm Lands Sealed bids will be received by the Oregon State Board of Control Mental Health Division at its office, Room 20, State Capitol Building, Salem, Oregon, until 9:30 a.m., April 9, 1963, and then publicly opened for the sale of nine hundred twenty (920) acres of land, more or less, being a part of the Eastern Oregon State Hospital, Reith Ranch, situated in Umatilla County, Oregon, including certain water rights on Birch Creek, Umatilla River and McKay Reservoir. Minimum price to be considered for the property is $103,500. Bid forms and further information may be obtained from Dr. E. I. Silk, Superintendent of Eastern Oregon State Hospital, Pendleton, Oregon, or C. D. Conrad, Board of Control Farms Administrator, Room 20, State Capitol, Salem, Oregon. STATE OF OREGON, acting by and through the Oregon State Board of Control Mental Health Division RANCHERS Ranch Aero Airplane Spraying Co. Owned and Operated by PAUL N. HANSEN Available For Assistance With Your Weed Spraying Problems. 14 Years Weed Spraying in This Area. Call Heppner Hotel - 676-5515 "LET US SPRAY" Lumber Co, PHONE 676-9212 day meeting at the C. R, C. building in Hermiston were: Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Miller, Mrs. Reej Morgan, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Smawley, Mrs. Mar g u e r i t e Houghton, Mrs. Mary Adams and Mrs. Sedelia Dexter. Mr. and Mis. Roy Penney showed colored slides of their trans-continental trip through Canada, Washing, ton, D. C, and the New England states. The Methodist ladies of Hermiston served a free lunch eon to the group. Looking for mimeograph sten cils? The Gazette-Times has them for sale, including special church bulletin style. We Will Deliver Your Processed Meat Lexington lone. WHOLESALE MEATS CUSTOM SLAUGHTERING SCHEDULE: Hogs Tuesday Cattle Wed., Thurs. Sheep Any Day Follett Meat Co. Hermiston, Oregon Ph. JO 7-6651 On Hermiston-McNary Highway VuL 0' Charge Dv-JcLl I Heppner, Make it shine! I V Iff ?a T
