County Agent's Office
County Agent Writes
Of Farms Elsewhere
By N. C ANDERSON
Greetings from Utah! ! This is
being written in St. Georee. one
of the oldest Mormon settlements
in tne state, in this picturesque
setting of the red hills adjacent
to Zion National Park sugar
beets, auaua, and turkey pro
duction is the major agricult
ural income of the area. To
morrow we leave Utah after
four days of touring agricultural
enterprises, small business de
velopments and sight seeing.
Las Vegas is our next stop.
Today was an interesting one
spent with Beaver County Agent
Grant Esplin, who is responsible
for a diversified agriculture. He
has been active in rural area
development programs in the
county for many years, one of
which is a cooperative milking
barn in the community for
Minersville. In the early 1940's
ten dairymen joined in a co
operative milking barn project
and today there are 700 cows
owned by 30 dairymen brought
to the barn twice daily to be
milked. Milking begins at 1:30
a.m. and two men milk them
by 9:00 a.m. Milking begins
again at 1:30 p.m.
It is quite a sight to see boys,
or the wife bringing the cows
to the barn from lots around
the milking barn where the
ranchers live in this small
settlement. A charge is made
for the five pounds of grain fed
each cow as well as a 15 cent
milking charge. Twelve cows are
milked each six minutes. Milk
is trucked to Las Vegas for mar
ket. Another project of this co
operative minded community, is
the Minersville Land Coopera
tive where ten ranchers have
purchased 1280 acres of irrigated
land, irrigated by five deep
wells, to provide pasture for
3200 beef cows. One of the best
pastures of grass and alfalfa I
have seen provides the excellent
pasture.
Visits during the week have
included outstanding dairy en
terprises, reclamation of alkali
land, storage ponds, a dairy
farm that now provides income
as an attraction for Salt Lake
city children.
New Industries Springing Up
Automation in the laying
chicken and turkey business has
really increased efficiency here.
One ranch visited raises 350,000.
Brooding, raising, slaughtering
and marketing the turkeys in a
complete operation. A visit to a
phosphate fertilizer plant, the
Kennecott Copper Mine, the U. S.
Steel plant in Provo, gave a
good insight into these indus
tries. Something new was a beaver
ranch where 9000 beavers are
kept on a beaver breeding farm.
We found that males are boars,
females are sows, and the young
are kits. A family enterprise, all
work is done by sons and daugh
ters of the family. Skins sell for
$80 to $100 each.
Today we saw hundreds of
deep wells that pump as much
as 3200 gallons per minute. The
state of Utah allows no more
wells to be dug in this area.
One ranch that depends on four
of these wells for irrigation water
for 640 acres was visited today.
The farm grows 80 acres of cert
ified white Rose potatoes for
seed, 240 acres of spring wheat,
300 acres of alfalfa; the rest in
Amur intermediate wheatgrass
and for seed. The alfalfa hay
that averages 5 tons per acre
is put up by the two young
pons by weather-crimper, baled,
picked up by a self-propelled
Haro-bed bale stacker the hay
is never touched by human
hands. A homemade loader that
works automatically loads a
truck and trailer with 26 tons
which is delivered to the Las
Vegas milk sheds. The air con
ditioned truck cab is equipped
with bed, so the truck need not
stop on the daily trips.
Sees Need for Good Management
It is easy to see the need for
efficient farm management that
is necessary now for a rancher
to continue in agriculture. Sound
management decisions, efficient
operation, reduced labor and
volume are evident in the oper
ations that are succeeding.
It is also interesting to visit
with many ranchers on their
thought concerning the outlook
for wheat farmer. Much dry
land wheat is growing in this
country. Many feel that the price
of wheat will encourage more
livestock and poultry feeding
that will add economy to this
section.
Agents from Colorado, Utah,
Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico,
Texas, Montana, Wyoming,
Washington, and Hawaii in ad
dition to myself, traveling in
two cars, are on the tour. We
are looking forward to seeing
small watershed developments,
sugar beet seed production, cot
ton oil milling, cattle feed lot
operations, lettuce production
and harvest, range development,
Indian tribal beef ranch im
provement, sheep ranching un
der fence, as well as many agri
culture business concerns that
will be seen in the next two
weeks of the tour. I am espec
ially interested in and surprised
to see, every small town in this
area with a factory of some
kind. We are told these moved
to the area because of avail
ability of labor and the absence
of labor unions. Much of this
labor comes from part-time
farmers. They seem to come to
these areas with little effort
from these communities.
Beef Council Okays
Budget for 1963-64
The Oregon Beef Council at
its regular monthly meeting at
the Beef Council office, Imperial
Hotel, recently passed its 1963
64 budget of $77,260.00 accord
ing to Richard Westerberg, Med
ford, Chairman of the Council.
The new budget, which takes
effect July 1, 1963, is some 7
higher than the current budget.
The funds, which are derived
from the sale of Oregon cattle,
will be used for cattle industry
studies, research and beef pro
motion.
"Specific programs which will
be financed by the new budget
and benefit the cattle industry
will include public land and
wilderness studies, sanitation
and disease control, brands, feed
grain programs, imports and
tariffs, freight rates and other
areas of concern to the indus
try," Westerberg stated. The
Beef Council will also finance
an economic study of the states
cattle industry in cooperation
with Oregon State University.
The Beef Council budget will
also finance merchandising, pro
motion and educational pro-
prams conducted bv the Oregon
Cow Belles. Funds will also go
to the National Livestock and
Meat Board for national beef pro
motion and research.
The Council expects beef rates
in the state t0 be 850,000 head
in the coming fiscal year start-
in s Julv 1. 1963. The council de
rives 10c from each animal sold.
However, the seller is refunded
his money upon request. Ke
funds made during the past
vear totaled approximately 15
of funds collected. Two years
aeo refund Davments were av
eraging 30 of total funds col
lected. Westerberg said "tnis in
dicates active support and grow
ing confidence from the cattle
men for the projects and pro
grams carried on by the Oregon
Beef Council.
W"""" -mJL i
Our Sincere Appreciation
To Alt Those
Who Contributed To The
Junior Livestock Show
of The Oregon Wheat Growers League
Held at The Dalles
INCLUDING THESE BUYERS OF LIVESTOCK
AT THE AUCTION SALES . . ,
Bank of Eastern Oregon Heppner
First National Bank Heppner
Greenup, Don Heppner
Wright Harold Heppner
Ekstrom Chemical Co. lone
Morrow County Grain Growers Lexington
THANKS TO SUCH FINE SUPPORT.
PRICES THIS YEAR RANGED WELL ABOVE MARKET
Mid-Columbia Livestock
Show Assn.
Elmer Lierman. Secy.-Treas. and Show General Mgr.
Delaney Schanno, President Paul Wcdden, Vice Pres.
Expanding Market
For Oregon Cattle
Predicted at OSU
Expanding California markets
for Oregon-grown beef were pre
dicted by a West Coast livestock
specialist at the annual Oregon
State University Beef Cattle Day.
Some signs indicate that
cattle feeding in California has
reached its peak and may taper
off in years ahead, reported
Reuben Albaugh, University of
California.
At the same time, demand for
finished beef in California will
increase rapidly with the state's
population growth and high
level per capita income, Albaugh
told some 150 Oregon cattlemen
attending the meeting.
California now imports nearly
2 million head of stocker and
feeder cattle that are finished
in California feedlots. The state
also imports about one-half its
needed supply of livestock feeds
for finishing beef animals in
lots. This combination of im
porting both unfinished animals
and feed imposes limitations
even though feedlots are highly
efficient, ooeratine on large-
volume, low-unit profits, the
specialist explained.
More than 450,000 head of
finished cattle are imported in
to California in 1962 for immed
iate slaughter with about three
fourths of this number coming
from Arizona. Oregon supplied
only 18,000 head but has the po
tential for greatly increased
sales of finished beef, believe
many Oregon livestock market
authorities.
In 1961, Oregon produced
about 500,000 calves and 166,000
cull cows most of which were
shipped out of state for finish
ing in states that have develop
ed grain feeding industries, ac
cording to a recent study by Ore
gon State University.
Beef cattle feeding in Oregon
now generates about $53 million
annually in local economic ac
tivity, the OSU study estimates
it would be $250 million if the
state's potential feed grain re
sources were "marketed" through
finished beef.
Beef market opportunities in
California were pointed up by
Albaugh with a report that Cal
ifornia's present population of
more than 16 million persons is
expected to top 21 million by
1970. And Californians are heavy
beef eaters about 130 pounds
per capita a year compared to
87 pounds for the U. S. average.
This is, in part, a reflection of
high income per capita.
Contractors Offer
Road Efficiency
Aid to Counties
The Associated General Con
tractors today announced devel
opment of a program offering
research, consultation and tech
nical assistance intended to aid
Oregon counties in determining
the most economical and feas
ible method of couty construction.
In describing the project, Leo
nard Runkle, president of the
Portland Chapter, AGC, said the
new service would be available
to officials of Multnomah coun
ty and the state's 35 other coun
ties so that the county and the
taxpayers may obtain the best
possimle road construction for
the least amount of dollars.
"The many years of experience
with AGC members have in the
construction of roads, the results
of their research and the bene
fits of their technical knowledge
are being offered without obli
gation to officials of any county
with the hope that this assis
tance may bring about cooper
ative teamwork that could bene
fit both the industry and the
public," Runkle added.
A special committee consisting
of representatives of the Assoc
iated General Contractors, Assoc
iation of Oregon Counties and
Association of Oregon County
Engineers and Surveyors already
has been working for more than
two years in preparing the
groundwork for the joint cooper
ative effort.
Primary emphasis in the pro
gram is being placed upon en
couraging counties to adopt an
economically valid cost account
ing system which will give a
realistic comparison between
different methods of construc
tion. "Once these figures are avail
able, counties mav determine
whether their problems can best
be solved with construction by
contract or construction by pub
lic employees," Runkle added.
in a typical case, should the
public employee method appear
to be the most logical approach,
the AGC then would offer to ad
vise the county on any further
money-saving or result modifi
cations of the project as may be
inaicatea.
"If construction bv contract is
determined as the most feasible
method, the AGC would encour
age widespread participation in
competitive bdiding not onlv bv
AGC members but by all contractors.
'Further, the AGC would pro
pose that the contractor offer to
perform work by the center line
survey method wherein the con
tractor assumes responsibility
for the greater share of required
Welcome to Oregon'
Mats Greet Visitors
Sixteen highway entrances in
to Oregon have now been paint
ed at the state borders with the
"Welcome to Oregon" green
mats that stretch out 152 feet
to form a greeting sign for all
travelers entering the state.
These 16 large welcome mats
are located in every area of the
state wherever a major highway
crosses the border, according to
Forrest Cooper, state highway
engineer.
Paint crews of the Hichwav
Department will also paint wel
come mats on several other en
trances to the state as soon as
possible. These other highways
include roads under construction
and those in remote areas.
All incoming lanes have the
"Welcome to Oregon" painted in
letters eight feet tall. On the
outgoing lanes are letters of the
same size stating "Hurry Back."
This is the second year that
the Highway Department has
painted the welcome mats on
state entrances.
Welcome mats now painted
are at the state entrances of the
Oregon Coast Highway, the Pa-
citic Hignway, tne Columbia
River Highway, the Oregon-
Washington Highway, the Enter-prise-Lewiston
High w a y, the
Weiser spur, the Payette spur,
the Old Oregon Trail Highway,
the Nyssa-Adrian Highway, the
Fremont Hignway, tne Klamath
Falls-Malin Highway, the Hat
field Highway, The Dalles-California
Highway, and the Redwood
Highway.
Yes. the Gazette-Times can
print the form you need for busi
ness or rancn use. Phone 676-
9228.
Gloomy Water
Outlook Changes
To 'Satisfactory'
The 1963 water supply out
look in Umatilla, Morrow and
Gilliam counties has changed
greatly this year from an ex
tremely gloomy mid -winter pros
pect to a reasonably satisfactory
situation for most lands served
from stored water supplies, ac
cording to a report released to
day by T. P. Helseth, State Con
servationist of the Soil Conser
vaion Service (USDA) cooper
ating with Oregon State Univer
sity, Oregon State Engineer and
others. Some late season short
ages are foreseen for lands de
pendent upon natural stream
flow. A few abnormally warm days
about mid-May removed all but
a few patches of snow in the
higher mountains. This year's
"short" snowpack disappeared
very rapidly. Moisture in the
soil mantle on the upper water
sheds has been close to satur
ation. These wet soils have
greatly assisted in the runoff
from rains and from the light
snowpack.
Cold Springs reservoir has
46,300 acre feet of water ready
for use compared with 50,000 a.f.
at this date last year. McKay
reservoir has 63,500 acre feet
in storage compared with 55,000
a.f. one year ago. These supplies
will be adequate only if careful
use is made of the water.
Flow of the Umatilla near
Umatilla (from preliminary data
furnished by the U. S. Geological
Survey, Portland,) has been 46
per cent of the May average and
only 71 per cent of the October
May average.
Forecast of flow of the Uma
tilla at Pendleton for the May
September period is 55,000 acre
feet or 56 per cent of average.
The South Fork of the Walla
Walla is forecast at 37,000 acre
HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES. Thursday. June 20, 1963
feet or 64 per cent of average
May through September.
Butter Creek has been having
a strong flow and is now fore
cast to produce 5,500 acre feet
May through September or 112
per cent of average.
Statewide, Oregon's 1963 water
supply outlook has changed
greatly this year from a gloomy
mid-winter prospect to a cur
rently satisfactory situation for
most lands served from stored
water supplies. However, thous
ands of acres of land depending
on natural flow of streams will
have severe late season short
ages unless unexpected rains
fall at opportune times.
Examiner Coming .
A drivers license examiner
will be on duty in Heppner
Tuesday, June 25,' 1962 at the
courthouse between the hours
of 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., ac
cording to an announcement re
ceived from the Department of
Motor Vehicles of Oregon. Per
sons wishing original licenses
or permits to drive are asked
to file applications well ahead
of the scheduled closing hour
in order to assure time for com
pletion of the required license
test.
ably priced at the Gazette-1
Times.
Ben Cox returned Sunday after
a 2-weeks stay with his daugh
ter and family, Sgt. and Mrs.
James McNabb, Eglin Air Force
Base, Florida.
GRAIN FIRE TIME IS AT HAND!
DON'T WAIT NEXT WEEK MAY BE TOO LATE!
C. A. RUGGLES AGENCY
P. O. Box 247
Heppner
Ph. 676-9625
Combine your crops with a
John Deere 95-H Hillside
More common sense goes into it
More clean grain comes out
mmmMml4S- raft.
Common sense designing makes the John Deere
95-H the performance champion among all hillside
combines. Hi-Lo design puts you up high on a
roomy operator's platform. All controls are right
at your finger tips. You're centered with the plat
form . . . have a perfect view of the crop as it's
cut and fed into the combine. You're up out of
dust and chaff , . . breathe clean, fresh air.
Low, compact design with engine and grain tank
center-mounted on top of the separator provides
a balanced load good traction and stability. Add
this to automatic leveling on grades up to 42 per
cent and you have just a few of the many examples
of common sense designing that assures more
acres harvested, more bushels of clean grain with
a John Deere 95-H Hillside Combine. Stop in.
THESE FEATURES PLUS MANY OTHERS HAVE BEEN "FIELD PROVED"
OVER THE YEARS
We can still offer this machine with an 18 ft. header, oversize tires, pre
cleaner, engine cover, bulk tank extension, variable speed indicator, and straw
spreader, plus a long list of standard equipment items, at only $15,600.00
f.o.b. your field in our area. Check our deal before you settle for less in Qual
ity, Satisfaction, and Trade Value.
We still have a good selection of reconditioned machines at prices that are
worth considering for trading "up" to a later model or for an additional unit.
TM-COUNTY EQUIPMENT CO.
HEPPNER, OREGON
Phone 676-9258
f YOUR
I Harvest
engineering.