Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (April 6, 1967)
Weekly Market Review By STEPHEN C MARKS Agricultural Economist OSU Cooperative Extension Service Farm Cost-Pile Saueei Tightens Declining prices on farm com modities such as fed cattle, hogs, lambs, eggs, milk and last winter's sharp break In wheat prices are combining to stir up unrest among farmers. Price de clines are old hat to farmers but what is aggravating the situa tion is the continued rise in cost of production. The discom fort Is in the cost-price squeeze. The upshot of this in the Mid west is a farm boycott on milk deliveries, and deliberate mar keting of pregnant cows and sows. Southern Plains wheat farmers, meantime, are talking about plowing down the in crease in acreage planted for harvest this year. But unless rains come quickly, drought will wipe out part of the Plains crop. There was some respite from lower prices on Oregon farm commodities the past week but prices remain below the recent highs. Fed Cattle Prices Improve In the cattle markets, slaugh ter steer prices advanced for the third week in a row to a top of 26.20 on choice steers at Port land. Pacific Coast fed cattle prices in general improved from their recent lows, but Corn Belt markets did not share in the price increase. Farmers there continue to market more cattle than a year ago and they are selling more of the lower grade cattle. This may be an indica tion that feedlot inventories of heavy, highly finished cattle may soon be worked off. Here on the Pacific Coast, California has fewer cattle In feedlots now than last spring and the supply of finished cat tle is short of packer needs. Be cause of this, California pack ers have been competing for available supplies in Idaho and Utah. Idaho usually supplies large numbers of fed cattle to Oregon packers. Whether or not the West Coast price advantage in relation to Mid-west beef wUl be maintained remains to be seen. Regional market supplies are readily equalized by modern methods of distribution. While Northwest fed cattle prices advanced the past week, feeder cattle held unchanged. But feeder cattle prices have been favorable right along while fed cattle prices have been drop ping. Prospects of good spring grazing in the Northwest and in California should help hold prices upon feeder cattle, al though there may be distress sales in the drought stricken southern plains if rains do not arrive soon. Hog Prices Sag to Two-Tear Low In the hog markets prices dropped to the lowest level In nearly two years at Portland and at Corn Belt markets. Hog marketings and pork production tapered off some from the re cent high levels, but with larg er cold storage holdings and competition from large supplies of other meats, packers were re luctant to bid ud hog prices. Spring Lamb Lower This Tear Lamb prices improved in re cent weeks after sliding down to a long time low but fed lambs have not been profitable this winter. That is because the lambs in feeder flesh cost more than thev returned in the mar ket when they reach slaughter iinisn. Spring lambs should bring better prices, however. The ear ly spring lamb crop is smaller than it was last year. The seas on's first spring lambs sold in Portland at 524. In California. spring lambs sold in a range of $23 to $23.50 last week. 2 HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES. Thundery. April C 1967 County Agent's Office Showing of Rust Brings Concern By GENE WINTERS County Extension Agent Stripe rust and powdery mil dew continue to concern a num ber of wheatgrowers in the Ore con Columbia Basin wheat counties. A survey of these counties two weeks ago by R. L Powel- son. Oregon State university As sociate Plant Pathologist, found stripe rust in almost everv field visited. The rate of epidemic de velopment had lessened since the first part of February. Much of the foliage on which rust pre viously was present has since died. Morrow county with Gilliam The Wheat Field By GEORGE W. DEWET Legislative Counsel. Oregon Wheat League The Question of "How do you keep prime agriculture land irom going to other uses is not only one that faces the Ore gon State Legislature but Is being considered in most other states. Attempts to ease the dilem ma faced by Oregon farmers whereby 27 of their net in come goes to pay property tax es is now featured in three bills currently before the State Leg islature. Repres e n t a t i v e Lawrence Smith R-Corvallis, has introduc- Oregon Farm Cash Sales Set Record; Farm Total Drops Cash sales by Oregon farmers hit a new record high in 1966, topping the 1965 level by some eight per cent. The cost of fanning also went up in 1966, according to the preliminary estimates quoted by Mrs. Elvera Horrell, exten sion agricultural economist at Oregon State University. Livestock sales, notably cat tle and calves, jumped 14 per cent over 1965, while crop sales were up some 3 per cent. Big gest contributors to the increase in the value of crops were strawberries and cherries. Addition of some $24 million in government payments, about the same as last year, brought total cash received by the state's farmers to $538 million While dollar figures for farm operating costs aren't out yet, Mrs. Horrell says indications are that feed and livestock will prove to have cost farmers more in 1966, but the total amount spent for hired labor and seed may show some de crease. The trend toward fewer but larger farms continued during the year, says Mrs. Horrell. There were some 40,500 farms in Oregon at the start of 1967, according to U. S. Department of Agriculture estimates. This Is 1.500 less than a year ear lier and the smallest number of farms in the state since near the turn of the century. Acre age per farm is up sharply. More farm sales and fewer farms add up to a boost in the income of individual farmers, points out Mrs. Horrell. The net income per larm in xybb is es timated to be $3365, 14 per cent above 1965 and the high est since records were started in 1949. Oregon is still below the na tional average income per farm. which is $5,024. Lowest average farm income for the year was in West Virginia where the fig ure was $1,055. Arizona, at $21,071, was tops in this de partment. Oregon Farmers Increase Wheat Acreage Sharply Oregon farmers plan to in crease planted acreages of wheat, sugar beets and potatoes, according to survey results just released by the Oregon Crop and Livestock Reporting Service. Intended spring wheat acre age at 120,000 acres, is up sharp ly to 67 percent more than a year ago. Spring wheat acre age, plus the large winter wheat acareage planted last fall, equals 1,117,000 acres, 33 per cent more than planted in 1966. The increased wheat acreage is in response to larger 1967 wheat acreage allotments and will be planted on land Previously in feed grains, hay pasture, other crops, conservation reserve and land previously Idle. If Oregon farmers carrv out their planting intentions, the following crop acreages will de crease: Spring and winter bar ley, down 19 percent: spring and fall sown oats down 11 percent; rye lor grain, down 7 percent; dry peas, down 9 percent; and hay acreage for harvest, down 1 percent. Field corn acreags is expected to be the same as a year ago. Oregon farmers intend to plant 6 percent more sugar beets and 7 percent more potatoes. Heavy precipitation in No vember and December, plus a mild winter, brought fall sown grains through the winter in good condition. Some concern is being expressed over the possi bility of an outbreak of striped wheat rust. Spring planting is in progress at lower elevations in eastern Oregon. Field work has been hampered in western Oregon by recent rains. Harley Sager of the Heppner branch, First National BanK, comDleted a course in commer cial loan training in Portland March 20 after attending ses sions for a week. A first week of training in the course was in January. The Sagers spent a week prior to the March class on vacation in Hay, wash., ana in Enterprise, visiting with rel fttivos in both places. Choose Group's Name At finr Cflmn Vire fHrl mt. ing last Monday at the Christ ian cnurcn, we aiscussea our Camp Fire Girls' Camp. Then we chose our name, "A o wa ki ya" which means band to gether in purpose. Then we dis cussed symbols for our group's name. We then had refresh. ments. Robin and Wendy, reporters ed HB 1692 at the request of the fiscal committee. Smith's proposal would direct the State Tax Commission and county as sessors to value farm land through the capitalization of average annual net rent per ac re for various soil classifications within the county. This proposal would require a "payback" of the tax differ ential when the farm land be comes available for a higher use. Hearings on this proposal are scheduled in the very near future before the House Taxa tion Committee. A representa tive of the Oregon Wheat Grow ers League will present testi mony in favor of this approach. Still another bill proposing farm propeity tax equity has been introduced by Representa tive Gerald Detering, R Harris burg, chairman of the House Ag riculture Committee. Detering's bill is similar to HB 1176 intro duced by Representative L. B. Day, D-Salem which is drawn from the California Statute and would provide farmers a tax break providing they sign an agreement to limit hte use of their land to agriculture for a minimum of a ten year period. The Detering proposal varies from Day's bill in that a seven year instead of a ten year con tract is established between the farmer and the county or city government. Day's bill would limit the tax opportunity to lands of prime value where as Detering's bill would apply to any farm land. Under the Day proposal, prime land would be defined as the 1st and 2nd land classification under the Soil Conservation rating system or land that has produced within a certain per iod of time an aveage of $200 of gross Income. All of the bills have two main purposes: that of attempting to provide great er equity in the assessment of larm land and the preservation ! of prime agricultural land. The three approaches have I the sympathy of everyone but ' whether or not they have the "understanding" will be up to ; members of the Oregon State Legislature. ' county, appears to have leu stripe rust than Sherman, Uma tilla and Wasco counties. Mild temperatures last fall and win ter conformed closely with those conditions considered necessary for the development of the dis ease. Conditions differ In sev eral respects from that of a few years ago when stripe rust as sumed epidemic proportions. The mast important was the vast majority of county wheat acreage now planted to adult re sistant varieties, such as Gaines and Moro, rather than the sus ceptible varieties Omar and It ana or the intermediate resist ant variety, Burt. Powdery mildew was found In most areas surveyed by Powel son. It was noted that the sev ere leaf yellowing and dead leaves widespread last year In Morrow county was observed only in northern Wasco county. Powdery mildew fungus over winters in wheat stubble and straw or volunteer wheat. With the arrival of warm dry weath er, the fungus usually becomes inactive. Under dump conditions wheat plants may be damaged severely. Car Needed on Using Wheat Lands for Pasture The slow growth of forage grasses until the rain and snow of a week ago has resulted In using wheat as pasture. Pastur ing wheat is a common prac tice in the southern half of the Great Plains, except In dry years. In Morrow county, with a different pattern of rainfall, care must be used or wheat yields may be reduced to the point of being rather expensive pasture. With little research data available for pasturing winter wheat in this area, individual growers' experiences may indi cate whether it is a good or bad practice. In other areas it has been well established that livestock Grain Exports Show Increase Grain inspectors of the Ore gon IVpartinent of Agriculture cheeked 13.118 more tons of grain for export out of Portland in March than In February, but were 7.4CI tons behind the ex ports for March, l'.Hiti, The figure for this March was 203.7S3 tons, with 1!M.M"8 tons of this wheat and the remain der barley. Grain receipts at Portland In March were down to 217,457 tons from 239.SD5 tons In February of this year. The March, lt, figure was 307.334 tons. Protein analyses made on wheat In the Grain Division laboratory totaled 2.590 in March, compared with 2.274 in February of this year and 3,593 analyses in March, 1906. Division records showed that grain from seven states east of the Rocky Mountains moved through Portland In March. These states were Montana, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota. At the Pendleton office of the grain division 187 track inspec tions were made on wheat and, at Merrill, there were 22 track inspections, 11 outlnspectlons. 10 hopper-track Inspections, and 33 hopper-out inspections. should le removed from the wheat when the plants grow erect just previous to Jointing. Wheat plants mav be injured at any time after their growing points are above ground. In ar eas with nearly identical head ing dates, as found In this coun ty, the growing tips of winter wheat enlarged and begun the reproductive stage forming spikes about April I or 60 days before heading. Pasturing at this time reduced wheat yields 20 to 40 per cent. Wheat plants usually begin Jointing at heights between four and six Inches. Rainfall Averages Reported Not all the March weather observers rainfall reports are in, but it appears that In several communities precipitation is below normal for the third con secutive month. Seasonal aver ages for the 1906-iy;7 agricul ture weather year are near aver age for two of the official weather observers. Take Judging Tour On March IS, seven of our Pine City i ll Livestock club member went on a Judging tour to five ranches in this ar ea. We Judged xlx different groups of antmalji. At our meet ing on March 23. at Clarence Frederlckson's, Mr. and Mr. Gall McCurtv came to show movie about beef. The movie was Interesting to our club. We are planning to have a trail ride April 15. Our ride during spring vacation was postponed because of bad weather. Mrs. Frederlckson served PU and cup cakes. The next meet ing will be at the George Lu clanl home on April 27. John Myers, reporter POWER CONTROL ELECTRIC MOTOR SERVICE WE REPAIRi Electric Motor Power Tools Hydraulic Jack Alemito Equipment 421 8. E. 4 th Pendleton Phono 278 5862 THE BIG ONE That Didn't Get Away Savings accounts, largo or small. always help tight sltua . . . Don't let opportu n 1 1 y from can In a Hon big get away you. OPEN AN ACCOUNT TODAY Accounts Now Insured to $15,000 FIRST FEDERAL SAVINGS & LOAN ASSOCIATION BOX 848 PENDLETON Mobile Home Living MODERN MOBILE HOMES From 10 ft to 24 ft Wide UP TO FOUR BEDROOMS DELIVERED & SET UP C&R Mobile Homes OPEN 7 DATS EACH WEEK LOCATED BACK OF Albertson's, Pendleton Phone 276-7385 T - -, t For Weed Spraying Call on Mel Boyer Owner Gar Aviation FIELD MAN Jim Pettyjohn Spraying-Dusting-Fertilizing-Seeding DRY OR LIQUID FERTILIZER APPLICATION A GOOD JOB AT A FAIR PRICE You Can Find Us All Year Around AT THE LEXINGTON AIRPORT Phone 989-8422 8th ANNUAL HEPPNER WRANGLERS SPRING MEET U Two Go-Rounds NOVICE NOVICE For Horses Which Have Won Less Than $100 and Novice Rider $100 NOVICE For Horses Which Have Won Less Than $100 and Any Rider $300 NOVICE Horses Which Have Won Leu Than $300 Any Rider $500 NOVICE Horses Have Won Less Than $500 Any Rider $1000 NOVICE Horses Which Have Won Less Than $1000 Any Rider OPEN COW U U UN APPROVED: NWOHA WRANGLERS PLAYDAY AT WRANGLER CROUNDS SUNDAY. APRIL 9 1:00 P.M. SPECIAL OBRA BARREL RACING EVENT Public Welcome No Charge APRIL 8 and 9, 1967 IN COVERED ARENA MORROW COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS, HEPPNER SATURDAY. 7:00 P.M. SUNDAY. 9:00 A.M. No Admission Charge 3