X i- ±
Page 8-MSWCD Supplemental to the Heppner Gazette-Times, April 24, 1996
Considerations
for CRP
take-out
There is little experience with
converting grassland cover to
crop production using conser
vation systems. Conservation
compliance requires that all
highly erodible land (HEL)
have an applied conservation
system when converted to crop
production. Wind and water
erosion problems could result
if traditional intensive tillage
methods are use. The following
are consideration and manage
ment strategies that should be
taken into account when con
verting CRP to crop produc
tion:
Consider the time of year.
Normally in the Columbia Ba
sin, water erosion occurs bet
ween December and March
and wind erosion from Febru
ary through May. Conservation
practices need to be in place
during this time. Some form of
protection (grass residues/crop
growth) should be considered
prior to take-out.
Erosion is influenced by soil
type, slope gradient and
length. Sandy and very fine
sandy loam soils have high
potential for wind erosion. Silt
loam soils in greater than 12”
rainfall zones face water ero
sion potential. The steeper the
slope, the higher the potential.
Vegetation characteristics
play an important role. Bunch-
grasses such as Crested and
Siberian wheatgrass and Big
bluegrass will be easier to re
move than a sodforming grass
like Pubescent wheatgrass. In
high precipitation areas,
grasses such as orchardgrass,
smooth brome and intermedi
ate wheatgrass may form a
dense vegetation. In addition,
many fields in high precipita
tion zones (more than 12") may
have a dominance of young
pine trees up to 10 feet high.
Conversion to cropland would
Continued— Page 9
CPR contracts expire
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), enacted in 1985,
enabled farmers to retire highly erodible or environmentally sen
sitive cropland for 10 years. These contracts began to expire in
1995.
CRP contract holders have a number of issues to consider when
their CRP contract expires. Some of the options for end use are:
return to cropland, utilize existing forage for grazing or wildlife
purposes, retention of the most environmentally sensitive acres,
or a combination of uses.
The majority of CRP contracts are for a ten year period. They
begin and expire based on the federal government's fiscal year,
October 1 through September 30. Contracted acres can be "work
ed” 90 days prior to the expiration date. See table below:
Contract years
1986- 1995
1987- 19%
1988- 1997
Expiration date
October 1, 1995
October 1, 19%
October 1, 1997
,
Here at Kinzua, conservation
is a “growing” concern.
PORT OF MORROW
MORROW COUNTY OREGON
r. O. no» 1M, IW d rn in , OR 77118
Ph « * 1 7 * 7 *
. Fa« 401-2679
Good Conservation today;
Means good business tomorrow.
Local Facilities:
• Airpo rt and air industrial land
• Container terminal
• General purpose dock facilities
• Rail and interstate freeway
# <« • « r i »
. ,
farming in 1947. Through the
years, he has adjusted his far
ming practices to improve man
agement of his land. Wind ero
sion remains his biggest pro
blem, but by increasing residue
and by spreading straw on
trouble spots, he has success
fully controlled those areas.
Kemp has also minimized run
off by reshaping and planting
to grass some natural ditches
which had cut into his fields.
His clean fields and higher-
than-average yields testify to
his hard work and dedication
to conservation.
Stan Kemp
Phone 676 9613
235 Linden Way
Heppner, Oregon 97836
MILLER
Morrow County Grain Growers
-Lawn & Garden-Power Equipment-Chain Saws-Tires-Housewares-Pet Supplies -Hardware-Plumbing-Electrical-Lawn
M A N U FA C TU R IN G
Serving Morrow County for Over 50 Years
•Auto & Farm Tires •Chemicals & Fertilizers
•Hardware Store •Propane •Fuel & Petroleum
•Farm Equipment Dealer •Irrigation/Pump «Grain
•Full Service Auto & Farm Equipment Shop_ _ _ _ _
. BALE FORKS
- 8 Bale Clamp
-1 0 Bale Clamp
- Rotating Models
- Free Pivot Models
-1 Ton Bale Forks
- Vertical or Down Flat
- Single Bale Lengthways
- Single Bale Sideways
- 2 One Ton Bales
Your Intermodal Shipping Hub for International & Domestic Connections
• Industrial land
'
Conservation
Wasco Branch
442-5781
1-800-824-7185
MCt.t.
4th & Clark St.
Wasco, OR 97065
LU
Phone 989-8221
A l
• TRAILER HITCHES & ACCESSARY’S
• BED RAIL CAPS, TAILGATE COVERS,
ETC.
lone Store
mm
Morrow County
Crain Growers
«
,9 8 9 -8 2 2 1
INC.
• TRUCK BEDS MADE TO ORDER
D»n Creamer. Prmdent
jerry Mealy, Vice President
Larry Lindsay, Secretary
I>eane Secger. Commissioner
Marv Padberg. Commissioner
...
Stan Kemp, Lexington, was
named the 1995 Morrow Coun
ty Conservation Farmer of the
Year. His "lifetime of steward
ship” started when he began
• PICK-UP FRONT END
PROTECTORS
CommiMiontrs:
t
of the Year
If the chosen end use alternative is going to involve technical
assistance from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (for
mally SCS) for its compliance plan, grazing plan, etc., the local
field office should be contacted a minimum of six months before
the contract expires.
If the contract holder plans to return CRP acres to crop pro
duction for a commodity crop and plans to participate in govern
ment programs, they must have their conservation compliance
plan approved by the local field office and the local conserva
tion district prior to planting the first commodity crop. Check
with your county FSA (formally ASCS) office to find out how
to protect your acreage base when the contract expires.
Every year, after the hunting season, ODF&W employees con
duct their annual deer herd composition counts. Normally, the
counts are started in early November and are completed during
the first part of December. The information collected during these
counts is used to determine the proportion of bucks that surviv
ed the hunting season and helps determine the ratio of fawns
produced per 100 adult does. The survey is not a total count but
provides a ratio that is used for setting the buck season the follow
ing year and assists in determining the over-winter survival of
the fawns. The information collected in the fall is used with the
population inventories that will be conducted next April to deter
mine overall population levels.
The total number of deer classified for the Big Game Manage
ment Units within the Heppner Wildlife District during 1995 is
listed in the following table:
Total
B/100 F/100
Unit
deer Does Fawns Bucks does does
Heppner
673
209
418
46
11
50
Fossil
855
550
244
61
11
44
E. Biggs
342
205
110
27
13
54
S. Col Basin 749
409
263
77
19
64
...
Farmer
90 days prior
July 1, 1995
July 1, 19%
July 1, 1997
ODFW-annual deer herd
composition counts
£
MSWCD Supplemental to the Heppner Gazette-Times, April 24, 1996-Page 5
1 -800-452-7 396
LEXINGTON. OREGON 97839
P.0. Box 367
-Power Equipment - Chain Saws - Tires - Housewares - Pet Supplies - Hardware -Plumbing-Electrical-Lawn & Garden-
■
v
*