Page 2-MSWCD Supplemental to the Heppner Gazette-Times, February 26, 1997
Upland gamebi rds-Cooperative
Access Program
In
1994,
the
Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife
(ODFW) developed the Upland
Cooperative Access program
(UCAP). The program was de-
Alternative Crops Program at annual meeting
The Morrow SWCD held its
1996 Annual Meeting on Wed
nesday, January 15, 1997, in
conjunction with Town &
Country Day. Program speakers
for the meeting were Jake Eaton,
Potlach Corporation and Don
Wysocki, Oregon State Univer
sity (OSU) Extension, Agri
culture Research Service.
Eaton spoke about poplars as
an alternative crop for the North
west area and specifically the
plantation
near
Boardman.
Because of the Endangered
Species Act and dwindling num
bers of lumber mills, supplies of
wood shavings and sawdust,
needed by the pulp and paper
industry, were becoming more
scarce. Poplars were the logical
choice, because the genetic
material was available for trees
adapted to the region and poplars
produce bright wood that needs
less bleaching and short fibers
that help give paperboard
strength.
Wysocki, OSU Extension,
reported on a breeding program
for a late planted, winter canola
variety. This breeding program is
being financed in part by
contributions from Morrow,
Gilliam and Umatilla counties
and also through a grant from
Regional Strategies, Northcentral
Regional Strategies and North
east Alliance Regional Strategies
Boards. A plant breeder from
Idaho has been contracted with to
develop canola vaneties to
signed to provide hunter access
to private lands in Eastern Ore
gon to hunt upland gamebirds.
During the first year of the
program, approximately 22,000
acres of private land were made
available for public hunting. In
1995, additional properties were
added and in 1996, a total of
52,900 acres were open to public
hunting of upland gamebirds.
Skeleton weed on the move:
Under the rules of the UCAP,
several new sites of Rush
ODFW signs agreements with
skeletonweed were found in
the landowners, provides signs,
1996. A couple of these sites
closes roads as requested by the
were much further south in
landowners and patrols the
Morrow County than those that
properties during the upland
had been treated in previous
gamebird seasons. Landowners
years. While the number of
are reimbursed at a rate of
plants treated this past year was
50/acre for suitable upland
about the same as in the past
gamebird hunting areas and have
years, the fact that this weed's
an option to use a "Hunting by
range has extended further south
Permission" or "Welcome to
should be cause for concern to
Hunt" format for their properties.
dryland wheat farmers. Rush
Funding for the 50/acre reim
skeletonweed has been docu
bursement comes from a portion
mented to reduce wheat yields by
of the Upland gamebird stamp
as much as 70% in Australia and
revenues earmarked for access.
can be very difficult to control if
To prevent overuse and over
left undetected for several years.
crowding of the areas, landowner
It is very important for farmers
names and maps of the areas are
and ranchers to be on the lookout
not given out. Hunters need to
for and identify any plants that
locate the hunting areas and if
they do not recognize
the hunter is required to obtain
Puncturevine project started in
permission to hunt, the land
North Morrow County: due to
owner's name is listed on the
increased concern over the
hunting by permission signs.
spread of puncturevme in Irrigon
and Boardman, the weed control
district started working with the
cities and the West Extension
Irrigation District to control
puncturevine along city streets
and along the canal road.
Improvement was noted in 1996,
but more work still needs to be
done. Homeowners can help by
controlling this weed in driveway
and parking areas and reporting
any areas that are especially bad
along public nghts-of-way.
Homeowners needing informa
tion about how to best control
punturevine can contact the weed
control
district for
more
information
Check CRP fields for noxious
weeds: with the expiration of
CRP contracts upon us, land
owners need to be surveying
their fields for noxious weeds so
they can be treated and con
trolled before they are returned to
growing wheat It is evident that
some CRP fields have not been
maintained to contract standards
when it comes to weed control.
For this reason, the weed control
district has started working with
the Farm Services Agency and is
doing random spot checks for
noxious weeds. Those found out
of compliance may face penalties
if the weeds are left uncontrolled.
If desired, landowners may also
request the weed district to assist
them with their own field surveys
Member FCMC
and weed identification
Morrow County
weed
district tidbits
east Alliance Regional Strategies
Board. The canola project was
sponsored by the Columbia Blue
Mountain Resource Conservation
and Development Area which
includes county courts, ports and
Soil and Water Conservation
Districts in Morrow, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Grant and Umatilla
counties.
provide diversification of crops,
improve disease control for
wheat planted in a canola
rotation and improve the feasibi
lity of a canola oil processing
plant for the area. An agreement
has been drawn up between
Oregon State University and the
Oregon Economic Development
Department through the North-
Iw. ■
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Don Wysocki, OSU Extension
Jake Eaton, Potlach Corp.
.
..........
ir
Beef s35
Cut and Wrapped
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Pigs s25
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