MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD, OREGON
: Meet; ..
ar
Alternative Source of
Tax Money Needed
"A Good Oregon EGG'
mm of soutwkh orwom va turn
EGG PROMOTION The Independent Egg Producers Coun
cil is placing these posters wherever their eggs are sold in
stores. Purpose is to point out locally produced eggs which
are fresher than imports. Since Oregon is an egg-def lcit area,
egg men are concerned that the state's potential markets may
be taken from them by out-of-state producers, paricularly by
California producers. "Eggber" will start appearing on local
egg cartons soon.
Independent Egg
Producers Start
Sales Promotion
' Oregon consumers will be
meeting "Eggbert," a good
Oregon egg, in their grocery
'stores soon.
Residue Tests
And Checks Told
By OSU Chemist
I Corvallis (Special) - "Ways
of improving testing of pesli
'cldes and preventing any
'chemical residues which
.would result in seizure of a
crop because of excessive resi
dues were explained Friday
by Dr. Virgil H. Freed, head
of the Oregon State univer
sity department of agricul
tural chemistry,
i Dr. Freed made his com-
'ments before the vegetable
'fection of the Oregon State
Horticultural Society meeting
.at OSU. He and Marvin Mont
gomery, OSU agricultural
Jchemist, reported on the pres
ent status of pesticides resi
dues on vegetable crops Fri
day. , Present methods of testing
'and control are adequate 95
'per cent of the time, Dr.
iFreed noted, but scientists are
concerned about the five per
cent when a chemical misused
or used under unusual circum
stances could result in chemi
cal residue appearing on the
'crop.
i Chemicals are thoroughly
checked by scientists and
Jcleared by the federal gov
ernment before they can be
used on food crops, he point
'cd out.
.Constantly Checking
, Staffs of agricultural ex
periment stations, the U. S.
Department of Agriculture
!and Federal Drug Adminis
tration are constantly check
ing to see that chemical prac
tices are up on the latest
Scientific infor-iation, h e
stressed.
When they are used in this
manner, competent scientists
.are satisfied that no harm can
result, Dr. Freed added.
" However, use of agricultur
al chemicals under certain
conditions can leave traces on
harvested crops and it is then
!that the crop is seized by au
thorities if the residue is
found to exceed tolerance
level and it is in thl area
that Dr. Freed feels that there
is a need for improved test
ing. ' Researchers are faced with
the problem of not being able
-to test each chemical under
all different conditions.
Chemical tolerances are
granted for crops grown un
der "usual" conditions and
may not take into considera
tion the effect of different
tlimatic and soil conditions.
J Refinements in analytical
techniques are occurring
quite rapidly, with research
ers and growers both strug
gling to keep Bbrcast of new
developments, he noted.
For instance, Dr. Freed
bointed out that crop inspec
tors are now using tes'.ing
equipment which allows them
to check more samples for
Residues than ever before and
at a faster rate.
. Dr. Freed also sees a need
for more study of chemical
toxicity to dclermlne pre
cisely how safe a chemical is
and where biological zero
tolerance can be established.
I Above all, the .hemists
grossed, users of agricultural
chemicals should read the
The happy egg from happy
hens is attired in a bright yel
low straw hat, has a broad
smile on his bright little face
and is carrying a blue ribbon.
"Eggbert" appears on post
ers distributed 'by southern
Oregon egg farms and spon
sored by the Independent Egg
Producers' Council.
Purpose is to make the con
sumers aware of the fresher
Rogue valley eggs produced
by 14 member farms from
Ashland to Grants Pass, from
Medford to the Applegate, to
Eagle Point. All the egg pro
duction from these farms is
distributed in southern Ore
gon. Flock size ranges from
1,000 birds to 10,000 layers.
"We are attempting to show
which eggs are produced and
packaged locally," a spokes
man said. "Some are pack
aged here, but not produced
here."
Local Eggs Fresher
Local eggs are getting into
the markets in two to three
days to allow time for clean
ing and cooling. Eggs shipped
in from California, mainly,
and perhaps some from Wash
ington, are older.
Local egg producers note
that the current egg price is
about the same with prices
on smalls somewhat higher.
However, no local producers
appear to have any of these,
it was noted.
This is a peak time for egg
consumption and a lime of
low production, egg producers
noted. A shortage of eggs
exists in the local area now.
Currently, the independent
local producers are moving
for standardization of Ore
gon's law to conform with
neighboring states and the
U. S. Department of Agricul
ture standards. Oregon now
has lower requirements on
weight size than neighboring
states which ship their eggs
into Oregon.
The independent producers
will meet at 7:30 p.m., Thurs
day, Dec. 20 to elect officers
at North's Chuck Wago.i restaurant.
Corn Title Given
2 Local Growers
Central Point-Dixon Salts
gaver. Central Point, was
awarded first prize premium
award for the best 10, ears
of corn in district 3. At the
21st., annual Oregon Corn
Show, held Dec. 1, at Canby
Oregon.
The State is divided Into
four districts, region 3, con
sists of the counties, of Jack
son, Josephine, Coos, Curry
and Douglas. First prize
winning ears were of the 54
40 variety. John Ncalon, of
Table Rock, received second
place in district 3 for his ten
ears of corn on exhibition.
Nealon's were of the Idahy
brid 544 variety.
Carl Hover, ficldman for
the Grange Co-op Supply,
helped in picking and select
ing the corn.
The first Oregon State Corn
Show was held in 1037, with
the exception of a five year
period during World War II
the show has been held an
nually since that time.
Corvallis - All who feel
property taxes are oppressive
should work out alternative
revenue sources to achieve
the needed reforms, Dr. Grant
Blanch, Oregon State univer
sity agricultural economist,
told vegetable growers Friday
afternoon.
Dr. Blanch made his com.
ments in a talk on property
taxation before the vegetable
crop section of the Oregon
State Horticultural Society
which ended its 77th annual
meeting at OSU Friday.
Taxes levied against all
property in Oregon have
more than doubled in the last
12 years, he noted. Farm
property taxes are becoming
an increasing proportion of
operating costs.
Pointing out that farmers
have always accepted their
responsibilities and been
willing to pay their fair
share, Dr. Blanch pointed out
that taxation ranks high
among problems facing Ore
gon farmers.
Valut Estimates i
Property taxes are levied
according to value, he ex
plained. Three methods of
estimating true cash or mar
ket value for tax purposes
are capitalization of net in
come, sales comparison and
replacement cost minus ac
cumulated depreciation.
In Oregon, county ap
praisers use sales comparison
almost exclusively on farm
property, which creates many
hardships on farmers whose
lands lie in proximity to ur
ban areas, he pointed out.
The sales comparison tech
niques is frequently abused
as the real estate market for
farm property is not a perfect
market, sales are few and
financing arrangements affect
prices, he said.
Oregon agricultural pro
ducers are seriously and ad
versely affected by increased
property taxation, he said, as
modern technology demands
that farmers increase their
property holdings to be com
petitive even though the ratio
of income to farm property
value is very low.
Taxes levied aganst farm
property in Oregon have been
rising while net money in
come from farming has been
falling. The increase in taxes
and decrease in income has
compounded the adverse eco
nomic effects of the property
tax on Oregon farmers, he
continued.
Many contend, Dr. Blanch
said, that the property tax
fails to meet the test of im.
portant critera of sharing the
cost of government services
These criteria are ability to
pay, benefits received and
equality of treatment.
However, the properly tax
does have certain practical
advantages in that the amount
of tax revenue is not affected
by changes in economic activ
ity; it provides a relatively
definite amount of revenue
from year to year; real prop
erty is difficult to conceal and
evasion is almost impossible,
and, as a fixed cost, it inter
feres very little with produc
tion of goods.
Changes are obviously need
ed to bring the system of
financing local services more
nearly in line with accepted
criteria of how to distribute
the costs of locally adminis
tered services, Dr. Blanch
pointed out.
Seeks Other Source
Secondary and elementary
education are the major items
supported by property taxes,
but this Is a general society
benefit and responsibility and
is not directly related to prop
erty ownership, he stated.
This cost should be funded
at an increasing proportion
from some other source, he
believes.
There is a need to return
to the tax rolls much of the
tax exempt property, he con
tinued. Equality suggests that
if it is propitious to tax some
properties according to value,
it is right that the exempt
properties be accorded the
same treatment. Such a move
would also result in a broader
tax base.
However, loss of revenue
from reduced property taxa-
non would have to be re
placed from some other
source or sources. In the field
of education, this could mean
increased state aid to local
school districts or even fed
eral assistance, he noted.
If state aid is increased, the
state would require additional
money for other services.
Possible sources for addition
al revenue might be heavier
reliance on the graduated net
income tax by broadening the
base, a general sales tax or a
gross income tax.
FARM
Woodlot Facts
Christmas trees
Christmas Trees are not
always chance by-products of
forest lands. They are often a
deliberately planned and
managed farm crop. They are
a big business in many areas
of the Pacific Northwest.
Each year, about six mil
lion trees, mostly Douglas
Fir, are cut in Idaho, Oregon
and Washington. A low esti
mate of the sale value of
this crop is ten million dol
lars. Trees are shipped to
markets in nearly every state
and in some foreign lands.
The two main factors that
make Christmas tree growing
attractive in Jackson and
Josephine Counties are; 1. The
close, large California mar
kets and 2. The good natural
Christmas tree growing soil
and climate.
A good Christmas tree has
buyer appeal. More specifical-
ly, it has fresh, clean foliage
and a dense, uniform, well-
balanced crown of evenly
spaced branch whorls that
sweep gently upward. Good
shape in a Christmas tree
varies considerably with the
kind of tree and the likes of
people in different areas.
Whether a land owner Is
thinking about managing nat
ural Christmas tree land or
starting a plantation, he must
consider soil, climate, loca
tion, roads, protection, labor
supply and cost. Christmas
tree farming, like any other
business, takes Ion g-range
planning.
Farming tips
Farming natural Christmas
trees consists generally of re
moving brush and helping the
trees to shape themselves by
systematic thinning, pruning
and shearing. Farming under
plantation conditions involves
site preparation, planting, cul
tivation, systematic pruning
and shearing. In future arti
cles these cultural practices
will be discussed and ex
plained. In past years many a local
grower has lost money on
his Christmas trees. The rea
son for this type of loss is
that no written agreement
was signed. Buyers picked
trees up with a promise to
pay when trees were re-sold
or for other such reasons,
This type of verbal agreement
has no place in business
Christmas tree growing, as
stated before, is a business
and should be treated
such.
A written sale contract
should be entered Into by
seller and buyer. To protect
his Investment, a grower
should receive half of the
sale price before the trees
are cut and the other half at
the time the trees are picked
up or delivered. Copies of
sample Christmas tree con
tracts can be obtained from
your Farm Forester's office.
One Oregon grower who
has marketed his crop pro
fitably over the past 20 years
makes these suggestions for
wholesaling trees: 1. Cut good
trees; 2. Cash on the barrel
head is the best credit policy;
3. Do not hold trees for any
one for any length of time
without a substantial deposit;
Advertise plenty and you
will have plenty of buyers;
5. Accept no more orders
than you can deliver; and 6.
To market safely, time the
cutting right. Cutting should
not begin earlier than Novem
ber 6. It should be completed
and the crop sold not later
than December 10.
label on the can or bottle be
fore the chemicals are used.
Labels contain the best in
formation available in a con
densed form, they empha
sized. 1
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FROM
THE
GROUND
UP
By BART BARTLETT
MMIMHMlllflillllllWtiffl
llilllUllMttwfc!titiMi!4jtiHtim
The places where most of
this country's food and fiber
are produced are still referred
to as farms and their opera- i
tors as farmers. To one who
is middle-aged or older and !
who grew up on a farm there
are vivid memories of farms I
as they existed during the :
early part of the present
century. ,
During the past score of j
years the farm and farmers
of this country have under-
gone very drastic changes. !
The operator still may wear
overalls, work hard, appear
stupid and short of money,
but he operates a rather
large business insofar as the
amount of cash and credit
business he accomplishes an
nually is concerned. The new
term for modern farming is
Agribusiness. It is now dos-
sible to secure an academic de
gree from college in this field.
The general farm that once
grew a great variety of ctods
has largely disappeared from
the American scene. Farms
are now very large In area
and the operators tend to
grow large acreages of rela
tively few crops. In other
words, he has become a spe
cialist In the production of
certain economic crops. The
government helped this hap
pen by paying out subsidies
on crop production. Their
reason for paying the subsidy
was to save the small farmer
and the family size farm.
At any rate we in this
country can be grateful for
being well fed. Sometime
TUESDAY. DECEMBER 11. 1962
when we feel .the urge to give
the farmer a good cussing, it
may be well to remember
how well we eat and at a
fairly reasonable price.
New Crops
More and more is men
tioned each year about such
new crop plant innovations
as red apple sports, redder
peaches or hybrids of some
of the field crops. The seller
of these items is often aided
by the crop specialists who
tend to encourage the pro
duction of the newer sorts.
One wonders if many mis
takes aren't being made in
this regard. The newer red
apple sports are more beauti
ful than the old standard
A 7
sorts, but all too often they do
not have good eating quality.
True we say they mature
earlier and can be harvested
earlier and bring exra money
in the market place.
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