Thursday, May 5. 1977
Nyssa Gate City Journal Nyssa. Oreqon
Page Six
Wheat President Calls for
International Farmer Conference
Bee Inspection
News of
Underway
Agriculture
Farm Loans Boosted
by Sen. Pack wood
The Senate Agriculture
Committee has included in
the Farm Bill two amend
ments introduced by Oregon
Senator Bob Packwood which
would boost farm loan limits.
One amendment lifts the
ceiling on loan funds avail
able for watershed protec
tion and flood prevention
projects from $5 to $10
million, and for the first time,
allows the funds to be used
for constructing fish hat
cheries and growing aquatic
plants and animals. The
other, increases the limit on
individual project loans from
$250.000 to $500,000. Sena
tor Packwood said this
amendment was important
because under present law,
which was set in 1956. loans
over $250,000 have to be
approved by both Senate and
House Agriculture Commit
tees, a process which as
delayed many projects.
"Inflation
has pushed
many projects over the
$250.000 ceiling and into the
lap of Congress for review,
and this has had a stifling
effect on a number of
important projects in Oregon
and the nation because Con
gress simply doesn’t have the
time to deal with these
projects on an individual
basis," Senator Packwood
criticized.
He said this amendment
would allow many worth
while projects to "bypass
legislative congestion.”
The loan funds provided
under the increased ceiling
are administered by the
Farmers Home Administra
tion and can be used for
projects such as building
marina facilities, irrigation,
soil erosion prevention, flood
control, and the growing of
fish and shrimp or other
aquatic plants and animals.
The Farm Bill is expected
to come before the full Senate
for action by mid-May.
BUM Activates
3 from Idaho
Appointed to
Fire Force
Crews responsible for wild
fire suppression on eastern
Oregon Bureau of Land
Management lands have
been activated for the sea
son, according to Ken Burk
holder, Oregon BLM protec
tion chief.
When operating at full
strength, the force totals 100,
operating out of Lakeview,
Prineville. Baker. Burns, and
Vale. The crews are backed
up by DC-6 and DC-7 fire
retardant aircraft based in
Wenatchee.
Washington,
and Redmond and Medford,
Oregon.
BLM lands in eastern
Oregon have already been
seared by 13 fires totaling
428 acres, and a 200-acrc fire
burned on BLM land in
Washington
earlier
this
spring.
BLM's western Oregon
lands are protected, under
contract, by the Oregon State
Department of Forestry.
Committee
Senator Frank Church an
nouneed today that on il is
recommendation. Agricul
ture Secretary Robert Berg-
land has appointed three
members of the new Agricul
ture Conservation and Stabi
lization Committee for Idaho.
The three new members
are Ralph Coates of Payette,
Charles Buttars of Weston,
and Alvin Ralstin of Craig
mont.
The new Committee is res
ponsible for supervising the
work of the Agriculture Stabi
lization and Conservation
Service in Idaho. Each State
has a Committee of three to
five members appointed by
the Secretary of Agriculture
on the recommendation of
the senior Senator of the
majority party with the
approval of the White House. a
Church had nominated
Warm tunny days are not
exactly what most of Ore
gon’s farmers want this year
with the drought that has
already caused several emer
Coats. Buttars and Ralstin
gency measures to be insti
earlier this year, and said he
gated to aid agriculture, but
was pleased the appoint
for honey bees and the men
ments have now been made.
inspecting them it is ideal.
"All three men are indivi
The inspections, which are
duals held in high regard in
made by the Oregon Depart
their
communities
and
ment of Agriculture, are
throughout the State. Each
required under a law passed
brings long experience to the
a number of years ago at the
job. and together they will
request of apiary owners of
form an impressive ASC
the state. Their purpose is to
Committee for Idaho." said
protect the bee population
church.
from diseases, the most
Coates, who will serve as
serious of which is American
Chairman of the State Com
foulbrood.
mittee, is a former member,
American foulbrood is a
having served previously
disease for which no cure has
between 1967 and 1969. A
been found, but it can be
farmer and rancher he has
prevented by treating the
also served in numerous civic
colonies with drugs. Finding
posts, and was Payette
of the disease in a colony
County Commissioner be
means the bees and the comb
tween 1972 and early this
must be destroyed by burn
year.
ing and all equipment that
Ralstin. who owns a farm
has come in contact with the
in Lewis County, has served
colony sterilized.
as Chairman of the Lewis
Inspections made during
County ASC Committee, and
1976 totaled 2,668. They
is familiar with Federal
covered 2,167 apiaries and a
Agriculture programs at all
total of
39.264 colonies.
levels.
Inspectors found only 1.21
Like his colleagues on the
percent of the colonies they
new Committee. Buttars is
checked were infected.
also a farmer with previous
Inspections are already
experience in Federal Agri
well underway this year in
culture programs, serving as
eastern and southern Oregon
a Fanners Home Adminis
and have started in Marion
tration committeeman.
and Hood River Counties.
All three men were en
The program is being super
dorsed by leaders of the
vised by Roy Harrison.
State's agricultural com
Assisting him with the
munity and recommended by
training of the inspectors is
Church to the new Carter
Ivan Riffey, who was an
Administration.
inspector for the department
for many years.
The inspectors and the
counties where they will be
working are:
Bill Warthen and Clayton
Hiatt -- Union. Wallowa.
Grant. Malheur, Baker and
Umatilla Counties.
Ben Inman - Lane. Ben
ton. Linn and Lincoln Coun
ties.
Roy Harrison - Gilliam,
Wheeler. Lake and Harney
Counties.
Glenn Hunnicutt — Kla
math. Deschutes. Jefferson
and Crook Counties.
D. B. Lacey - Jackson,
THS IS AN
OXYGEN FACTORY
NEW POTATO BOARD OFFICERS for 1977/78 elected at
the organization's annual meeting in Denver will be led by
President Ernest J. Bushman (R) of Galloway. Wisconsin.
From left are E. C. Downes. Jr.. Capeville. Virginia, elected
secretary; James T. Tonso, Center, Colorado, treasurer; John
B. Corson. Pasco, Washington, vice president and David L.
Moore. Bakersfield. California, vice president. Not shown is
Basil S. Fox. Washbum, Maine, who was also elected a vice
president.
No Float Trips
On Owyhee
River
1. Plant grass and hay
crops on steep lands having
low intake rates. Hold culti
vated row crops to a
minimum.
2. Space corrugations as
close as practical for the
crops and site conditions.
3. Add as much organic
matter as possible, using
both crop residue and barn
yard manure.
4. Use frequent irrigations
rather than long irrigations
since intake rates decline as
time goes on.
The same statement was
then passed by the National
Association
of
Wheat
Growers (NAWG) at their
annual meeting last January,
Some of the objectives of
the conference, according to
Miller, would be to discuss a
minimum pricing arrange
ment. The OPEC nations
have agreed to minimum
pricing on oil products and.
while farm products are not
exactly the same commodity,
perhaps the agricultural com
munity can reach some sort
of agreement.
Miller also said that
penalties on the agreement
would have to be considered.
Supplies, allotments, quality
and grades are also topics
that should be discussed,
said Miller.
In calling for the meeting.
Miller said, "It Is plain we
cannot depend on the Ad
ministration or Congress to
help us much, so now Is the
time for us to try doing
something for ourselves."
Unless you plan to spend
38 DAYS A YEAR
the biggest share of your
vacation backpacking your
EQUALS A GOOD
boat • don't plan to float the
PART TIME JOB.
Owyhee River this year.
You nuy qualify to earn about 150
The Vale District of the
for a weekend to itart. And learn a
valuable skill too. Call your local
Bureau of Land Management
Army Reserve center. It's listed in
has suspended issuing per
the white pages of the phone bock
mits for commercial use of
under “U.S. Government?
the river which measured
only 275 c.f.a. (cubic feet per
second) as of April 24.
Fearl M. Parker, district
manager, said a minimum of
Nyssa Firemen answered a
1.200c.f.s. is required before
fire call Tuesday evening
floatboating can occur, with
near the Ray Schulthies farm
ideal floating conditions oc
in rural Nyssa where a 1977
curring between 2,500 and
Chevrolet pickup belonging
3.000 c.f.s.
to Paul Schoen of Ontario was
The Owyhee River is a very
on fire. Damage was exten
popular place normally dur
sive and the pickup was a
ing the spring months. Last
total loss.
year approximately 860 peo
ple floated the river. Most
people float the river from
Rome to the Hole in the
Ground Ranch, a distance of
55 miles. Few float it from
Q. Do oil companies search
Three Forks, a much more for other sources of energy,
dangerous stretch, to the such as uranium?
ranch.
A. Yes, they do. By 1981,
when large-scale commercial
production is planned, Oulf
Oil expects that its Mt.
Taylor uranium project in
New Mexico will be the na
A number of practices can tion's largest uranium mine.
be adapted for use with But it costa money to look
I
surface irrigation systems to for new energy sources. Total
improve their efficiency and coat for the project is esti
Harold Kirby *• Hood
save water, says Jim Burr. mated at more than 8300
River, Sherman, Wasco and
21S Mam 372-5301
Morrow Counties
Malheur County Extension million.
Agent.
George Meyers -- Multno
Irrigation water will be in
mah. Washington, Columbia.
short supply from mid to late
Clatsop and Tillamook Coun
summer and any steps taken
ties.
to conserve water during the
Bob Boswell and Vai
growing season will pay off at
Bustamante - Marion, Clack
amas. Yamhill and Polk
harvest time.
Use a pump-back system to
recirculate run-off. Even on
well-designed surface irriga
tion systems, more than 30
percent of the water applied
can be lost to run off. This
lost water can be reclaimed
Washington, D.C. • Con
by collecting it at lower
gressman Al Ullman Friday
elevations and recirculating it
praised President Carter's
through the farm system by
decision to declare an emer
pumping it back to higher
gency in Oregon as a result of
elevations.
the continuing drought.
In addition to saving water,
Carter signed the declara
pump-back systems can re
tion. which had been reques
duce labor costs and help
ted by Oregon Governor Bob
solve the return flow problem
Straub, late Friday.
affecting stream water qual
Ullman said the declara
ity. Burr notes.
tion makes two forms of
Pumping back is relatively
assistance available imme
inexpensive. It can be done
diately-emergency livestock
with very low pumping
feed assistance and cattle
heads.
low
horsepower
transportation assistance.
pumps and thin-walled pipe,
Under the livestock feed
it can be as effective as
assistance program, ranchers
completely changing over to
can get up to 50 percent of
other methods of irrigation
the cost of feed with funds
which are characteristically
provided through the Federal
more efficient.
Disaster Assistance Adminis
Other options. Water loss
tration.
from run-off can also be
Cattle transportation assis
minimized by re-distributing
tance is provied in lieu of
it by gravity to other fields at
emergency feed assistance.
lower elevations. In addition,
Under the program, the
cutting back the amount of
federal government will help
water in furrows after the
pay for transporting livestock
water has advanced about
3/4 of the distance down the
from one pasture to another.
The amount ot aid cannot
furrow will reduce run-off
exceed what would be avail
losses.
Reduce time of irrigation.
able to the rancher in
Cl«
emergency feed assistance
Once the root zone is filled,
surface irrigation should be
money.
Ullman said six counties in
stopped. Studies in eastern
the state-Klamath. Lake.
Oregon showed that careful
Harney. Malheur, Gilliam
attention to water penetra
and Sherman-will receive
tion during irrigation could
All farmers must find ways to conserve limited
these forms of assistance
reduce water losses by 20
water
supplies this season. THE PATENTED NU-
initially. The programs, he
percent.
FLEX System, sold In your area, is designed to Im
added, will be administered
A soil auger can be used to
prove water management and eliminate the waste
through the State Agricul
determine when the root zone
and much of the labor of conventional surface sys
tural Stabilization and Con
is wet.
servation offices.
tems.
Improve soil intake rates.
Ullman said, "the declara
Where the soil has a slow
The field proven NU-FLEX System replaces ditches,
tion is an important step in
water intake rate, run-off
dams, tubes and other surface systems at a surpris
providing relief to those who
losses arc high. Several steps
ingly low cost.
arc battling not only the
can be taken to improve
An
average '/a mile system complete, designed to
drought, hut l^ss of feed to
intake rates and thus reduce
handle
normal heads of water approximately *300.
other states where govern
run-off.
ment assistance has been
LIT US HILF YOU MAKI TH! MOST OF AVAILAM.K
available for some months."
He «aid he will continue to
WATER SUPPLIES. CALL TODAY FOR INFORMATION.
As a result of the presiden
urge the Department of
tial declaration, assistance
Agriculture and Small Busi
can be made available in
ness to make their own
Phone
Phone
other Oregon counties follow emergency declarations in
Darryl L.
Ernest M.
ing an evaluation of condi Oregon and thereby release
ADRIAN, OREGON
tions hv state and federal
503-724-5294
additional funds to the state
503-724-6503
official Ullman explained.
for drought relief purposes.
FIRE CALLS!
We are pleased to
introduce
Chuck Stiles
Your County
Agent Says
who has 12 years of
nsurance experience
Waldo Insurance
Nyssa
oom BURN WtX3WN.S*’j*c^*-
$•*«<• of Th« nmuih ' a The
Tad Miller. Heppner, pre
sident of the Oregon Wheat
Growers League, today called
for a conference of wheat
growers from
Australia,
Canada and the United States
in order to work out an
understanding on interna
tional wheat agreements.
"At several of our national
meetings", said Miller. "I
have heard farmers say that
if farmers from these three
countries would get together,
we would have an agreement
in half a day. We all have the
same type of problems and I
think we could work them out
together."
Miller is a wheat farmer in
the Heppner-Lexington area
of Oregon and is president of
the state-wide organization of
wheat farmers.
Miller, at a meeting of the
wheat farmers board of
directors held recency in
Salem, proposed thb meet
ing and received unanimous
approval of the board.
Miller said that he is
carrying out a resolution
voted upon by the OWGL
convention held last Decem
ber. The resolution stated:
"The
Oregon
Wheat
Growers League supports the
initiation of an international
conference between the pro
ducers of the major wheat
exporting nations to examine
the feasibility of wheat
production and pricing agree
ments which would establish
equitable worldwide sup
plies and reserves of our
commodity. The goal of this
conference is to promote
adequate wheat supplies for
the world at attractive prices
while maintaining an eco
nomic incentive for wheat
producers."
CORN SEED
All Varieties 01
IDA- HYBRID
AND
WESTERN HYBRID
Including Single Cross
FARMERS
Feed & Seed Co.
117 Good Avenue
NYSSA
Phone 372 2201
WATER?
CONSERVATION: EVERYONE'S CONCERN
Seuell Farms
11