| Agriculture Quarterly, Summer 2005 |
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| Agriculture and the Corps of Discovery |
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Lewis and Clark with Pacific Northwest Native Americans
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What the Lewis & Clark Expedition meant to Oregon agriculture
By Bruce Pokarney
All the elements of modern day Oregon agriculture--from its
diversity and abundance to its trade value and processing--were present
in one form or another some 200 years ago when Meriwether Lewis and
William Clark took that bold journey into the unknown west as part of
an expedition that shaped the future of the United States. From the
time the explorers first set eyes on the arid eastern part of the state
to their overwintering at Ft. Clatsop on the Oregon coast, Lewis and
Clark took great care to document flora and fauna as well as the
agriculture practiced by the native tribes. Their direction and
inspiration came from an agrarian leader--President Thomas Jefferson, a
farmer from Virginia.
A visionary president
"Jefferson loved farmers because they were truly independent," writes
humanities scholar and author Clay S. Jenkinson--a noted expert on
America's third president. "By growing their own food, building their
own homes, and gathering their own fuel, they reduced their dependence
on outside institutions to a minimum."
Jefferson was curious. One of the great purposes of the expedition,
which began in 1804, was to find an agricultural paradise for a country
that would eventually expand, according to Professor James P. Ronda, a
well known author on the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
"Combined with Jefferson's almost naive faith in agriculture, which he
envisioned as spreading gradually westward, this personal need to know
the world of plants would one day be a further incentive to promote
western exploration," writes Ronda.
Indeed, specific instructions given by Jefferson to Lewis in the summer
of 1803 included information the president wanted regarding the people
and land that existed west of the Mississippi:
"You will therefore endeavor to make yourself acquainted,
as far as a diligent pursuit of your journey shall admit, with the
names of the nations & their number, the extent & limits of
their possessions, their ordinary occupations in agriculture, fishing,
hunting, war, arts, & the implements for these, their food,
clothing, & domestic accommodations, and articles of commerce they
may need or furnish, & to what extent. Other objects worthy of
notice will be the soil & face of the country, it's growth &
vegetable productions, especially those not of the U.S., the animals of
the country generally, & especially those not known in the U.S..."
William Clark's personal list of questions focused on agriculture.
Clark, originally a Virginia farmer like Jefferson, was to join the
expedition from his Kentucky farm. Among his questions for the journey:
"Do they obtain by the Cultivation of the soil their
principal maintenance? What species of grain or pulse do they
cultivate? What are their implements of husbandry and in what manner do
they use them? Have they any domestic animals & what are they? Do
their men engage in agriculture or any other domestic employments?"
So as the Corps of Discovery began its journey up the Missouri River in
search of a Northwest Passage, its members were taking notes on
agriculture and its practices.
"They found a number of sedentary, permanent Indian villages larger
than St. Louis or Philadelphia at the time," says Ken Karsmizki,
executive director of the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center in The Dalles
and Lewis and Clark researcher. "The reason those villages existed was
agriculture. The tribes didn't have to embrace the nomadic tradition of
following the buffalo herd to feed themselves. They had domesticated
food and crops."
That, of course, was important for Lewis and Clark as they were able to obtain food for their journey from the natives.
Oregon is "discovered"
Any modern traveler retracing the steps of Lewis and
Clark will see a lot of high, dry land along the way--whether it is
part of the Dakotas, Montana, Idaho, Washington, or Oregon. When the
expedition finally traversed the Rockies in late September 1805, they
saw the arid west after a hot, dry summer. They could not imagine the
land east of The Dalles might someday be agriculturally productive.
"Had they known what would happen within 100 years with
dry land farming, they might have looked at Eastern Oregon
differently," says Karsmizki. "In the early 1800s, U.S. agriculture was
at its easy stage. The country had not been populated for very long.
Crop rotation was in its infancy. As land wore out, farmers would move
to the next piece. The thought was that when everything east of the
Mississippi wore out, people would move to the other side and keep on
farming."
Lewis and Clark essentially wrote off Eastern Oregon as
a place for agriculture. As they proceeded west, things began to
change. They saw more trees and animals. In general, every mile west of
The Dalles translates into an additional inch of annual rainfall.
Finally, the explorers could envision a more suitable place for
agriculture.
Once again, the local people cultivated the land and helped sustain the travelers.
"Coming down the Columbia River, Lewis and Clark did
not hunt for food, " says Karsmizki. "It was more efficient to buy it
from the local farmers, who happened to be Wasco, Wishram, or Chinook
Indians. It's very much like today's consumers. Most of us don't grow
our own food, we buy it from somebody who has cultivated and harvested
that food."
A supply of berries and a potato-like root crop called
wapato provided the nourishment needed to keep the expedition moving
westward. Another significant commodity along the Columbia was salmon,
still harvested today by descendants of those native people who helped
feed Lewis and Clark 200 years ago.
Lewis and Clark began to observe quality pasture land.
They were not just on the lookout for crops, they were thinking about
livestock.
"The expedition also looked for potential commercial
centers--where was the water and where could you build the mills?" says
Karsmizki. "If farmers were going to grow wheat, they would need mills
powered by water."
All along the way, Lewis and Clark continued writing in
their journals, cataloguing the best places for agriculture. They
specifically found areas in the Columbia Gorge that sustained fruit
production. Today, those areas are teeming with pear, apple, and cherry
orchards. Farther west, the berries they found might have indicated a
future haven for grapes made into wine.
Lewis and Clark also experienced an early day version of value-added agriculture, so important to Oregon today.
"They wrote about how the food was preserved including
the drying of salmon and berries," says Karsmizki. "In some cases,
berries were added to the bread prepared by the Indians. Lewis and
Clark documented food processing and preservation techniques."
The expedition reached Ft. Clatsop, near present day
Astoria, on December 7, 1805, with chapters of important information
about the kind of agriculture that could exist in Oregon.
Heading home
A soggy, cold winter on the Oregon coast made for an anxious return
to civilization for Lewis and Clark. In late March 1806, the expedition
started moving back across Oregon by paddling up the Columbia River.
However, before they left, they witnessed an early form of agricultural
distribution and marketing.
"Most of the best wapato fields in Oregon were near present day
Portland," says Karsmizki. "But during the winter at Ft. Clatsop, the
expedition was provided wapatos that were transported from the Portland
area by Indians to the coast and sold. Lewis and Clark experienced
first hand the marketing of Oregon agriculture."
It's interesting to note that within five years, Ft. Astoria was built
by American fur trader John Jacob Astor. Two years later, the fort was
used as a trading post for the Hudson's Bay Company and needed a supply
of food. Knowing that farming was better in the Portland-Vancouver
area, the company established satellite farms, which kept alive the
infant fur trade on the Oregon coast.
Meanwhile, as Lewis and Clark made their way up the Columbia, they
unknowingly passed the mouth of the Willamette River, just as they had
the previous fall. Apparently, an island blocked their view of the
river's mouth. By the time the explorers reached the Sandy River, local
Indians told them what they had missed. A brief return down river gave
them an opportunity to explore the Willamette up to about the point of
the falls at Oregon City.
"They went back to explore the Willamette partly because of the
agricultural potential of the valley," says Karsmizki. "They kept
asking the Indians how far the river went and got the sense that it was
a good valley for farming."
Today, the Willamette Valley represents the most productive agriculture in the state.
When the expedition made it back to The Dalles in April, they found the
Columbia River too hard to paddle because of too much water. Lewis and
Clark had come down the river in the dry season, they were going back
up following the wet season. They knew that livestock was available and
traded for horses to expedite the trip home.
The expedition officially ended when the travelers returned to St. Louis in late September, 1806.
The next 200 years
President Jefferson was anxious to receive journals from the
expedition, knowing they would be powerful in encouraging a western
migration. Lewis, in one of his letters to Jefferson, essentially said
if America did not aggressively settle the west, it was going to be
lost to others--perhaps the French, the Spanish, or the British.
Jefferson thought it would take several hundred years to settle and
populate this huge piece of land. He didn't realize that in less than
90 years, the frontier would essentially vanish.
Meanwhile, the course was set for the growth of Oregon's agriculture industry.
"In 1829, Ft. Vancouver was established as a major hub for the Hudson's
Bay Company," says Karsmizki. "Food was grown in the Willamette Valley
and transported north to supply fur trappers all the way to Canada."
As is the case today, most of the agricultural production in Oregon was leaving the area.
The early stages of the Oregon Trail movement began in the 1830s.
Agriculture was the main attraction to those willing to move all of
their belongings to the west. Interstate commerce of agriculture
exploded in 1849, when gold was discovered in California. Large farming
operations in Oregon fed the miners down south.
"Everyone in California seemingly gave up the plow and took up the
pick," says Karsmizki. "More people got rich feeding the people who
were trying to get rich. The commodity of food was getting scarce in
Northern California because so many people jumped from the farms to the
mines."
Oregon agriculture had found itself. It's productive farm land and
great potential, first observed by Lewis and Clark, was firmly
established, paving the way for the multi-billion dollar industry it is
today.
As Americans continue celebrating the Lewis and Clark bicentennial,
it's important to remember that at the root of it all is a heritage of
agriculture.
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| Board of Agriculture profile |
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Rick Gustafson | Pat Wortman
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A parting interview
Rick Gustafson and Pat Wortman will each finish their second
four-year term at the end of July and will retire from the State Board
of Agriculture. Both Gustafson of Portland and Wortman of Enterprise
have seen many changes in their eight years with the board. The
Agriculture Quarterly recently asked a few questions of the two
outgoing members.
What are your thoughts on serving the board the past eight years?
(Gustafson) I'm really sorry I'm leaving. Agriculture is so
important to the state and it's been really great to be a part of it.
(Wortman) I would echo that. The experiences, the education, and the
overall worth that the agricultural communities bring to this state,
it's just hard not to put anything but a tremendous value on it. It has
been a tremendous experience for me. I hate to be going off the board.
But, at the same time, there's a new crop of people coming on that will
certainly take my place and maybe bring a different perspective.
What board accomplishments impress you the most?
(Gustafson) That's easy. The recent legislation to name the Board of
Agriculture a policy board. It gives the board a higher profile and
increased stature in dealing with policies and issues important to
agriculture.
(Wortman) Once again, I have to agree. The board is now taking on many
more issues, and the legislation was important in allowing us to take
on more in the future.
What issue is perhaps the most important facing the board today?
(Gustafson) Land use. Protecting the viability of agriculture and
its performance does relate to land use. We have a lot of good
information. We have a very sophisticated way we can approach it. We
have a good foundation built with our land use and planning. Now we
need to turn our attention to the business of making agriculture
effective and viable in the state. We can do that by preserving the
most productive lands and then protecting those lands so they operate
most effectively.
(Wortman) I see the challenge of trade barriers, nationally and
internationally. I don't think there is one person in a thousand that
understands some of this. I know I don't. The board could put in a day
just hearing about the ramifications and some of the things that are
going to be affecting our state and our agriculture here in Oregon.
Do you have any words of advice to those who follow on the Board of Agriculture?
(Gustafson) The advice to the board is to rely on your colleagues,
work very hard to build that relationship, and preserve that
relationship. I believe the board can assert that role of setting a
better policy and better leadership for agriculture.
(Wortman) I see that as paramount--holding the board together, using
the knowledge that exists throughout the state, throughout the
different segments of our industry. It has to be something that is high
on the board's priority list.
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| Director's column |
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What is one of the first tourist attractions that comes to mind when
you think of Seattle, Washington? Pike Place Market of course! This
incredible public market is located in the heart of Seattle where
agriculture has a chance to showcase its products and access an
incredible direct market of consumers. And what is a major goal of many
Oregon agricultural associations? Oregon agriculture wants the
opportunity to better educate and connect with our urban cousins.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if Portland had a public market like Pike
Place Market, where Oregon agriculture could have access to that big
city audience?
A group of diverse citizens has been tenaciously working towards
developing the Portland Public Market and the vision is about to become
a reality. Individuals representing such groups as the Portland
Farmer's Market, the Portland restaurant industry, the City of
Portland, the Oregon Department of Agriculture, the State Board of
Agriculture, and our federal delegation have been working diligently to
identify a location, fund a feasibility study, begin a capital
campaign, identify the kinds of tenants that would be recruited, and
develop educational opportunities.
The concept is incredibly exciting and agriculture needs to be actively
involved. The Portland Public Market would be a permanent, year round
market that would compliment, not replace, the existing Portland
Farmers' Market. The Portland Public Market would offer fresh foods as
well as a wide range of prepared local foods and restaurants. The
public market would also spotlight local agriculture for residents and
tourists and offer educational opportunities for children and adults.
Public markets have been a part of Portland since it was founded in the
mid-1800s. Markets were located in Ankeny Square, Yamhill Street
between First and Fifth avenues, and on the eastside in the Albina and
Buckman neighborhoods. But for over 60 years now, Portland has been
without a true public market. Now is the time to bring back this
opportunity to showcase Oregon agriculture in downtown Portland. Please
join the Oregon Department of Agriculture in supporting this effort. As
we continually look for marketing and educational opportunities for
Oregon agriculture, a Portland Public Market provides a chance to fill
many needs. Log onto portlandpublicmarket.com and
find out more about this vision and how you can help. Then, plan to
join with our urban friends as we create a greater presence for Oregon
agriculture in the heart of downtown Portland.
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| Farm stands offer Oregon's agricultural bounty |
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Like hundreds of other Oregon agricultural producers, John Zielinski is
ready for another busy season of selling fresh, local food products
grown on his own farm to a steady stream of devoted customers. But he
never has to leave his own property. Farm stands--also known as roadside
stands--share with farmers' markets the direct sale of locally grown
food by the people who produce it. There is no middleman as with retail
stores or restaurants. Where they differ from farmers' markets is the
fact that instead of the farm going to the consumer, the consumer comes
to the farm.
"People like having access to so many local items in one location and
having a chance to meet the people who grow the food they eat," says
Zielinski, whose family-owned E.Z. Orchards Farm Market in the Salem
area offers a variety of products including apples, peaches, pears, and
berries." The majority of products we sell come from our own farm or
other local farms, so the people who visit our farm market often
compliment us on the freshness of the produce. People also express
their appreciation for our farm and market being family-owned and
operated."
According to the Oregon Department of Agriculture, there are 412 farm
stands statewide. Most of them are located in the Willamette Valley,
where much of the state's agricultural production takes place, and not
far from Oregon's population centers. Marion County leads the way with
53 farm stands with Lane County reporting 42. But consumers can find a
number of farms, ranches, or orchards in nearly all 36 counties that
offer direct sale of what is produced on site.
For E.Z. Orchards and the Zielinski family, establishing a farm stand
was part of the plan to expand and diversify. When the family had the
opportunity to purchase property ideally suited for a farm direct
enterprise, they jumped at it.
"There are advantages to farm direct marketing," says John
Zielinski."The middleman is eliminated, which gives the farmer a better
profit margin. When we first looked at farm direct marketing, we felt it could
provide a better return on investment than purchasing more land and
expanding farm operations."
The story is similar for Kiyokawa Family Orchards, a 107-acre
commercial fruit operation in the Hood River Valley. Numerous varieties
of pears, apples, cherries, and peaches are grown for nearby packers,
but the family has enhanced the orchards by selling farm direct. Their
stand opens in September.
"We started our fruit stand in the late 1980s to diversify and have
supplemental income other than from the packing house," says Randy
Kiyokawa." There are many advantages of selling directly to the
customers, including better price, getting the money sooner, and not
losing fruit due to the sorting out of the imperfect ones. Our
customers also get better prices, ranging from 15 to 79 cents a pound,
great selection, better flavor, and a way to get back to where the
apples are grown. Visitors can't believe the price and selection. I get
the biggest kick from the ones that take a bite of an apple and say it
is the best they ever had."
The Kiyokawas also offer orchard tours and a u-pick block that allows
families to make a day of driving the scenic Hood River loop while
picking their own apples.
Not too far down the road, in the Hood River Valley, is Rasmussen Farms.
"Ours is a destination farm, beginning in the spring with flowers and
ending in December with gift pack fruit and wreath shipping," says
Dollie Rasmussen. "This is our 60th Anniversary. Originally, we
operated as a general farm selling eggs, milk, and fryer chickens
directly to the public. Starting in the 1960s, strawberries were added.
Presently, there is a huge variety of products. We offer many family
activities including Pumpkin Funland, which has been nationally
recognized as one of the 10 best places for Halloween."
The Rasmussens have noticed a change in the consumer over the years.
"At least here in the west, they seem to show a great deal of interest
in buying direct from the farm," says Dollie. "I think the old concept
of shopping this way is making a comeback, mostly for freshness and
knowing where the food is coming from."
Operations such as Gathering Together Farm in Philomath have added a
dining experience along with some value-added, niche food products.
"We get lots of praise from customers who appreciate the direct
connection with the place where their food comes from," says Stacey
Couch. "They really enjoy the atmosphere of our farm stand and patio
eating area, and they love the food from our kitchen."
The menu includes homemade baked goods, like organic potato doughnuts
made from scratch, something seldom found in the doughnut world. The
Garden Room is available for seasonal lunches, brunches, and Saturday
breakfasts that feature the farm's fresh produce.
Some farm stands open year around, but most are seasonal and reflect
what is growing in the area at the time of the year. Salad greens and
nursery starts are usually the first to make an appearance. Many farm
stands have been offering fresh berries over this summer--transitioning
from strawberries to blackberries or raspberries to blueberries. A lot
depends on what part of Oregon the stand is located. In Eastern Oregon,
it might be more melons and fewer berries. The selection may be greater
at farmers' markets because so many vendors travel relatively great
distances to sell their goods. But farm stands, exclusively, give the
consumer the experience of visiting the site where the product is grown.
The opportunities to buy directly from the farm--either at farmers'
markets or at the farm itself--are plenty this summer, no matter which
direction you turn in Oregon.
Visit the aglink Web site for a list of roadside stands near you. aglink.org/consumer/wheretobuy/farmdirect.php.
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| ODA names two new administrators |
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Oregon Department of Agriculture Director Katy Coba has named two
members of the agency's management team. Gary Roth has been hired as
administrator of ODA's Agricultural Development and Marketing Division
while State Veterinarian Dr. Don Hansen will assume the position of
administrator of the Animal Health and Identification Division,
effective September.
Roth returns to ODA after five years in the private sector operating
his own company. From 1988 to 2000, he worked as an international trade
manager and the department's industry development manager. Prior to
coming to ODA, Roth worked as a lobbyist and as director of the
Commodity Division for the Oregon Farm Bureau. He fills a vacancy
created when Dalton Hobbs was promoted to an assistant director at ODA.
Dr. Don Hansen will continue his role as state veterinarian, a position
he has held since May 2004, but will add the responsibilities of
division administrator. Prior to joining ODA last year, Hansen served
as extension veterinarian at Oregon State University, beginning in
1984. He replaces Rodger Huffman, who has requested to serve as field
operations manager for Eastern Oregon while relocating his family.
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| ODA celebrates 75 years |
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Get ready to celebrate a milestone for the Oregon Department of
Agriculture, as the agency turns 75 in 2006. Several events and
features will take place next year to mark the occasion, including:
- The annual Agricultural Progress Awards Dinner, Thursday, March 23,
2006 at the Oregon Garden in Silverton. This popular event will be held
as part of National Agriculture Week.
- Special public tours of the Oregon Department of Agriculture during National Agriculture Week.
- A photo contest of Oregon agriculture.
- A commemorative calendar.
Circle the dates and make plans to help ODA celebrate 75 years of
service to Oregon. More information will follow in upcoming issues of
the Agriculture Quarterly.
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| Biotoxin gives Oregon the razor clam blues |
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ODA lab personnel prepare shellfish samples before testing.
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Calm weather, extremely low tides, and an abundance of wonderful
tasting Oregon razor clams just waiting to be dug from the beaches.
Conditions at times this spring and summer have been almost too good to
be true for die-hard clammers. But a naturally-occurring marine toxin
called domoic acid has presently put razor clams off limits to both
recreational and commercial harvesting and, in the past, kept other
types of filter-feeding shellfish from being harvested. A frustrated
public can only sit and wait for future test results from the Oregon
Department of Agriculture that trigger whether or not the beaches open
back up.
While there are still unanswered questions about domoic acid and what
leads to its presence, the biotoxin is well known to ODA's Food Safety
Division and the agency's regulatory laboratory located in Portland.
Countless times over the past decade, ODA has closed areas of the
Oregon coast to shellfish harvesting because of elevated levels of
domoic acid. Currently, razor clam harvesting is prohibited on all
beaches and bays in Oregon. Levels of domoic acid exceeding 20 parts
per million (ppm) are considered above the alert level. Levels have
reached as high as 200 ppm in some razor clams sampled and tested from
the central coast.
"Clams and other mollusks are filter feeders, so the domoic acid
concentrates in their tissue," says Deb Cannon, manager of ODA's
Shellfish Program. "So when we consume the shellfish, we take in the
acid too. We are going to have to understand seafood risk associated
with natural toxins."
Domoic acid is produced by marine phytoplankton or algae in the ocean.
Eating shellfish contaminated with domoic acid, even at low levels, can
cause minor illness within minutes to hours after consumption. Cooking,
adding baking soda, or any other method does not destroy this toxin. In
mild cases, symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps,
and headache. Severe cases can result in memory problems and even death.
Since the 1950s, Oregon health officials have monitored shellfish
toxins because of the many documented cases of people getting sick
after consuming clams and mussels. Paralytic shellfish poisoning
(PSP)--often referred to as "red tide"--has been a known problem for
years. There is even evidence that populations of Native American
tribes became sick and died back in the 1700s after eating clams and
mussels tainted by PSP off the Oregon coast.
"Domoic acid was only hinted at as being a problem for west coast
shellfish because we knew the algae responsible for producing the toxin
was present in our waters," says Cannon. "But in 1991, tests run in the
State of Washington for PSP in mice showed atypical symptoms. What they
saw was amnesiac shellfish poisoning."
In November 1991, ODA began testing for domoic acid and found levels
exceeding 100 ppm in razor clams. Samples of frozen clams, harvested
several years earlier, showed high levels existed back then as well.
Soon, ODA found domoic acid in Dungeness crab harvested off the Oregon
coast, although the toxin is concentrated only in the viscera, or guts
of crab--a part of the animal not often consumed. Commercial and
recreational harvesting of clams was closed until levels dropped back
below the safe range for domoic acid.
"For PSP, the first indication of a toxic bloom is often found in
mussels, the sentinel species," says Cannon. "However, because mussels
can purge domoic acid quickly, they are not a reliable indicator for
that type of marine toxin. As a result, we need to directly sample and
test the razor clams, which retain more of the toxin."
Nine months of the year, ODA samples mussels each week at up to nine
sites along the coast. Harmful algae blooms can occur during spring,
summer, and fall. Samples of mussels, clams, or other shellfish are
immediately shipped to the ODA lab in Portland where chemists may need
up to two or three days to process the results.
Meanwhile, the industry and the clam-digging public anxiously await the news.
"We are aware of the potential impact to the public based on our
analyses and that's why we first focus on doing the test correctly. We
get wrapped up in properly conducting the test and procedures," says
ODA chemist Virginia Palomo.
On testing days, ODA lab personnel can often be found shucking clams
and mussels to get to the meat of the animal. It takes about half an
hour to prepare a homogenous representative sample.
Lab equipment preparation requires another 30 minutes. That's after the
instrument has taken about four hours to warm up--a step that is often
done well before the samples arrive. Knowing the schedule and need to
test well in advance makes for a shorter process.
Taking into account standardization, the number of samples that need to
be run, and other associated steps, the analysis will take up to two
additional hours. The machine does most of the work and the chemist can
walk away and do other things while the test is running, with an
occasional check during the process.
"In relation to other tests we run, this one is fairly quick," says Palomo.
The all-important machine is called a high pressure liquid
chromatograph (LC), which is the method of choice in that it provides a
relatively quick turnaround. The machine sends information to a
computer and provides ultraviolet detection. If domoic acid is present,
the chromatograph will show a specific wavelength at 242 nanometers. To
the layperson, it sounds complicated. But to ODA chemists, it's simple,
reliable, and expedient.
Peer review of the analysis by another ODA chemist is the final step
before the results are official and sent down to Deb Cannon and the
Food Safety Division. Cannon then makes the ultimate decision on
whether areas and species are open or closed for harvesting.
It appears the public has heeded the closures, even though people are
often frustrated. Tourism is important to the coastal economy, and in
some places, clamming is important to tourism. But domoic acid is not
something to ignore. One outbreak in Canada in 1987 came from mussels
harvested from Prince Edward Island and resulted in three deaths, 153
illnesses, and nine people with permanent short term memory loss.
"We don't want Oregon to be a part of that kind of story," says Cannon.
High domoic acid levels can drop without much warning or stay elevated
for years. As of now, there is no way to predict. So the sampling and
testing continues.
For the latest on shellfish closure information, call ODA's shellfish
safety hot line toll free at 800-448-2474 or 503-986-4728 (Salem area).
Current shellfish safety information is also available on the ODA Web
site at http://oregon.gov/ODA/FSD/shellfish_status.shtml
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| Specialty crop grants update |
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Editor's note: The Agriculture Quarterly is featuring selected
summaries of projects funded through the Specialty Crop Grants Program.
ODA and the State Board of Agriculture distributed $3.2 million in
federal funds to dozens of proposed projects in 2002. These selected
summaries highlight the accomplishments of the 54 projects that
received support through this grant (no further funds are available at
this time). A complete listing and description of all 54 projects can
be found online at: http://oda.state.or.us/dbs/crop_grants/hitlist2.lasso
Project profile: Market expansion plan for Marionberries
Total grant applied toward project: $45,000
Total provided by other entities: $0
The Marionberry Marketing Association (MMA), in cooperation with
RainSweet, initiated this project to target the greater Phoenix market
area for specialty Marionberry products. Because Phoenix is a popular
vacation destination, this area was felt to be an ideal market in which
to introduce the unique taste and quality of the Marionberry. The
project provided samples of products, printed promotional materials and
displays, and sample tasting in retail stores, resorts, hotels,
restaurants, caterers, bakeries, and food service distributors.
Results: A retail program targeted consumers with a product line
of Marionberry jam, jelly, and syrup in shelf-stable glass jars.
Country Heritage Farm was able to place product in AJ's Fine Food
Stores in Arizona. Frozen Marionberries in an elegant sauce was the
product selected for trials with resorts, hotels, restaurants,
bakeries, and food distributors. Some 3,360 individual three-pound tubs
were used as free samples, equalling more than 160,000 servings. An
experienced food service sales manager was contracted to make initial
presentations. RainSweet representatives followed up with distributors
to arrange for transportation and warehousing of sample product. MMA
feels the project has successfully generated brand awareness for
Marionberries and introduced quality products to the target market. MMA
is hoping for over $1 million in new sales in 2005 to benefit Oregon's
100 Marionberry growers, and local processors and distributors.
Project profile: Matching potato production to processing market opportunities
Total grant applied toward project: $40,000
Total provided by other entities: In-kind use of fields by growers
Malheur County Experiment Station, OSU Extension, provided research for
this project that evaluated a number of new potato varieties for early
harvest, processing quality, yield, grade, and resistance to late
blight.
Results: Ten varieties were evaluated. Planting date was key to
adequate yields over all harvest dates. A delay in planting from April
5 to April 25 resulted in yield loss of about 75 cwt/acre. April 5
appears to be the earliest safe planting date to avoid frost damage.
Shepody and Ranger varieties are not well suited as early harvest
crops. Results of the varietal tests can be found online at:
http://cropinfo.net/AnnualReports/2002/EarlyHarvProcVars.htm
http://cropinfo.net/AnnualReports/2003/PotatoEarHarvBulking.htm
Project profile: Malheur County over-winter onion project
Total grant applied toward project: $100,000
Total provided by other entities: $16,220 cash outlay; grower's time donated.
Five producers conducted in-field production of "over-winter" onions
that have a different growing/harvest/marketing period than the
traditional yellow onions produced in Malheur County. The objective was
to have a product that would enable marketing of the crop when imports
from Mexico are not competing with local production. Over-wintering
onions also can provide an opportunity for growers to utilize their
existing equipment and spread the cost over additional units in a
different season.
Results: The development of viable cultural and agronomic
production practices is critical to this strategy. The growers
discovered that pests, primarily thrips, were a significant challenge
to producing onions over the winter months. It is imperative to control
thrips in the early stage of growth. Producers experimented with a
variety of onions, including reds and yellows. One farm had a
reasonable stand and can manage for pests and market the crop. On
another farm, the 2002 emergence was 95%, with 5% of yellows and 10% of
reds lost to thrip damage. Yields were acceptable, but prices
deteriorated after harvest and the grower is evaluating whether to
plant over-winter again. A third farmer was unable to control thrip
damage and did not harvest the crop. A fourth farm had reasonable
success and yields with yellows, but substantial loss on reds.
Additional cultural practices, planting date information, and more
options on thrip control are sought by the grower. One final grower
experimented with sprinkler irrigation to control thrips, theorizing
that this would wash the thrips off. This approach did not prove
successful. Overall, the combined project's crop yielded 12, 293 cwt,
and generated $74,977 in sales. Most growers did not generate profits,
due to the costs and lower yields from thrip damage. However, they
learned significant management and control strategies for thrip and
will continue to build their knowledge regarding this new crop and its
marketing effort.
Project profile: Effective management of choke disease in orchardgrass seed production
Total grant applied toward project: $50,000
Total provided by other entities: $41,225
The spread of choke disease in orchardgrass is not well understood.
This project provided field research to examine the impacts of choke
disease on yield loss in orchardgrass, and test various cultural and
chemical controls. The Orchardgrass Commission assisted in
disseminating the findings and educating producers about the results.
Field plots were established for testing cultural practices that may
affect choke disease development. A survey of 45 fields was conducted
on the 2002 crop and 65 fields were surveyed in 2003. Data analysis was
done by Oregon State University.
Results: The data show that levels of choke disease in Oregon
can range as high as 38% in severely affected fields. The average
disease level in the 65 randomly selected fields is 9%. This translates
into a direct loss of 9% of the potential seed crop, or approximately
$1 million. It was discovered that spring-planted orchardgrass plots
irrigated in June had remarkably high levels of choke disease in the
first year of production. Replicated field studies testing irrigation
as a disease factor continued in 2004. Several fungicides that are
registered for use on orchardgrass were tested for their ability to
inhibit disease development and all were determined ineffectual for
this purpose. This information provided growers with the knowledge that
using fungicides to suppress choke development, once present, is not
effective. However, fungicides may be effective before infection
occurs. Further testing and evaluation continued in 2004.
Project profile: Develop and test market of Oregon green beans in glass jars
Total grant applied toward project: $10,000
Total provided by other entities: $10,000
The project was intended to develop a premium glass-pack of green beans
for a major retailer. Product development, production line setup and
test marketing were initiated. The prospective buyer did not like the
packing in bottles when demonstrated. A second effort was made with
pouch containers. The retail chain also declined the second packaging
design.
Results: Sometimes these projects demonstrate what doesn't
work--the grantee decided to terminate the project based on preliminary
results of the test marketing.
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| Conservation projects make a difference in 45 districts |
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Oat crop is no-till drilled into the stubble from last year.
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Farmers and ranchers throughout Oregon are continuing to do their
part in protecting the state's natural resources with an assist from 45
soil and water conservation districts. Successful on-the-ground
projects made possible by funding and direction from the districts are
proving to all landowners in Oregon that conservation is good business.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture oversees the districts while
funneling $2.4 million in technical assistance funds provided by the
Oregon Lottery. That is just one source of the overall funding for
SWCDs. Most of the money ends up helping individual landowners with
on-the-ground projects in all 36 Oregon counties.
"There is a higher public expectation for clean water, environmental
enhancement, and watershed protection," says Larry Ojua, ODA's program
manager for soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs). "Districts
are becoming conservation leaders in each of their communities."
For 56 years, SWCDs have had the mission of promoting the conservation
and wise use of natural resources. All geographic areas of Oregon
continue to see the value of SWCD projects funded by ODA's technical
assistance grants or funds from other sources such as the Oregon
Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and from
private sources or the district's own fund raising activities.
"The money pays for technical assistance in the field," says Ojua.
"Conservation experts are able to walk the land and talk to producers
about the kinds of practices that can make a difference."
Following last November's election, there are now six SWCDs that have
permanent tax rates: Yamhill, Polk, Benton, Marion, East Multnomah, and
Wasco County. Local voters have seen the value of funding SWCDs to help
educate, promote, and actually implement effective conservation efforts.
SWCDs often help landowners with grant proposals, which, in turn, pay
for the design, installation, and materials used for a conservation
project. Materials can include fencing, piping, shrubs, trees, or
seeds. In other cases, SWCD funds are used for outreach and
education--paying for workshops that teach landowners a variety of ways
to take care of the land and water that sustains agriculture.
In any event, the diversity of Oregon is often reflected in the variety
of projects undertaken by the state's 45 soil and water conservation
districts. Among the highlights:
- SWCDs in Wasco, Gilliam, and Sherman counties achieved an historic
biological opinion signed by federal officials this past year which
provides local agricultural producers protection under the Endangered
Species Act when implementing approved conservation plans. This is the
first biological opinion of its kind on private lands anywhere in the
U.S. and is seen as a win-win for both fish and farmers.
- Tualatin SWCD and partner agencies designed two new programs to
relax some requirements and increase payments to landowners who plant
native trees and shrubs along streams. Once installed, these programs
will provide buffers along streams, improve fish and wildlife habitat,
lower stream temperature, and stabilize the stream bank.
- Siuslaw SWCD, in collaboration with other local groups and
organizations, won the prestigious Theiss International Riverprize--a
kind of Nobel Prize in the field of river shed management--for a
successful partnership that has greatly improved conditions in the
Siuslaw Basin.
- Faced with continued water shortages in the basin, Klamath SWCD has
helped farmers and ranchers plan and install more than $500,000 of USDA
contracts for water conservation measures under the Environmental
Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). In addition, more than 3,250
landowners and residents have received information and technical advice
from the district regarding conservation and water issues.
- Baker Valley SWCD, partnering with other agencies, completed the
Powder River Water Quality Enhancement Project, which allowed area
landowners to remove 6,000 cattle from access to the river by
installing 10 miles of riparian improvements, 110 watering troughs, and
riparian fencing.
- Jefferson County SWCD replaced some 4,500 feet of open irrigation
delivery ditches and canals with pipeline to stop erosion, nutrient and
chemical seepage to streams, and loss of topsoil and water.
- Illinois Valley SWCD coordinated the planting of 26,000 native
trees on 105 acres of private lands scorched during the devastating
2002 Biscuit Fire in Southwest Oregon.
- Douglas SWCD has been part of the effort to install water ponds and
tanks to help in fire suppression efforts throughout the county.
Helicopters and tanker trucks will be able to draw upon these water
sources during fire fighting season. The water sites also provide
habitat for wildlife.
- East Multnomah SWCD has worked with other partners to establish the
Naturescaping for Clean Rivers program which teaches mostly urban
workshop participants the benefits of natural landscapes using native
plants and water-friendly gardening practices.
- Wheeler SWCD helped a landowner replace a deteriorated and unsafe
culvert with a new bridge and bottomless arch culvert. The new design
eliminated the risk of a fish barrier and sediment entering the stream.
Each of the 45 SWCDs in Oregon have success stories to tell. Projects
are not always visible to the general public, but the list is growing
as farmers and ranchers around the state are helping to take care of
the land and water that takes care of Oregon agriculture.
Fact sheets and profiles for all 45 SWCDs in Oregon can be found online at www.oacd.org.
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| Commodity Commission Spotlight: Oregon Sheep Commission |
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High school culinary team works with fresh rack of lamb.
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Established: 1977
Address: 1270 Chemeketa St. NE, Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-370-7024
Fax: 503-585-1921
Chair: Cleve Dumdi
Commissioners: Eight members,
appointed by the ODA director. Four members representing sheep
producers, two members representing wool handlers, and one public
member.
Administrator: Richard Kosesan
Assessment: One and one half cent ($.015) per pound of wool
Research
The Oregon Sheep Commission provided funding to assist with a
research project conducted by Oregon State University to investigate
selenium supplementation for livestock through forage fertilization.
Various selenium sources were added to fertilizers and applied to
pasture land. The resulting forage was fed to sheep and blood tests
were conducted to determine whether the forage provided the necessary
dietary selenium for animal health. The application of selenium as a
fertilizer was shown to increase the forage content of selenium and, as
a direct result of this research, selenium fertilizer is now available
to Oregon livestock producers.
Education
The Oregon Sheep Commission provided funding to OSU to make
available Sheep Safety and Quality Assurance training sessions for
Oregon sheep producers. The SSQA program is a national quality
assurance program designed to apply the principles of total quality
management to sheep production and to maximize consumer confidence in
the quality of sheep products.
The Northwest Performance Sire Test is another project previously
funded, in part, by the commission. Following a 60-day test program,
rams were evaluated for growth and carcass characteristics. Sire test
results included ultrasound measurements of loin eye area and back fat
thickness. Test results were made available to all producers in order
to demonstrate the value of improving breeding performance based on
economically important traits.
With the help of the Oregon Sheep Growers Association, educational
materials, information about animal health, production, and other
industry issues have been provided to Oregon sheep producers through a
quarterly newsletter.
Marketing
The Oregon Sheep Commission has funded several projects designed to
promote lamb and wool products. The Oregon Make It Yourself With Wool
Program promotes the beauty and versatility of wool through a statewide
contest for all ages, preteen to adult.
To promote lamb, the commission selected several tasting events and
cooking contests. During 2004, the Oregon Agri-Business Council
cooperated in a "Buy Summer Lamb" promotion funded by the Oregon Sheep
Commission and the American Lamb Board. Lamb tasting demonstrations
were conducted in selected Eugene and Portland area grocery stores that
offer domestically produced lamb, as opposed to imported lamb.
The commission also contributed to the Grand Lamb and Cabrito Cook-off
held during the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival in Canby, Oregon.
During May 2005, the commission helped sponsor the third Lane County
High School Culinary Competition. This event involved 44 student chefs
and 11 professional chefs in a competition featuring Oregon rack of
lamb. The competition was viewed as an excellent opportunity for young
people to learn about lamb, as well as to promote the taste and
availability of Oregon lamb to the general public and a group of
current and future food service representatives.
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| Some hot topics we are watching... |
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BSE
USDA announces BSE test results and new BSE confirmatory testing
protocol. For the most current information watch the USDA Web site.
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/bse/bse.html
West Nile virus
This mosquito-borne virus is expected to return to Oregon this summer. Now is the time to take precautions.
- Vaccinate horses
- Control mosquito breeding sites
- Protect yourself
http://oregon.gov/ODA/AHID/ahid_wnv.shtml
Biotoxin levels on Oregon beaches
Domoic acid levels have been elevated this spring and summer. For the
latest on shellfish closure information, call ODA's shellfish safety
hot line toll free at 800-448-2474 or 503-986-4728 (Salem area).
Biofuels in Oregon
The state of Oregon is involved in the development of a biofuels
industry and other alternative energy sources. For more information on
this topic visit the ODA Web site: http://oregon.gov/ODA/energy.shtml
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| Announcements |
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September 7-8
Board of Agriculture, Newport
October 15
Ag in the Classroom Fall Harvest Dinner
Linn County Fair & Expo Center
541-737-8629
http://aitc.oregonstate.edu/events/dinner.htm
March 23, 2006
Ag Progress Awards Dinner
The Oregon Garden
Silverton
Get Oregonized
Oregon Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation (AITC) is very proud to announce the printing of "Get Oregonized: Oregon's History, People, Natural Resources, and Agriculture."
Single copies $20 plus S&H
Boxes of ten $18 each plus S&H
Teacher's Guide $25 each.
Oregon Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation, 105 Ballard Extension Hall
Corvallis, Oregon 97331
541-737-8629
http://aitc.oregonstate.edu/resources/oregonized.htm
Field burning season
The 2005 Willamette Valley field burning season has begun. Grass seed and cereal grain growers frequently use field burning as a management tool to eliminate disease and reduce the need for pesticides and herbicides. The ODA Smoke Management Program regulates this practice in the Willamette Valley, with a few other areas of the state managing their own programs. The goal of the program is to allow growers the opportunity to burn, while protecting the public from smoke impacts. The public is encouraged to report any smoke they may be experiencing as soon as possible by calling one of the ODA "complaint lines." The complaint line numbers are 503-986-4709 and 541-686-7600. Growers line: 503-986-4755.
Premises ID Program
The state of Oregon is taking the first step toward a nationwide program designed to identify all livestock, as well as track their movement and location. State Veterinarian Don Hansen encourages Oregon producers to participate in the voluntary premises registration program.
For more information: http://oregon.gov/ODA/news/050216premises.shtml
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