The Growers Guide June 2023

WHY SO LOW?

WHEN IT COMES TO WOOL PRICES, THE ANSWER ISN’T EASY

By SIERRA DAWN McCLAIN Capital Press

This spring, Capital Press got a question from a reader who raises Rambouillet and Merino sheep in Eastern Oregon: “Why are wool prices so low?”

The answer is both simple and complex. The simple answer is the global wool market faces oversupply and sagging demand.

But the complex piece is how the industry got to that point. Many factors — long-term trends and recent developments — have created the current market conditions.

Farmers are worried about wool prices, calling the market “dismal,” “on a downbound trajectory” and “borderline alarming.” Producers of medium, coarse and black wools are especially suffering.

“It’s hard,” said Maria Rooney, who raises Coopworth, Romney and horned Dorset sheep in Silverton, Ore.

Rooney has been in the industry for nearly 35 years and has faced challenging times, but she said the past few years have been so difficult she questions whether she can remain in business.

In 2022, the average price paid for wool nationally was $1.53 per pound, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, down 19% from the 2019 average of $1.89 per pound.

Pricing varies significantly based on the breed, quality, amount of vegetable matter and micron, meaning the wool diameter.

In recent months, experts say producers of medium wool have commonly been paid 20 cents per pound — not even enough to cover shearing costs and at least 60% below pre-2019 pricing.

How did we get here?

Courtesy of Maria Rooney Maria Rooney with one of her favorite ewes.

TRACTORS

TRAILERS

’65 MFG CONTAINER TRAILER, 6000 Gallon Tank,

MISCELLANEOUS

15’, Ground Drive $950

500-GALLON NH3 TANK Dual Fill $2,000

YETTER 6150 HYDRAULIC MARKER $1,000

LETOUREAU Pull Scraper, All Hydraulic $7,500

ADAMS Pull Grader $1,000

FLATBED 15’, All Steel, Bang Board $1,950

ADS IV6000 Performance Module $995

GUSTAFSON SEED TREATER $495

4-BOMBER TIRES & WHEELS $250 EA.

2-NEW HADCO 10-Hole Hubs, Spindles $250 EA.

CAT 3306-DI ENGINE $2,500

UNVERFERTH WHEEL SPACERS 16”, 16” ID $500/PR

12000 GALLON NH3 TANK, Concrete Piers Included $19,500

M&W 450 GRAIN DRYER, PROPANE, PTO $3,000

HOWARD M130 ROTAVATOR, 11’, PTO Drive $1,000

(4) ALLIANCE 24.5R32 R1 TIRES ON GVM WHEELS $8,950

APPLICATORS

SHOPBUILT SPRAYER 95’ 1000-Gal. Tank, Hydraulic Drive Pump $6,500

SHOPBUILT BACKPACKER, 1100 Gallon Cone Tank, Hydraulic Drive Pump $7,950

VALMAR AIRFLO 6600 DRY SPREADER, 60’ Booms, Roll Tarps, Duals, Detroit Diesel Power Unit For Fan $19,995

SHOPBUILT SELF PROPELLED SPRAYER, Detroit Diesel Engine, 750 Gallon Tank, 72’ Booms $9,995

SHOPBUILT BACKPACKER, 1000 Gallon Poly Tank, 60’ Removable Booms $2,950

VEHICLES

’91 FREIGHTLINER COE, 711K Mi, Series 60. 9 Spd, A/R, Setback Front Axle $7,500

PALOUSE WELDING BACKPACKER SPRAYER, 1000 Gallon Cone Tank, 70’ Booms, Foam Marker $6,500 SHOPBUILT BACKPACKER, 2000 Gallon Tank, Hydraulic Drive Pump, Trimble Node, Wilrich 42’ Field Cultivator, DYKO Points, 5 Section Liquid Control, Tine Harrow $19,950

TILLAGE BUYS

’01 HITACHI ZX120 EXCAVATOR, 7077 Hrs, Thumb, 34” & 60 Buckets, A/C $49,950 TYLER TENDER BODY CALL HD POWER SYSTEMS 8000 WATT GENERATOR, Unused, 13 HP Honda Engine, Electric Start $750 ACME FORKLIFT, 4WD, Front Duals $1,000

Roller, 5/6/8’ Sections $100/FT.

BRILLION 18” Roller, 42’ $150/FT.

KRAUSE 1751 DOUBLE OFFSET DISK, 18’, 19-22” Blades $2,750

JD 1710A MULCH TILLER, Summers Tine Harrow $2,950

JD PK03 OFFSET DISK, 16’ $2,950

M&W EARTHMASTER DISK CHISEL, 5 Shank $7,500

KILE FERTILIZER POINTS FOR CHISEL PLOWS MAKE OFFER

WILRICH FIELD CULTIVATOR, 32’, Plumbed For Liquid Fertilizer, Tine Harrrow $3,200

IH 596 DISK, 25’, 23-24” Blades $12,000

CALKINS 4X4 FIELD CULTIVATOR FRAME, 42’, Harrow $1,200

JD 1000 FIELD CULTIVATOR, 36’, DYKO Points, Morris Tine Harrow $3,000

COMBINES & HEADERS

’17 TAKEUCHI TB240, 1561 Hrs, Cab, Air/Heat, Thumb, Angle Blade $44,950

CLARK 20,000# FORKLIFT,

DRILLS

HORSCH RAZOR POINT, Poly Seed Dividers With Carbide Plates MAKE OFFER CROSS SLOT DRILL, 21.5’, Mark IV Openers, Late Blades, 2600 Solution Tanks, AgPro Air Box $65,000

(4) IH 150 SPLIT PACKER HOE DRILLS, 10’, 18”

Spacing $1,500 EA OR ALL (4) FOR $5,000

AGPRO DRILL PARTS, Meter Rolls. Blades, Packer Wheels/Tires & More 1/2 OF NEW

CASE IH PRECISION 500T DRILL RUNS FOR SMALL SEED $2,950

AGPRO DRILL TOOLBAR, 30’ $4,950

GREAT PLAINS SS SCRAPERS CALL WAGNER 455 DRILL TOOLBAR, 35’, JD 980 Shanks, Chrome Ally Fertilizer Points $15,000

‘82 MACK SUPERLINER Mack 6 Cylinder, 13 Speed, 20’ Bed/Hoist, Removable Box, Roll Tarp $19,950 ‘74 MACK RL700L Mack 6 Cylinder, 10 Spd, 20’ Alloy Aluminum Hopper Bed, Roll Tarp $10,950 ‘76 IH 2070 Tandem, Cummins 290, 10-Spd., 2000-Gal. Poly Tanks, Pump $5,950 ‘78 FORD F600 370 V8, 4WD, 5-Spd. Trans. $2,400

’10 PETERBILT 384 DAYCAB, Cummins ISM @ 410 HP, 10 Spd, Late Engine work $33,950 ’85 CHEVROLET K30 DUALLY, 108K Mi, V8, 4WD, AT, 8’ Flatbed $7,950

’99 IH 9200, 731K Mi, Series 60 @ 400 HP, 10 Spd, Alum Outside Wheels $19,950

’95 GMC 7500 CAB & CHASSIS, 85K Mi, Cat 3116, Allison, Air Brakes $12,950

’88 KW T600, Cummins, 9 Spd, Aluminum Outside Wheels, Wilmar Loadrunner 16 Ton Tender, Hyd Drive, Roll Tarp $20,000 ’05 WINNEBAGO JOURNEY, 68K Mi. 350 Cat, Allison, Exhaust Brake, 39’, (3) Slides, Aluminum Wheels, Air Ride, Onan Generator $49,950

’19 KAWASAKI BRUTE FORCE 750 4 WHEELER, 4557 Mi, Fuel Injected V Twin $5,000 ’75 CHEVROLET C65 CAB/CHASSIS, 427, 5X2, Air Brakes, PTO & Reservoir w/ Valve $1,950

’10 KW T680 FACTORY DAYCAB, 580K Miles, Cummins 550, 10 Spd, 220K Miles On Factory Crate Engine $42,000

’12 KW T800, 543K Mi, Cummins ISX @ 485 HP, 10 Spd, 0 Miles On Out Of Frame Overhaul, Lift Axle, APU, All Aluminum Wheels $95K ’12 KW T800, 577K Mi, Cummins ISX @ 485 HP, 10 Spd, Late In Frame, Lift Axle, APU, All Aluminum Wheels $75,000 ’74 IH 1700, 37K Mi, V8, 5X2, Bed & Hoist $1,500 ’76 FORD F700 SEED TRUCK $1,500 CHEVROLET C65 FLATBED, Propane $1,500 ’67 CHEVROLET C50, Bed & Hoist, 1500 Gallon Stainless Steel Tank, Honda Pump $3,950

By Dana

Steaks for the grill

Summer is here, so it’s time for steaks on the grill. Here are some recipes from the Wisconsin Beef Council.

Mediterranean grilled chuck steak with vegetables

Ingredients:

1 pound beef blade chuck steak

2 teaspoons Mediterranean spice mix

2 zucchini, cut lengthwise

8 baby sweet bell peppers

1 teaspoon olive oil

Marinade

2/3 cup balsamic vinegar

2/3 cup olive oil

Wisconsin Beef Council Mediterranean grilled chuck steak

1 Tablespoon Mediterranean spice mix

Cooking:

Combine marinade in a small bowl. Place beef Chuck steaks & marinade in a foodsafe plastic bag; turn steaks to coat. Close bag securely and marinate in refrigerator 6 hours or as long as overnight, turning occasionally.

In a medium size bowl toss zucchini & mini bell peppers with 1 teaspoon olive. Place vegetables on grid over medium heat. Grill 3 to 5 minutes on each side. Remove from grill and set aside. Once slightly

cooled, slice zucchini into ¼-inch slices and set aside. Remove steaks from marinade; discard marinade. Season each side of the steak with 1/2 Tablespoon of spice mix. Place steaks on grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, covered, 3 to 4 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill, 3 to 4 minutes) for medium rare (145°F) to medium (160°F) doneness, turning occasionally. Remove from the grill and season with salt, as desired. Serve alongside grilled vegetables.

See Kitchen, Page A5

Continued

Grilled flat steak bread

Ingredients:

1 beef strip steak, Boneless (about 1 pound)

1-8oz refrigerated pizza dough

1 white onion, sliced

1-1/2 Tablespoon olive oil

1/2 Cup roasted red peppers, sliced

1/2 Cup blue cheese, crumbled

1/2 Cup arugula leaves

1 Tablespoon balsamic syrup

ROTARY CUTTER

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Cooking:

Pre-heat a small skillet over medium heat; add 1/2 table-

spoon olive oil and onions to the pan. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until onions are caramelized; Remove from skillet and set aside.

On a greased sheet pan,

take the pizza dough and form it to the size of the sheet pan. Brush both sides of the dough with 1/2 Tablespoon of olive oil. Place pizza dough on grid over medium heat. Grill the dough for 30 seconds to 1 minute on each side being careful not to burn it. Remove the dough and place it back on the sheet pan. Top the flat bread with roasted red peppers & 1/4 cup of blue cheese. Bake in the oven at 375°F for 10 minutes; once the cheese is melted slightly remove from oven and set aside.

Season both sides of the steak with salt & pepper. Place

XH-1500 ROTARY CUTTER 15’, Bondioli high horsepower gearboxes and drive lines, 1.5”-17.5” cutting height, 4” material cutting capacity.

5026 ROTARY CUTTER 26', 1000-RPM driveline, skid pans, hyd cylinders for level lift, double-acting wing lift cyls, transport locks, 10-gauge deck.

ON ORDER!

steak on grid over medium, ash-covered coals or over medium heat on preheated gas grill. Grill according to the chart for medium rare (145°F) to medium (160°F) doneness, turning occasionally. Remove steak and let rest for 5 minutes. Slice into 1/2inch strips and set aside.

Take the flat bread and top with the caramelized onions, arugula, sliced steak, remaining blue cheese, and drizzle the balsamic syrup on top. Cut into 6 even sized squares and serve.

See Steak, Page A7

(2) FX-1800 ROTARY CUTTER 15' cutting width, medium duty, 540RPM- PTO, single domed welded deck, 6.5" blade overlap, high blade tip speeds.

IN

RS-320 ROCK PICKER Large 3.2 cubic yard hopper, T-iron tapered grate, picks 2" to 28" rocks, large flotation tires.

*30’ of mowing and shredding excellence. *Accommodates 30”, 32”, 36”, 38” row spacings. *Excellent shredding and distribution capabilities on Fixed Knife units. *Unique drive layout allows for clutch at every down box. *Spun formed pans available on pan unit. *Floating hitch with rubber grommet rear suspension. *Phasing system for a parallel lift cut. *Non-adjustable clutches provide low maintenance. *Available Cyclone Deck Debris Fan Kit. *350hp, 60 degree splitter gearbox allows for unique driveline layout.

Odessa, WA • (509) 982-2644 • 1-800-572-5939 "THE FARM EQUIPMENT SPECIALIST" Don Walter: don@walterimplement.com www.walterimplement.com

2023 MASSEY FERGUSON

1840, medium rectangular baler with knotter fan, quarter turn bale chute, 14” x 18” bale chamber

2023 BESTWAYAG

FIELDPRO IV 1850-

100 SPRAYER

100’ booms, AutoGlide XR boom control, FiberWorks boom breakaways, Hypro® CleanLoad™ inductor, 50 to 100 gallon rinse tank

MF 2607H, 74 HP, MFWD, 8x8 shuttle trans., w/ 911X loader....... IN STOCK!

COMBINES

SRW800 WINDROWER

Multi purpose 3-pt. hitch, rock windrower, variable hydraulic drum angle from 0 to 18 degree.

HIGH RISE 8000 ROCK PICKER Hopper capacity- 3 cu. yds., Picking width- 60”, Dumping height- 96”, Rock size- 2-27”.

MAY-BRIDGE 2M26 26’ HARROW CADDY, easily lifts the Harrow and swivels 90º for a transport width of less than 8’ 6”

Wisconsin Beef Council Steak at bread

IT’S THE PITTS

By Lee Pitts

Nyssa Tractor &

Nyssa Tractor &

Our yard has 5 miles of road, the rest is farm machinery & parts. www.nyssatractor.com

Toll Free (833) 372-4020

Losing ground

Ever since I subscribed to my first livestock periodical at the age of 15 my favorite section to read has always been the ranch real estate ads because to me, dirt is the secret to prosperity and happiness.

Land is a much better investment than cattle because land doesn’t run away or die from anaplasmosis.

I’ve always dreamed of owning my own ranch, one that would pencil out and could be paid for with the cattle I raised. Alas, I’m 70 years old and the only land I’ve ever owned is under my house and on the bottom of my boots. Along the way I used up a lot of Ticonderoga #2 pencils trying to find a place that would pay for itself.

I used a variety of formulas to find a ranch that would “pencil”, such as the ranch should be worth twice the value of the cattle it would carry.

LOW MILES

2015 Freightliner Cascadia, Detroit 505 hp, 12 spd., auto., easy driver! ...............................$54,900

The only place I ever found that penciled out was in the Malpais borderlands that would starve a saguaro cactus to death. It was also on the Mexican border and I’m glad I didn’t pull the trigger on that deal because it’s now a jumping-off point for illegal aliens and drug smugglers.

No wonder it was what’s known in the trade as “an oleo ranch”... a cheap spread. OK, I admit I did place a couple parameters that made it harder to find a place of my own.

Although I absolutely love places like Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming and Nebraska I’m a bit of a wienie and could never survive their winters.

I also didn’t want a public lands ranch because that would mean I’d have the government for a landlord and I’d rather be boiled alive, have recurring kidney stones, or be kicked in the groin than to have that band of misfits, crooks, weirdos, freaks and screwballs in Washington DC have such control over me.

By the way, according to the infamous western figure, Tom Horn, being kicked in the groin is one way to gain ground. “You want some land,” he asked, “I’ll kick you in the @#$%& and you’ll have a couple achers.” (At the age of 43 Horn acquired his own plot of ground in Boulder, Colo., after he was hung for allegedly killing a kid.)

See Pitts, Page A7

2001 Freightliner FLD120, Series 60, 12.7, Jakes,

2006 Freightliner Box Truck, Cummins 260 hp, 6 spd. manual, 20’ dry box, 2500 lb. lift gate ... $19,900

2011 Freightliner Cascadia, Detroit 450 hp, 10 spd., air ride, A/C $34,900

10 spd., A/C ....... $24,900

Steak

Continued from Page A5

Grilled cowboy steaks

Ingredients:

2 beef ribeye steaks (about 1 pound)

Rub:

2 teaspoons sweet paprika

1-1/2 teaspoons dried thyme leaves

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Cooking:

Pitts

Continued from Page A6

My last restriction on buying a ranch was that I didn’t want to have to mollycoddle and babysit a bunch of hunters, fishermen, dudes or dudettes just to make ends meet. No Air BNB’s or “glamping” for me.

Of course, I could have taken the easy way out and married a rancher’s daughter and I have noticed that the more land a rancher owns the prettier his daughter is, but I couldn’t help it that the only woman I’ve ever loved was just as land poor as me.

I suppose the real reason I never bought a ranch was because of all the ranchers I’ve met over the years I’d say about 90% of them were rich but broke. Poor but loaded. Busted but wealthy. They might have a net worth of ten million dollars but didn’t have two nickels to rub together because it was all tied up in their ranch. They are land-locked into path of poverty.

A ranch couple might only

Combine Rub ingredients; press evenly onto beef ribeye steaks.

Cook’s Tip: Beef top sirloin, top loin (strip) or tenderloin steaks, cut 1 inch thick; or 2 pounds beef Porterhouse or T-bone steaks, cut 1 inch thick may be used.

Place steak(s) on grid over medium, ash-covered coals or over medium heat on preheated gas grill. Grill according to the chart for medium rare (145°F) to medium (160°F) doneness, turning occasionally.

See Cowboy, Page A11

vacation once a year and that’s when they go to Cheyenne or Winnemucca for a video sale to watch their calves sell.

Some people say that all land is good for is holding the world together but I think it’s the best store of value there is. Certainly better than Bitcoin. So I’ve continued to dream about ranches in never-ever-land from seven to $775 million and in the meantime they’re getting more and more out of my price range. The price of ranch land in Texas went up 29% last year alone! Astute land-grabbing tech billionaires like Bill Gates and John Malone are fueling the rise.

In hindsight, I should have just bought a place because I doubt that ranch land has ever penciled out. Even when Florida sold for 17 cents an acre or when we paid Mexico 34 cents an acre for Arizona and New Mexico I bet you’d break a bunch of pencils trying to find a way to make it pay with cattle.

Meanwhile, all I’ve been doing is losing ground.

TRACTORS

‘20 KUBOTA-L3901HST, 39hp 4 WD, with loader, 269 hours $24,500 ‘89 ALLIS CHALMERS 7580, 4WD, 6100 hrs., runs good $9,500

HAY EQUIPMENT

‘09

MISCELLANEOUS

RANGER RZR 800 EFI, winch, snow plow, 1871 miles $8,795 A & L F500 GRAIN CART, corner auger, 500 bu. capacity $6,500

TERREX-TC75 17,000 LB. EXCAVATOR WITH STEEL TRACKS AND HYDRAULIC THUMB, (N.A.P.) $52,500

NEW ‘23 KUBOTA RTV-X1140, diesel, 4-seat, full cab CALL BUSH HOG 5’ SQUEALER ROTARY CUTTER, $695 BUSH HOG-SQ72 6’ ROTARY CUTTER, $1,100 JOHN DEERE 5820 FORAGE HARVESTER, mid-80’s, 4WD with head, 6308 hrs $39,900 LAND PRIDE-LR72 72” LAND SCAPE RAKE, $650 LAND PRIDE-PD15 POST HOLE DIGGER, 9” & 12” augers $1,250

SPRAYERS

‘96 AG CHEM ROW GATOR 854, 90’ boom $24,500

TILLAGE & DRILLS

WISHEK 842N 17’ DISK $28,900 NOBLE 6000, sweep plow $6,995 JD 975, 4-bottom plow $4,995

NEW ‘23 MANITOU-MLT1841-145 TELEHANDLER, just in CALL HESSTON 6650 SWATHER WITH 14’ HAY HEAD $8,500

‘19 MACDON-M1170 SWATHER TRACTORS WITH MULTIPLE HEADS TO CHOOSE FROM CALL

COMBINES & HEADERS

GLEANER 4200 13’ complete pickup header with SwathMaster pickup unit, like new

‘13 MACDON D65, 40’ draper header, Gleaner adapter

‘05 MACDON 9352I swather with 15’ 972 draper header, 2503 hrs $26,500

‘03 MACDON 9352 swather with 15’ 972 draper header, 3035 hrs $24,500

POLARIS

Wool

Long-term trends

The wool industry has been in decline for decades, said Diego Paullier, general manager of Chargeurs Wool USA, a South Carolina woolen mill.

The advent of synthetic fiber in the 20th century led to downturns in the wool and cotton industries, especially after polyester clothing flooded the market in 1951, said Brent Roeder, an extension specialist on range sheep production at Montana State University.

The rate at which people buy and dispose of clothes has also changed.

“Wool products are beautiful, and they last forever,” said Paullier, of the mill.

“Nowadays, it’s fast fashion. People feel they have to buy new clothes every year.”

Lisa Surber, a wool consultant with LM Livestock Services LLC, echoed Paullier: “Young people are wearing more disposable clothes.”

Surber said cultural changes have also played a part. Americans dress more simply than in decades past, ditching high-end woolen coats and suits.

“We’re way more casual

than we have been even 10, 20 years ago,” said Surber.

Another long-term trend has been declining manufacturing capacity in the U.S., where environmental and labor standards make wool processing expensive, said Roeder, of Montana State. As a result, manufacturers have been offshoring wool processing for many years.

Roeder said that while these trends have been gradually reshaping the wool market for decades, more recent events have changed it at warp speed.

China

In 2019, as part of a trade spat, China imposed a 25% tariff on imported American wool. The move was devastating to U.S. sheep farmers who relied on the Chinese market.

“It kind of killed that market,” said Daniel “Dan” Gutzman, wool buyer for Pendleton Woolen Mills in Eastern Oregon.

Gutzman estimated that before 2019, China was buying about 75% of the world’s wool. Pre-tariff, China was a major buyer of

America’s black, coarse and contaminated wools.

“That’s why we’re seeing absolutely no market for black and contaminated wool,” said Roeder, of Montana State.

Experts say although producers of finer wools also have legitimate reasons for concern, their market is more stable. Will Griggs, manager of the Utah Wool Marketing Association, said over the past few years, finer wools have suffered price-wise but remained marketable.

“There is still a pretty

good home for those (smaller-micron wools),” agreed Gutzman, of Pendleton.

Some exporters have bypassed China’s tariff through waivers or by retaining ownership of the wool through the entire supply chain. Overall, however, the tariff continues to hurt U.S. producers.

After the tariff came an event that further devastated the industry: the pandemic.

“The trade war with China was the first thing that really hampered our exports. We rolled right from that into COVID,” said Peter Orwick, executive director of the American Wool Council.

COVID-19 collapse

The global shutdown sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically cut wool demand.

People working from home and attending Zoom meetings did not buy as many suits and coats made from fine wool. The suit market, said Roeder of Montana State, “disappeared overnight.”

Snarled supply chains, high freight costs and difficulty securing truckers and shippers made matters worse, said Griggs, of the Utah Wool Marketing Association.

See Sheep, Page A12

Umatilla County Food

Processing Facility -

Umatilla County, Hermiston, OR.

19 +/- acres, 58,000 Sq. Ft. bldg.

$4,950,000

CP#02022

Stoney Ridge RanchKlamath County, Keno, OR, 415 +/-acres.

$3,200,000

CP#02621

Stage Gulch Wagner Ranch Umatilla County, Echo, OR, 184 +/- acres.

$1,600,000

CP#01722

County, Unity, OR , 1876 +/- acres

$1,500,000

CP#01520

Shy Mountain RanchUnion County, Elgin, OR, 194 +/- acres.

$1,499,000

CP#00522

Wetherell RanchDel Norte County, Crescent City, CA, 104 +/- acres.

$1,400,000

CP#02121

McKay Creek Hideaway PropertyUmatilla County, Pilot Rock, OR, 160 +/- acres.

$975,000

CP#00123

Sage Hill Development Property, Umatilla County, Pendleton, OR 17 +/- acres. $890,000 CP#00523

Loop Road Acreage, Umatilla County, Hermiston, OR 6 +/- acres. $785,000 CP#00923

LaRue/Strese PlaceWheeler County, Condon, OR, 880 +/- acres. $785,000 CP#01721

Columbia River Scenic Property, Umatilla County, Irrigon, OR, 70 +/- acres. $600,000

CP#00823

Condon Main St. Commercial PropertyGilliam County, Condon, OR, $395,000

CP#01023

Reese Dryland Property, Umatilla County, Pendleton, OR 272 +/- acres. $375,000

CP#00723

Big River Pizza & Grill, Gilliam County, Arlington, OR. $375,000 CP#00623

Brickyard Parcel, Union County, LaGrande, OR. 9 +/- acres.

$295,000

CP#00423

McKay Creek Acreage, Umatilla County, Pilot Rock, OR, 118 +/- acres.

$275,000

CP#00323

Courtesy of Maria Rooney

Maria Rooney, left, a longtime sheep rancher, acts as a sheep and wool judge at the Oregon State Fair.

Greyn Fertilizer Supply

Montana

‘18 CASE TITAN 4040, New Leader NL4500 G4 Edge Spinner Spreader. Viper 4 controller, Smartrax. Very nice truck.$198,500

‘09 AGCHEM 8203, Agco controller, Trimble auto-steer. Caterpillar C9 Diesel Engine, TerraShift transmission. Airmax precision bed. 70’ boom. 3,437 hrs. $77,500

‘04 CASE IH FLX 4510, with Case FLX 810 70’ Air Applicator Bed. Raven Viper 2 Controller, Raven Smartrax MD Auto Steer. Electric Roll Tarp. 5180 hrs. $72,000

2018 TERRAGATOR TG8400B FLOATER, 1,505 Hrs, AGCO SISU Power, Diesel, CVT Transmission, Air Max Precision 2 Bed, Stainless Steel 70’ Boom, Raven Viper 4, Electric Roll Tarp............... $228,500

‘12 TERRAGATOR 9300 FLOATER, Cat C13 diesel engine, terrashift transmission, AirMax Precision 2, 70’ stainless steel boom, electric roll over tarp, GPS, Raven Viper Pro, 4,302 hours. $82,500

2019 TERRAGATOR TG8400C, 1619 Hours, Airmax Precision 2 bed. 70’ stainless steel boom. Raven Viper 4 controller, Auto Steer, Amazing Machine $248,500

‘12 VECTOR 300, Cummins diesel engine, Allison automatic transmission, New Leader L4000 G4 dry spreader box, twin spinner, all hydraulic, stainless steel insert, Raven Viper Pro monitor, Auto Steer, 4,561 hours. $92,000

‘17 TERRAGATOR TG8400B, Airmax Precision, 70’ boom, Viper 4, 3254 hours................. $154,000

‘16 TERRAGATOR TG8400B, 3628-hrs, AirMax Precision 2 $148,000

‘15 TERRA GATOR 8400B, Precision 2-70’ Boom, granular bins, Viper Pro, Auto Steer, 3600-hrs $132,500

‘14 TERRA GATOR 8400, Dry Floater, Air Max

Precision 2 70’ boom, granular bins, Viper Pro, auto steer, 3500-hrs $123,500

‘16 CASE IH TITAN 3540 FLOATER, 1512.1-hrs, 3-wheeler with 810 Air Delivery Box, 70’ boom, coap bins, Viper 4, Autosteer $167,000

HYUNDAI HL730-9A WHEEL LOADER EROPS, Cummins diesel engine, heat, air conditioning, Am/Fm radio, 8’ bucket, 2.5 cubic yard capacity, 17.5R25 tires, operating weight 23,500 pounds, rear view camera. 5684 hours $92,500

‘95 Pemco Feed Trailer

Overhead unload, Tag axle. $17,900

‘04 PETE, floater spray truck, 76’ boom, 20” nozzle spacing, Envisio Pro, Raven control valves $69,000

‘15 Case IH 4530 Floater, Case 810 Flex Air system, 70’ stainless steel boom, micro ingredient bin, electric roll tarp, Raven Viper Pro, Smartrax light bar, 2,384 hours. $155,000 ‘88 IH, 24 ton tender $27,500

‘15 CASE IH 4530 dual micro ingred bins, 70’ boom, Viper Pro, 2964-hrs $148,000

‘18 RBR VECTOR 380 FLEX AIR, 1,825hrs, 380hp Cummins Engine, Allison Automatic Transmission, Air Ride chassis, 4 wheel drive, 380-90-46 Tires, 810 Flex Air System, Triple Bin, 70 foot booms. Raven Viper 4+, Raven GPS and Light Bar, Auto Steer, Accu Boom. $228,000

‘16 TIMPTE SUPER TENDER TRAILER, 40’ aluminum tender trailer, hopper bottom, rear hydraulic discharge conveyor, under hopper conveyor, outer controls, electric roll tarp. $72,000

‘89 KENWORTH T-800 TENDER TRUCK, 350 Cummins engine, 10 speed Eaton Fuller transmission, steerable pusher axle, 16 ton Wilmar side shooter tender. $29,500

1993 Willmar 16 Ton Rear Auger tender.

Mounted on a pup trailer, with air brakes. Honda powered Hyd. System. Roll Tarp.

$16,500

‘08 STERLING ACTERRA, fuel truck, Cummins diesel, Allison auto, tandem axle full screw, 3600-gal 5-comp fuel body, dual metered hose reels, frame mounted storage boxes, 218,755-mi $38,500

H hydrostatic, adjustable axles, 4 wheel steering, air conditioning, New Leader L4258 G4 dry spreader box, twin spinner, all hydraulic, 380/90R46 tires, Raven monitor, Raven GPS, 3072 hours

2013 ROGATOR 1300 $ 88,500

Soilection Four Bin dry air flow system, 70’ boom, Raven Viper Pro monitor, 4,530 hours. Must see truck, amazingly clean, and well cared for.

2015 TERRAGATOR TG9300B $ 82,500

Continued from Page A7

Cowboy marinated skirt steak

Ingredients:

1-1/2 pounds beef skirt steak, cut into 4 to 6-inch pieces

1/4 cup red onion, diced

1-15 ounce canned corn, rinsed & drained

1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in-half

1/3 cup Italian dressing

2 Tablespoon fresh basil, chopped

2 teaspoon granulated garlic

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 teaspoon kosher salt

Marinade

2 Tablespoon vegetable oil

2 Tablespoon fresh lime juice

3 Tablespoon water

2 teaspoon garlic, minced

2 teaspoon sweet paprika

1-1/2 teaspoon dried

thyme leaves

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Cooking:

Combine Marinade ingredients in small bowl. Place beef Skirt Steaks & marinade in food-safe plastic bag; turn steaks to coat. Close bag securely and marinate in refrigerator 6 hours or as long as overnight, turning occasionally.

Combine tomatoes, corn, red onion, basil, garlic, Italian dressing, salt and pepper in a medium bowl; cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Cook’s Tip: Whole grilled corn on the cobb can be used in place of canned. Place 4 corn cobs on grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, 10 to 14 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill, 8 to 10 minutes) turning on all sides.

Remove corn and let cool. Carefully cut corn kernels from cob and let cool.

Remove steaks from marinade; discard marinade. Place

steaks on grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, covered, 7 to 12 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill, 8 to 12 minutes) for

medium rare (145°F) to medium (160°F) doneness, turning occasionally. Carve steaks diagonally across the grain into thin slices; season with salt, as desired.

USED COMBINES

USED TRACTORS

PRICED WITH HEADERS UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED

SPRAYERS

Courtesy Wisconsin Beef Council Grilled cowboy steaks

Sheep

Continued from Page A9

“We’d arrange a truck, agree to a price that made us sick to our stomachs just to move the wool, then the driver would not show up,” said Griggs.

Although the supply chain has since improved, the backup led to an oversupply of wool.

The pandemic also disrupted specialty markets for high-quality wool used by crafters. For example, trade shows shut down, and some have not resumed. Rooney, the Silverton farmer, said she is sorry to have lost wool shows that were a marketing avenue.

Finally, COVID left its mark on woolen mills. At the height of the outbreak, mills worldwide were shut for weeks or months. When they started up again, many workers had retired or found

other jobs, leaving a generational knowledge gap and labor shortage that persists three years later.

The other effect of the mill slowdowns was a global processing backlog. Roeder, of Montana State, and Orwick, of the American Wool Council, said pro-

ducers in the U.S., United Kingdom, New Zealand and elsewhere are sitting on warehouses full of wool.

The oversupply, combined with lower consumer demand, is a recipe for low pricing.

Although mills are gradually rebuilding capac-

ity, experts say returning to “normal” won’t be easy.

“Once you stop a train like this, it’s hard to get it started again,” said Griggs, of the Utah Wool Marketing Association. “They’re just starting to get back on track.”

The slowdowns especially hurt one market: wool growers’ contracts with the U.S. military.

Contracts disrupted

For decades, the U.S. military has been the No. 1 buyer of American wool, said Orwick, of the wool council. The military has chosen wool for its apparel because of its properties as a flame-resistant, durable, odor-resistant, fast-drying and breathable material.

Even before the pandemic, sheep ranchers were troubled by the government’s decision to discontinue wool for a few military apparel lines. For example, a few years ago, the U.S. Navy halted its wool pea-

coat program and switched to synthetic parkas.

When COVID hit, the military wool market got worse. Some mills, due to shutdowns or slowdowns, were unable to meet military contract timelines, said Orwick, of the wool council. He estimated the industry got a 1 1/2 years behind on military quotas. In response, the military dropped some contracts.

“Military contracts are beginning to pick up again, but we’re definitely not to the level that we were,” said Roeder, of Montana State.

Future military demand is unknown. Although the military remains the largest buyer of domestic wool, Orwick and Surber said recruitment is down, which could impact future demand.

Thrifty consumers

U.S. consumers facing inflation have less disposable income to spend on wool clothing, said Gutzman, Surber and Griggs.

See Innovation, Page A13

Courtesy of Peter Orwick Peter Orwick, left, with his father Jim Orwick, right, in the Orwick shearing shed.

Will Griggs

Gutzman said that in an economic downturn, one of the first things consumers cut back on buying is apparel, and in an uptick, it is one of the first things they resume.

“It’s like a bellwether of the economy,” he said.

Meanwhile, Europe has traditionally been a major destination for high-fashion woolen clothing, but as Europeans have faced the war in Ukraine, high inflation and soaring energy costs, consumers have become more cautious about spending, said Paullier, of South Carolina.

Government aid

Some producers and sheep associations are asking the federal government for more aid.

In the past few years, many struggling producers have used a USDA program called the wool and mohair loan deficiency program. The program can double what a qualifying producer makes, up to 40 cents per pound.

“It’s not huge, but it helps,” said Rooney, the Oregon sheep farmer.

Although some industry leaders are talking with the farm bill’s authors in Congress about how to support wool producers

with federal funds, others see innovation as the wool industry’s best hope.

Opportunity, innovation

Some wool markets remain fairly strong, including the sock market, said Paullier and Orwick.

Rooney, the Oregon farmer, said there is also still an opportunity to make a good profit by selling premium fleeces at wool shows or to niche mills and hand spinners. The problem, she said, is that while the price per pound is high, the volume sold is typically low.

Experts say there is room for innovation in wool marketing.

“I think there’s opportunity, but it’s gonna come with innovation,” said Gutzman, of Pendleton.

Gutzman said Pendleton Woolen Mills is innovating by refining its washable product lines, investing in energy-efficient equipment that gives fabrics a special feel and exploring new apparel styles and patterns.

Beyond Pendleton, Gutzman said he sees many potential opportunities for innovation: turning low-value wool into garden products, making recyclable packaging to replace bubble wrap and blending wool with cotton to make jeans, for instance.

See

1999 FREIGHTLINER FL112 15YD DUMP, 370hp M11, 8ll, Jake, AC, PS, Dbl. frame, 16K front, 40K rears on Hendrickson spring, 50% 22.5 tires, pintle, air gate.

1998 GEHL DL6H40

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Education

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Roeder, of Montana State, said some companies are innovating by becoming more vertically integrated, such as Duckworth Co., a wool clothing company owned by a sheep farming family.

BALERS – SMALL SQUARE

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NH BC5080, 2016 $25,500

Freeman 370 engine baler.........................................................................$15,000

Freeman 330 engine baler.........................................................................$11,000 BALEWAGON

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(7) NH 216’s, $6,900 to $17,900

Allen 8827, cable controls $9,900

LMC 8603 wheel rake, Darf-style HD, 2013, lots of life left......................$13,900

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NH SPEEDROWER 260, 2021, 416 header, low hours, new rolls............$169,000

NH SPEEDROWER 260, 2016, 3 speed, deluxe cab, 518 hours................$150,000

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NH 770HD, 18’ rotary..................................................................................$7,500

NH 974 6-row corn header $6,500

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NH TG305, 2007, duals, new rubber, suspended front axle, 8,800 hours....$79,900

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NH TC29DA, 2006, 4wd, loader w/ SSL QA, 1,956 hours, supersteer, fully serviced $15,900

NH Workmaster 95, cab, 4wd, loader, SSL QA, only 180 hours!!! Warranty remaining $65,000

NH Workmaster 35, 2018 $23,900

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CONSTRUCTION

Volvo ECR880 PRO, Only 24 hours!!!, like new, 2 buckets $110,000

WA (509) 787-3595 • OTHELLO, WA (509) 488-9606 • HERMISTON, OR (541) 567-3001 • LA GRANDE, OR (541) 963-8144 • ALBANY, OR (541) 757-8112 www.sseqinc.com O% 1For commercial use only. Customer participation subject to credit qualification and approval by CNH Industrial Capital America LLC. See your participating New Holland dealer for details and eligibility requirements. Eligible equipment limited to dealer inventory in stock. Previous retail sales are not eligible. Down payment may be required. Offer good through June 30, 2023. Not all customers or applicants may qualify for this rate or term. CNH Industrial Capital America LLC standard terms and conditions will apply. This transaction will be unconditionally interest free. 2Cash back amounts vary and are applied at time of sale. Taxes, freight, setup, delivery, additional options or attachments not included in suggested retail price. Offer subject to change or cancellation without notice. ©2023 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. CNH Industrial Capital and New Holland are trademarks registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates.

Surber, the wool consultant, said she believes coarser wools could be used in more tennis shoes, upholstery, insulation and other products. She said lowvalue wool could be useful for roadside reclamation or erosion control.

Another opportunity lies in the gardening sector. Several universities have conducted studies showing that dirty scrap wool — such as from a sheep’s belly or tail — can be a useful fertilizer because of the high nitrogen and nutrient properties.

Albert Wilde, a Utah sheep producer with about 2,600 sheep, is exploring this use. He stumbled into this work when he put waste wool around his wife’s plants to hold water, which worked well. When he later learned wool is also an effective fertilizer, he bought a pellet mill and started making wool pellets under the brand name Wild Valley Farms, selling them to gardeners as fertilizer. His business is growing, and he recently signed a contract with Lowe’s to test the product in stores in 2024.

“We are excited about the

growth,” said Wilde.

“We’ve got a lot of high hopes resting in what (Wilde is) doing,” said Griggs, of Utah Wool Marketing Association.

Education

Many wool experts say the sheep industry can do a better job of educating consumers about wool’s sustainability, which could help wool regain some of the market share it lost to synthetics.

According to the International Wool Textile Organisation, based in Belgium, one of wool’s greatest properties as a sustainable material is its biodegradability, in contrast to fabrics made from plastics derived from fossil fuels.

Globally, according to the European Environment Agency, between 16% to 35% of all microplastics released in oceans annually come from synthetic fibers.

Wool industry leaders say it doesn’t make sense that consumers talk about saving the planet yet continue to buy synthetic clothes instead of natural fibers.

“I do think there’s opportunity for education,” said Rooney, the sheep farmer.

Surber, the wool consultant, agreed. Although wool producers have faced a few tough years, she still has hope for the industry as producers embrace innovation and education.

“If we want to tell our story, now’s the time,” she said.

from Page Early order Horsch Discounts! (Winter Delivery)

A13 Pays For Itself In As Few As 1000 Acres! 98% Weed Seed Kill Rate! * Even The Tiniest Of Seeds!

Courtesy of Maria Rooney Maria Rooney’s Coopworth lamb gets his wool sheared o for the summer.

YOU’VE READ ABOUT IT... YOU’VE SEEN IT..... NOW...LET’S TALK AGRONOMY Your banker will approve. Your accountant will approve. Your agronomist will approve. Can more than pay for itself in ONE crop harvest! Available For: • John Deere S-Series • CaseIH 30,40 & 50 Series Early Order Discounts Available! Seed Control Units (SCU) Potential $18 Per Acre NRCS Payment for E595G under the CSP. Don’t Wait for a Government Payment(s). Contact me today to talk about the agronomy aspects of this program and how it can: • INCREASE YIELD • CUT CROP PROTECTION PRODUCT COSTS on select haytools now through June 30, 2023 0% for 48 Months1 Cash Back 2 OR BALERS – LARGE SQUARE (26) NH BB340SPLUS 3x4 BALERS IN STOCK!! Some Single Axles, lots of Tandem Axles, Several Different Packages, Most with LoopMaster Knotters, Price Points From $75,900 to $129,900!! NH 340S, 2016, tandem axle, 24,125 bales, bale chamber extension.. $55,000 NH BB9080, 2012, 18,723 bales, single axle $49,900 NH BB9080, 2011, single axle, 22,654 bales, large 1000, IV III....................$39,900 NH BB9080R, 2009, Rotocut, tandem axle, 67,000 bales, bale chamber extension $29,900 Case IH LB434XL, 2019, 21,779 bales, large tandem axles...........................$84,900 Case IH LB434XL,

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‘03 FLEXI-COIL 5000HD, 45’ single shoot, liquid deep band set-up, 12” spacing, 5.5” rubber press wheels, 5” paired row boots $24,900

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‘11 GP FH6851HD, 51’, 16 Bar Flex Harrow, Forward Folding, 12’ Mid Sections $27,900

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Researchers invent robotic ‘hand’ to pick blackberries

By SIERRA DAWN McCLAIN Capital Press

Researchers have developed a robotic “hand,” resembling a claw, to pick blackberries.

Their aim is to eventually automate blackberry harvest to help growers who face rising labor costs and a shrinking agricultural

workforce.

“It’s about having availability and dependability of labor,” said Renee Threlfall, a food science researcher at the University of Arkansas, who partici-

pated in the project.

Harvesting fresh-market blackberries is labor-intensive because the delicate berries must be picked by hand to prevent squishing or crumbling.

“Blackberries are very fragile, very delicate,” said Yue Chen, a leader on the robotics project.

Chen is an assistant professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering co-run by the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University. Formerly, he

was an assistant professor in the University of Arkansas mechanical engineering department.

Chen, whose background is in medical robotics, got the idea to automate harvest when he realized the soft-touch robotics he was developing for the medical

University of Arkansas Andrea Myers, a graduate student in food science, picks blackberries while wearing sensors on silicone nger sleeves to determine the amount of force required to pick the delicate berry without damaging it for post-harvest storage.

Renee Threlfall

Yue Chen

See Hand, Page B3

University of Arkansas

Researchers have developed a soft robotic hand for picking blackberries.

Hand

Continued from Page B2

field might have applications outside healthcare.

He asked Threlfall, the food science researcher, to partner with him on a farm robotics project.

Threlfall’s food science graduate student, Andrea Meyers, and Chen’s robotics Ph.D. student, Anthony Gunderman, also joined the team.

The team’s first task was to find out how a person picks a blackberry. Does a picker twist or pluck? How much force does it take? If the researchers could figure out how a person harvests blackberries, they could program a robotic hand to do the same.

Threlfall had an idea for how to track human picking behavior: using silicone finger sleeves, little caps people put on their fingers to turn pages more easily, reduce friction or protect blisters.

The researchers attached biometric sensors to the silicone finger sleeves, put the sleeves on a picker’s fingers and allowed the sensors to track how the hand was picking blackberries.

The sensors found it takes about one-half Newton, a unit of force, to pick a ripe blackberry. That is a small amount of force.

See Robotic, Page B4

Robotic

Continued from Page B3

Chen and Gunderman then used the data from the trials to build a silicone robotic hand with three soft gripper prongs that can grab a berry and gently pull it off a plant.

Threlfall and Meyers tested the post-harvest fruit quality, look -

ing for leakage, decay or crumbling.

“The post-harvest quality was fine,” said Threlfall.

She said it appears that other factors besides the robot have more influence on quality and storability, such as the weather and the specific cultivar.

The next step, said Chen, is creating a full

robotic system — a project he estimates could take three to five years. The system will need a base robot, an arm that connects the base to the hand and an artificial intelligence system that can help the robot navigate autonomously and be able to detect which berries are ripe. This project, which has received fund -

ing, is underway.

Chen and Threlfall said they believe the robotic hand could be tailored for use in other berry crops, including raspberries and blueberries.

The researchers have published two papers

on their work. One, in the journal HortScience, received the Outstanding Fruit Publication Award from the American Society for Horticultural Science. The IEEE Robotics and Automation Society published another paper.

the amount of force required to pick the delicate berry without damage.

1981 FORD-F700 grain truck

barn stored for 33 years, only used for harvest, 29,000 miles, V8, 5 & 2 speed rear, power steering $9850 OBO

University of Arkansas

Biometric sensors on silicone finger sleeves determine

Turning raptors, beneficial insects into allies

By SIERRA DAWN McCLAIN Capital Press

A group of farmers and other landowners followed wildlife biologist Tim Pitz around a farm as he pointed at birds, naming them.

He then bent low, pointing to tiny insects such as green lacewings the color of emeralds with transparent, fairy-like wings.

At Headwaters Farm in Gresham, Ore., Pitz was teaching a workshop about how farmers can use raptors and beneficial insects for pest control.

Pitz, who has a wildlife biology background and is an orchard manager in the Columbia River Gorge, said he teaches these workshops independent of his employer as “a hobby, or more like a passion.”

Pitz said raptors can help farms by eating rodents and small birds.

See Raptors, Page B6

Sierra Dawn McClain/Capital Press

Tim Pitz looks for beneficial insects on a plant covered with aphids.

Raptors

Continued from Page B5

A family of barn owls, for example, can eat 3,000 gophers annually. Meanwhile, beneficial insects can keep down pesky insects’ populations.

“How can we help the creatures which also help us?” Pitz said.

Pitz said farmers can encourage beneficials to live and work on their farms.

Setting up perches is one effective way of attracting raptors. Pitz encourages farmers to install tall perches resembling telephone poles. The perch size should vary, he said, depending on the type of raptor the farm is trying to attract.

For instance, a kestrel has little feet and needs a small-diameter perch. A farmer might want to attract a kestrel if

See Pitz, Page B8

TIM PITZ

Occupation: Independent wildlife biologist and workshop leader; separately, full-time orchard manager at Mount Adams Fruit

Education: Bachelor of science in biology and wildlife biology (double major) from the University of Montana

Age: 44

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102 Public Notices

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Water rights for 40 acres Walla Walla County, Washington Call 509-531-5420

157 Events

UI 2023 SNAKE RIVER WEED

TOUR AND FIELD DAY

Please join us June 28 for a guided tour of current research on weed management in alfalfa, corn, dry bean, sugar beet, and wheat. Other topics include herbicide carryover, cover crops for weed suppression in dry bean, and volunteer alfalfa control in sugarbeet. Demonstrations of cover crop species and herbicide injury symptoms. There will also be researcher updates on interseeding cover crops into silage corn, biostimulants, potato production and storage management, insect studies, and organic alfalfa production. Lunch provided.

3 credits available.

University of Idaho

Kimberly R&E Center 3806N 3600E, Kimberly

Check in: 8am - 9am

Tour: 9am - 12pm

June 28, 2023

Kimberly, ID 208-423-4691

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564 Farms

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564 Farms

FARM PROPERTY FOR SALE:

The sale of farmland, including three (3) houses and buildings, being sold by a private bid sale. The real property consists of approximately 6,500 acres in Whitman County. The Real Property consists of approximately 4,128 acres of pasture ground and 2,292 acres of farm ground. All bids must be received by 1:00 PM, June 22, 2023, at Brock Law Firm, Attn: Corey F. Brock, 111 S. Post St. Ste. 2280, Spokane, WA 99201. If you wish to inspect the property, you may contact Scott Evans at (509) 595-1008 or Clay Barr at (509) 254-7269. For any further questions regarding the sale, or to obtain a bid packet, you may contact Corey F. Brock, attorney, at (509) 622-4707

573 Timber Property

Commercial Timberland

Eastern Oregon Sealed Bid 695 acres +/-. Located in Union and Wallowa Counties, Oregon Bids are due on or before June 23, 2023

Contact Oregon Trail Realty, Candace Bowman, Principal Broker, for Property information, bid forms and Cruise packet. Call or Text 541-786-3164 or Email: candy@oregontrailrealty.com

652 Help Wanted - Full Time

Dairy Farm seeking qualified herdsperson. Job includes overseeing daily herd health and reproduction, calf management, training and schedule milking staff and help with harvest work during harvesting. Must work well with others and also be able to assist with managing people. Bilingual preferred. Excellent pay and benefits included. Text messages preferred.

Ferndale, WA 507-995-5491

652 Help Wanted - Full Time

Canyon Falls Farm is seeking a proactive and goal oriented Irrigation/ Electrical Manager to join our farm leadership team. As the Master Electrician, the Manager is responsible for ensuring the readiness of the irrigation and electrical operations to obtain a highly efficient center pivot irrigation system with as little downtime as possible. Master Electrician licensing required. Advanced degree in relevant field preferred.

667

Loans & Financing

Financing for all new and used Farming equipment including trailers! Some trucks also qualify. Seasonal payment plans available for qualified businesses. Don’t delay in obtaining the equipment you need for your business. Call us Today! Priority National Leasing, LLC (800) 935-1048 www.prioritynational.com We offer 100% tax deductible financing! North Bend, OR 800-935-1048

Canyon Falls Farms is seeking a proactive and solution-oriented Field Mechanic to join our farm team.

The Field Mechanic makes safe and timely repairs as well as maintenance to ensure functional operation of all the farm equipment including on automotive, industrial, and Ag. A successful mechanic can diagnose problems and has the mechanical knowledge to solve them using safe, cost effective, and efficient methods. The position supports the Burley, ID farm.

Burley, ID 208-844-6707

FOR QUICK CASH

Use a classified ad to sell items you no longer use.

EVERYTHING is coming up results when you use a classified ad!

Something for everyone in the Classifieds

$80,255-$120,385 (Starting pay is generally set between minimum and midpoint for new hires or developing employees. Individual pay is adjusted as performance is demonstrated and sustained at increasingly competent levels over time. With approval, experienced employees with critical skills may be hired above this guideline.)

American Falls/ Burley, ID 208844-6707

716 Hay, Straw, Forage Red Clover Haylage for Sale, 1300 pound bales, $75 each. McMinnville, OR. Jon @ 503-8573170

Feedstore quality, barn stored, central Oregon 2 string bales with lab test. Teff: high protein, low carb/ sugar. Barley/ pea: good value alternative to alfalfa. Bluegrass straw: low carb/ sugar. Ideal horse hay. Small and large loads. Discount on full truck loads. Madras, OR. Call or text: 541-7773459. Email: highdeserthay@ gmail.com

719 Feed, Grain Corn Silage Available

Sierra Dawn McClain/Capital Press

Tim Pitz holds up a raptor nest box.

728 Dogs, Cats, Pets

Anatolian x Great Pyrenees & Great Pyrenees puppies ready for work. Ontario, OR 208-739-5189

Border Collie x Kelpie puppies. 8 weeks old, 1st shots and wormed. 3 males, 3 females. $100. (2) one year old males started $200. Cotton, CA. Call or text 530-227-2489

Livestock, Property or Family protection, Russian Shepherds. Dad is 160lbs. All shots, vet checked. Pictures on Facebook Oregon & Idaho Caucasian Orvcharka.

$500. Wilder, ID 541-910-4979

749 Swine

250 to 300lb butcher hogs and gilts. $350 each. Have butcher dates. Lots to choose from. Sprague River, OR 541-205-8837

758 Cattle Beef

Full Blood Limousin 2 year old bull. Gentle and ready for service. Full blood semen for sale. Top Bloodlines. Dallas, OR 503-9104769

Yearling SimAngus bull out of MR SR Highlife. White face with black body. Semen tested. Delivery available. Burlington, WA 360-661-3058

Angus Bull-Registered. 4 years old, born on 3/27/2019. Weighs about 1800 pounds but has a calm demeanor. Field tested with 100% success rate, $3,200. Hillsboro, OR 503-628-0613

821 Christmas Trees

5,000 Douglas Fir 5ft to 8ft. Very nice trees. Troutdale, OR 503348-5902

Something for everyone in the Classifieds

824 Seed

869 Livestock Equipment

911 Hay Equipment

911 Hay Equipment

923 Farm Equipment

Quality VNS Alfalfa Seed: $2.50/ lb. Touchet, WA. Chris Kregger 509-520-2864; 509-394-2400

840 Miscellaneous

WANTED ATTORNEY

Looking for attorney to sue. Mention Cowboy Steve and Kyle Trevino for $$ million for raise. Call 509-837-4324

CLASSIFIED ADS work hard for you. Try one today!

&

Supplies WANTED USED LIVESTOCK EQUIPMENT

* Portable Panels

* Cattle Squeeze Chutes

Old is OK. Will pick up at your farm/ranch!

BILL (208) 651-8698

887 Irrigation Equipment

We Find Water Farm or Home

www.Hydro-Imaging.com

Dave 509-468-9062

WHEEL LINES

Ranch King, 4 or 5 inch, 1/4 mile complete, levelers, sprinklers, movers, new bolts, Great Shape. Dixon, CA 530-774-3717

890 Packing/Processing Equipment

899 Heavy & Industrial Equipment

2012 John Deere 85D, 5300 hours. Well maintained and serviced regularly. Equipped with Hydraulic PL Thumb, Hydraulic Pressure gauges, Quick Connect, Auxiliary Hydraulic, Front Blade, Crawler Pads. 47” and 24” Buckets, New Dromone Coupler. $58,500 OBO. Banks, OR 503-773-5077

FOR SALE

REBUILT NEW HOLLAND

• Bale Wagons • Parts For All Models Call Lonnie 877-735-2108 or 406-249-8565

NEW HOLLAND BALE WAGONS

Buy • Sell • Trade All Models Parts/ Tires/ Manuals Financing • Delivery www.balewagon.com Luke Wilhite 208-880-2889

Hesston 2270XD 3x4 baler. 22,851 bales. Bale ejector and scale kit. FREE NATIONWIDE DELIVERY. $119,000 Tangent, OR 541-979-5492

ProAg Skoop. Runs and functions as it should. Can haul 3x3, 3x4 bales, 4x4 bales or 21 bale bundles (84 small square bales). Tangent, OR 541-979-5492

917 Orchard/Vineyard Equipment

Flory 6400 nut sweeper in good condition with 4 cylinder Wisconsin gas engine excellent condition. Asking $3,000. McMinnville, OR 503-559-9128

1994 New Holland TR97 terrain tracer. New Holland 971 30ft rigid with trailer. New Holland 971 13ft pickup. Degelman Strawmaster 70ft with Valmar. 1979 Wishek 714 31ft. Florence, MT. Mike 406546-2454

IH 1460, new rebuilt feeder house, return and clean grain chains and bearing, bulk tank auger flighting, return auger, front tires, bushings and bearings on sieves. 1010 20ft header, new sickles and guards. Runs very well, doesn’t burn oil. Checked over every other year by St. Johns (Nez Perce). $10,000 OBO. 208-507-0888

CAT 307 Excavator: with digging bucket and log grapple. Mechanical thumb, 3300 original hours, 16,000 lbs, runs and operates great, $27,000. Aurora, OR 503709-9585

WHY WAIT! GET YOUR CLASS AD NOW!

Sunnyside Valley Irrigation District (SVID) will be accepting sealed bids for the following surplus equipment: 1963

BUCYRUS-ERIE

CRAWLER/ DRAGLINE MODEL

2011 Massey Ferguson Hesston Round Baler 2856A. It has made 8900 bales. Asking $23,000 Burns, OR 541-589-2360

Massey Ferguson Orchard Tractor 3435F: Excellent Condition, $21,000. Gervais, OR 503-9911515

Classified Ads work hard for you!

920 Tractors

WANTED: TRACTORS TO BUY!

Cat 9U, 7U, RD6, prefer running or not for parts. I come to you, pick up at your farm. Pay in cash.

Athol, ID BILL (208) 651-8698

Anderson Rotary Rock Picker. Series E from Armor Metal Products. $4,500. Jacksonville (Ruch), OR. 541-690-5919

Bin Dumper: front bin dumper attachment for forklift. Excellent condition, $6000. Gervais, OR 503-991-1515

899 Heavy & Industrial Equipment

Genie S-125 Manlift: 125ft, 5500 hours, in great shape, $54,000. Aurora, OR 503-709-9585

B-22 with 50-foot boom. The machine was in operation until 2013. Many extra parts including additional bucket. The purchaser will be responsible for moving. Minimum Bid: $15,000.00 cash or cashiers check. Machine can be viewed at 120 South 11th St. Sunnyside, WA. Monday through Friday between 8.00 am and 3.00 pm. Contact Chris Gardner, Shop Supervisor at 509-8376980 for information. Sealed bids will be received until July 5, 2023 at 3:00 PM. At which time they will be opened and publicly read aloud.

2015 Massey Ferguson WR9860 Rotary with 16ft 9125 Razor Bar Header. 1623 hours. Runs great. All systems function as expected. Normal header wear, $95,000 OBO. Bishop, CA 760-937-0764

WANTED: International Hydro 100 or 186. Good Shape. No loader necessary. 775-304-1928

2009 Summers Ultra Supersprayer: 133ft suspended boom, 1500 gallon tank, $22,000 OBO. Tekoa, WA. Call 509-284-2311 for more information.

Massey Ferguson Orchard Tractor 3435F: Excellent Condition, $21,000. Gervais, OR 503-9911515

1988 Loral L8000 Dry Spreader. L-10 Ford Diesel engine. 60ft Stainless Steel Booms, Make offer. Lovelock, NV 775-422-7733

John Deere 8400: MFWD approximately 9500 hours 4 hydraulic outlets, new rear rubber 710/70 R38, duals, fronts 600/65 R28, $73,000 Lafayette, OR. 503437-4833

1994 IHC Loral Easy Rider. 2400C Dry Floater Air Max V dry Air Flow System. 60ft Stainless Steel Booms, Make offer. Lovelock, NV 775-4227733

John Deere 2855N: 4511 original hours, loader, 2WD, $17,500. Aurora, OR 503-709-9585

923 Farm Equipment

John Deere 995 switch plow. 6 bottom. All new wear parts. $19,000.

Dayton, OR 971-237-5466

Gleaner R62 Combine: RWA, 27ft header. John Deere 455 drills, 35ft, 7.5in spacing, straight grain. Calkins 36ft cultivator. Calkins 32ft cultiweeder. Pomeroy, WA. 509-751-7609

WANTED: GRAIN DRILLS JD MODELS 450, 8300, 8200, ALSO

& Case IH Drills

Call Chris Visser: 559-269-1951

John Deere 6000 Starfire with 450 RTK Antenna. Starfire RTK Unlock Capable. SF1 capable as is. Price $11,995. Albany, OR 541-979-9776

V-Ditcher, Arts Way, VH7ER, 24in depth capable, 10 hours. Stainless Saddle tanks, Tool bars, John Deere Quick attach, Front Loader Arms and 5 Shank Ripper. Asking $8,000 OBO Othello, WA 509-989-1742

I’ve closed my business and need to sell the following- 60 inch Howard rototiller, needs 75 horse tractor, $1,990.00, Gaspardo 6 foot double bar mower, $990.00, 50 gallon sprayer, 3 point with electric pump $50.00 Newberg, OR 503-537-4297

Pitz

Continued from Page B6

they have recurring vole problems, said Pitz. Voles mark their highways with urine that reflects ultraviolet light, and kestrels can spot these trails while flying.

A farmer who wants to keep small birds away from a crop, such as ripe winegrapes, may prefer to attract a falcon or hire a falconer.

“Falcons pretty much eat small birds for a living,” said Pitz.

Setting up nest boxes can also attract raptors. Pitz advises farmers to study the type of nest each species needs.

For example, a barn owl needs a large cavity, and the entry hole should be ovalshaped. An ideal box has ventilation holes, is light-colored so chicks don’t become overheated inside on a hot day and is in a quiet spot near vegetation. Use native grasses rather than cedar wood chips for nesting material, said Pitz, and occasionally clean out the boxes.

See Boxes, Page B9

Sierra Dawn McClain/Capital Press Tim Pitz stands next to an owl nest box near a greenhouse and compost area.

Boxes

Continued from Page B8

Pitz said trying to attract raptors demands patience; a farmer may build an environment, but a raptor may not find it for years.

For conventional farms, he warns that some rodenticides are deadly to secondary consumers, meaning a raptor eating a poisoned rodent might die. Some rodenticides are more toxic, so Pitz advises farmers to be aware of what they’re using.

Pitz said farms may find raptors are a more efficient, inexpensive form of pest control than poison. He referenced Israel’s National Barn Owl Project, funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Tel Aviv University, which reduced the rodenticide volume used in the agricultural sector.

Pitz also encourages farmers to release beneficial insects to control pests. For example, he has loaded up drones with ladybugs and dropped them over orchards.

The key to getting beneficials to stick around, he said, is building good habitats. If a farmer plants a hedgerow with native plants, beneficial insects are likely to make a home there and overwinter.

Sierra Dawn McClain/Capital Press

A honeybee, a type of beneficial insect, on crimson clover in a hedgerow.

IT’S THE PITTS

Lee Pitts

Submit upcoming ag-related events on www.capitalpress.com or by email to newsroom@capitalpress.com. All times re ect the local time zone unless otherwise noted.

TUESDAY-THURSDAY JUNE 13-15

International Dairy Foods Association Leadership Symposium: Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. The symposium provides a forum for rising professionals in the dairy industry to collaborate with other game-changers to sharpen their executive skills. Website: https://www.idfa.org

TUESDAY-FRIDAY JUNE 13-16

Agriculture Transportation Coalition 35th Annual Meeting: Greater Tacoma Convention Center, 1500 Commerce St., Tacoma, Wash. Ocean shipping and domestic transport challenges continue, constantly changing, the future uncertain. At the 35th Annual AgTC Meeting, we’ll build relationships, pursue solutions. Website: https://agtrans.org/events/

FRIDAY JUNE 16

Washington Wine Board Meeting: 9 a.m.-noon. Walter Clore Center, Prosser, Wash. The Washington State Wine Commission board and sta will discuss current issues relevant to the state’s wine industry, ongoing events and campaigns, and the organization’s broader strategies. This board meeting is one of several throughout the year. Website: bit.ly/43CsEv8

WEDNESDAY JUNE 21

VIT Tech — Rootstocks: 2:30-3:30 p.m. Walla Walla Community College Enology & Viticulture Center, 3020 E. Isaacs Ave., Walla Walla, Wash. OSU rootstock trial results, presented by Jeremy Schuster, Oregon State University. One ODA/WSDA pesticide credit available for this session (in-person only). Zoom registration link will be posted one week prior to session.Website: https://bit.ly/3NaJJaO

1085 MASSEY FERGUSON $18,500

DEERE 6130D, with loader- has new tires and comes with pallet forks and bale spear 2400

Prescribed fire managers keep close eye on flames

By BRAD CARLSON Capital Press

CROUCH, Idaho — Forest managers set a fire May 18 as a means of reducing the intensity of future wildfires. By using prescribed fire to reduce the under-

brush in the Pinney Slope area, the likelihood of a future fire “blowing up” will be diminished, they said.

Community concerns over smoke have driven management of this prescribed burn, which is near

the small southwest Idaho town of Crouch — about a mile by air.

“The big concern is smoke,” Traci Zimmerlee, Boise National Forest Lowman District ranger and agency administrator for the Pinney burn, said from

an observation area and drop point May 18.

Smoke can settle in Crouch and neighboring Garden Valley, where the air quality is measured, and over roads along Payette River forks.

The day’s smoke behav-

ior and burn progress were good, Zimmerlee and burn boss Ryan Shannahan said. Some problematic prescribed fires last year have prompted stricter approval rules this year.

Brad Carlson/Capital Press Traci Zimmerlee, agency administrator for the Pinney Slope prescribed fire and Boise National Forest Lowman District ranger.

Dave Walsh/USFS Dustin Doane, U.S. Forest Service Intermountain Region fuels program manager, and Pinney Slope burn boss Ryan Shannahan discuss resource availability.

See Fire, Page B13

185k miles., Stk.355 JUST IN

FREIGHTLINER-M2, Cummins, Allison auto. with PTO gear, 170k miles, Stk.265 $27,650

PRE EMISSIONS ‘05 STERLING, MB@450 HP, E-brake, 10 speed, 20k front, 44k rears, with 28’ flatbed, 220k miles IN SOON

Freightliner, Cummins @350 hp, Allison 6 speed automatic with PTO, 28’ flatbed, 192k miles JUST IN

PETE 348, Cummins 8.3, 8 LL, 14,500 front, with 24’ flatbed, 260k miles IN SOON

350 dozer, with 6-way blade, diesel, shows 8030 hours $14,750

FORD-L8000, Cummins 8.3, Allison automatic IN SOON

FREIGHTLINER-M2, Cummins, manual, with 19’ bed JUST IN

Brad Carlson/Capital Press

Dustin Doane, U.S. Forest Service Intermountain Region fuels program manager, and Pinney Slope burn boss Ryan Shannahan discuss resource availability for May 18 and beyond.

Fire

Continued from Page B12

The Boise National Forest’s history with wildfire is long but largely suppression-based, Zimmerlee said. “Now we are trying to bolster our fuels management program” by using fire.

The Pinney burn’s approval was more than a year in the making, including reviews and adjustments, she said. She is the final signer of the burn plan, which has four signers total.

Pinney, which is a landscape or surface burn, is about 960 acres. The Boise National Forest plans 11 spring burns in five ranger districts.

At the Pinney drop point May 18, Brian Cardoza, superintendent of the Idaho City Hotshots fire crew, tracked the ignition progress relative to burn objectives while the Boise forest’s Paul Mitchell worked as the “holding boss,” analyzing fire behavior to hold it within the planned area.

Flames were low, good for smoke lift, Mitchell said. Wind from mountains to the east also helped smoke get up and away from the communities.

“This is some of the closest Forest Service land to private land,” said Shannahan, who is also the north zone fuel specialist for the Boise forest. “For us to be

See Burning, Page B14

Brad Carlson/Capital Press Sam Lewis, prevention technician for the Boise National Forest Emmett Ranger District, at the Pinney Slope prescribed fire.

Burning

Continued from Page B13

good neighbors, this is a critical area to treat hazardous fuels.”

Good conditions and progress characterized the first day, May 13, when crews burned 100 acres, he said. May 14 was also productive thanks in part to a favorable wind.

Burning on May 15 was stopped after about 20 minutes when a storm brought rain, hail and lightning.

No burning took place May 16-17 amid high humidity and unfavorable wind and ventilation conditions.

On May 18, ventilation, or upward movement of smoke, “is good, but not as good as the first day we burned,” Shannahan, a Garden Valley resident, said. Humidity had dropped enough to allow the fire to burn the targeted 75 acres.

Prime time often is from around 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — when a high sun angle puts more heat on the ground to aid ventilation, and enough time remains for smoke to rise and escape, he said.

Traveling to and from the Pinney drop point several times May 18, veteran firefighter Sam Lewis, prevention technician for the Boise forest’s Emmett Ranger District, documented the burn at different stages and spoke with local residents, visitors and fire department officials about its progress. He checked in with colleagues stationed at key points to inform passersby, keeping everyone informed of the fire’s progress.

“I’ve always loved the community relations side,” he said.

Dave Walsh/USFS

The Pinney Slope prescribed re north of Crouch, Idaho.

How sustainable is

By SIERRA DAWN McCLAIN Capital Press

How sustainable is labgrown meat? That’s the question researchers at the University of California-Davis are asking in a new study.

The study’s abstract says consumer interest in animal cell-based meat, also called cultured or lab-grown meat, continues to grow, with some consumers viewing cultured meat as “a viable environmentally conscious replacement for livestock production.”

The problem, the abstract says, is that not enough research has been done on how sustainable the production of lab-grown meat is. This new study aimed to help answer that question.

The UC-Davis research team conducted a life-cycle assessment of how sustainable the production of labgrown meat is compared to beef, analyzing the energy needed to produce each product and the greenhouse gas emissions at each production stage.

In an initial pre-print research paper that has not yet undergone peer review, they concluded cultured meat production is not as environmentally friendly as it seems.

“Our findings suggest that cultured meat is not inherently better for the environment than conventional beef. It’s not a panacea,” Edward Spang, one of the paper’s authors and an associate professor in the Department of Food Science and Technology, said in a statement.

One challenge with the production for lab-grown meat is that is requires the use of highly refined or purified growth media, which make animal cells multiply. The researchers say this method is similar to the biotechnology used to make pharmaceuticals.

“If companies are having to purify growth media to pharmaceutical levels, it uses more resources, which then increases global warming potential,” Derrick Risner, the paper’s lead author and a doctoral student in the UC-Davis Department of Food Science and Technol-

ogy, said in a statement.

Risner said if companies continue to produce cell-cultured meats “using this ‘pharma’ approach,” it will be worse for the environment and more expensive than conventional beef production.

Andrew Noyes, a spokesman for GOOD Meat, a cultivated meat company, said the UC-Davis study is based on a flawed premise.

“The UC-Davis study is largely based on arguments that nutrients fed to cells will continue to be pharmaceutical grade,” he said. “That assumption is flawed and

‘22 CASE IH FARMALL

USED TRACKED TRACTORS

TRACTORS

USED COMBINES

‘22 CASE IH 8250, 350 Hrs., Harvest Command, 4wd, Chopper, Duals, Lux Cab #998 $475,000

‘21 CASE IH 8250, 650 Hrs., Harvest Command, 4wd, Chopper, Duals, Lux Cab #997 $425,000

‘10 CASE IH 8120, 2720 hrs., Chopper, Duals, 2wd, #1003 $95,000

‘06 CASE IH 8010, Duals, Chopper, 1800 Hrs.,2wd, #829 $75,000

‘98 CASE IH 2388 HILLSIDE, 4WD, Duals, Chopper, 30’ 1010 Header $35,000

‘97 JOHN DEERE 9500 SIDE HILL, 2700 hrs., chaff spreader, 25’ header with cart, ConsJ70 $35,000

‘95 CASE IH 2188, Duals, Big Top, 25’ 1010 Header, #957 $19,000

USED TILLAGE, SEEDING, GRAIN CARTS & MISC.

‘14 HORSCH ANDERSON JOKER RT370, New Blades, #ConsD71#460 $60,000

‘14

Odessa, WA (509) 988-0433

Coulee City, WA (509) 681-0466

Ritzville, WA (509) 660-3210

‘23 APACHE-HS1100, 4WD, Hydro, 120’ Booms, Raven, Capstand , 1120 Gallon Tank, $CALL

‘14 CHALLENGER-MT775E, 6025 hrs., PTO, 3pt, 14” Tracks, 6 Rmts., #1313, (N.A.P.) $160,000

‘22 CASE IH 8250, 250-650 Hrs, Harvest Command, 4wd, Chopper, Duals, Lux Cab, $CALL

‘14 HORSH ANDERSON JOKER RT370, 37’, New Blades, #ConsD71 $60,000

‘14 BOURGAULT 3710, 60’, 10” Spacing, MRB, w/ L6550 Car $185,000

BOURGAULT 3710, 60’, 10” Spacing, MRB, w/ L6550 Cart $185,000

‘14 CHALLENGER-MT775E, 6025 hrs., PTO, 3pt, 14” Tracks, 6 Rmts, #1313 $160,000

70A, 0 hours, ROPS, 4wd, Loader, PTO, #1308, (N.A.P.) $CALL

Meat

Continued from Page B15

cells has fallen in recent years and we have demonstrated success with non-pharma grade ingredients in our R&D eff orts.”

For the study, the scientists considered broad environmental impacts and defi ned global warming potential as the carbon dioxide equivalents emitted for each kilogram of meat produced.

Using this metric, they found that a higher volume of greenhouse gases is emitted in the production of lab-based meat that uses growth media compared to traditional beef.

The global warming potential of lab-based meat, the scientists concluded, ranges from 4 to 25 times greater than the global warming potential of average retail beef.

In their paper, the researchers wrote that in the near term, cultivated meat’s environmental impact is likely

to be “orders of magnitude higher” than conventional beef.

The researchers, however, did not rule out the possibility that companies might develop more sustainable production methods in the future.

“It’s possible we could reduce its environmental impact in the future, but it will require signifi cant technological advancement to simultaneously increase the performance and decrease the cost of the cell culture media,” said Spang, the associate professor.

Other authors on the paper include Yoonbin Kim and Justin Seigel of UC-Davis and Cuong Nguyen of the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

The research was funded by the UC-Davis Innovation Institute for Food and Health and the National Science Foundation.

CASE IH 8230, level land, 2110-Sep-hrs, header tilt, rock trap, cross-auger control, fine cut chopper, HID lights, Diff lock, AFS autosteer, 520 front duals, 750/85R42 rear..$149,900

Organic Valley’s rebuilt creamery back in operation

By GEORGE PLAVEN Capital Press

McMINNVILLE, Ore.

— The receiving station at Organic Valley’s newly rebuilt creamery in McMinnville, Ore. was quiet on a recent May afternoon as plant manager Scott Fields led a tour of the upgraded and expanded facility.

It is here, Fields explained, where trucks hauling 50,000-pound tankers of raw milk arrive daily from dairy farms across Oregon, Washington and Idaho. All that milk is then collected and stored in one of four towering steel silos.

“We can unload two trucks at the same time now, which is something we couldn’t do before,” Fields said, highlighting the station improvements.

The fate of this plant was anything but certain two years ago, after it was heavily damaged by a large fire that broke out during routine maintenance.

Organic Valley officials weren’t sure if they would rebuild in the wake of the blaze, which destroyed the 25,000-square-foot main building.

However, Organic Valley — the country’s largest farmer-owned organic cooperative — ultimately decided it would bring back the creamery in phases. Phase one started on Oct. 4, 2021, and the plant began processing milk again in May 2022.

“We built this thing in eight months,” said Mark Pfeiffer, vice president of internal operations for the Organic Valley. “I take away a lot of gratitude for our team, and certainly for the city and fire department. ... Obviously, an event like that you play back like it was yesterday.”

George Plaven/Capital Press

The Organic Valley creamery in McMinnville, Ore. was significantly damaged by fire two years ago. The co-op has finished phase one of the facility’s rebuild, and began processing milk at the facility in May.

Agricultural Equipment • Consignment • Appraisals • Loader Tractors “Where My Mission Is Helping Farmers Turn Excess Capital Into Working Capital”

TRACTORS

JOHN DEERE 8650, 1300 hrs., 290 h.p. - engine, with 2300 hrs. on JD Dealer engine OH.,16 F. & 6 R. trans., 20.8x38 tires - good shape. Overall! $24,800

DRILLS

INTERNATIONAL 86 RING PACKER, 26 ft. approx., 22 in. ring packer wheels, foldup design $5,500

COMBINES

1998 JOHN DEERE 9510 SH, sidehill machine, 3200 hrs.-sep., chopper, chaff spreader, 30.5x32 drive tires, 14.9x24 rear tires, buddy seat, with JD 925 F header, 25 ft., pickup reel and Stoess header cart. Nice Package! $19,600

SPRAYER/ FERTILIZER

FLEXI-COIL 55 SPRAYER, 650 gal. poly tank, 72’ booms, hydr. pump drive, Raven control valves, flow control valve, pull style with Raven SCS440 control head. Nice!......... $5,400

TIRES & TRACKS

(3) GOODYEAR DT712 RADIAL COMBINE TIRES, 520/85R42, bar style, 50% (used), less the 1/2 of new. Would prefer to sell all together $980 EACH

CAMOPLAST TRACKS, pair of 30” width. Came off of JD 8430T tractor. Please call for information $7,500

FORD-FW40, 8800 hrs., 295 h.p. Cummins engine, 20 F. & 4 R. trans., 20.8x38 tires -good shape, 4 remotes. Nice Overall! $12,000 CASE-IH 890 LOADER, SL-self leveling, mounts, good bucket. Was on Case 7250 tractor, 238 h.p., 1994/96 vintage $6,500

(86) JOHN DEERE SUITECASE WEIGHTS, 100 lb. each, P/N R127764. New Price $153 each. Off of JD 9400T. Mounts available also. Great Bargain! $110 each

TRUCKS & EQUIP.

1996 DODGE RAM FLATBED PICKUP, 241,000 miles showing, 5.9L-24V Cummins turbo diesel, 4x4, 5 spd., good 215/85R16 tires, dually, 7 ft. x 10 ft. flatbed. Great Service Truck! $7,500

VALMAR 3220 AND HARROW CART, 60 ft., 10 bar flex harrow - spike, with Honda 11 h.p. engine, stored inside, low usage. Nice! $5,800

1995 CASE-IH 2188, 2600 hrs., beater, 30.5Lx32 tires, good concaves, H.S. augers, good maintenance, with Case 25’ 1010 header with cart. Low Hours Nice! $22,500

MCGREGOR-STYLE SPRAYER, 80ft. suspended booms, 1000 gal. poly tank, L&R Raven boom valves, hyd. drive pump $3,800

GOODYEAR DT820 RADIAL TRACTOR TIRES, (5) of, 620/70R42, 30/40% (used), 1/3 of price. Would prefer to sell all together $1,300 EACH

CAMOPLAST CATERPILLAR TRACKS, used, 30” width, blocks good. Came off of Challenger MT765, number on tracks 1R1321...$4,200

PLOWS

MCGREGOR NO TILL GRAIN DRILL, 24 ft., 1 1/8 in. Fertilizer Shanks, Disk Opener - 12 in. spacing with rubber packers, 500-gallon anhydrous tank and 350-gallon solution poly tank, folds to 12 ft. width......... $12,000

ANHYDROUS TENDER NH3 NURSE TANK, 14,000 gal., farmer used $35,000 ‘06 AG CHEM 280 DRY BOX, 60 ft. aluminum booms, off of Rogator $2,500

FERTILIZER SPRING COIL SHANKS, approx. 60 shanks, 3/4 in. 21 in. clearance, dual tubes $15 EACH

‘67 IH LOADSTAR 1600 WHEAT TRUCK, 80,200 miles showing, 345 engine-gas, 5&2 trans., brakes recently gone through, steel bed, hoist, metal racks, 9:00x20 tires. Good Shape! $2,500

GRAIN BOX, for Wheat or Seed Truck, 14ft. long $3,900

20 FT. METAL BED, Racks and Hoist on 1978

Ford Tandem Wheat Truck Model 9000, Detroit engine - bad, Eaton 10 spd. trans., 11R24.5newer front Toyo tires $5,000 ‘69 IH 1600, boom truck, 392-engine, newer winch included REDUCED! $950

GRAIN MASTER MFG, 18’ grain racks, metal, side ladder, 54” sides, 8.5’ width $2,500

HARROWS

FLEXI-COIL 85 HEAVY HARROW CART, 50’, 9/16” tines, 16.5Lx16.1SL tires, adjustable tine angle. Rare Find! $8,900 MORRIS SPRING TINE HARROW, 50 ft., 10 sections and lift arms, 3/8 in. tine, tine angle adjustment, off of Morris Rangler II Packer $2,500 HARROW CART, 60 ft. with Valmar machine COMING IN!

CASE IH 7100, grain drills, 5-unit set, 60’, 20” spacing, hoe openers, 5” wide packers , with 500 gal. poly tank, fertilizer manifolds and Stoess hitch............................

ANHYDROUS TENDER APPLICATOR CART, 1,000 gal. NH3 Tank and running gear $2,500

$10,800

JOHN DEERE-LZ1010, 32’, 4-unit set, hydr. depth control, 10” spacing - hoe openers, extra parts, with hitch

$1,200

STOESS GRAIN DRILL HITCH, for JD HZ drills, newer early style, can rotate tires, green color $500

BRILLION-P8 CULTIPACKER, 4” axle. Hard to find!

1992 GLEANER R62, 3220 sep. hrs., 330 h.p. engine water cooled - same as R72, 4 chain F. & R. - 1 year ago, 30.5Lx32 drive tires, 14.9x24 rear tires, good A/C, with Gleaner 30 ft. header and cart. Nice Unit! $22,500

POLY ELLIPTICAL LEG TANK, 1,000 gal, with steel hoops $1,500

POLY TANK,500-gallon tank. (Only one tank available.) $200

DISKS & RIPPERS

$800

3-IH 150’s, 42’ grain drills, 12” spacing, steel hoe openers, hyd depth control, rubber packers, fert maniflod, with hitch $4,500

IH 150, grain drills, 36’, 3-unit set, 10” spacing, hoe openers, cast boots, hyd. depth control $2,900

BARBER GRAIN DRILL FILL, 8 in., inside box style, downspout $550

HAY EQUIPMENT

NEW HOLLAND 570 SMALL SQUARE BALER, 14 x 18 in. twine, 540 PTO, spring bale tension, recent knotter replacement, stored inside. Nice! $11,500

ALLEN 8827 HAY RAKE, twin parallel bar rake, folding style, 5 bar baskets, hyd. drive, electric control box, tongue jack $8,800

SUPREME INTERNATIONAL 900T

FEED MIXER/WAGON, Twin Mixer Augers - H.S., scale, left hand discharge conveyor - with parts to switch it to the right-side discharge, 1000 PTO drive, has duals to go with. Purchased New, Only Used One Year! NICE! $66,800

R & R SUBSOILER, 7-shank unit, parabolic shank design, drawn “V” frame! Nice! $4,500

JOHN DEERE 1710A DISK CHISEL, 17 ft., disk blades 21 in., scrapers, shanks, walking tandem axle, with Morris Harrow. Extra shanks and sweeps $3,800 INTERNATIONAL 800 MOLDBOARD PLOW, 10-bottom, flex frame, one rear coulter, 18” shears, spring tip, tires good. Solid! $3,500 WHITE CHISEL PLOW, 36’ width, 1-1/2’ spacing approx., 25 shanks$3,900 KRAUSE 2341, chisel plow, 17-shanks $3,800

KRAUSE 2813, 19’ chisel plow, spike points, spring style C-shanks $2,900

CULTIVATORS

JOHN DEERE 1000, approx. 32’, singles on the wings $2,500 FLEXI-COIL 420 CULTIVATOR, 36 ft., 1 ft. spacing, 12 in. sweeps with hard caps, front caster wheels, single point depth control, extra parts, with harrow $6,500

RODWEEDERS

CALKINS 1660 CHISEL CHOPPER,

CALKINS WEEDER CABLE HITCH, with 70 ft. spreader bar, 3 in. tubing, for 10 1/2 ft. weeders, 1/2 in. air craft cable. Can break down to use as 40/50/60 ft. also. Nice Unit! $1,900

CALKINS, 4-unit set, lime green vintage, handle depth control, 1” rods, with cable hitch $2,000

MISCELLANEOUS

JOHN DEERE 330 DISK, 25 ft., F. 20 in. R. 22 in. blades, 9 in. spacing, dual tires on main frame, single tires on wings, scrapers , rear pull hitch mounted $5,500

BUSH HOG, 7-shank ripper, V-style, drawn unit with parts BH 5-shank unit$5,000

BUSH HOG 28’ DISK APPROX., discs F. 21” & R. 21-1/2” with scrapers $4,000

WESTFIELD TR80-51, grain auger, PTO drive, 8”x51’, hyd. lift for height, swing-away intake hopper (for trailers), hyd. drive $3,500

IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT, Marathon electric motor, 150-hp and 125-hp, misc pipes, valves, many, many more items CALL CATTLE HANDLING EQUIPMENT (3) Calf Shelters and Wind Break, also some extra frames $50 each

‘10 CASE IH 2010 HEADER, 30 ft., auger/ rigid, twin sickle, full finger & H.S. auger, fore & aft on reel, pickup reel, with header cart. Possible backup header and Good Shape! $12,800

JOHN DEERE 7722, with Rahco Full Hillside Conversion, 5500 hrs. sep., 35.5LX32 drive tires, chopper, fixed sieve, with JD 224 header and cart $7,500

15 ft. 6 in., 15 reset ripper shanks, hydr. adjustable disk gang, chopper roller on back. Also, rear pull hitch on back. Rare Find! $14,500

2014 JOHN DEERE 635F HEADER, 35 ft., flexible full finger auger, good flighting - HS, pickup reel, with nice Stoess header cart. Also, spare JD 935 F header for parts. Great Package Deal! $19,800

JOHN DEERE 500 GRAIN CART, approx. 500 bu. capacity, PTO drive $4,500

1995 JOHN DEERE 930, 30 ft., pickup reel, reed fore & aft, with Stoess header cart $4,800

Creamery

Continued from Page C2

Organic Valley acquired the McMinnville creamery, about 50 miles southwest of Portland, in 2016. Before the fire, it employed 44 people processing 4 million pounds of milk daily from co-op members to make butter and nonfat dry milk powder.

While the fire was devastating, it didn’t destroy everything, Pfeiffer said. The original milk dryer and evaporator were spared, as were two milk storage silos.

That made it more feasible to rebuild. The co-op invested $32.5 million in phase one, which includes the new receiving bay, testing laboratory and fluid milk processing room.

See Organic, Page C5

George Plaven/Capital Press From left, Mark Pfei er, vice president of internal operations for Organic Valley; Paul Silva, maintenance manager at the McMinnville creamery; and co-op CEO Je Frank tour the newly rebuilt facility on May 11.

Amy Hanifan McMinnville Fire Department Fire ghters battle the ames April 20, 2021, at the Organic Valley Creamery in McMinnville, Ore.

Organic

Continued from Page C4

Two additional 40,000-gallon silos were also installed, nearly doubling the plant’s capacity.

Today, the creamery has resumed making milk powder in 2,000-pound totes for large customers and is processing 2% pasteurized milk, half-and-half and cream.

As part of phase two, Pfeiffer said the co-op is still considering whether to start making butter again at the creamery. Doing so would cost an estimated $40 million to reinstall equipment and cooler storage. He expects a decision will be made by June.

“The butter segment has really changed in how people consume it,” Pfeiffer said.

Pfeiffer said McMinnville is the epicenter for receiving milk among the co-op’s 59 member-farms in the Northwest.

“Without this facility, I don’t know that there would be as much of a market,” he said.

Jeff Frank, who joined the co-op as CEO in January, was also on hand for the May 11 tour. He watched and listened as the group peeked inside the dryer and evaporator room, testing lab and pasteurization alcove, which gleamed with shiny new equipment.

“We’ve come a long way,” Frank said. “It’s exciting to see.”

George Plaven/Capital

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Fish and Wildlife: Wolves no longer endangered in Washington

By DON JENKINS Capital Press

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists recommended May 18 removing wolves from the state’s endangered species list and reclassifying wolves as a state sensitive species.

Wolves are neither endangered nor threatened because their population is robust, growing and dispersing across the state, according to a status review that contained the recommendation.

Wolves in the western two-thirds of Washington are federally protected and would be unaffected by a change in state status.

As a state sensitive species, wolves in the eastern one-third of state would still be protected. The change would be minimal, Fish and Wildlife wolf policy coordinator Julia Smith said.

“It doesn’t change things very much. It simply means that words — ‘endangered,’ ‘sensitive’ — have meanings,” Smith said.

Fish and Wildlife routinely reviews the status of endangered and threatened species. The release of the wolf review May 18 started a public comment period that will end Aug. 16.

The department expects to present the recommendation to the Fish and Wildlife Commission in October.

The maximum penalty for illegally killing a sensitive species is 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine, compared to a year in jail and $5,000 fine for poaching an endangered species.

Smith said the commission could set stiffer penalties for poaching wolves, even as a sensitive species. The department has special fines for killing species such as bald eagles, golden eagles and peregrine falcons.

See Wolves, Page C7

Wolves are neither endangered nor threatened in Washington, according to state Fish and Wildlife biologists.

Wolves

Continued from Page C6

Biologists stopped short of recommending wolves be taken off the protected species list entirely.

Wolves are established in Eastern Washington and north-central Washington, but have only a “novel presence” in south-central Washington and no presence in Western Washington, according to biologists.

Full recovery will depend on a robust wolf population in Eastern Washington moving west, they said.

The report does not recommend any changes to the department’s use of lethal control as a last resort to curb chronic attacks on livestock in areas under its control.

Stevens County rancher Scott Nielsen, who heads the Cattle Producers of Washington range-riding program, said reclassifying wolves would be a good step.

“Wolves and wolf recovery are doing very well in northeast Washington,” he said.

The Center for Biological Diversity criticized the recommendation.

“We’re

Washington’s wolves receive the

protections they deserve under state law and the wolf plan,” staff attorney Sophia Ressler said in a statement.

Fish and Wildlife biologists recommended sticking with the state’s wolf recovery objectives.

The objectives include having at least 15 packs reproducing pups each year. There were 26 packs with pups at the end of 2022, but they didn’t meet the second objective of being scattered throughout the state.

A recent study by Fish and Wildlife and the University of Washington projected the second objective will be met by 2030 when wolves fi nally colonize the North Cascade Range and the northwest coast.

Fish and Wildlife started counting wolves in 2008. The population has grown for 14 straight years by an average of 23% a year, according to the department.

Fish and Wildlife counted 216 wolves in 37 packs at the end of 2022.

Over the past 14 years, an average of 10% of the state’s wolves have died each year. Tribal hunters, who can legally harvest wolves, accounted for 36% of the wolves killed by humans between 2008 and 2022, according to the department.

going to do everything we can to ensure that

or 25'. All 7½" Seed Spacing with 15" Midrow Deep Bander.

Capital Press File

expected to decrease later

Negative milk margins make for tough times

By CAROL RYAN DUMAS Capital Press

Bigger milk supplies in some milk-producing regions of the world and lackluster dairy product demand, particularly in China, are putting downward pressure on milk prices.

“Throw in growth in

Europe, the U.S. and New Zealand milk production and you get a little too much supply around relative where demand is at,” said Mike McCully, president of the McCully Group consulting firm.

Lackluster demand is probably going to continue into the third quarter of 2023, he said during a dairy

market outlook webinar by AgWest Farm Credit.

“Conventional thinking is we’re going to have some lower prices in the first half and then a rebound in much higher prices in the second half. That’s not looking to be the case right now the way things are playing out,” he said.

See Dairy, Page C9

While milk supply is close to what was expected, the demand piece is worse than expected, he said.

“We’re probably … close to the darkest hour here right now in terms of pricing,” he said.

Lower milk prices and high feed costs are taking a toll on farm margins. Cost of production is in the low $20s a hundredweight, and milk prices are averaging $17 to $18 per cwt., he said.

The first quarter, first half of this year are pretty bleak, he said. Farm margins are down $1.75 to $2 a hundredweight from a year ago.

“That’s the bad news. The worse news is those margins were not good in Q1, looks like they’re going to be worse here in Q2,” particularly for large Class III states, he said.

June futures for Class

III milk dipped under $16 a cwt., the lowest in two years, he said.

“It’s going to be some tough sledding here for a little while on dairy farm margins until we get out to second half,” he said.

The bright spot is lower feed costs for corn and soybean meal in the fourth quarter, he said.

Prices of those commodities and hay are already seeing some relief, and it looks a lot better in the fourth quarter and into 2024, he said.

“But there’s a fair bit of room between now and then to get to that spot,” he said.

“It’s going to be tough going for the next couple of months. Farmers are going to be grouchy about milk prices … the bright spot is lower feed costs in the future,” he said.

The good news is feed prices have been dropping rather substantially, with December futures price on corn dropping under $5 a bushel, he said.

Brazil’s corn crop is a lot larger than people expected, and China has been dropping its U.S. corn purchases.

“In general, you’ve got a lot cheaper corn, soybeans in the Southern

Hemisphere,” he said.

USDA is also projecting record corn and soybean production in Brazil.

In addition, good spring weather in the U.S. has put corn and soybean planting progress ahead of average

and ahead of last year, he said.

“Do we get back down to $4.50 a bushel (for corn)? We very well likely could if we have a good summer and into the fall,” he said.

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Attack on dog won’t be counted against wolf pack

By DON JENKINS Capital Press

Mauling a dog won’t count against a northeast Washington wolf pack after wildlife managers classified the dog as a “pet,” a label

the owner says overlooks the protection it gives the family’s horses, chickens and children.

Stevens County resident Luke Davis said Waylon, a 10-year-old blue heeler, a breed also known as an

Options to Fit

Australian cattle dog, had tangled with bobcats and cougars, but never a wolf until May 12.

Waylon, who survived the attack, was probably injured by the Onion Creek wolf pack, the Department of Fish and Wildlife concluded. The pack killed calves in February and April. Two more attacks and the department will consider lethal control.

The department counts attacks on livestock and dogs that protect or herd livestock, but not pets. Fish and Wildlife maintains Davis told investigators that Waylon was a pet.

In a written statement to the sheriff’s office and in an interview Wednesday, Davis said that’s not so. “I never told them Waylon is just a pet,” he said.

From now on, Waylon, injured and battered, will be kept indoors or in a fenced

Waylon, a 10-year-old blue heeler, was attacked by a wolf pack in Stevens County, Wash. He guards horses at a small ranch, according to his owner. The Department of Fish and Wildlife classi es Waylon as a pet and won’t count the attack as a strike against the pack. See Dog, Page C11

Water, Fert. or Fuel Storage!

high & low view windows for each, Shur-Lok black tarp, Alcoa alum wheels, 11R24.5 virgin rubber, chip resistant undercoating on hoppers and landing gear, 24" off ground, 18" pin setting, front & rear ladders & view platform, LED lights, 4 chrome corner caps.

1987 BEALL 75 GALLON, 2 COMPARTMENT (2500 / 5000) 4 AXLE PULL TANK TRAILER, MC 306 AL, BOTTOM LOAD, SCULLY, VAPOR, 295 75R 22.5 RUBBER ON STEEL WHEELS, TEE’D DISCHARGE, CABLE INTERNALS, 35’ BARRELL, 7’6” DRAW BAR THAT EXTENDS TO 12’6” APPROX, PUMP FORWARD LINE $19,900

'21 TRAV-A-LONG

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2- '21 TRAV-A-LONG A-TRAIN 40' & 20' HOPPER SET, 40' lead, full Holland air pintle hitch setup, 2 hoppers, high & low view windows for each, Shur-Lok black tarp, Alcoa alum wheels, 11R24.5 virgin rubber, chip resistant undercoating on hoppers and landing gear, 24" off ground, 18" pin setting, front & rear ladders & view platform, LED lights, 4 chrome corner caps.

'21 TRAV-A-LONG

20' DRAW BAR!

1988 BEALL 7000 GALLON 3 COMPARMENT (3000 / 1500 / 2500) 4 AXLE PULL TANK TRAILER, MC 306 AL, PAINTED BARREL, TEE’D DISCHARGE, Y BRANCH, 295 75R22.5 TIRES ON ALL ALUMINUM WHEELS, 30’ BARRELL, 8’6” DRAW BAR $19,900

'02 F-LINER FLD80, Cat 3126@330-hp, 10-spd, Reyco spring suspension, 11R22.5 drives on aluminums, 315/80R22.5 on steers, 2001 Progress aluminum 4-compartment MC406AL fuel delivery tank, 4400-gal, 1500/1500/800/600, double pumper, hose reels and meters in rear, bottom load, scully, vapor, air internal.

'16 PETE 579, Cummins ISX-11.9L 425-hp, 10-spd trans, 3:70 rear ratio, 295/75R/22.5 rubber @ 100% everywhere, 60% brakes, 222-W/B, 152"C/T, 21' 9" OF frame, 703,2150-mi.

'05 PETE 335

1997 PETERBILT 377, CAT C-12 430 HP, 10 SPEED TRANS, 11R24.5 TIRES, PETE LOW AIR LEAF SUSPENSION, ALL ALUMINUM WHEELS, TWIN 110 FUEL TANKS, DOWN EXHAUST, MILES 718,934 ON ECM / ODOMETER HAS BEEN CHANGED AND IT READS 74,480, 2015 “ITB” ALUMINUM BED, 20’ OAL, HARSH RL-J100 HOIST, SHUR-CO ROLL TARP, 3 GATES, REAR DOOR OPENS ALL THE WAY TOO, FULL HITCH PACKAGE

20' PUP TRAILER 2nd half of NW A-Train set or selling separately, large ring turn-table, Alcoa wheels, 11R24.5 virgin rubber, high and low hopper view windows, Shur-Lok black tarp, front & rear ladders & view platform, LED lights, hopper is 24" off ground, 4 chrome corner caps, hopper has Gator Hyde applied.

'21 MERRITT AGMAX A-TRAIN HOPPER SET,

'15 PETE 579, MX13 motor @455-hp, 13-spd, 4-bag air ride, 3:42 rear ratio, sliding 5th wheel, all aluminum wheels with 295/75R-22.5 NEW capped rubber with 70% steers, 60% brakes on drives, front disc brakes, 391,977 original miles, tilt wheel, controls in steering wheel, chrome bumper, SS visor, nice clean 5th wheel!

'99 IH 4900

DT466 @210-hp, 9-spd, spring suspension, 11R22.5 tires, steel wheels, 231,606-mi, 1974 Beal 2700-gal, 3-compartment 900/900/900, bottom load,

'02 F-LINER FLD80 Cat 3126@330-hp, 10-spd, Reyco spring suspension, 11R22.5 drives on aluminums, 315/80R22.5 on steers, 2001 Progress aluminum 4-compartment MC406AL fuel delivery tank, 4400-gal, 1500/1500/800/600, double pumper, hose reels and meters in rear, bottom load, scully, vapor, air internal.

315/80-R22.5 steers with 11R22.5 drives, Cummins ISC @ 300-hp, 10-spd, Reyco spring ride, 462,000-mi,

(4) 2023 DEMCO 40’ STEEL GRAIN TRAILERS, 2-HOPPERS, SPRING SUSPENSION, STEEL WHEELS, 11R24.5 RUBBER, VENTED HOPPERS, 2-RIDGE STRAPS, FRONT AND REAR PLATFORMS, REAR LADDER, SHUR-CO BLACK MANUEL ROLL TARP. BRAND NEW........

23'x102" flatbed with removable rails and lift gate. Very clean truck!

flatbed truck, 224"-W/B, 16K fronts with 40K rears, 315/80-R22.5 steers with 11R22.5 drives, Cummins ISC @ 300-hp, 10-spd, Reyco spring ride, 462,000-mi,

23'x102" flatbed with removable rails and lift gate. Very clean truck!

'15 PETE 579

MX13 motor @455-hp, 13-spd, 4-bag air ride, 3:42 rear ratio, sliding 5th wheel, all aluminum wheels with 295/75R-22.5 NEW capped rubber with 70% steers, 60% brakes on drives, front disc brakes, 391,977 original miles, tilt wheel, controls in steering wheel, chrome bumper, SS visor, nice clean 5th wheel!

scully, vapor recovery, mechanical internals, double pumper, one on each side.

40' lead, 20' pup, Air Ride susp, Shur-Co tarp, 11R22.5 Yokohama tires, all alum. wheels, white finish, LED lights, set approx. 16,200-lbs. 20,000-lb Warn 2-spd winch with remote, 13 side winches & stake pockets, strobe light package in bumper, 6' upper air deck ramp, 2 pullout steps on either side, 237/75R17.5 tires, aluminum over steel wheels, Neway air ride suspension, 15' tail, Apitong decking, centralized grease system, traction plate on rear ramp with center keyhole tie-downs on both edges, LED lights, side opening tool boxes, arrived 7-20-21.

'99 IH 4900, fuel truck, DT466 @210-hp, 9-spd, spring suspension, 11R22.5 tires, steel wheels, 231,606-mi, 1974 Beal 2700-gal, 3-compartment 900/900/900, bottom load,

scully, vapor recovery, mechanical internals, double pumper, one on each side.

'21 LANDOLL 9330E-51-15 TRAVELING AXLE POWER TAIL

'22 LANDOLL 835 E-R-53 AG outs to 13'6", 27' well, Apitong decking, air weight digital load max air scale, 3rd axle lift, toolbox in neck, chain hanger behind lock arms, strobe package in rear bumper, 4-prong electrical outlet at rear of trailer for emergency lights, 3-pair flag holders, boom trough, weld-on steel/wood deck with rubrail, counter weight cut-out pakcage for rear steel deck, gooseneck mudflaps, traction bars for trunion slope 50" spread on axles for max well space. Coming in Oct. 2021.

40' lead, 20' pup, Air Ride susp, Shur-Co tarp, 11R22.5 Yokohama tires, all alum. wheels, white finish, LED lights, set approx. 16,200-lbs. 20,000-lb Warn 2-spd winch with remote, 13 side winches & stake pockets, strobe light package in bumper, 6' upper air deck ramp, 2 pullout steps on either side, 237/75R17.5 tires, aluminum over steel wheels, Neway air ride suspension, 15' tail, Apitong decking, centralized grease system, traction plate on rear ramp with center keyhole tie-downs on both edges, LED lights, side opening tool boxes, arrived 7-20-21.

1997 PETERBILT 377, CAT C-12 430 HP, 10 SPEED TRANS, 11R24.5 TIRES, PETE LOW AIR LEAF SUSPENSION, ALL ALUMINUM WHEELS, TWIN 110 FUEL TANKS, DOWN EXHAUST, 724,117 MILES, 2015 “ITB” ALUMINUM BED, 20’ OAL, HARSH RL-J100 HOIST, SHUR-CO ROLL TARP, 3 GATES, REAR DOOR OPENS ALL THE WAY TOO, FULL HITCH PACKAGE.........................................

'22 LANDOLL 835 E-R-53 AG, hydraulic de-tach, aluminum pullouts to 13'6", 27' well, Apitong decking, air weight digital load max air scale, 3rd axle lift, toolbox in neck, chain hanger behind lock arms, strobe package in rear bumper, 4-prong electrical outlet at rear of trailer for emergency lights, 3-pair flag holders, boom trough, weld-on steel/wood deck with rubrail, counter weight cut-out pakcage for rear steel deck, gooseneck mudflaps, traction bars for trunion slope 50" spread on axles for max well space. Coming in Oct. 2021.

2009 JET 22’ HOPPER TRAILER,FRONT AXLE IS A DOLLY WITH 14’ DRAW BAR, SPRING SUSPENSION, 1 HOPPER, STEEL WHEELS, 11R22.5 RUBBER 60%, BRAKES 60%, STEEL WHEELS, SHUR-CO ROLL TARP

Mountain Hi truck & EquipMEnt

Dog

Continued from Page C10

yard, Davis said. “But before the attack, I would never have said Waylon was a quote-unquote ‘pet,’” he said.

Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman Staci Lehman said the department does not plan to reconsider classifying Waylon. “We have confidence in our staff,” he said.

Stevens County Sheriff Brad Manke said it shouldn’t matter whether Waylon was a pet or working dog. Fish and Wildlife should change its policy and count attacks on pets, he said.

“Especially if it’s on private property,” Manke said. “A person’s personal property is a person’s personal property.”

Wolf packs saturate the county. The sheriff’s office is exploring its legal options in controlling wolves, Manke said.

“I want to keep a positive working relationship with Fish and Wildlife, but I have different goals and a different mission for my constituents than they have,” he said.

The Davises live 40 miles northeast of Colville, the county’s largest city. The family has a small horse ranch, chickens and three children, ages 10 to 3. Waylon is trained to corral and protect the horses, Davis said.

The family has three other dogs. “We know we live in cougar, wolf and bear country,” Davis said.

Aggressive barking awakened Davis and his wife, Alex, early May 12, he said. “We knew it wasn’t shooingaway-the-deer barks.”

Alex Davis looked out and saw a wolf charging toward the house. Davis said he

grabbed a rifle, but his wife was the first to fire from the porch — a pistol shot in the air.

The wolf ran away. Waylon, a hind leg bleeding, went to the veterinarian, where puncture wounds were also found around his neck. The vet bill came to more than $800, Davis said.

While the Davises were at the vet, a Fish and Wildlife biologist visited the scene, but didn’t see any wolf signs. Davis later sent to the department photos of tracks he found. Lehman said the department couldn’t tell from the photos whether it was wolf tracks.

Davis said he also found tufts of wolf fur, suggesting a fight with Waylon.

The department listed the attack as “probable.” It would still have counted as a predation for the purpose of moving closer to considering lethal control, if the department didn’t classify Waylon as a pet.

The American Kennel Club describes blue heelers as “sturdy hard-muscled herders of strength and agility.”

Stevens County Cattlemen’s Association President Scott Nielsen said common sense says Waylon was a working dog.

Waylon, a 10-year-old blue heeler, was attacked by a wolf pack in Stevens County, Wash., and su ered wounds to his neck. He guards horses at a small ranch, according to his owner. The Department of Fish and Wildlife classi es Waylon as a pet and won’t count the attack as a strike against the pack.

Easterday to pay $1M for civil violations

By DON JENKINS Capital Press

Cody Easterday will admit he committed civil violations while defrauding Tyson Fresh Meats and pay a $1 million fine, according to an order filed May 26 by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

If approved by U.S. Dis-

trict Judge Stanley Bastion in Richland, Wash., the order will settle allegations that Easterday submitted inflated cattle inventory figures in 2017 and 2018 to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

The false statements allowed Easterday to exceed the exchange’s limits on speculating on future cattle prices, according to the order.

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The commission filed the civil charges in 2021 against Cody Easterday and Easterday Ranches as prosecutors brought criminal charges against Easterday, who procured and fed cattle for Tyson’s beef plant in Pasco.

Easterday, 51, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and to billing Tyson for more than 265,000 head of cattle that didn’t exist. He is serving an 11-year term at a federal prison in Lompoc, Calif.

Easterday used the ill-gotten money from Tyson to cover losses totaling more than $200 million over 10 years in the cattle futures market, according to prosecutors.

At his sentencing in October in front of Bastion, Easterday blamed a gambling addiction.

The commission fined Easterday’s commodity broker, CHS Hedging of Minnesota, $6.5 million in December for inadequately supervising Easterday’s trading.

Easterday was identified in the order against CHS as “customer A,” but was identified in statements by members of the commodity commission.

CHS did not thoroughly investigate the source of the $147 million that Easterday deposited with the broker or seek to understand the purpose of his speculative trading, according to the order.

The speculative trading bore no relationship to Easterday’s business needs to hedge against changing cattle prices, according to the order. Under his cattle-feeding agreement with Tyson, Easterday risked losing money if cattle prices fell.

Easterday’s speculative trading at times generated margin calls of between $5 million and $8 million. Easterday always met the calls, and some payments exceeded his annual income, according to the order.

CHS risk managers asked Easterday in 2017 where he got the money. Easterday didn’t have a good explanation, but CHS did not followup and made no more inquiries, according to the order.

“Customer A continued to regularly make seven-figure daily margin payments to cover losses from his speculative trading,” the order read.

The commodity commission in 2021 reached a $30 million settlement with Easterday Ranches. The settlement has no practical effect because the company was liquidated in bankruptcy court.

All other creditors, including Tyson, have priority over the commodity commission’s claim.

Easterday still owes Tyson $177.1 million in court-ordered restitution. Easterday has two lawsuits against Tyson, seeking to reduce his debt to the company.

Easterday claims Tyson reneged on a deal to share proceeds from selling “Cody’s Beef” in Japan. Another suit alleges unfair business practices by the meatpacker. Tyson denies the allegations in both lawsuits.

Cody Easterday

Costs jump 50% for raising Anderson Ranch Dam

By BRAD CARLSON Capital Press

The projected cost of raising the Anderson Ranch Dam is substantially higher than estimated in a feasibility study three years ago, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation officials told the Idaho Water Resource Board.

The jump from about $83 million to $124.8 million reflects higher costs for construction materials and labor and more detail as design work progresses, Reclamation officials said.

Reclamation and the board are partnering on the project to raise the 456foot dam, on the South Fork Boise River northeast of Mountain Home, by 6 feet. The reservoir capacity, currently 413,000 acre-feet, would increase by about 29,000. A review under the National Environmental Policy Act continues.

The board will cover 89% of the project’s cost, and Reclamation will pay the rest.

Reclamation provided the updated cost estimate at the 30% design stage

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— which includes a more refined design of the dam raise, spillway modification and more than 18 mitigation projects around the reservoir rim to accommodate the higher water surface elevation, according to a board news release.

From the earlier estimate, construction cost increased from about $44 million to $65 million while the cost of reservoir rim projects increased from $12 million to $39 million, Lanie Paquin, who manages Reclamation’s Snake River Area Office in Boise, told the board. The team in subsequent design activities will focus on opportunities to reduce costs. They could be identified in a “value-engineering study” and a “constructability” review, both key in major projects, project manager Chris Keith of Reclamation told Capital Press.

A currently preferred plan is to build a spillway overlay, rather than removing and replacing the spillway, to leave more water in the reservoir during construction and potentially speed up construction, Reclamation offi-

cials said earlier. During construction, the potential restriction on the

reservoir pool elevation is expected to be lower than the feasibility study expected,

which should reduce potential impacts on water users, Paquin said.

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USDA to assist organic dairy farmers

Capital Press

USDA is making $104

million available to organic dairy farmers to assist them with projected marketing

costs in 2023. The funding will help mitigate market volatility,

higher input and transportation costs and an unstable feed supply that have created unique hardships in the organic dairy industry, USDA stated in a press release.

“Organic dairy producers have faced significant and unique increases in their marketing costs, compounded by increases in feed and transportation costs and the limited availability of organic grain and forage commodities,” Zach Ducheneaux, the Farm Service Agency administrator, said in the press release. “This program will keep our small organic dairies in operation as they continue to weather a combination of challenges outside of their control.”

FSA will begin accepting applications for ODMAP on May 24. Eligible producers include certified organic dairy operations that produce milk from cows, goats and sheep.

After weathering the pandemic, organic dairy producers are now dealing with the additional challenges of unprecedented shocks to global trade, which have dramatically cut the supply and increased the costs of organic feedstuffs, the Organic Trade Association said in a press release.

Data from Mercaris, a

market research firm specializing in organic agriculture, shows the average price of feed for organic dairy cows jumped by nearly $200 per head from 2018 to 2022.

“We are pleased that USDA is moving forward with this much needed program. The need is real, and the need is now,” Tom Chapman, CEO of the OTA, said in a press release.

“Family farmers are the foundation of the organic dairy sector, and we are heartened that USDA has recognized the urgency to get the resources out to those in need,” he said.

OTA is also urging USDA to release more funds to ensure the full allocated amount reaches producers in need, pointing out that the assistance would amount to $30 million if every organic dairy farmer in the country applied for the assistance.

“With unprecedented organic feed costs and inflationary pressures over the last couple of years, resources like ODMAP are really going to matter as farmers plan for the rest of this year,” Adam Warthesen, cochairman of the OTA’s feedstuffs relief task force and senior director of government and industry affairs for Organic Valley, said in the press release.

FSA is accepting applications from May 24 to July 24. To apply, producers should contact FSA at their local USDA Service Center.

EO Media Group Holstein cows graze at an organic dairy. USDA is offering money to organic dairies to help with marketing expenses.

Researchers explore risks of grazing sheep on pastures after wildfires

By SIERRA DAWN McCLAIN Capital Press

When a wildfire strikes, some of its destructive impacts are clear: scorched ground, blackened trees, burned houses.

A lesser-known impact is that wildfires can drastically change rangeland by depositing ash contaminated with metals that are not part of normal animal diets on the landscape and altering the minerals essential to livestock.

In a new study published in the journal California Agriculture, the University of California-Davis explored whether sheep grazing on pastures that have regrown after wildfires are negatively impacted by metal contaminants and altered minerals.

The researchers looked for toxic metal residues in meat and wool from sheep that had grazed on post-fire landscapes. They found that grazing sheep on regrown pastures did not significantly alter the metal content in the lambs’ meat and wool — good news for ranchers, sheep and, from a food safety perspective, consumers.

The researchers, however, did find some potentially toxic heavy metals in a few meat samples.

“We didn’t get striking evidence that tells us, when there’s a fire, it means everything is contaminated with heavy metals. But it does raise the question that maybe we should be doing a little bit of surveillance to see if this is spurious or common. And we should be finding a way to screen grazing herds,” Sarah Depenbrock, assistant professor and agronomist in the UC-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, said in a news release.

The researchers conducted their investigation 6 miles north of Hopland, in Central California, where the River Fire had burned in 2018. The wildfire scorched two-thirds of the land at the university’s Hopland Research and Extension Center, presenting an opportunity for scientists to conduct a study.

“A bunch of researchers came together to brainstorm how we could take advantage of this unfortunate event,” said Depenbrock.

The researchers knew that large, older plants on rangelands that have not recently burned may contain high concentrations of metals, such as mercury, sequestered over years of growth. When the plants burn in a wildfire, these metals may be distributed in ash on the landscape.

To determine whether the sheep that grazed on this land produced contaminated meat, the researchers compared meat from lambs that grazed on regrown pastures in 2019 to frozen meat samples that were collected the year before the River Fire.

They tested for lead, mercury, arsenic, molybdenum, cadmium, beryllium, cobalt and nickel, and did not find any of these metals in the meat.

However, they did find that 3 out of the 26 samples tested positive for non-essential chromium and thallium, potentially toxic heavy metals. Although the levels were not significant, the researchers said further studies are needed.

The researchers also tested wool samples. The wool did not test positive for metals, but again, the team recommended further research.

Finally, the team analyzed mineral levels of minerals in sheep that had grazed in regrown pastures.

“It’s a very small study, but it was quite interesting to find that copper was

actually lower in the postfire grazing group, which makes me wonder,” said Depenbrock.

Some major diseases in sheep are associated with copper deficiency. To prevent sheep from getting diseases related to copper deficiency, the researchers said ranchers should screen and monitor livestock for trace minerals including copper.

Valerie Eviner/UC-Davis

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Ewes and lambs graze on a Hopland Research and Extension Center pasture that burned in the 2018 River Fire.