Country Life April 2016

Country Life Special Section • Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Gardening • CL3 Berry • CL4 Dairy • CL4

Report seeks ag pollution crackdown Likkel heading

Whatcom Family Farmers He has been a water quality consultant for years

To protect salmon, agricultural operations must comply with water quality laws,” asserts the executive summary of the report.

Strong action is needed to fulfill the promise of the federal Clean Water Act from decades

LYNDEN — Effective April 1, Fred Likkel, with a background in environmental consulting for farmers, became executive director of new Whatcom Family Farmers organization. organiza The tion’s board took the action at a March 23 meeting. Likkel replaces the initial and interim executive director, Gerald Baron.

“We are very pleased that Fred has accepted this new role,” said Whatcom Family Farmers board president Brad Rader.

“He has established a position of deep reFred Likkel spect certainly among our dairy farmers, but far beyond that. His strengths in farm advocacy along with deep knowledge, expertise and wisdom will serve us well as we continue to build this organization into a strong voice for the future of farming.”

“We’re very grateful what Gerald (Baron) has contributed to this organization from the very start, and he will continue to support us as our media and communications director,” Rader said.

“But he made it clear from the beginning it was a temporary assignment and his preferred role was to focus on our media and communications efforts.”

Likkel is a partner in the environmental consulting firm N3, which also serves as the Whatcom County leader of the Washington State Dairy Federation, according to a press release.

Likkel has been heavily involved in assisting dairy farmers meet nutrient management regulations since the Dairy Nutrient Management Act was passed in 1998. His firm also represents the six Watershed Improvement Districts of Whatcom County and the Ag Water Board as water quality

See WELC on CL2

See Likkel on CL4

This is a Western Environmental Law Center aerial view of agriculture in proximity to waterways in Whatcom County. (Courtesy photo/Kim Koon)

Environmental law group says voluntary compliance measures aren’t working to save salmon

Farmers respond From Fred Likkel and Gerald Baron of Whatcom Family Farmers: In a first review of a very lengthy report, we see little new in their claims that farmers are the main cause of salmon decline. “It’s the same exaggeration and distortion they’ve been making for some time.”

From the literature on salmon decline, these four Hs have often been cited, but do not appear in this report: hydro power, harvest, habitat and hatcheries.

The biggest thing we see is a faulty basis for blaming farming. But we feel that this is such an extremist approach that it will cause a backlash even in the environmental community.

For example, a 280-foot buffer from floodplain would eliminate much farmland in the Nooksack River valley.

By Calvin Bratt editor@lyndentribune.com

WHATCOM ­ — A new 150-page report from an environmental group claims voluntary programs have failed to keep waters clean for salmon and calls for stronger regulatory enforcement against agricultural pollution.

The policy statement, released April 7 by the Western Environmental Law Center, says the Washington State Department of Ecology should use its existing statutory authority to enforce water quality laws.

The “Agricultural Pollution in Puget Sound” report also seeks to give legal force to scientifically supported best management practices for agriculture and to repeal confidentiality provisions in state and federal law.

“Unsustainable agricultural practices are degrading the waters that feed Puget Sound.

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Country Life 2 • Wednesday, April 13, 2016 • lyndentribune.com | ferndalerecord.com

WELC: Knows it is ‘unpopular’ Continued from CL1 ago to eliminate the discharge of pollutants into navigable waters, and to stem the decline of the salmon resource, the authors say.

Years in the making It’s a document that has been years in the making, and the farming community of Washington has expected a strong offensive to arise from the Western Environmental Law Center and associated groups. The recently formed Whatcom Family Farmers group gave an initial brief reaction to last week’s WELC release (see page CL1).

Andrea Rogers, an attorney with the Eugene, Oregon-based environmental law center, is the primary author of the report, whose subtitle says it is to inspire a change away from Washington’s reliance on voluntary incentive programs to save salmon.

Those assorted programs — ranging from authority in the U.S. Department of Agriculture down to local conservation districts — are scrutinized in detail in the report. But these programs are little more than “random acts of conservation” and “essentially paying landowners not to pollute,” it claims.

Rogers’ motivation, she says from the start, is that “Puget Sound salmon are in trouble,” and she looks to a 2011 report by western Washington treaty Indian tribes for the reason.

It is “a lack of federal and state government leadership, policy, commitment and coordination toward a set of salmon recovery goals and objectives.”

While voluntary incentive programs deliver some conservation benefits, they are ineffective in making sure agriculture happens in a way that protects water quality, and “this is because there is no regulatory backstop to ensure agricultural operations comply with state water quality laws.”

Government agencies should only fund conservation practices that last in perpetuity,”according to the report.

What voluntary programs continue should be consolidated and implemented by the state Ecology department, and Gov. Inslee should convene an independent science panel on salmon recovery to oversee the funding process.

Whatcom specifics An aerial photo of green fields and farm buildings near a river, somewhere in Whatcom County, is a leading image on page 2 of the report.

And Whatcom continues to be part of the argued case that agriculture is a leading source of impairment to rivers and streams, in the Puget Sound basin caused primarily by animal manure and commercial fertilizers.

It’s noted that about one-third of the state’s dairy cows are in Skagit and Whatcom counties. This narrative follows: “Industrial dairies store manure in unlined lagoons and often over-apply it to fields as a means to dispose of the significant amounts of manure

they produce. There are approximately 415 unlined manure lagoons in Puget Sound counties, many adjacent to, or in close proximity with, the waters that feed Puget Sound.”

However, at least one source that is cited several times, a sanitary survey of Portage Bay by the state Department of Health, dates back to 1997.

This is another assertion: “The Nooksack River discharges the largest nitrogen load of all U.S. rivers north of Puget Sound and was identified in 1999 for its high nitrogen yields which researchers attributed to over-application of animal manure and commercial fertilizers.”

The report calls attention to an unusually wet 2014 spring, with storm events, that made manure application difficult for dairy farms in the Kamm Creek watershed northeast of Lynden, “resulting in loss of nutrients and contaminated field runoff,” according to a Washington State Department of Agriculture investigation.

Toward change The report — with over 950 footnote citations — draws heavily from governmental, tribal and natural resource agency information sources and policy statements.

This is a 2013 quote from the Puget Sound Partnership: “Reversing the decline of an ecosystem requires changes to laws and regulations that are unpopular.”

In Washington, there has been a shift away from a regulatory approach on agricultural pollution toward a massive investment — billions of dollars — in voluntary programs intended to mitigate the problem “by paying farmers not pollute,” the report states. “But is this a wise investment?”

The Western Environmental Law Center wants the state Department of Ecology to be firmly in charge of these recommendations: give legal force to science-based best management practices in agriculture and use existing authority to crack down on polluters.

“Because of the continued degradation of our waters, it is time for the pendulum to swing back towards a regulatory approach to the agricultural pollution problem,” it states.

Section 1619 of the federal farm bill — ­ alleged to be a shield keeping the public from knowing how tax dollars are paid to farmers — should be repealed.

And likewise Washington state farm plans, detailing what will be done to manage dairy nutrients, should not be protected from public disclosure, the report claims.

Conservation should span generations, not be measured in 5-10 years.

And it would be a matter of “trimming the fat” to consolidate all the many voluntary incentive programs into one mechanism for evaluating effectiveness, the report says.

Finally, the governor should ask the Washington Academy of Sciences to seat an independent science panel to help guide salmon recovery efforts.

Training equips for summer lowtide surveys locally BELLINGHAM — RE Sources for Sustainable Communities is offering some free citizen science training in two counties.

Marine biologists will teach participants how to identify and collect data on plant and animal species found on local beaches, leading to opportunity to participate in low-tide surveys throughout the summer at the Cherry Point and Fidalgo Bay aquatic reserves.

The intertidal surveys will help contribute to the scientific research and understanding of the health of Puget Sound waters and the trends that impact it.

One session in Whatcom County was on April 5. Another is on Sunday, April 10, from 9 a.m. to noon at Fairhaven Library, followed by an afternoon field session to 3 p.m. at Marine Park.

The Skagit County training is on Saturday, April 9, from 9 a.m. to noon at Fidalgo Bay Resort, followed by an afternoon field session to 3 p.m. at Fidalgo Bay Resort. This training session is part of the Salish Sea Stewards program.

Participants are required to attend at least one of the double sessions in order to do the intertidal surveys. All ages can join in, with adult supervision.

Intertidal surveys take qualitative and quantitative measures of plant and animal life and describe the slope and sediment on the beach. The

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Conducting this work using trained citizen volunteers means that more sites can be monitored and that citizens can better appreciate the application of the scientific method and the beach around them.

Beach surveys are tentatively scheduled for: May 10, June 5, July 3 and July 5 at the Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve;

and May 8, May 9, June 22, July 7, July 31, Aug. 1 and Aug. 2 at Fidalgo Bay. Surveys typically take four hours.

Sponsors are: Citizen Stewardship Committees at Cherry Point and Fidalgo Bay Aquatic Reserves, Coastal Volunteer Partnership at Padilla Bay, Skagit County Marine Resources Committee, Northwest Straits Foundation and Northwest Straits Commission.

More information and directions can be found at re-sources.org/events/workshops-events.

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Country Life 3 • Wednesday, April 13, 2016 • lyndentribune.com | ferndalerecord.com

Producers get the scoop on manure management

In Bloom

Add color, texture and flavor to your summer garden

By David Vos

About 100 participants gathered for a winter manure management workshop in the Mt. Baker Rotary Building.

(Courtesy photo)

100 attend training session in Lynden Editor’s Note: This report comes from the Dairyland News Whatcom County Edition, a periodic posting from dairy industry groups.

WHATCOM — More than 200 dairy farmers, livestock ranchers, berry growers, consultants, technicians and custom pumpers attended one of three four-hour Manure Nutrient Management Training events in western Washington during January and February.

The training was organized by the Whatcom Conservation District in cooperation with Snohomish and King counties and funded by a grant from the Washington State Department of Agriculture. The Lynden event attracted 100, Stanwood 56 and Enumclaw 64.

Attendees heard from experts on manure lagoon developments, current regulations, record-keeping rules and tools, agronomics and proper manure use and handling. The purpose was to educate with current information on manure issues, including risk management to avoid problems and optimal use of manure-based fertilizer and compost.

According to Dr. Nichole Embertson, nutrient management specialist with the Whatcom Conservation District and a workshop organizer, each segment got a good response.

Presentations included “Manure Lagoon Management” with Chris Clark, WCC biosystems engineer; “Current

Manure Use Regulations” with Chery Sullivan, WSDA technical and compliance specialist; “Record-keeping Rules and Tools” with Michael Isensee, WSDA Whatcom County dairy inspector and technical compliance specialist; “Agronomics for Nutrient Management” with Andy Bary, Washington State University soil scientist; and “Manure Application Risk Management” with Embertson.

Clark spoke of multiple potential sources of nitrate contamination including irrigated crop agriculture, dairy farms and local sewage systems. In some areas, nitrogen-rich ground water flows south to Whatcom Country from British Columbia. “When you look at well data, in some areas we are seeing nitrate levels going down significantly since 2008 due to improved nutrient management,” he said.

WSDA manages the Dairy Nutrient Management Program for the state’s approximately 400 registered dairies and maintains records as an integral part of each farm’s plan. Sullivan said inspectors review nutrient management plans, required records, facilities and fields during a routine dairy inspection. The mission is to protect water quality from livestock nutrient discharges while helping farmers maintain a healthy agricultural business climate. “We work with farmers and follow a ‘compliance path’ if we see a potential to pollute or see a discharge,” she said. “We issue a warning letter if we find a problem, and 95 percent of those problems are resolved through regulatory technical assistance.”

Isensee described required recordkeeping rules, how they are interpreted

and tools that allow dairies to tell their story over time. “Dairy producers must maintain records to demonstrate that manure nutrient applications to fields are within acceptable agronomic rates — showing manure application records for each field, crop nutrient needs, amount applied, weather conditions, manure transfer and irrigation records and acceptable agronomic rates,” Isensee explained.

Dr. Embertson concluded the workshop with an overview of manure application risk management. “When you over-apply manure-based nutrients, they become a waste and that is what we want to avoid,” she said. She explained the “four Rs” of nutrient management: apply at the right time, right rate, right source and right place. “New application risk management tools help producers apply properly with real-time manure spreading advisories and a field risk assessment worksheet,” she said, “that can help producers protect resources every time manure is applied.”

The events gave participants ways to review their past year’s application protocols and assess what they would do differently in the coming year. Collectively, livestock ranchers, dairies and berry growers can make a big difference by maintaining accurate records, calculating proper agronomic rates for application and adhering to buffers and setbacks.

Go to http://www.wadairyplan.org/ special-events/whatcom-2016 for a video link to each presentation and for download of each presenter’s slides.

Ericksen blasts EPA money in ‘what’s upstream’ Capital Press story traces trail OLYMPIA — State Sen. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, has added his strong objections to a lobbying campaign — paid for partially by tax dollars — that blames Washington farmers for water pollution.

The “what’s upstream” billboard and bus-board campaign happened in Olympia and Bellingham in early March, bringing a basic message of “unregulated agriculture is putting our waterways at risk.” Not only is the argument incorrect, Ericksen says in an April 6 press release, but it’s outrageous that money for it came from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Locally, the bus-board advertising was removed after Whatcom Transit Authority officials acknowledged it violated their policy prohibiting political advertising. Billboards also now are down.

The matter was exposed two weeks ago in the regional agricultural newspaper Capital Press. The story reveals that EPA was kept apprised of development of the “what’s upstream” campaign that began in 2011. EPA had given a grant to the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, which relayed money to the Swinomish Indian Tribe of northwest Washington. The tribe then joined with three environmental groups — the Western Environmental Law Center, the Center for Environmental Law & Policy, and

Puget Soundkeeper — to pay for the services of Strategies 360, a lobbying and publicaffairs firm.

The “what’s upstream” campaign has cost about $568,000 to date and is continuing, according to Capital Press’s investigation.

The ads directed people to a website urging Washington citizens to contact the state Legislature to advocate more stringent regulations on agriculture. Those policies include specific proposals commonly advanced during the legislative and administrative rule-making process, Ericksen says.

The whatsupstream website is still active.

“This is a blatant misuse of taxpayer money, and the Environmental Protection Agency has some explain-

ing to do,” Ericksen said.

“Now that the issue has been exposed in the press, EPA is telling us it was all a terrible mistake. But the public needs to know how this bad idea got past EPA decisionmakers in the first place.”

In a letter to the EPA, Ericksen asks for an explanation how the campaign was approved for federal funding, who approved it, and whether the campaign will continue to receive federal funding now that questions about its propriety have been raised.

“The idea that the federal government would pay a half-million dollars to create a phony grass-roots campaign to lobby state government ought to appall anyone who pays taxes,” Ericksen said. “Meaning all of us.”

There’s something about this time of year that I find particularly invigorating.

Maybe it’s the bright colors of spring-blooming shrubs and perennials, maybe it’s the longer, warmer days or maybe it’s the smell of freshcut grass. But whatever it is, you might feel it too. As you get inspired to plant something in your yard this spring, here are a few of my favorite plants for unique color, texture and flavor.

Let’s start with a few of my favorite shade perennials. Admittedly, shade gardening can be something of a challenge — compared with sun-loving plants, the palette of shade lovers is rather limited. That doesn’t mean, however, there’s nothing to grow! One of my favorite shade plants that far too many people have yet to discover is brunnera.

Brunneras, like hostas, are hardy, low-growing perennials that die back to the ground each year. Also like hostas, they come in various leaf color patterns.

One major difference, however, is their flower. Hosta flowers can be rather blasé, even ugly. Brunneras, however, have beautiful sky-blue flowers in early to mid-spring that resemble a forget-me-not. When they’re done blooming, brunneras remain attractive all summer long with slightly fuzzy, heart-shaped leaves. Looking Glass has an almost metallic appearance with silver leaves and Jack Frost has a similar silvery leaf, accented with bright green veins.

Now, I may be of the opinion that hosta flowers are blasé, but hostas themselves I love. And who wouldn’t? They’re next to impossible to kill, they come in a wide range of colors and textures (as in literally thousands of varieties) and they grow great in shady spots where few other plants will.

One of my favorites this spring is a variety fittingly named Electrocution. With narrow, wavy green-andgold leaves that stand nearly upright, you’d swear this variety got zapped. Its unique texture and medium size make it a great candidate for either the garden or containers on a shady porch.

My third pick for the shade garden this spring is another classic perennial made new: Gold Heart

bleeding heart. First introduced three or four years ago, Gold Heart has classic pink bleeding-heart flowers paired with striking yellow foliage. Perfect for adding bright color to a dark, shady spot in the yard, I’ve found Gold Heart to be a great addition to my own shade garden.

If shade isn’t a big concern for your yard, don’t worry. There are plenty of fun plants to enjoy in the sun this spring, and one that’s sure to turn some heads is Burgundy Wine nandina.

This semi-evergreen shrub has deep burgundy-hued new growth in spring, green leaves in summer and rich red foliage in fall and winter.

Growing to just three feet tall and wide, Burgundy Wine fits in just about any garden space.

As you get invigorated to plant something outside, don’t forget about your edibles. Whether you grow herbs in a pot on the patio or have a full-sized vegetable garden, planting season is upon us. Along with vegetables, berries are popular with gardeners — and a look around the county will tell you they grow well here.

This year, you might find an unusual white strawberry labeled Hula Berry or Hawaiian Strawberry at local garden centers. With a pineapple-like flavor, these interesting berries are actually an improved version of the oldest strawberry in North America, the pineberry.

Bearing fruit in summer and just as hardy as other strawberries, Hawaiian strawberries may be a fun way to add a different flavor to your garden this year.

As you get to planting this spring, may you enjoy the many unique colors, textures and tastes of the new season.

David Vos is the general manager of VanderGiessen Nursery in Lynden.

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BARNYARD KIDS Reporter: Rafe Wolfisberg The Barnyard Kids 4-H Club monthly meeting was called to order at 7:10 p.m. in early March at the Baremans’ home. Megan Engelsma did the Pledge of Allegiance followed by Kai Wolfisberg doing the 4-H Pledge. There was a treasurer’s report by Caleb Bareman, and minutes by Rafe Wolfisberg. Project reports were given by Michael Bareman, Abby Bareman and Kai Wolfisberg. An activity report was given by Julie

Dickinson on the last Dairy Quiz Bowl meeting.

We discussed the upcoming Youth Calf Sale and the State Dairy Quiz Bowl competition, both being held on Saturday, March 19, at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe.

We finalized our decision on the chocolate and coffee idea for the Youth Fair basket. Items were to be turned in to the Engelsma or Bareman families by Wednesday, April 6.

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Country Life 4 • Wednesday, April 13, 2016 • lyndentribune.com | ferndalerecord.com

MiElkE Market

Automated flat Benchmark milk price slips 6 cents dumper comes to berry plants The March Federal Order Class III benchmark milk price is $13.74 per hundredweight (cwt.), down 6 cents from February, $1.82 below March 2015, and equates to about $1.18 per gallon, down from $1.19 in February. It is the lowest March Class III since 2010.

Friday futures settlements portend an April price of $13.81, $13.98 in May, and $14.05 in June, with a 2016 peak of $14.95 for October and November.

The March Class IV price is $12.74, down 75 cents from February, $1.06 below a year ago, and the lowest Class IV since October 2009. The three-month Class IV average stands at $13.18, down from $13.62 a year ago and $23.14 in 2014.

California’s March 4b cheese milk price is $13.24

per cwt., up 19 cents from February but 73 cents below a year ago, and 50 cents below the comparable Federal Order Class III price. The gap is the smallest since June 2011, thanks to a State-mandated, temporary 4b price adjustment. The 4b average for 2016 now stands at $13.12, down from $13.83 a year ago and

$21.20 in 2014.

The March 4a butterpowder milk price is $12.41, down 87 cents from February and $1.01 below a year ago. The 4a average stands at $12.98, down from $13.32 a year ago and $22.86 in 2014.

The Chicago Mercantile Exchange cheddar block cheese closed April Fool’s Day at $1.47 per pound, down 2 cents on the week and 11 cents below that week a year ago. The barrels finished at $1.4550, up a half-cent on the week but 14 cents below a year ago. Seven train cars of block were traded on the week and 11 of barrel.

Butter closed Friday at $1.96 per pound, 3.75 cents higher on the week, reversing three weeks of decline, and 22 cents above a year ago.

Fifteen cars were sold on the week.

Cash Grade A nonfat dry milk finished the week threequarter cents lower, closing at 71.75 cents per pound, 25.75 cents below a year ago, with eight carloads trading hands on the week.

Dan McBride of the Northwest Dairy Association made these price projections for the Class III price and Pacific Northwest blend price: Month Class PNW III Blend March $13.74 $13.40 (current) April $13.75 $13.65 May $13.70 $13.95 June $13.90 $14.10 July $14.20 $14.35 Aug. $14.60 $14.65 Sept. $14.80 $15.00 Oct. $15.00 $15.10 Lee Mielke, of Lynden, is editor of the Mielke Market Weekly. Whatcom County has about 100 dairy farms.

County panel keeps looking at ag-land Meeting at 3:30 today WHATCOM ­— The county Agricultural Advisory Committee will tackle some hefty issues at its 3:30 p.m. meeting today, April 13, in the Northwest Annex at Planning & Development Services offices, 5280 Northwest Dr. On the agenda for discussion are: the county’s Critical Areas Ordinance, Chapter 11 (Environment) of the Comprehensive Plan, and the agriculture mitigation policy framework.

An update of the county Comprehensive Plan has been in process toward approval by the Whatcom County Council by the end of June.

Likkel Continued from CL1 coordinators.

In his role with N3 as local representative of the Washington State Dairy Federation, he serves as the liaison between the state leadership and the local dairy farmers involved in the Whatcom County Dairy

Similarly, an update of the county’s Critical Areas Ordinance is on track for mid-year approval. The CAO deals with areas that are geologically hazardous, frequently flooded and needed for critical aquifer recharge as well as wetlands and fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas.

The matter of ag-land mitigation was talked about at the AAC’s last meeting March 9. This month, the focus will be specific scenarios in which mitigation could apply and to give recommendations on such scenarios. Heather McKay has been the topic leader.

In March, it was said that conversion of arable land is more of a problem in Whatcom rural zones than the agricul-

Federation, according to the press release.

Likkel said it is a great honor to be asked to fill the position.

“The challenges ahead are very significant. We want to be proactive in representing the importance of agriculture to our local community, to work with our legislators and state agencies to produce regulations and laws that improve environmental protection without de-

ture one, and that mitigation needs to be accomplished in combination with other ways of protecting ag-land.

Questions still to be examined, according to April meeting minutes, are: What does 100,000 acres of ag-land mean? What does “available for agriculture use” mean? What are the drivers of conversion? How can conversion requirements be determined?

Last month, it was reported that the Whatcom Farm Friends organization has become Whatcom Family Farmers. In two votes it was determined to have the ex-officio contributing member on AAC now be from Whatcom Family Farmers rather than Whatcom Farm Friends.

stroying our farms, and to address the long-term concerns about adequate access to water to make certain we can successfully farm in this community for generations to come.”

Whatcom Family Farmers was formed mid-2015 when the Ag Water Board, representing the six Watershed Improvement Districts in Whatcom County, invited the Whatcom Dairy Federation to join in a united effort to improve com-

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The 11 voting board members of Whatcom Family Farmers are active family farmers whose income comes primarily from farm operations.

Contact Whatcom Family Farmers at 303-9123 or info@ whatcomfamilyfarmers.org.

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Andgar has built about 30 units, is getting patent

By Calvin Bratt editor@lyndentribune.com

LYNDEN ­— An automated berry flat dumper custommade by Andgar Corporation is finding its way to local berry processing operations.

The apparatus has been on the scene for a few years, and this growing season Maberry Packing LLC on Loomis Trail Road will have four in operation, said Jon Olson, business manager.

“It’s the direction we’re going. We have to automate to stay competitive,” Olson said.

Using a hydraulic loader, a single person can move stacks of 20-30 flats at a time from pallets to two receiving conveyors while also operating a computer touch-screen for the dumping process. It all delivers a more controlled and steady through-put, he said.

Units have been installed and are in use at Curt Maberry Farm Inc. and the Northwest Berry Co-op as well.

Olson said Maberry Packing will use its new units, which are fixed in place, on its quick-freeze lines. But across Whatcom County’s big commercial industry the automated dumpers could be employed wherever flats of berries coming in from fields need to get onto processing lines — the lion’s share of higher-value product.

The full flat needs to be flipped quickly to get berries onto a moving belt, while the com Farm Friends ceased to exist on Jan. 1, and the offices at 1796 Front St., Lynden, now serve the six WIDs and their unifying Ag Water Board, as well as the Washington Red Raspberry Commission, said

empty flat is whisked away.

Typically, that has been repetitive, physically demanding human motion.

YouTube video from 2014 and 2015 shows Andgar’s automated flat dumper operating at a smooth steady clip putting through a flat of berries every three to four seconds. View at: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=0AaW-no3dG8.

Dean Vander Hoek, designer and fabricator at Andgar, said the dumper can be used for larger blueberry lugs with a slight modification.

He said Andgar is getting close to putting out its 30th unit, and they’ve gone to Oregon and British Columbia as well as the berry growing concentration around Lynden. A patent on the flat dumper is pending.

From years of designing and building equipment for agriculture, it only made sense to get around to developing this type of device that can alleviate thousands of pounds of lifting per hour, Vander Hoek said. “It’s a whole lot easier to punch a button on a winch,” he said.

And yet the real benefit is the absolute consistency it brings to the process, which is very important in optimizing the timing and fruit load in a quick-freezing tunnel.

Employers do their calculations on labor costs, and “as the dollar for the employee goes up, that’s when it’s going to make a difference” to automate, Vander Hoek said.

This type of equipment may find a payoff in the freshfruit packing industry and other areas as well, he said.

Henry Bierlink, director for those groups.

The Ag Water Board contracts with Family Farmers for water quality and drainage coordination, and media relations, he said.

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