Page 2 — Agriculture 2015, The Chronicle, Omak, Wash.
Meeting at a glance Okanogan County Horticulture Association 80th annual meeting 9 a.m.
Modern fire blight control materials, product choices and timing 9:40 a.m. WSU Endowment Advisory Committee update 10 a.m. 2014 Little Cherry Disease, mealybug and spotted wing drosophila 11 a.m. Are you in the know? Resources you could/should be utilizing 11:20 a.m. Apple varieties of the future from the WSU apple breeding program 11:45 a.m. Elections and nominations – choosing your representatives Okanogan County Horticulture Association business meeting Noon Lunch and trade show 1 p.m. Using the WSU-DAS version of the WSU spray guide 1:30 p.m. Improving association services to the industry 2 p.m. Plotting the future 2:30 p.m. Modern materials and methods for enhanced weed control 3 pesticide education certification credits awarded for attending presentations related to pesticides
Agriculture
Dee Camp/The Chronicle
Apple trees south of Tonasket bloom under a cloud-speckled, blue spring sky.
Growers hear about pests, apple breeding and more Horticulture group’s 80th annual meeting planned for Feb. 4 By Dee Camp The Chronicle OKANOGAN — Growers can learn about pests, apple breeding and the tree fruit industry’s future during the 80th Okanogan County Horticulture Association annual meeting. The meeting is set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 4 in the Okanogan County Fairgrounds Agriplex, 175 Rodeo Trail Road. A registration fee will be Smith charged; three pesticide education certification credits will be given to those who attend pesticide-related talks during the meeting. Retired Washington State University Extension researcher Tim Smith will kick off the event at 9 a.m. with a talk about modern fire blight control materials,
product choices and timing. Smith received the Washington
Š 2015 The Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle Owned and operated by Eagle Newspapers Inc. Roger Harnack, publisher • Dee Camp, section editor Teresa Meyers, advertising manager P.O. Box 553, Omak, WA 98841 • 509-826-1110 • 800-572-3446 509-826-5819 fax • www.omakchronicle.com
See Meeting 3
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Agriculture 2015, The Chronicle, Omak, Wash. — Page 3
Nearly 30,000 acres are in orchards OKANOGAN — Okanogan County has 29,804 acres in orchard, according to the 2012
Dee Camp/The Chronicle
Pears and apples, in the background, share orchard space near Omak.
Meeting from 2 State Tree Fruit Association’s Distinguished Service Award in December 2014. At 9:40 a.m., a presentation on the WSU Endowment Advisory Committee is planned. Committee Chairman Sam Godwin and WSU Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center researcher Des Layne will give the update. Apple and pear growers throughout the state are providing
$27 million over an eight-year period to support tree fruit research and extension at WSU. Endowments established with the funds are expanding Layne research and outreach at WSU centers in Prosser and Wenatchee.
See Horticulture 4
Census of Agriculture, which was released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture last spring.
The county had 396 farms. Ferry County had 167 acres in orchard and 10 farms.
Page 4 — Agriculture 2015, The Chronicle, Omak, Wash.
Dee Camp/The Chronicle
Apple blossoms glow in the spring sunshine.
Horticulture from 3 At 10 a.m., Andrea Bixby-Brosi of the tree fruit center will talk about Little Cherry Disease, mealybug and spotted wing drosophila. Trees with the viral disease produce cherries of small size and poor flavor, making the fruit unmarketable. The disease has been present at low levels in the state since the
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afternoon session, with Ute Chambers speaking. Chambers is with the research and extension center. McCarthy said the online system is going to a pay-per-view format from the previous free access. Jon DeVaney, president of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association, will speak at 1:30 p.m. about improving association services to the industry. The association was formed last September by merging the Washington State Horticultural
Association, Yakima Valley Grower-Shippers Association, Wenatchee Valley Traffic Association and Washington Growers Clearing House Association. “Plotting the Future” will follow at 2 p.m. The speaker is Tom Auvil of the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission. Wrapping up the meeting is a talk by Smith about modern materials and methods for enhanced weed control. A trade show will be ongoing throughout the day.
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1940s, but became increasingly evident in 2011-13, resulting in unpicked limbs and trees, tree removal and some orchard removal, WSU Extension said. It has been verified in commercial sweet cherry orchards in Okanogan, Douglas, Grant and Chelan counties. Mealybugs infest trees, feed on sap and leave trees vulnerable to other diseases. Spotted wing drosophila is an insect pest that affects small fruit
and tree fruit crops. At 11 a.m., Layne will talk about resources growers could or should be using. Apple varieties of the future from the WSU apple breeding program will be discussed at 11:20 a.m. Kate Evans, Quincy-based researcher with the WSU tree fruit program, will speak. Association elections are planned at 11:45 a.m. Nominees include current Vice President Tracy Zahn for president, Rob Evans Wilson for vice president, and Dan McCarthy for another term as secretary. Roland Smith is the outgoing president. A lunch break is planned from noon to 1 p.m., with a soup-andsandwich lunch available on site as a fundraiser for the Tonasket FFA Alumni group. Using the WSU Decision Aid System spray guide is the first
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Central Washington Grain Growers Proud to serve Okanogan County and the Agriculture Industry! Dee Camp/The Chronicle
Visitors learn about new apple varieties during the 2013 Okanogan County Horticulture Association trade show.
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Trade show offers information and orchard products Event runs in conjuction with annual hort meeting The Chronicle OKANOGAN — Growers can learn about orchard chemicals, shop for farm equipment and order
trees during the Okanogan County Horticulture Association trade show, which runs in conjunction with the Feb. 4 annual meeting. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Okanogan County Fairgrounds Agriplex, 175 Rodeo Trail Road. As of late January, vendors
See Trade 6
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Page 6 — Agriculture 2015, The Chronicle, Omak, Wash.
Value of ag products rises OKANOGAN — The market value of agriculture products sold by Okanogan County farms in 2012 averaged $198,150 per farm. The 2012 Census of Agriculture, released last spring by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, also showed an average value of $58,481 per farm for Ferry County
ag products. In 2007, during the previous census, Okanogan county farms averaged $125,606 worth of agriculture products sold. Ferry County farms sold an average of $55,007 worth of products in 2007, the agriculture census shows.
Smith & Nelson, Inc. Tonasket, Washington
302 S. Western, Tonasket 509-486-2104
Dee Camp/The Chronicle
Blush on apples shows rosy pink in late afternoon light in an orchard east of Loomis.
Trade from 5 scheduled to be at the trade show included: • Antles Pollen Supply, Wenatchee. • Bayer Cropscience, Chelan. • Burrows Tractor, Wenatchee. • C&O Nursery, Wenatchee. • Cameron Nursery, Eltopia. • Cascade Wind Machine, Yakima. • Columbia Homes, Yakima. • Crowder Horticultural Services, Manson. • CSI Chemical, Naches. • DJ Repair, Manson. • Dow AgroScience, Wenatchee. • JP’s Ladder Repair, Wenatchee. • Miller Chemical and Fertilizer, Yakima.
• Northwest Farm Credit, Prosser. • Nulton Irrigation, Oroville. • O’Connell Drilling and Supply, Brewster. • Okanogan Conservation District, Okanogan. • Okanogan County Noxious Weed Control Board, Okanogan. • Pacific Biocontrol, Vancouver. • SHUR Farms, Colton, Calif. • Sunrise Chevrolet, Omak. • Suterra, Bend, Ore. • Tree Connection, Dundee, Ore. • Tree Top, Cashmere. • Valley Tractor, East Wenatchee. • Van Well Nursery, Wenatchee. • Washington Tractor, Okanogan. • Willow Drive Nursery, Ephrata. • Wilson Orchard Supply, Wenatchee.
• WorkSource County, Omak.
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Agriculture 2015, The Chronicle, Omak, Wash. — Page 7
Record apple crop faces shipping bottleneck Demand is strong, but West Coast shipping slowdown hurts Asian exports By Al Camp The Chronicle WENATCHEE — A huge, record crop of apples continues to head to markets worldwide, but a bottleneck on the West Coast threatens to hold up produce
heading to Asian markets. “The 2014 apple crop is projected to be 150 million boxes, which is above the record of 128 million set in 2012,” said Jon DeVaney, president of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association. “Demand has been strong, with several weeks exceeding 3 million boxes shipped,” said DeVaney, who was on the East Coast recently. “These shipments could be even higher if the industry’s access to key export customers were not constrained by the ongoing
Dee Camp/The Chronicle
Apples ripen in an Okanogan-area orchard.
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slowdowns at West Coast ports.” Cargo at 28 West Coast ports from Canada to Mexico has been moving at half-speed while officials of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union negotiate a new master contract with the Pacific Maritime Association, which represents ports and shipping companies. Marc Spears, export manager at Chelan Fresh Marketing,
representing 400 apple growers in the Chelan area, said the co-op normally ships 120 container loads a week to overseas customers during November and December. The number of shipments dwindled to 60 containers weekly, Spears said. Spears said the inability to ship has been a huge disappointment to growers who this year saw a bumper crop and hoped for big
sales overseas in advance of the Chinese New Year on Feb. 19. Instead, they face additional storage costs and depressed prices on the U.S. market. He calculated losses for his growers alone at $1.2 million a week, and a total $14.4 million so far. “It was the biggest crop in state history,” Spears said. “Everyone
See Apples 8
Page 8 — Agriculture 2015, The Chronicle, Omak, Wash.
Apples from 7 was counting on those sales.” “While there have been some additional acres planted, the crop this year was large because of higher-density plantings and other improvements in efficiency, combined with good growing conditions,” said Stephanie Chance, communications manager for the Washington State Tree Fruit Association. “Agriculture is like any other business, always working to be more efficient and productive in order to keep pace with the competition.” Prices as of last week were good, Chance said, although shipping
slowdowns could prove to be a problem to important markets. “Each year about a third of our apple crop is exported, with Mexico and Canada being our Top 2,” Chance said. “In addition to the port slowdown this year, we are dealing with European fruit diverted from its usual customers in Russia as a result of events in Ukraine, making competition for Asian markets even more competitive,” Chance said. “Asian and Latin American markets are also of vital and growing importance, which is why the ongoing slowdown in
See Crop 9
“Come taste the Fruits of Our Labors”
• Cherries • Peaches • Apples • Nectarines • Pluots
Apple and pear prices For season through Jan. 18 * Variety 2014-15 2013-14 Red Delicious $16.35 $17.57 Golden Del. $17.46 $20.83 Granny Smith $19.78 $23.46 Fuji $20.14 $24.36 Gala $19.80 $23.28 Braeburn $19.37 $21.13 Jonagold $18.10 $20.35 Cameo $20.36 $21.09 Cripps Pink $31.16 $30.72 Ambrosia $40.43 $44.36 Honeycrisp $46.29 $53.37 Pinova $37.99 -Rome $17.01 $19.21 Pacific Rose $42.21 $40.97 Aurora $30.41 $30.81 Sonya $35.91 $40.87 Pinata $47.27 $35.42 Jazz $39.23 $39.61 Swiss Gourmet $29.17 $33.76 Mixed apple $30.21 $28.11 Mixed apple/ $36.38 $37.42 pear Bartlett $23.64 $21.48 Red Bartlett $24.94 $24.10 d’Anjou $23.04 $21.19 Red d’Anjou $26.24 $25.88 Bosc $24.55 $22.34 Asian pear $32.59 $35.52 Comice $31.24 $30.95 Concorde $25.18 $23.88 Forelles $52.76 $55.61 Hosui $47.91 $46.79 Red Sensation $20.64 $22.01 Seckel $37.95 $38.11 Taylor Gold $40.67 $36.72 Other apple $50.49 $50.77 Autumn Glory $54.19 $57.23 Mixed pear $19.08 $21.99 * Based on 40-pound box for apples, 44-pound box for pears
Dee Camp/The Chronicle
A cluster of blossoms shows varying shades of pink during spring bloom near Okanogan. Bees stayed busy as they gathered nectar — and pollinated the buds.
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Agriculture 2015, The Chronicle, Omak, Wash. — Page 9
Crop from 8 operations at West Coast ports is a serious concern for the industry,” Chance said. “We have also seen an uptick in domestic apple consumption, which is great news, particularly given the growing number of fresh produce choices available to consumers. It reflects the high quality and expanded choices being offered to U.S. consumers by Washington apple growers.” Consumption of apples continues to grow abroad, Chance said, as countries become more prosperous. “There is no reason to think that we cannot successfully market crops larger than 150 million boxes in the future,” she said. “The key is going to be having consistent market access.” Red Delicious continues to be the No. 1 variety grown in the state. “But at 31 percent of the total crop, it is a much smaller share than in years past,” Chance said. “Varieties like Gala and Fuji have taken a much larger share of the market, and a number of popular newer varieties like Honeycrisp continue to gain favor with growers and consumers.” As for the record crop, which is 17 percent bigger than the previous
“
Ongoing wage dispute slows trade at West Coast docks
There is no reason to think that we cannot successfully market crops larger than 150 million boxes in the future.
Legislators study slowdown, but say dispute is private By Al Camp The Chronicle
Stephanie Chance
” record, Chance said, “Almost all of the increase has been driven by greater productivity through technological innovations.” That includes higher-density plantings and other orchard management practices that result in more of the fruit produced going to the fresh market, Chance said.
OLYMPIA – A dispute over wages between longshoremen and warehouse workers is creating a bottleneck on docks from Canada to Mexico, and costing Washington firms million in lost business. The problem led to a joint work session Jan. 14 in the Legislature, with the Senate Commerce and Labor and Trade and Economic Development committees, trade groups and shippers trying to solve a half-speed slowdown that began in October at 28 West Coast ports. Federal mediation, sought by both sides, was requested the first full week of January involving unresolved negotiations between International Longshore and Warehouse Union working for a new master contract with the Pacific Maritime Association,
“
If these problems continue, they will have a devastating impact on our economy. Sen. Michael Baumgartner
” which represents ports and shipping companies. The union’s previous contract expired June 30. “If these problems continue, they will have a devastating impact on our economy,” said Sen. Michael Baumgartner, R-Spokane, chairman of the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee. “This is not the kind of headache we need right now.” The joint work session Jan. 14
See Dispute 10
Custom Cutting and Wrapping Locker beef for sale “We feature lean Charolais beef” Larry and Tara Brownlee 23253 Hwy. 20 S. Okanogan 509-422-5116
Page 10 — Agriculture 2015, The Chronicle, Omak, Wash.
Research: Granny a day helps with obesity PULLMAN — Scientists at Washington State University have concluded that non-digestible compounds in apples — specifically, Granny Smith apples — may help prevent disorders associated with obesity. The study, which is thought to be the first of its kind to assess the compounds Noratto in apple cultivars grown in the Pacific Northwest, appeared last fall in the journal Food Chemistry. “We know that, in general, apples are a good source of these non-digestible compounds but there are differences in varieties,”
food scientist and lead researcher Giuliana Noratto said. “Results from this study will help consumers to discriminate between apple varieties that can aid in the fight against obesity.” Tart, green Granny Smith apples benefit the growth of friendly bacteria in the colon because of their high content of non-digestible compounds, including dietary fiber and polyphenols, and the low content of available carbohydrates. Despite being subjected to chewing, stomach acid and digestive enzymes, the compounds remain intact when they reach the colon. Once there, they are fermented by bacteria, which benefits the growth of friendly bacteria in the gut. The study showed that Granny Smith apples surpass Braeburn,
Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, McIntosh and Red Delicious in the amount of non-digestible compounds they contain. “The non-digestible compounds in the Granny Smith apples actually changed the proportions of fecal bacteria from obese mice to be similar to that of lean mice,” Noratto said. The discovery could help prevent some of the disorders associated with obesity such as low-grade, chronic inflammation, which can lead to diabetes. The balance of bacterial communities in the colons of obese people is disturbed. That results in microbial byproducts that lead to inflammation and influence metabolic disorders associated with obesity, Noratto said. Re-establishing a healthy balance of bacteria in the colon
Dispute from 9
huge percentage. And when shipping moves at half-speed, a large part of our economy is placed in jeopardy. With the kind of losses we heard about today, it is only a matter of time before this is reflected in our state tax-revenue forecasts.” At the work session, representatives of trade organizations said the long-term impact of the cargo tie-up is most disquieting. The longer it continues, the bigger the disadvantage for Washington firms as they compete internationally for multi-year contracts. “We are seeing hundreds of millions of dollars of lost economic activity for our state,” said Eric Schinfeld, president of the Washington Council on International Trade. “And that is in goods that are not able to get to market, those are contracts that are being canceled, and frankly those are international customers that are saying if you are not going to sell your goods to us from Washington state, we are going to find people from other countries around the world to give us these goods instead.” Darigold Farms, the 350-farm co-op that has become an aggressive Washington-based exporter of dairy products, estimates lost sales so far at $30 million, not counting additional storage and transportation costs. “Darigold has scratched and clawed, pushed and pulled to get a piece of the international dairy market,” said Darigold representative Dan Coyne. “We face strong competition from others in the world, primarily New Zealand.” Washington dairy farmers “are
put at increasing risk” the longer that the port slowdown continues, he said. Baumgartner said Washington ports already face numerous other competitive pressures. “We can only hope the federal mediators will be able to sort things out,” he said. “This cargo crunch is beginning to hurt.”
by the Senate Trade and Economic Development and Commerce and Labor committees took a detailed look at the reduction of trade volume at the ports said to be crippling Washington’s agricultural community and other trade-dependent businesses. “Washington ports have been losing market share, and it is critical that we as lawmakers take a comprehensive look at the reasons for this slowdown and what we can do reverse that trend,” said state Sen. Sharon Brown, R-Kennewick, chairwoman of the Trade and Economic Development Committee. “Fewer ships moving through Washington ports means higher cost for Washington businesses and farmers who need to ship their goods to international markets.” Legislative rules prevented lawmakers Jan. 14 from examining the causes of the cargo backup, because contract negotiations are considered a private matter between employers and labor unions. “We recognize that the union and the ports have to settle this between themselves,” Baumgartner said. “What we’re concerned about are the people who have been caught in the middle – the shippers who rely on our ports in order to get their goods overseas. We’re losing millions of dollars in trade every day in this state, and that is a matter of keen public concern. “We often hear that 40 percent of Washington jobs are dependent to some degree on international trade,” Baumgartner said. “That’s a
stabilizes metabolic processes that influence inflammation and the sensation of feeling satisfied, or
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Agriculture 2015, The Chronicle, Omak, Wash. — Page 11
State prepares to feed displaced deer Feeding station is ready in case winter takes a colder turn By Lena Howe Special to The Chronicle PATEROS — Efforts by the state to feed deer in the Carlton Complex fire area to keep them out of orchards and haystacks are drawing praise from local farmers and fruit growers. Winter has been fairly mild so
far, but the state Department of Fish and Wildlife has set up a feeding station just outside town. “The long-range forecast for this winter bodes well for these deer – above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation,” district Wildlife Biologist Scott Fitkin said. “We are prepared to provide supplemental feeding, on an emergency basis, if extreme weather conditions develop.” “Deer often concentrate during the winter near Pateros’ fruit tree orchards – independent of the effects of the fire – and cause
damage,” Regional Director Jim Brown said. “Until more deer fence is repaired, we are using feed to draw deer away from the orchards.” The Okanogan Conservation District said it’s received reports of 23.5 miles of deer fence burned in the 256,108-acre blaze that charred the landscape from Winthrop to Pateros and from Loup Loup Pass
to the Malott-Chiliwist area. But not all losses have been reported to that agency. The loss of all that fencing is a challenge to growers, Okanogan County Pest Control Board Manager Dan McCarthy said. The conservation district said deer fencing costs nearly $48,000 per mile to replace. Fish and Wildlife “is doing what
they can, but they have a reserved budget,” Okanogan county Farm Bureau President Jon Wyss said. “There is a sheer number of deer and it is difficult to keep them all at bay.” Even though the fire scorched tens of thousands of acres of wildlife habitat, including some
See Deer 12
Lena Howe/Special to The Chronicle
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A deer hangs out in a Pateros-area orchard.
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Page 12 — Agriculture 2015, The Chronicle, Omak, Wash.
Deer from 11 traditional mule deer winter range, a mild, rainy fall produced some of the best forage for deer in recent years, both inside and outside of the burn area, Brown said. The feeding effort is designed to limit orchard damage without disrupting the animals’ normal diet and potentially causing health problems. The department is using a specially formulated feed. The goal is to draw deer away from orchards. Farm Bureau members have been notified on how to help keep deer out of orchards. “It is a challenge, but every little bit helps,” Wyss said. He said members are pleased with Fish and Wildlife’s response and have had good communication Wyss with Brown, who works out of the Ephrata office but lives near Okanogan. Wyss said his group wants legislators to know that brush should be replanted so that source of food can be built back from Brady the fire. Some residents say deer aren’t as prevalent in town this year, and the mayor questions the feeding program. “I have deer in my yard every year except this year. I miss my family of deer, and I haven’t seen any deer, period,” resident Christine Perry said. Mayor George Brady said he’s not sure the feeding effort is benefiting the area. “The deer are not grazers, they are browsers ” he said. The department encourages
“ All those deer will mow down any shrubs trying to re-sprout, setting back both the quantity and quality of healthy winter range for years to come. Scott Fitkin
” residents not to feed the deer on their own, since some foods can cause diseases instead of nourishment. “They hope to avoid feeding deer if at all possible,” said Jay Kehne, state Fish and Wildlife Commission Kehne member from Omak. Instead the department is managing feeding them, drawing them away from orchards while satisfying their nutritional needs. Deer need to feed on many different kinds of plants to maintain a nutritionally balanced diet, department veterinarian Kristin Mansfield said, noting that some well-intentioned people have been feeding deer fruits and grains. “Fruits and grains are not a normal part of a deer’s diet at this time of year and can be extremely difficult for deer to digest,” she said, adding that a steady diet of such high-carbohydrate fare can elevate the animals’ stomach acid levels and cause serious illness or death. She said she appreciates people wanting to help animals, “but most feeding just makes us feel good and can end up being bad for the animals,” she said. “Fruit is too high in carbohydrates and lacks the nutrients deer need to stay healthy. It’s a bit like letting your kids eat
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nothing but candy bars.” Supplemental feeding also disrupts the natural foraging patterns of deer and concentrates the animals into one location, Fitkin said. Concentrating deer in one area makes them vulnerable to disease, predation, poaching and motor vehicle collisions if they’re fed near to roads. And, he said, trying to maintain the deer population out of proportion to its available habitat can be counterproductive to the animals’ long-term health. “All those deer will mow down any shrubs trying to re-sprout, setting back both the quantity and quality of healthy winter range for years to come,” he said. The Mule Deer Foundation’s Methow Valley chapter raised nearly $10,000 this fall for range restoration such as shrub plantings and reseeding the burned area. Brown also has worked with cattle owners to open up some emergency grazing areas. In late December, Twisp-area rancher Vic Stokes said deer looked healthy, but were nibbling on his haystacks a little more than usual. He lost cattle, buildings and hay to the fire. He’s said he’s been in touch with Fish and Wildlife about how to help the deer. “We will help out (wildlife) in any way we can, he said. —Chronicle reporter Dee Camp contributed to this story
Lena Howe/Special to The Chronicle
Sign along U.S. Highway 97 near Pateros warns motorists of deer in the area.
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Agriculture 2015, The Chronicle, Omak, Wash. — Page 13
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Doug Camp/Special to The Chronicle
Peaches hang limp and shriveled on a Pateros tree two days after fire roared through.
Ag community deals with losses to Carlton fire Miles and miles of fencing losses total in the millions By Dee Camp The Chronicle PATEROS — More than six months after fire swept across the southwest portion of Okanogan County, growers, cattlemen and agricultural agencies are still trying to get a handle on the millions of dollars of agricultural losses to the Carlton Complex fire. Orchardists, cattlemen, hay
farmers and others lost livestock, trees, barns and other buildings, farm machinery, irrigation systems and fencing. Some lost their homes, too, as the largest wildfire in state history cut twin swaths south and east from four ignition points in the Methow Valley. The fires later joined into one blaze that roared across 256,108 acres in July and August 2014. Although orchards were damaged in the blaze, only about 100 acres of trees were killed outright by the fire, Okanogan
See Fire 14
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Flames crest a hill above an orchard near Brewster on July 17. Barely visible through the smoke are trellises for the trees.
Fire from 13 County Horticulture Association Secretary Dan McCarthy said. In areas with damage, some fruit was lost but in others the trees greened up again and by harvest, the damage was negligible, he said. Some orchardists may see crop reductions for a couple years as their trees recover. McCarthy said deer damage “could be a problem” because both deer fencing and forage were lost. Damaged and destroyed fencing alone ranges in the millions of dollars in the fire area. The Okanogan Conservation District has reports of 23.5 miles of deer fencing lost, at a replacement cost of $47,731. That’s a total value of nearly $1.12 million. Deer fencing, often 10 feet tall, is made of wire mesh and is designed to keep deer from getting into orchards and nibbling on trees and fruit. Another 376 miles of perimeter fencing – designed to keep cattle inside specific property boundaries – was destroyed or damaged. That “inclusion fencing” will cost more than $7.7 million to replace, district Conservation Planner Terri Williams said. The agency also has reports of 46 miles of exclusion fencing, designed to keep open-range cattle out of areas, and seven miles of fencing to keep stock out of critical areas, such as streams. Those losses total $952,000 and
$150,000, respectively. Other losses reported to the district include $27,000 worth of water piping and tanks, $38,000 in irrigation lines and sprinklers and $7,000 in irrigation pumps. And those numbers are just the tip of the iceberg, since the agency estimates it has received reports from just 10 percent of the landowners who suffered losses in the fire, she said. Much of the fencing isn’t covered by insurance. Some can be repaired, but landowners are finding that some fencing they previously believed was repairable actually was so damaged by heat that it breaks apart. The district has requested state funding to help farmers and ranchers rebuild fencing, but it’s not yet known whether the Legislature will include money in the budget. Another concern for the agricultural community – and others – is stability of fire-damaged soil. The district is trying to get funding for planning and multiagency coordination, and also to reseed and replant fire-scarred areas. Of particular concern are the Chiliwist and Benson Creek areas, which were hit by flooding in August as a storm settled over the fire area. Slopes in those areas remain unstable and the conservation district is looking at reseeding upper elevations, especially in the Chiliwist. “Vegetation is hugely
important,” Williams said, adding that people should be aware that some areas will remain unstable for three years or so. The district is working with several other agencies, including the Okanogan County Noxious Weed Control Board. Areas where the soil has been disturbed by fire, fire line building and heavy
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Farms pay more for hired labor OKANOGAN — Hired labor cost Okanogan County farmers $85.4 million in 2012, up from $38.5 million in 2007, according to the 2012 Census of Agriculture,
released last spring by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In Ferry County, hired labor cost $615,000 in 2012, compared to $454,000 in 2007.
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Apples are piled along burnt-over North Star Road, near the Chiliwist, for wildlife to nibble.
Recovery from 14 equipment is more susceptible to weed invasion. “It’s going to be a busy couple of years” as the area recovers from the fire, she said. Cattlemen also suffered losses in the fire. An estimated 900-1,000 cattle perished, with prices ranging from $1,000 to $2,700 apiece. Gebbers Farms, the Brewsterbased orchard and cattle operation, lost more than 200 head of cattle to the blaze and suffered orchard damage. On a personal level, 13 employees lost their homes and family patriarch Dan Gebbers was injured while his company fought the blaze north of Brewster; he later died of his injuries. The company spent nearly $1.9 million – which later was reimbursed by the state – on firefighting, resulting in a “doughnut hole” of unburned area in the middle of the fire area and a stop to the fire’s advance toward Brewster. Twisp cattleman Vic Stokes echoed Gebbers about recovery. “It’s going to be a long-term recovery process,” he said, with next year being “a test” for cattlemen as they cope with lost rangeland. He’s not sure where everyone will put their cattle to graze; some may have to move their herds out
of the area. “Next year will be tough for grazing on range. We will just have to see how it recovers,” Stokes said. “I anticipate being off some Forest Service land for a couple years. We will have to go season by season.” As a rancher and as president of the Washington Cattlemen’s Association, he has been in contact with other cattlemen and with various agencies. He’s also concerned about the land and its health. “We want to make sure we don’t get out there and harm our rangelands,” he said.
Various government agencies have been very helpful toward cattlemen trying to rebuild fences, secure feed, rehabilitate springs and deal with displaced wildlife, Stokes said. He’s signed up for several farmrelated aid programs. “I’m thankful for the help so far,” he said. The U.S. Farm Service Administration, Natural Resource Conservation Service and Forest Service, and state departments of Natural Resources, and Fish and Wildlife “all are trying to do what they can,” Stokes said.
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Page 16 — Agriculture 2015, The Chronicle, Omak, Wash.
Kate MacKenzie/The Chronicle
Grapevines at Esther Bricques Winery, south of Oroville, glow with their fall colors.
Conditions ripe for wine Esther Bricques Winery, near Oroville, takes red and white wines from ground to glass By Brock Hires The Chronicle OROVILLE – Nearly 300 days of sunshine, sandy soil and an agriculturally rich community could be the reason the Okanogan Valley is making a spot on the map as a wine lover’s destination. According to the website gotastewine.com, there are about 753 wineries throughout the state, including one winery in Oroville that plats, harvests, ferments, bottles and sells — all on site. “We are what we call ground to the glass,” Esther Bricques Winery and Vineyard co-owner Linda Colvin said. “We plant the vines, pick them, crush them.” The winery, at 42 Swanson Mill Road, started on a five-acre plot with 700 vines, but now has upward of 7,000 vines. “What we are doing is offering a local product,” she said. “A truly Okanogan-grown and Okanoganproduced product. This region is perfect.” The winery started out with nine varieties of wine, but is now up to 12, and specializes in both red and white, including Pinot Blanc, Lemberger and Chardonnay. According to the Washington State Wine Commission, Eastern Washington has roughly 300 days of sunshine annually and drier, sandy soil that is fundamental for
growing grapes. “While the growing season is slightly shorter from beginning to end than more southerly wine regions, the number of sun hours received in Eastern Washington is equal due to incredibly long days at such a high latitude – receiving 16
hours of sun at the summer solstice,” said the commission’s website. “We really haven’t had any nasty winters that would really test the die-back to root stock,” Colvin said. “Maybe we won’t. Springs frosts are not an issue (because) bloom is not until June. In the fall is where the growing conditions are such that you’re not finished ripening, (but)
See Wine 17
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Agriculture 2015, The Chronicle, Omak, Wash. — Page 17
Wine from 17
want in an organic wine is no sulfites. That’s a kind of dangerous road to take. These wines are built to last.” Colvin said once the grapes are juiced, the mash – including skin and seeds – is dispersed on a piece of the winery’s property for wildlife to eat. It eventually decomposes. “We tried to compost it (in the vineyard), however it brings in deer. So our compost area’s were it’s being eaten. We de-stem everything in the very beginning.” For the time being, Colvin said the winery’s primary customer base is locals in the OrovilleTonasket areas, but it also offers online services. She said she would like to see more vineyards and possibly make the U.S. portion of the Okanogan Valley a destination for wine enthusiasts. North of the border, the Okanagan Valley has long attracted wine enthusiasts, and hosts several wine festivals. “Commercially at this point, I think we are the only one” that grows, produces and bottles, she said. “Gold Digger isn’t functioning any more; Lake Crest isn’t any more. Copper Mountain, they grow their grapes, but they’re smaller.” “You need that comparison and you need people coming through.
you have to pick.” Though the climate is superb for growing, Colvin said her vineyard is similar to other agricultural products in the sense of pesticides and weed control. “We consider ourselves sustainable. We cannot be organic, because we use treated wood poles for our trellises,” she said. “The other thing is the weed control. That is very difficult to do organically. We certainly use preemergence and burn down weeds once or twice a season. “Our main concern is mildew, and we treat most of that organically.” Colvin said mildew not only offsets the flavor of the wine but also hinders the fermentation process as the mildew can compete with the grapes and “it will scavenge the nutrients in the yeast.” Another concern to grape growers is the potential for Phylloxera, an almost microscopic insect that feeds on the roots and leaves of grapevines. “The big nurseries in east Ontario have Phylloxera,” she said. But “it does not appear that parasite is mobile,” or in vineyards south of the Canadian border. “One of the things that people
There’s nothing about Prosser that makes you want to go there other than it’s wine highway,” she said adding many people think wine country ends at Chelan. RockWall Cellars near Omak bottles and distributes its own product, but does not grow its own fruit. “There’s very little wholesale,” Doug Sheets said. “Most is retail to local customers.” Sheets said the winery has around 20 different varieties, which include both red and white wines. Several other local wineries that have their products on the market locally in Oroville, including Copper Mountain Vineyards, 33384C U.S. Highway 97, and Okanogan Estate and Vineyards, 1205 Main St. There are numerous other wineries in Okanogan County, including Methow Valley Winery, 409 state Highway 153, Pateros;
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Steve and Linda Colvin bottle wine at their facility in Oroville. Neff Cellars, 15 Alta Lake Road, Pateros; Methow Valley Ciderhouse, 13B Walter Road,
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Page 18 — Agriculture 2015, The Chronicle, Omak, Wash.
Newly developed apple gets a Cosmic Crisp name Crunchy fruit previously was known as WA 38; developers now turn to marketing phase The Chronicle OKANOGAN — WA 38, previewed to local growers during the 2013 Okanogan County Horticulture Association annual meeting, is a step closer to commercial availability with the announcement of its brand name, Cosmic Crisp. The newest Washington State University-developed apple, previously designated WA 38, was named last spring. The name was chosen after an extensive process led by Carolyn Ross, associate professor in the WSU School of Food Science. “It was quite a process,” she said. “I think people didn’t realize how much names can influence their purchasing behavior until they started talking about them.” Ross hosted several focus groups around the state, including Pullman, Yakima and Seattle. Participants were presented with a list of potential names to discuss. During the process, a theme emerged because of the pattern on the rosy cheeks of the apple. “One of the striking things about the apple is that it’s got lenticels, little spots that look like starbursts, so people were interested in pursuing names related to outer space and the cosmos,” she said. Participants also preferred names that hinted at the sensory properties of the apple. “They liked having that little bit of information in the name so that when you are in the apple section trying to decide which apple to purchase, you have some idea of what to expect,” she said. One attribute of the apple is its crisp texture. “Crisp” also links the WSU apple to its parent, Honeycrisp. Cosmic Crisp is a cross between Enterprise and Honeycrisp. The large, juicy apple has a remarkably firm and crisp texture, WSU researchers said. Its exceptional flavor profile provides ample sweetness and
tartness, making it an excellent eating apple. In addition to being delicious, it is slow to brown when cut and maintains its texture and flavor in storage for more than a year. After more than 16 years in the making, the dark-red apple is ready for launch into the marketplace. “With its winning combination of taste, texture and beauty, this premium apple will be a boon to Washington apple growers, WSU’s breeding program and apple lovers everywhere,” WSU researchers said. In addition to the focus groups, Proprietary Variety Management, a Yakima-based company specializing in the management of proprietary varieties, surveyed shoppers in retail locations. The company is assisting WSU with branding, licensing and collecting royalties for the apple. Cosmic Crisp apples are not expected to be widely available to consumers until 2019. WSU is working with a number of Northwest Nursery Improvement Institute-affiliated nurseries and other producers to increase WA 38 planting stock. The university had a drawing in May to assign the limited number of trees available to Washington growers for planting in 2017. PVM will work with WSU and the Washington apple industry to develop a logo and graphics to support the brand launch before the fruit goes to market. The tree itself is upright and spreading, with moderately low vigor, so it won’t grow rampantly or oversized. It is precocious, meaning it will start producing fruit at a younger age, with spur development beginning on 2-year-old wood. Yield is within the range of other locally grown apple cultivars, the university said. The fruit ripens in late September, is large and round/conical with 90-100 percent of the surface covered with a rich red-purple color over a greenyellow background. In the past, a public university would simply announce a new variety as available to growers and then hope for the best, WSU said. In today’s highly competitive marketplace, the introduction of a new apple requires a marketing plan with experts and advocates
helping it win a position alongside existing varieties on grocers’ shelves and ultimately in shoppers’ grocery carts. That is why WSU is managing the release and introduction of the variety, researchers said.
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Hay bales ripen in a field along Beaver Creek southwest of Twisp in early September. Beyond, along the creek, trees are blackened from the Carlton Complex fire, which raced through the area in July. Dee Camp/The Chronicle
Feb. 21 conference focuses on Women in Agriculture The Chronicle REPUBLIC – The fourth annual Women in Agriculture Conference is set for 8:30 a.m. Feb 21 in the Ferry County Washington State University Extension Office in the Ferry County Courthouse, 350 E. Delaware Ave. No. 9. The meeting will run simultaneously in Nespelem at the Tribal Administration Building conference room, 44 School Loop Road. The conference, “Making sense of marketing, because everyone has a story that needs to be told to
promote agriculture,” is a quadstate meeting discussing how to improve farm management skills and networking with other female producers. The theme of this year’s conference is “Put your best boot forward.” Emily Asmus from Welcome Table Farms in Walla Walla and Erica Mills from Claxon Marketing in Seattle will lead the event. Organizers said Asmus will showcase how her farm keeps its brand fresh to build interest and customer loyalty. She will also present the necessary tools and
techniques for a successful marketing plan. Similar to Asmus, Mills is expected to present a three-step marketing method and help to create a marketing action plan to obtain customer results. Pre-registration is required. A fee will be charged. Organizers said partial scholarships are available for aspiring farmers, college agriculture students and 4-H and FFA members. The event will also take place in Oregon, Idaho and Alaska for 28 locations in all.
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Page 20 — Agriculture 2015, The Chronicle, Omak, Wash.
CANOLA
HARVESTING
A canola field is cleared at the Townsend ranch east of Okanogan in early July. The flowering plant, which is used to make oil and fuel, turns the hillsides yellow in the late spring and early summer.
Al Camp/The Chronicle