farm tab 2011

SUND

AY, N

OV. 2

0, 2

011 A

RGUS

/ WED

NESD

AY, N

OV. 2

3, 2

011

INDE

PEND

ENT

ENTE

RPRI

SE

2

��

��!��!*"��$ �(�� $!��$�#(��"�!%�#��!#��!"��$!��$�#(��' �!��#��#�#��!&�#�!��$ �( �!#�&�"#��!��!��#��!%��"��'#��"��$ �(��"&�!#�"*�� !�"��##"#��!�"��&(��!!��#��"#!��#��)�� (�� #��$��!"��#�!�� $ �(�� $!��!��$��"#�!��!��!�&"�� ( 876 SW 4th Ave.,

Ontario. 541-889-8012

www.ontariochamber.com

876 SW 4th Ave.,Ontario.

541-889-8012www.ontariochamber.com

3

SUNDAY, NOV. 20, 2011 ARGUS/ WEDNESDAY, NOV. 23, 2011 INDEPENDENT ENTERPRISE

��-2��,/%.)-��.'(-,�� 3��%2��

111�+0&)**&�&-+��

�"�� !� !��!�� $�� #�� !��"��$��!��!��4��!��"� �� !��$��!�� $��

�*' ��/$'�$)"�.3+ �-.,/�./, �1$.#��$�!*'��**,-��*)*($��'�1$.#�.# ��)'3��$!*'��**,�#�0$)"��' �,�)� ��0�).�" -�� -$") ��!*,�-#*+-��1�, #*/- -��'*��$)"�, �6-��!�,(��/$'�$)"��)��$,�,�!.�#�)" ,-�

�+ �$�'.3� �/$'�$)"� -/�#� �-� .#$-� ,$�$)"�'$0 -.*�&�, )��1$.#��*'�,��3-. (�$-��)��, ��5#�-�.# � 2+ ,.$- �.*��--$-.�3*/��1$.#�3*/�+,*%� �.�!*,�-/�� --�

��-+ �$�'$4 -�$)� -$")��/$'��5��/$'�$)"�.*�!$.3*/,�-+ �$!$��) �-��)��/�" .-�!,*(�*!!$� ��-#*+�*(+' 26-�.*�+,*�/� �-.*,�" ��1 ��)��--$-.�3*/�$)( .$)"�3*/,�) �-�

��)�# '+�3*/�1$.#��)3�*!�3*/,� �,.#1*,&�) �-�-/�#��-�,*��-��, . ).$*)�+*)�-��+�,&$)"�'*.-�*,�(�$)�'$) �$,,$"�.$*)�5� ��, ��'-*�'$� )- ��, "*)��-. �1�. ,�- +.$��$)-.�'' ,-�/.$'$4$)"�.# �(*-.��0�)� ��++,*0 ��-3-. (-

��

Contents:

Winegar Beef .....................................4Lower Willow Creek Working Groupand Malheur County Watershed .........5Holm Dairy.........................................6Partner’s Produce ..............................7Ag evolution.......................................8Debban sheep ..................................11Matthews Grain and Feed.................13Nick Cheatham.................................15Agri-Service.....................................17Pheasant farming.............................20

“I do not believe there ever was any life more attractive to avigorous young fellow than life on a cattle ranch in those days.It was a fine, healthy life, too; it taught a man self-reliance,hardihood, and the value of instant decision … I enjoyed thelife to the full.”

— Theodore Roosevelt

“The farmer has to be an optimist or he wouldn't still be afarmer.”

— Will Rogers

“Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens. Theyare the most vigorous, the most independent, the most virtuousand they are tied to their country and wedded to its liberty andinterests by the most lasting bands.”

— Thomas Jefferson

“If you tickle the earth with a hoe she laughs with a harvest.”

— Douglas William Jerrold

LINDSEY DAVISARGUS OBSERVER

WEISER

“We are enjoying some great

prices for our product. If I was in

the grocery store looking for beef,

I wouldn’t eat as much. But we

butcher our own. Lots of times it

really is what’s for dinner,”

Rancher Bruce Winegar, Weiser

said.

The Winegars raise angus cattle.

“The angus breed is in good

demand right now. Everywhere you

look is angus beef. It doesn’t mat-

ter what you have, it is more than

what it used to be,” Winegar said.

His beef are classified as natural.

The family keeps track of the

antibiotics fed to the cattle if they

get sick, and need medication.

They run about 200 mother cows.

The calves are sold when they are

weaned. They go to feed lots, and

then go to the market from there.

The Winegars run a farm, and do

custom haying in the summer

months. Winegar raises his own

corn and hay. He raises high priced

SUND

AY, N

OV. 2

0, 2

011 A

RGUS

/ WED

NESD

AY, N

OV. 2

3, 2

011

INDE

PEND

ENT

ENTE

RPRI

SE

4

Licensed • Bonded • Insured / Oregon License #97229 Kyle Lassiter - Owner

208-707-ROOF (7663) • Payette, Idaho

assiter

oofing eamRe-Roof Specialist

Covering your family for over 30 years. • 5 Year Installation Warranty • 20 Beautiful Colors • 4 Different Styles • 25 to 40 Years Shingles • 30 Year Architectural Shingles • Color Metal Roofing • Siding & Windows

FREE Estimates

��

“We’ve got you covered”

KELLY BENCH EQUIPMENT 541-889-3823Cell 541-216-0929

4438 Oak Rd, Ontario, OR

Come See For Yourself at

CCOOMMPPAACCTT TTRRAACCTTOORRSS&& EEqquuiippmmeenntt.. 1188--8888 hh..pp..

Quality Manufactured

www.mahindrausa.com

Good market makes for a great cattle year

PHOTO COURTESY BRUCE WINEGAR

This photo was taken by Bruce Winegar on Nov. 9., and shows many of his angus beefcattle gazing on a range. The cattle are fed a combination of corn, and hay both of whichWinegar grows himself. ‘Beef really is what’s for dinner at our house,’ Winegar said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Winegar enjoys cattle

ranching as a family

business and knows

the Idaho Beef Council

slogan of ‘Beef: It’s

What’s for Dinner’ well

5


��

��

��

��

��

��

cattle, and feeds them high priced

hay and high priced corn.

Winegar predicts that the beef

market will be good for a year or

so. There has been a little short-

age. In the store, the prices are

really high.

“The problem for most farm-

ers/ranchers is that corn is so

high. But you can’t complain

when you are making a profit,”

Winegar said.

For Winegar, it is a family busi-

ness. He grew up on a dairy. His

father let him take care of the

beef cattle. When his dad retired,

Winegar took over the care of the

beef cattle.

“Grandpa bought the place in

Weiser, then my dad bought the

place from him,” Winegar said.

Winegar and his wife Lynn

raised three boys. All of them

have enjoyed farming and ranch-

ing. Tristan is the eldest and

attends Boise State University.

Trent, the middle, is on an LDS

mission in Columbia, and Austin,

the youngest is on an LDS mission

in Boston, Mass.

“They have a hard work ethic.

They work hard at stuff, and it

was rewarding. Things come from

hard work,” Winegar said of his

sons.

Winegar’s brother farms, close

to him and pitches in when he

can. Their father still helps them,

with weaning calves.

“The family comes in, and can

do different things. My oldest son

enjoys farming and tractor work.

When we’re doing cows, he’s help-

ing. He loves to get back and do

the farming,” Winegar said.

“I do it because I enjoy cows,

and the ranching aspects. It’s

hard work, but it’s not work in my

eyes, because I enjoy it so

much … being with cows. If I

could just work with the cows, I

would be on vacation every day,”

Winegar said.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

LARRY MEYERARGUS OBSERVER

WILLOW CREEKA Willow Creek area farmer is

receiving international recognitionfor his work in water conservationand water management, but saysthe award is an honor for all thepeople and agencies who have beeninvolved in The Lower Willow Creekwater conservation and water quali-ty project.

Jerry Erstrom, a member of theLower Willow Creek Working Groupand Malheur Watershed Council, isthe recipient of the WatSave FarmerAward for 2011 presented by theInternational Commission onIrrigation and Drainage during theWorld Congress on Irrigation andDrainage in Tehran, Iran. Unable toattend the event in Iran, Erstromreceived the award during theInternational Conference onIrrigation and Drainage in SanDiego, Nov. 15 to Nov. 18.

“This is a big thing for the LowerWillow Creek Working Group andthe Malheur Watershed Council,”Erstrom said. “We started in 2003,and started projects in 2004.”

The groups worked with all fund-ing sources, he said.

Those funding sources have been:• Oregon Watershed EnhancementBoard, $4,398,998.• Vale Oregon Irrigation District,$1,499,407.• Private landowner, $1,315,080• Bureau of Reclamation, $375,000.• Orchard Water Company,

$165,250.• Warmsprings Irrigation District,$16,060.• Oregon Department ofAgriculture, $14,030.• Malheur Watershed Council,$12,672.• Lower Willow Creek WorkingGroup, $3,890.• Pheasants Forever, $1,050.• Malheur County Weed AdvisoryBoard, $300.• Oregon Department of Fish andWildlife, $300.

Projects have included convertingacreages from flood irrigation tosprinklers, piping laterals, pipingmainlines, piping drains and canals,pumpback systems and off-streamwater troughs.

“Over 25 percent of (farmedacreage) in Willow Creek Basin isnow sprinkled,” Erstrom said.

Some of the fields had sprinklersbefore the projects were started,but sprinkler irrigation came tomost of them afterwards. About 50miles of laterals have been piped, hesaid.

International recognitiongiven to Willow Creek man

This is a big thing forthe Lower Willow CreekWorking Group and theMalheur WatershedCouncil.

— Jerry ErstromWillow Creek farmer’

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

SUND

AY, N

OV. 2

0, 2

011 A

RGUS

/ WED

NESD

AY, N

OV. 2

3, 2

011

INDE

PEND

ENT

ENTE

RPRI

SE

6

Call or visit our store at 2050 Hwy. 30 W, Fruitland • Palisades Jct. (208) 452-2808

www.campbelltractor.com

Telescopic Handlers DISK •Rollaharrow •Landplane•Beet & Onion Harvesters

•Onion Shredder •Flail Shredder•One Step Bean Cutter

•Vertical Mix Feed Wagons

��

Obtaining funding for the proj-ects has been difficult, Erstromsaid.

“We don’t have fish,” he said.Making the 303rd list of water

bodies that do not meet waterquality standards was the sparkthat got the Willow CreekWorking Group started. Stoppingpolluted water from reachingWillow Creek and improvingwater quality has been a majorpart of its work.

But piping of laterals and otherditches is stretching water sup-plies and projects like gravitypressure irrigation systems havegreatly reduced the power costsfor pumping.

The Malheur CountyWatershed Council and theLower Willow Creek WorkingGroup will go for more funding,as the current funding ends thisyear. With the current economicpicture and the lack of a fishrestoration component, gettingmore funding to do more proj-ects in the Lower Willow CreekBasin is going to be more diffi-cult, Erstrom said.


LARRY MEYERARGUS OBSERVER

FRUITLANDBeing in the dairy business is a

challenge.Balancing the costs of projects

with the prices received for themilk produced can be difficult, butthe values of having a family farmcan be worth the investment andhard work put into keeping itgoing, even for multi-generations.

At least that his how SharylHolm, Holm Dairy, sees it.

“My husband is a second-genera-tion (dairyman),” she said.

Holm Dairy has been in businesssince 1979, a year after David andSharyl Holm were married and hadjoined his father and mother —Marvin and Cherry Holm — whohad gotten out of the dairy busi-ness and purchased property in the

Holms balance ongoing challengesof operating a family dairy business

LARRY MEYER | ARGUS OBSERVER

As expansion plans are carried out at Holm Dairy, the number of cows will increase.CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

7


December 16, 2011 and receivePurchase a new Valley pivot

December 16, 2011 and receivePurchase a new Valley pivot

*December 16, 2011 and receive

byPurchase a new Valley pivot

A Control Panel Upgrade

Low Rate FinancingFive and Seven Year

$1000 Instant Cash Rebate

OR

OR

A Control Panel Upgrade

Low Rate FinancingFive and Seven Year

$1000 Instant Cash Rebate

**A Control Panel Upgrade

***Low Rate FinancingFive and Seven Year

*$1000 Instant Cash Rebate

Contact Kurt Romans for Details & Quotes


541-473-2255Vale, Oregon787 12th St NRomans’ Parts & Machinery


541-473-2255

Romans’ Parts & Machinery

Don’t Miss Out!

D ’

Mi O

!

7000, and 8000 series machines. Other restrictions may apply. See your dealer for details on this limited time offer.** Low rate financing available only on the 5 and 7 year finance program with a participating Valley Authorized Finance not available with special finance plans. upgrade. Classic and Touch Pro Panels are not included. See your Valley dealer for options on upgrading to Select2 or Pro2. To qualify for this panel upgrade offer, all machine purchases must be 3 drive units or more. Buy a ClassicPlus, receive a ** This one-step control panel upgrade applies to new pivot, corner and linear machines purchased now through December 16, * The cash rebate is valid when ordering three (3) D/Us or more machine. Rebate applied directly to new machine invoice.

7000, and 8000 series machines. Other restrictions may apply. See your dealer for details on this limited time offer.** Low rate financing available only on the 5 and 7 year finance program with a participating Valley Authorized Finance

upgrade. Classic and Touch Pro Panels are not included. See your Valley dealer for options on upgrading to Select2 or Pro2. To qualify for this panel upgrade offer, all machine purchases must be 3 drive units or more. Buy a ClassicPlus, receive a ** This one-step control panel upgrade applies to new pivot, corner and linear machines purchased now through December 16, * The cash rebate is valid when ordering three (3) D/Us or more machine. Rebate applied directly to new machine invoice.

7000, and 8000 series machines. Other restrictions may apply. See your dealer for details on this limited time offer.Provider. All finance plans are available on 5000, ** Low rate financing available only on the 5 and 7 year finance program with a participating Valley Authorized Finance

Add-on panel options not included. Panel offer upgrade. Classic and Touch Pro Panels are not included. See your Valley dealer for options on upgrading to Select2 or Pro2. Select2 upgrade. Buy a Select2, receive a Pro2 To qualify for this panel upgrade offer, all machine purchases must be 3 drive units or more. Buy a ClassicPlus, receive a

2011 and delivered by January 13, 2012. ** This one-step control panel upgrade applies to new pivot, corner and linear machines purchased now through December 16, Rebate not available with special finance plans. * The cash rebate is valid when ordering three (3) D/Us or more machine. Rebate applied directly to new machine invoice.

Provider. All finance plans are available on 5000,

Add-on panel options not included. Panel offer Select2 upgrade. Buy a Select2, receive a Pro2

2011 and delivered by January 13, 2012. Rebate not available with special finance plans.

C

C

C

Fruitland area to continue cropfarming. The two families hadmoved from Turlock, Calif. Davidand Sharyl Holm came with 70springer heifers which they had inmind to sell. As the heifers becamefresh and began calving, theydecided to start milking instead.

“That is how we started thedairy,” Sharyl Holm said. “Wemilked cows and bought feed fromhis father.”

Now, more than 30 years later,the operation has become three-generational, with the fourth gen-eration coming up and the dairypart is being expanded to accom-modate the growth.

“We are expanding so we canmilk more cows,” Sharyl Holm said,adding the reason for the expan-sion is bringing two adult sons intothe business. Expansion of themilking facility is under way, withthe family doing the constructionthemselves to save costs, althoughit is a slow process.

They presently milk around 500cows but have not decided howmany more cows they will have.Son, Ryan Holm, manages the cows

and employees and son, JacobHolm, farms and does mechanicalwork and welding.

“Both have families,” SharylHolm said.

David Holm does some of every-thing. Other members in the family

are daughter, Jenifer Rold, and son,Steven Holm.

Cost of operation is a challenge,particularly with the increase infuel prices, fertilizer and buyingfeed for the cows. To help offsetcosts of feed, they grow their own

grain, corn and alfalfa. They buycanola and distilled grains to bal-ance out the feed rations. Futureprices stabilize the income fromthe dairy.

“Financing has taken longer thanin the past,” Sharyl Holm said.

In the past Holm Dairy milk asgone to dairies that sell a variety ofproducts, but now all the milk goesinto cheese at Sorrento Lactalis inNampa, formerly Swiss VillageCheese. Sharyl Holm said she cred-its Ray Horrace, company fieldman,for giving them a lot of assistance.

“He has been a great fieldman,”Holm said. “It’s been a great expe-rience.”

Their focus is providing good,quality milk, to stay competitiveand make a profit, Sharyl Holmsaid. Also important is incorporat-ing the family.

Marvin Holm, 91, who still livesnear the dairy, keeps any eye onthe operation. Even though a cityperson, Sharyl Holm said herfather helps on the farm when hevisits.

“It’s the best way to raise a fami-ly,” Sharyl Holm said. “I don’t haveany regrets.”

LARRY MEYER | ARGUS OBSERVER

Sharyl Holm stands with two of her sons, Jacob (center) and Ryan, in front of the dairybarn under construction Holm Dairy, east of Fruitland.


SHERI BANDELEANARGUS OBSERVER

PAYETTEGeorge Rodriguez founder of

Payette’s Partners Produce Inc.,started out from humble begin-nings to now one of the largestproducers of onions in the coun-try.

“We built this company out ofsweat and tears,” Rodriguez said.“Anything you can do to an onion,we can do it.”

Rodriguez started RodriguezFarms with a three-acre field in1970. He has turned his businessinto a full service onion grower,packer and processing company,Partners Produce, that does mil-lions of dollars in business withlocal growers.

Rodriguez worked on his ownfarm alongside his wife, Lupe, andworked at Ontario Produce, butafter 25 years he was let go. He stillhad the farm to fall back on, but itjust wasn’t enough. After twoyears, his sons convinced him tomove forward. In 1998 they founda place in Idaho, which is nowPartners Produce. Rodriguez still

has his farm which is now 1,300acres.

“After a couple of years, mysons, George Jr. and Eddie, said, ‘Idon’t think you are happy justfarming,’ so we started this place,”Rodriguez said.

Partners Produce started withfive partners. After a couple ofmonths, one of the partners wasbought out. Six years ago

Rodriguez’s sons asked why theywere sending the onions some-where else to get it processedwhen they could do it themselves.Two of the partners didn’t like theidea, but the Rodriguezes took thechance and IntermountainCommunity Bank took a chance onthem. The Rodriguezes bought outtheir partners and purchased all of

8

SUND

AY, N

OV. 2

0, 2

011 A

RGUS

/ WED

NESD

AY, N

OV. 2

3, 2

011

INDE

PEND

ENT

ENTE

RPRI

SE

2150 NE 21st Ave Payette, ID • (208) [email protected]

PPaarrttnneerr''ss PPrroodduuccee,, IInncc..

Ford • Chevrolet • International • Gas & Diesel

� �� Specializing in:Frame Lengthening & Straightening,Truck, Trailer, & Hoist Repairs.

Partner’s Produce: Aproduct of hard workand good business

SHERI BANDELEAN | ARGUS OBSERVER

Partners Produce has around 150 to 200 employees and operates year round. (Backleft) Larry Haney, Processing Manager, Bryce Frates QC Manager, (front left) PaolaGarcia, QC and Sara Vega are just a few of the employees that keep this company run-ning.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

We built this companyout of sweat and tears.Anything you can do toan onion, we can do it.

— George RodriguezPartner’s Produce’

JESSICA KELLERARGUS OBSERVER

ONTARIOChanges in agriculture practices

and standards through the yearshave not only evolved in the fields,on farms and on ranches. The evo-lution of agriculture is also shap-ing the classroom.

TVCC animal sciences instructorSandy Porter said, right now inagriculture, there is a “unique”consumer market, where there is alot of concern on how animals areraised and discussion about a safeand reliable food system. Thosediscussions have naturally madetheir way into many of her classes.

Porter said, in class, she and herstudents also talk about bestranching practices, including mini-mizing the stress on animals whenthey are taken to be slaughtered.

“Stress in the animal is notgood,” she said, adding the morestress an animal faces the higherthe chances are for injury. In addi-tion, stress affects the overall qual-ity of the animal.

The meat on animals that areunder a lot of stress when they areslaughtered is darker in color, nota nice cherry red, Porter said.

She said ranchers also have a lotmore tools at their disposal, and,using technology they can evaluatea cow’s carcass to see what mar-bling looks like, the back fat andrib eye, for example, while the ani-mal is still alive. Before, she said,ranchers could only look at thatonce the animal is dead.

Often, she said, those qualitiesare being used for breeding pur-

poses, as well, because the animalsare bred for desirable qualities andpalatability, she said.

“We’re doing a lot more withgenetics,” Porter said. “We havemore knowledge in how to selectanimals.”

She said cattle are being bredbased on desired genetic qualitiesand end product, from calf size tomilk production to meat cuts.

“There’s hundreds of traits tochoose from,” Porter said, addingranchers can find out what cattleother producers have to select

from and choose from there. “Ultimately, the industry has to

listen to what the consumer iswanting,” she said.

Porter said it is not surprisingchanges in agriculture practicesand standards have found theirway into the classroom, affectingwhat is being taught. She said thefocus of ag programs is to give stu-dents tools they need and will usein the future.

“It’s a business based on biology,so it has to evolve,” Porter said.

Ontario High School agricultureand FFA instructor Les Linegarsaid, in his opinion, the biggestchanges that have taken place inagriculture is in technology, whichhas definitely impacted his agricul-ture classes and FFA instruction.

He said when he first startedteaching, computers were notubiquitous — there were none inthe home or in the classroom andtechnology was not used as it istoday. Now, however, farmers arecarrying iPads, using tractors with

9


208-414-1302541-889-5539

283 E. CommercialWeiser

CCB#116071

� ��

��

Petroleum • Fertilizer • Hardware • Feed541-372-2254 • Fax 541-372-2453

18 North 2nd Street • Nyssa, OR 97913

��

��

Agriculture evolution seen in classrooms too

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Treasure Valley Community College students practice measuring the loineye on a goatin an Intro to Ultrasound Technologies class. Technology has given farmers and ranch-ers more tools to use, and those changes are reflected in the classroom. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

GPS capabilities and workingdirectly with technology on a dailybasis.

“That is a whole lot of things thatI am teaching now that I did notteach at the beginning,” he said.

Technology has changed the faceof farming, and that makes up a lotof discussion in the classroom.

“It’s made farming a lot moreefficient, and we talk about howit’s there and what the advantagesare and how to use it,” he said.

Linegar said he touches on a lotof other changes, such as geneticmodifications and, like at TVCC,livestock breeding focusing ondesirable traits on a general basis.

Students in FFA get a more in-depth look, he said.

Linegar said, in FFA, studentslearn quite a bit about what to lookfor when judging animals, whichhas changed drastically from whatit was 20 or 30 years ago. Then, hesaid, people looked for short, over-ly fat types of animals that wouldproduce an inch of fat around thesteak but not in the steak. Now, it’scompletely the opposite, with themost desirable animal being longand lean with very little fat

throughout the steak. “So the type of animal is entirely

different,” he said. Linegar also said his agriculture

classes and FFA also spend a lotmore time focusing on otheraspects of agriculture, such as agbusiness. Farms, Linegar said, arenow multi-million dollar business-es.

“A farmer is handling at least $1million a year going through theirfarm,” he said, adding if a farmer isnot a good businessman it doesn’tmatter how successful his or hercrops are. “It used to be that every-body was a farmer and you didn’thave to be a great business per-son.”

He said farmers would keep theirrecords in a shoe box, but now,farmers must know exactly whatthey are making, know how muchthey’re spending and what theirexpenses are going toward.

“It’s very, very technical,” hesaid.

He said FFA organizers realizequite a few of today’s FFA studentsare interested in and pursuingcareers in ag-related fields asopposed to direct agriculture byworking on a farm. As such, FFA

has expanded to include new con-tests. One of those is ag sales,which focuses on selling productsand the sales end of the industry.Job interview is also a newer areaof FFA study.

“When I started teaching, onefarmer fed about 25 people,”Linegar said. “Now, one farmerfeeds 110 people. So you don’tneed as many farmers to do thesame job, but you still need all ofthe other areas of agriculture to dotheir part.”

Linegar also said fewer studentsgoing into FFA have direct experi-ence farming. About 60 percent, hesaid, live in town and 40 percentlive outside of town on a farm orranch. Because of that, many ofthem develop an interest in agri-

culture through different pursuits,such as a lawn-mowing business.So, Linegar said, students mustlearn some of the basics of agricul-ture — what was understoodbefore. He said many people makethe connection that a pig producespork and chicken produces eggs oris used for meat, but many stu-dents don’t understand the entireprocess that goes into raising ananimal. The same also applies toproduce. He said his studentsmake bread using wheat grain inclass to instill the concept thatbread doesn’t start with flour —the flour comes from wheat andwheat grain is used to produce dif-ferent flours.

“They don’t understand a lot ofthose connections,” he said.

10

SUND

AY, N

OV. 2

0, 2

011 A

RGUS

/ WED

NESD

AY, N

OV. 2

3, 2

011

INDE

PEND

ENT

ENTE

RPRI

SE

Since1948

DRIVELINE & GEAR SPECIALISTS

541-889-5797515 Hwy. 20-26Ontario, Oregon

CONNIE’S SERVICE& REPAIR, LLC

TRUCK TRANSMISSION& REAR-END REBUILD SHOP

FAST SERVICEON DRIVELINES!

“PROFESSIONAL, HONEST SERVICE”

208-455-1419 Rich [email protected]

��

SUBMITTED PHOTO

TVCC students doctor a cow in their livestock skills class, where students learn skillsrelated to livestock health. Animal science classes are evolving to keep up with changesin agriculture practices and standards.


LINDSEY DAVISARGUS OBSERVER

ONTARIORosie Debban, Ontario, runs a

small sheep operation with herhusband, Rick. Their farm is locat-ed beside Malheur Butte.

Rick Debban built all the corralson the property, and the barn.Debban describes her husband as“fantastic.” Rick Debban is a retiredstate police officer, turned sheepherder. The Debbans have about60 head of ewes. All the ewes areborn there, and either they get soldfrom there, or die there. TheDebbans have two Pyrenees dogsthat stay with the sheep all thetimes.

Originally, the family came fromSpain. They had a sheep ranch atBrownlee, before the reservoir wasbuilt. There was a partnership withRosie Debban’s great uncle. Theyran a lot of sheep. Then after thedam was built, they moved betweenOntario and Vale, to work cattle.

The operation is very clean, andthe Debban’s go through a lot offeed.

“When we put them in the sheds,it takes more feed. We feed themonions from a local shed. It’s a sup-plemental feed along with corn andhay,” Debban said.

The Debbans will be shearingtheir sheep soon.

“We shear, we will be shearingwithin the next two to threeweeks,” Debban said. The woolmarket is currently good for whiteface wool. “Black face wool willnever be what white face market is,because of the type of wool it is,”

Debban said. When ewes get ready to lamb,

they go to sheds. When they are inthe lambing barn, they are prettyclean.

“The prices of hay, corn andonions are high. It could be worsethough, the prices of hay and corncould be high with the price oflambs being low,” Debban said.

11


ONTARIO541-889-5365

COUNCIL208-253-4266

WEISER208-549-0584

VALE 208-473-2412

CAMBRIDGE208-257-3347

FARMERS SUPPLY CO-OPPartners in Agriculture

Since 1935

www.nicholsaccounting.com

Accountants • Business Consultants• Bookkeepers

230 N. Oregon, P.O. Drawer 99, Ontario, OR 97914541.881.1433 • Fax 541.881.1444

5680 E. Franklin Road, Nampa, ID 83687208.442.0188 • Fax 208.442.0181

218 W. Main, P.O. Box 2582, Nyssa, OR 97913541.372.3803 • Fax 541.372.3804

• Income Taxes • Accounting

• Payroll• Audits/Review

• Personal Service

Peter I. Nichols Douglas P. Lamm Bob Kemble Tyler Sweet

Trevor Gunstream Karyn Scott Byron Cook

Michael Flerchinger

Keith Kemble Lindsey Hiaring Tawnya Nyman

The NICHOLS ACCOUNTING GROUP, P.C.— Certif ied Public Accountants —

Sheep operation a way of life for Debbans

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Sheep graze in the shadow of MalheurButte on land owned by Rick and RosieDebban.


12

SUND

AY, N

OV. 2

0, 2

011 A

RGUS

/ WED

NESD

AY, N

OV. 2

3, 2

011

INDE

PEND

ENT

ENTE

RPRI

SE

�� AAllll PPaanneellss MMaannuuffaaccttuurreedd IInn--HHoouussee •• CCuussttoomm CCuutt EExxaacctt LLeennggtthhss •• 33 fftt.. ttoo 4455 fftt..

• Standing Seam• 2 ft. Delta Rib• 3 ft. Pro Panel

• 3 ft. Tuff Rib Panel• 24 Colors• Custom Trim

• 2 1/2” Corrugated• Delivery Available• Full Soffit Line

��

FFuullll PPaaiinntt WWaarrrraannttyy •• WWeeaatthheerrXX PPaaiinntt SSyysstteemm

��

��

ONTARIO • 541-889-42141460 N. Verde Dr.

Toll Free 1-866-887-8335

BOISE • 208-336-75056619 S. SUPPLY WAY

Toll Free 1-888-717-8335

the equipment they needed toprocess the onions and their busi-ness took off.

The processing started in a20x20 room. They started expand-ing and put in a tunnel freezer.Now they have expanded and bynext summer they should be in anew building along with purchas-ing the property next door.

In 2003 Partners Produce beganprocessing whole peeled onions. In2004, a 6,000-square-foot process-ing facility was built adjacent tothe existing buildings. Then afreezing line with a blancher/cool-er and freezing tunnel wasinstalled as an extension to theexisting whole, peeled processingline. They also processed freshdiced onions and IndividuallyQuick Frozen or IQF diced andstrip onions.

“We started with just whole,peeled onions,” Rodriguez said.IQF onions are used in burritos,egg rolls, pizzas and soups.

They can peel yellow, white andred onions for their customers. Themachines can peel any size of

SHERI BANDELEAN | ARGUS OBSERVER

Partners Produce is one of the largest producers of whole peeled onions in the Idaho and eastern Oregon growing area. They processup to 110 million pounds in a year. The machines can peel any size of onion to meet the needs of the customers. Campbell’s Soupand Costco are two of their main customers and they ship all over the United States, Mexico and Canada.



13


89 SW 3rd Avenue Ontario OR541-889-5368

www.yturrirose.com

Proudly Serving The Hands That Feed UsFor Over 70 Years.

Farm & Ranch Division & Sales – Water RightsNatural Resources – Land Use – Public Lands – Grazing Permits

Hazardous Waste – Commercial Transactions - LiensEstate Planning and Administration – Employment Contracts

Business Litigation – Personal Injury – Wrongful Death

CARL BURNHAM, JR.

CLIFF BENTZ

TIM J. HELFRICH

BRUNO J. JAGELSKI

BRIAN D. DIFONZO

ANDREW G. MARTIN

SHAWNEE LANE

OF COUNSEL

SCOTT K. WARNER

DAVID R. AUXIER

WILLIAM ANDERSONARGUS OBSERVER

WEISERBack in 1975, a building in Weiser

was going through a bankruptcyand a local man had a vision ofrunning his own grain business.

“I thought I wanted to be in thegrain business,” Seth Matthews,owner of Matthews Grain and Feedsaid.

Matthews said his parents had acouple of trucks and he wasinvolved with 4-H, raising cattle.

So, Matthews did what he neededto do, he sold off some of his cattle

Since 1977,MatthewsGrain and Feedhas been afigurehead foragriculture

WILLIAM ANDERSON | ARGUS OBSERVER

Matthews Grain and Feed owner Seth Matthews (right) and Patti Matthews stand near a tote of grains that will be used for feed infront of their store on Commercial Avenue in Weiser. Matthews Grain has been opened since 1977 in the same location, and SethMatthews said ‘business is good.’CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

The price of lambs is high. “I’ve never seen it like this. I don’t

know if I want to get too excited(because it could go the otherway),” she said.

The average lifespan of the eweson the Debban’s farm is seven toeight years. If the ewes are stilldoing well after that time, as longas they have lambs and can takecare of them, providing good milkthe Debbans keep the ewes.

Many of their lambs are shippedback East. The Debbans lambs aresold as show lambs for children.They sell locker lambs, and replace-ment ewes. They sell lambs to

slaughter, and their goal is to getrid of all their lambs annually.

“You raise them, you take theminto the barn as a lamb, and whenwe get rid of them it’s a hard thingto do,” Debban said.

As a practice they do not nameany of their ewes.

“We have some that stand out,they’re right there in your face. Aswe get older, we’ve both gotten alittle more sentimental. But weremember it’s a business. I love it,obviously. You have to, or youwouldn’t do it. You have to love thesheep to be in it. It’s a lot of hands-on. It’s a great industry, and way oflife,” Debban said.

14

SUND

AY, N

OV. 2

0, 2

011 A

RGUS

/ WED

NESD

AY, N

OV. 2

3, 2

011

INDE

PEND

ENT

ENTE

RPRI

SE

��

� ��200)4'-%/�;��21��4-�� !%6��/25)(�!71(%9

;��7/.��))(��)/-8)49�;��75620��-8)562'.� %6-215;��74-1%��))(5�;��-)/(�!))(��7/.��%4()1�!))(�;��2+��%6��22(�

;��1-0%/��)%/6,��42(7'65�;��%:74-��))(5��2-��)44)6��%4426��24)�;�"%'.��4-(/)5��!%((/)5��-1',)5��24)��

;��)%6,)4�!,23�;�!62'.�"%1.5�;��1-0%/�#%''-1)5�;� 7&&)4��2265;��756-1��2265�;��-*65�;��216%1%�!-/8)4�;��2&<5� )(��-//��6)05

;�$4%1+/)4��)%15��%19��6,)4��6)05��4()4�9274�',-'.5��674.)95�%1(�(7'./-1+5�6,47��71)

��

Complete Body RepairForeign & Domestic

“Over 30 Years Experience”Where HIGH QUALITY Matters Most.

208-642-4926NEW LOCATION

1311 S. Main, PayetteMonty Olson

www.payettecollisioncenter.com

�� Complete Detail

�� In and Out

��


SUBMITTED PHOTO

Rick and Rosie Debban enjoy running their sheep operation near Malheur Butte, westof Ontario. The couple has about 60 ewes.

JESSICA KELLERARGUS OBSERVER

ONTARIOUnlike many students in his ag

classes at school and Ontario’s FFAChapter, Ontario High School sen-ior Nick Cheatham, 18, didn’t growup on a farm or around agricul-ture.

His grandfather on his mother’sside owned a farm but retired fromfarming when Cheatham was still achild, Cheatham said, and hisfather’s side of the family has beenin the automotive business formany years. His father is currentlythe owner of North Verde AutoSalvage. Cheatham, however, doesnot intend to enter the family busi-ness when he graduates. Instead,he will pursue a career in agricul-ture, an interest that developed inhigh school.

Cheatham began taking agricul-tural classes and became familiarwith FFA his freshman year. Hesaid, he became heavily involvedhis sophomore year at the urgingof an older student, GustavoMorales, who said FFA would reallybenefit him.

His first agricultural class, whichhe enrolled in as an eighth-grader,was introduction to ag leadership.He enrolled, he said, because hehad heard good things about agteacher and FFA instructor LesLinegar. He entered the foray ofFFA competition by competing inparliamentary procedure and agsales.

“Agriculture became an interestto me because of FFA and becauseI’d taken some health classes at the

high school,” Cheatham said. “Ilearned how agriculture benefitssociety as a whole because we areso unhealthy.”

He said he also saw the potentialhe had to offer because the world

15


Muir, Clark &Guerrant CPA’s

151 West MainPO Box 431

Weiser, Idaho 83672

208-414-1650

182 SW 3rd AvenuePO Box 160

Ontario, Oregon 97914

541-889-7654

Partners:

Michael J MuirArthur W Clark Rhonda M Guerrant

Cheatham aspires for career in agriculture

JESSICA KELLER | ARGUS OBSERVER

Ontario High School senior NickCheatham, 18, stands outside his ad-vanced ag leadership class at OntarioHigh School recently. Unlike other stu-dents who plan to pursue agriculture as acareer, Cheatham did not grow up on afarm or a ranch.


16

SUND

AY, N

OV. 2

0, 2

011 A

RGUS

/ WED

NESD

AY, N

OV. 2

3, 2

011

INDE

PEND

ENT

ENTE

RPRI

SE

��

�� &!��,��%)�$!�"(

�#�"��&��#!$��(��(� �(,��&��(#&'��((��!�"('��

��

Home Page: http://www.hollingsworthsinc.com

��(��(�

��

��+,� ��

�� &��#"��*��

��

population will always need morefood, and pursuing a career in agri-culture will help fill that need.

Cheatham said he only decidedhe wanted to pursue a future inagriculture this past summer. Hesaid he wants to go to school tostudy ag-business and also ag foodscience and technology.

“It’s proactive and its useful andit’s always going to be applied toeveryday life,” he said of his futurestudies.

Cheatham said he hopes one dayto either own a farm, perhapsorganic but definitely one focusingon healthy, safe, wholesome foodproduction or work for a businessthat does the same.

“I would like to run my own busi-ness, but if it means developingnew products such as seeds, then Iwould do that at a corporation,” hesaid.

He said not enough people careabout what they are consumingand hopes to help change thatthrough his future endeavors.

“I believe in bringing healthyproducts to people’s tables,” hesaid. “I really care about people’s

health.Cheatham, however, said he will

narrow his interests further oncehe reaches college and studies

more in his areas of interest.“I just know I want to go into

agriculture,” he said. “It’s the ulti-mate sustainable way of life.”

Cheatham said he is currentlyapplying to Oregon StateUniversity because it has one of thebest four-year ag programs in thestate. After that, Cheatham said hewants to move back to the Ontarioarea.

“This is my home, and I can’tthink of any better place to raisecrops and get into the ag busi-ness,” Cheatham said.

His family, he said, supports himwholeheartedly and is encouraginghim to start his own farm. He saidfamily members have indicatedthat is an area of the communitythey would like to be moreinvolved in, as well.

First, however, Cheatham wantsto gain some experience workingon a farm. He has already raised ananimal through FFA, but he wantsto see if daily farm work is some-thing he wants to pursue in thelong run and hopes to do that thissummer before going to college.

Cheatham said being in FFA hasreally helped shape his futureplans and has only positive thingsto say about the organization.

“It’s definitely given me a start,”he said.


17


ORE-IDA® HISTORYOre-Ida Potato Products, Inc. was formed in1952 with its first and largest Ore-Ida®

potato-processing facility located in Oregon. It was here that founder F. Nephi Griggprocured many of his potatoes. Thus, the brand name “Ore-Ida®” was born, combin-ing the first few letters of Oregon and Idaho. This name inspired one of the world’smost memorable advertising slogans: “When it says Ore-Ida®, it’s All Righta,” whichwas used for more than a decade.

WILLIAM ANDERSONARGUS OBSERVER

NYSSABeing flexible and willing to

adapt to what the customer needs,as well as giving their employeesownership in the company, are rea-sons that have helped Agri-Servicebecome a staple in Nyssa.

The storefront in Nyssa is gearedup to provide everything the cus-tomer needs. If and item is not instock, it will be accessible throughanother store, or from the manu-facturer.

There are currently nine Agri-Service stores in operation, withstores in Nyssa and Weiser, as wellas five other stores in Idaho,including Buhl, Twin Falls, Burley,Terreton and Sugar City, and twoin Utah, in Logan and Roosevelt.

“Our goal is to be kind of a one-stop shop,” Kyle Schnoor, generalmanager of the Agri-Service loca-tions in Nyssa and Weiser, said.“We have nine stores and invento-ry in each of those. If we don’t have

it, we can access it. Everything wedo is geared for our customers.”

As a store, Agri-Service is a full-service dealer for AGCO, which fea-tures Massey-Ferguson and Heston.They also sell and service Kabota.

“We are the largest AGCO dealerin North America,” Schnoor said.“Things are going really well. Ag,as an industry, is doing really well.It is a great time for ag right now.”

Along with having tractors, Agri-Service also carries a large supplyof implements, including hayequipment, tilling equipment,sprayers and guidance systems toname a few products carried.

As the final runs of beets andcorn continue to be harvested, andthe fields are being prepared forthe upcoming winter months,Schnoor said the next two monthsis when the sales of farming equip-ment really takes off.

“The next two months, they(farmers and ranchers) are lookingfor tax incentives,” Schnoor said.“It is a really busy sales month.”

Once the tractors and equipmentare purchased, Agri-Service doesnot stop there. The business is afull service company, having an on-hand product specialist, who isavailable to help those who pur-chase machinery and equipmentwith any questions they may have.

The business also has a repairservice, with certified mechanics,who are busy preparing tractorsfor the winter, and major over-hauls preparing for the next farm-ing season. Agri-Service also offersdiscounts on parts and labor.

During the farming months,Schnoor said those mechanicsspend a lot of time in the field,

traveling to and from locations totake care of farm equipment, intheir own service truck.

Schnoor also said one of thebiggest draws for employees is whenthe company became an ESOP.

An ESOP is an Employee ShareOwnership Plan, giving each of theemployees who works there, achance to own part of the company.

“We have a passion to see thatour customers are taken care of,”Schnoor said. “We do what we canto provide service to the customer.

“It is a nice feature. If you are anowner for the company, it trulyaffects you as an owner and youare proud of your product line.”

Agri-Service geared to care for customersOut goal is to be kind of a one-stop shop. We have nine

stores and inventory in each of those. If we don’t have it, wecan access it. Everything we do is geared for our cus-tomers.

— Kyle SchnoorAgri-Service GM’

18

SUND

AY, N

OV. 2

0, 2

011 A

RGUS

/ WED

NESD

AY, N

OV. 2

3, 2

011

INDE

PEND

ENT

ENTE

RPRI

SE

��

��

�� Auto • Farm • Business • Life • Home • Health

When it comes to farming,you're the best in the field.

That's why you should trust us whenit comes to protecting your valuablefarming operation.

We know how hard you work, andwe're committed to safeguardingyour family and your propertyshould an unforeseen disaster strike.

Why not call us today and let ushelp you lay the groundwork for acustomized insurance plan?

When it comes to farminsurance, we're thebest in ours.

Professional Solutions For Your Insurance NeedsDoing Business Since 1919

Allie, granddaughter ofMike and Debbie

onions to meet the needs of thecustomers.

At this time they are processing110 million pounds of onions ayear. The onions are purchasedfrom local growers from Weiser toNyssa and Parma and other places.

Along with the plant outside ofPayette they have storages outsideof Nyssa and also in Apple Valley.The storages in Apple Valley arerefrigerated which has cut downon transportation costs, beforethey had to pay for transportationto California and Texas in the sum-mer months.

“We acquired the refrigeratedstorages four years ago,”Rodriguez said. “This broughtchanges for us because we used topay a lot for freight.”

They went from nothing to sell-ing to Campbell’s Soup, Costco andmore. They sell to nearly everystate in the United States and inter-nationally to Mexico and Canada,and they are working on also sell-ing to Costa Rica.

Partners Produce started withjust one line and one shift fivedays a week with about 50 employ-

ees and now they are open yearround and at times 24 hours a day,seven days a week and currentlyhave 150 to 200 employees.

“What stands out is that we are afamily-owned business and Georgeis very hands-on, and has workedhard to get where he’s at,” ElisaRodriguez, the wife of GeorgeRodriguez Jr. said.

Even with the economy the way itis, it hasn’t hurt them much. It hasactually helped.

“More people are cooking athome more and are using theonions, soup companies are usingthem and people still need to eat,”Elisa Rodriguez said.

George Rodriguez built this com-pany from the ground up and isgoing strong.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12What stands out is that

we are a family-ownedbusiness and George isvery hands-on, and hasworked hard to get where he’s at.

— Elisa RodriguezPartner’s Produce’

19


319 SW 3rd. St., Fruitland 208-452-4241www.fmtc.com

��Mutual Telephone Co.� ��

HALIFAX, Va. — DeputyAgriculture Undersecretary forRural Development Doug O’Brienhas announced that USDA is fund-ing a series of projects to convertbiomass to energy through USDA’sRural Energy for America program.The announcement was made dur-ing an event in Halifax, Va., to markUSDA Rural Development’s partici-pation in construction of a biomassplant to be operated by theNorthern Virginia ElectricCooperative.

“The Obama Administration isassisting cooperatives, small busi-nesses, farmers and ranchers, asthey work to reduce their energycosts,” said O’Brien. “When energycosts are reduced, American ruralbusinesses become more competi-tive, allowing them to expand andcreate jobs.”

For example, NC-CHP Owner I,LLC of Asheville, N.C., received a $5million loan for the installation of acombined heat and power systemin Montgomery County. The sys-tem will generate steam by using a

boiler system powered by woodchips and will also generate 5.25million kWh of electricity per year.Also in Montgomery County, appli-cant EWP, LLC will receive a$146,000 grant to install equip-ment at an existing hydroelectricplant so it can be reopened. Theproject has the potential to gener-ate an estimated 2.8 million kWhper year.

The announcement concludes2011 biomass project fundingassistance for a total of 52 projectswith just over $31 million in grantand loan note guarantees throughthe Rural Energy for AmericaProgram. This support helped toleverage a total of $154.5 million ofbiomass project development in 26states which will help produceclean, renewable heat and powerfor farms and small businesses inrural America. A complete list offunding recipients announcedtoday follows:

• Alaska Alaskan Brewing LLC$448,366 grant Biofuel from wastegrain

• N.C. EWP LLC $146,281 grantHydro

• N.C. NC-CHP Owner I, LLC $5million loan Wood to energy

• Iowa Iowa Firewood Products$24,232 grant Firewood kiln

• Mass. CommonWealthResource $49,875 grant Biofuelfrom waste

• S.D. Legend Seeds, Inc. $17,035grant Boiler installation

• Tenn. Mountain Wood Products$500,000 grant Wood PelletProcessing

• Utah Washakie RenewableEnergy $496,750 grant Biofuelspretreatment/ products plant

USDA funding is contingent onthe recipient meeting the condi-tions of the grant or loan agree-ment. REAP grants can finance upto 25 percent of a project’s cost, upto $500,000 for renewable energysystems and $250,000 for energyefficiency improvements.

Since taking office, PresidentObama’s Administration has takenhistoric steps to improve the livesof rural Americans, put people

back to work and build thrivingeconomies in rural communities.From proposing the American JobsAct to establishing the first-everWhite House RuralCouncil — chaired by AgricultureSecretary Tom Vilsack — thePresident wants the federal govern-ment to be the best possible part-ner for rural businesses and entre-preneurs creating job opportuni-ties and for people who want tolive, work, and raise their familiesin rural communities.

USDA, through its RuralDevelopment mission area, admin-isters and manages housing, busi-ness and community infrastructureand facility programs through anational network of state and localoffices. Rural Development has anactive portfolio of more than $155billion in affordable loans and loanguarantees. These programs aredesigned to improve the economicstability of rural communities,businesses, residents, farmers andranchers and improve the qualityof life in rural America.

USDA announces funding to convert biomass to energy

SCOTT FORDARGUS OBSERVER

ONTARIOWhen it comes to raising farm

animals, many folks think of chick-ens, cows, pigs or even llamas. Buthow about pheasants?

Pheasant farming is big business inOregon, so big in fact, that there are30 pheasant hunting lodges and pre-serves in Oregon, according to theultimate pheasant hunting Website.

The pheasant is an Asian birdwhich was introduced in Oregon in1881 when Judge O.N. Dennyreleased some 100 pairs of Chinesering-neck pheasants in theWillamette Valley.

Locally, Ontario resident RoyYoungblood, 70, owner of FlyingHigh Game Birds, situated at 4460Oak Road in Ontario, is a pheasantfarmer and began raising pheas-ants 15 years ago. But it was some-thing he did not expect to do for avery long time.

“I bought this little farm outsideof Ontario,” Youngblood said. “Ibought the farm as a part-time

deal. I had only planned on stayingin Malheur County for a year.”

Youngblood said he got intoPheasant farming accidentally.

“My dad got cancer and we weregoing to stay here until he passedaway. So I bought the farm with apartner, who later died of cancer,so I bought him out,” Youngbloodsaid. “I did not want to farm theland the conventional way. Afriend of mine told me about rais-ing pheasants and four years laterI had more than 8,000 birds.”

Youngblood raises the birdsfrom the egg to the hunt. He sellsand hunts his birds.

“We sell our birds to other pre-serves and we hunt the rest,”Youngblood said. “We have about200 hunters that come out to ourproperty to hunt these birds andwe sell about 4,000 of our youngerbirds.”

Ninety-five percent of thehunters that Youngblood sees onhis property come from within a50 mile radius of his preserve. And

20

SUND

AY, N

OV. 2

0, 2

011 A

RGUS

/ WED

NESD

AY, N

OV. 2

3, 2

011

INDE

PEND

ENT

ENTE

RPRI

SE

Youngblood turns pheasant farming into career

SCOTT FORD | ARGUS OBSERVER

Pheasant take flight at the Flying High Game Birds preserve which is owned by Ontarioresident Roy Youngblood. The game preserve is situated at 4460 Oak Road in Ontario.


about 75 percent of those hunterare from Idaho.

“The advantage I have, is thatmost people are so pressed fortime,” Youngblood said. “A personcan come from Boise in the morn-ing and hunt for three hours andbe home for dinner or make it backto work after lunch.”

Youngblood said he must not bea very good manager, because he isnot making a ton of money by run-ning his farm.

“In order for me to make goodmoney, I would have to sell 30,000to 40,000 birds a year,” he said. “Ijust do not have the energy to buildmy farm to that size. I am not goingto start over to double my size.”

To hunt on Youngblood’s pheas-ant farm, the cost is $250 for 10birds.

Raising pheasants is a year-round job. Youngblood said he col-lects the eggs from the field, incu-bates them, feeds and watersthem. By September, those birdsare ready to hunt.

“Pheasant farming is a lot likedairy farming,” Youngblood said.“It’s 365 days a year job. To raise

pheasants and run a preserve iswhat I have been doing that for thepast eight years. And I am aboutready to quit.”

Youngblood said the actual rais-ing of the birds is pretty easy.Proper heat, water and feed is allthat is really needed he said.

In Oregon, Youngblood saidthere are about 90 pheasant hunt-ing preserves, which are harvestingabout 700,000 birds a year.

“It’s big business,” Youngbloodsaid. “When I came from California,I watched the pheasant populationdecline, so that was one of the rea-sons I went into the business to helpkeep these birds in the area.”

21


LEON’SPUMPSSales • Service

• Installation• Repair

��

��

Eastern Oregon Animal Health��$�� !� ��!��!�&�"!%�)��'&�$%�)��#�(%

�"�$��!��)��$�(%�)��'$��$(�)��!&�%&$(“WELCOMING NEW PATIENTS

AND OLD FRIENDS”

��&��&��!&�$�"

��

��

Credit Cards Accepted

SCOTT FORD | ARGUS OBSERVE

Ontraio resident Roy Youngblood holds one of the 8,000 pheasant he raises at theFlying High Game Birds preserve which he owns and operates. Youngblood has beenraising pheasants for the past 15 years.

In order for me to makegood money, I wouldhave to sell 30,000 to40,000 birds a year. Ijust do not have the energy to buildmy farm to that size. I am not goingto start over to double my size.

— Roy YoungbloodFlying High Game Birds

’CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20

22

SUND

AY, N

OV. 2

0, 2

011 A

RGUS

/ WED

NESD

AY, N

OV. 2

3, 2

011

INDE

PEND

ENT

ENTE

RPRI

SE

��

��

Treat Your Family to EcoWater.It’s That Good.®Make sure the water in your home is clean, fresh andodor-free - and tastes good too. Just one call toEcoWater can make it happen and provide you with:

• Clean, worry-free water for drinking, cooking, bathing and washing clothes

• Quality water that’s easy on your pipes, appliances, sinks and countertops

• Exclusive features including patented digital technology, digital remote monitoring, less salt consumption and a factory-backed warranty on the most advanced water treatment products

• Convenience. Dealers are water treatment professionals who can diagnose your water needs, install watertreatment products and provide exceptional customerservice.

Call your local EcoWater Systems dealer for a FREE in-home water analysis today and enjoy better-tasting, cleaner,

softer water tomorrow.

��• We sell used parts• We buy all metals• Can locate parts

nationwide

447755 66tthh AAvvee.. SSoouutthh,, PPaayyeettttee,, IIDDOWNER - BROOKS MEDFORD 208-642-8297 • 888-769-6909

447755 66tthh AAvvee.. SSoouutthh,, PPaayyeettttee,, IIDD

Owned and Operated By Brooks Medford

��

We Buy Carsand Trucks

Minimum $300

to raise money for the business,and has been working at it since1977.

Now, for nearly 35 years,Matthews has been in the samelocation on Commercial Street inWeiser, mixing and selling customfeed mixes.

Matthews said his store —Matthews Grain and Feed — is oneof only two in the area that createand sell custom mixes.

Opening up for business Feb. 1,1977, Matthews took over owner-ship of the Werneth Building inWeiser, which was built in 1897.Over the years the building hashad only two owners, as MatthewsGrain and Feed is not planning onlooking for a new location anytimesoon.

“Business is good,” Matthewssaid.

Since the business opened, theclientele and customer base hasbeen growing, which Matthewsattributed to competition.

“Farmers like for there to becompetition,” Matthews said. “Wehad built up a large clientele offarmers and ranchers.”

The first few years Matthewssaid were a learning process forhim, and he claims he earned hiscollege degree within the walls ofhis business.

“I was young and had a lot tolearn,” Matthews said. “My parentsreally helped me.”

As the years progressed,Matthews said he had some tryingtimes, like all businesses, but hasbeen able to work his way throughit.

In more recent years, PattiMatthews said the store has builtup a customer base in about a 100mile radius, as the store deliversfeed to customers in McCall andBaker City, while customers comefrom as far away as Twin Falls andWinnemucca, Nev.

The custom orders have beencreated and sold for poultry, beefand dairy cattle, sheep and buffalo.

The Matthews said there are 20combinations of different bulkvarieties that are sacked in thestore.

Along with the custom blends,the store also carries Purina prod-ucts, having 31 years experience asa Purina dealer.

Since Matthews first opened thedoors for his business, MatthewsGrain and Feed has flexed andchanged as it has needed to, tokeep those in the communitieshappy with the products on theshelf.

As the business has grown andadjusted to fit the customer’sneeds, some of the servicesoffered, such as warehousinggrains, has disappeared, while asmall retail shop has sprung up, tomeet the needs of the customers.

“We changed the focus a littlebit,” Patti Matthews said. “Youhave to buy it from somewhere. Wehave really expanded on the retailthe last six years.”

During the past six years, PattiMatthews said they like to keepsome of the basic stuff in stock,

such as tack, animal health prod-ucts, vitamins, feeders and water-ers. They also sell local apple cider,when it is in season, as well asother goodies. The store will alsocreate custom orders for cus-tomers, if they are unable to findwhat they are looking for.

“We are trying to fill a niche a lit-tle bit,” Seth Matthews said.

One of those niches that neededto be filled is the organic market.

So, Matthews Grain and Feed hasbeen brining in non-geneticallymodified feeds, as both SethMatthews and Patti Matthews havedone a lot of research on the prod-ucts, helping their customersunderstand if it is right for them.

Still, both Matthews still enjoywhat they do, saying, “It is fun. Weenjoy it.”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13We changed the focus a little bit. You have to buy it from

somewhere. We have really expanded on the retail in thelast six years.

— Patti MatthewsMatthews Grain and Feed’

23


— SAME LOCATION SINCE 1945 —117 N. Main, Payette 208-642-4407 1-800-378-4407

Licensed and bondedin Idaho & Oregon

MCCREA HEATING &PLUMBING, INC.

��Brent Varriale, DVMJenny Janitell, DVM

Marijeanne Woodcock, DVM

Large Animal FacilityOn Site

Farm Calls Also Available

208-452-7950 401 N. WhitleyFruitland, ID

After Hours CallsAre Welcome

STEVE KARNOWSKIASSOCIATED PRESS

MINNEAPOLIS — As U.S.Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsackvisited Vietnam and China to talktrade in mid-November, he washoping to build on one of the fewbright spots in the strugglingAmerican economy: agriculturalexports.

U.S. agricultural exports are pro-jected to reach a record $137 bil-lion this year and hit that samemark next year. The U.S. agricultur-al trade surplus is expected to top$42 billion. And new free tradeagreements with South Korea,Colombia and Panama are expect-ed to boost farm exports by anoth-er $2.3 billion, according to theU.S. Department of Agriculture.

The gains aren’t limited to prod-ucts like corn, soybeans, rice, beefand pork. U.S. exports of dairyproducts, including powderedmilk, cheese and butter, and nutssuch as pecans, pistachios andalmonds also have climbed inrecent years.

In an interview with TheAssociated Press, Vilsack rattledoff several reasons why agricultur-al exports are doing so well whenmuch of the economy is stagnant:demand in China and other devel-oping nations, the growing produc-tivity of American farmers andranchers, a positive perception ofAmerican agricultural productsoverseas, and aggressive market-ing efforts by farm groups and theUSDA.

“As long as we continue to focuson those countries with these

emerging middle classes, andfocus on countries that are open totrade agreements, that open theirmarkets as much as our marketsare open, we’re always going to dowell,” Vilsack said.

He pointed to the new trade dealwith South Korea, which he expectswill boost U.S. farm exports byabout $1.9 billion annually. It alsomay reopen the door for discus-sions with China and Japan aboutreducing their restrictions onAmerican beef imports, he said.

Exports in general have been a

bright spot in the struggling U.S.economy, which is why the Obamaadministration has set a goal ofdoubling them in five years.Agriculture makes up about 9 per-cent of U.S. exports, comparedwith about 80 percent for manu-facturing. But CommerceDepartment data show farmexports grew much faster thanmanufacturing exports during thepast decade — by 123 percentcompared to 68 percent.

High prices for farm productsexplains much of the increase in

value for agriculture exports — thesame products shipped overseasare worth much more today thanthey were 10 years ago. But theUSDA also has done a “great job”of promoting agricultural exports,said Frank Vargo, vice presidentfor international economic affairsat the National Association ofManufacturers.

Vargo, who spent three decadesin trade policy positions at theCommerce Department, said he wasalways “admiring and jealous” ofthe USDA’s export programs. Theagency spends about double whatthe Commerce Department spendson export promotion, which is a bigreason why one-third of U.S. farmproducts get shipped overseas,compared with only one-fifth ofmanufactured goods, he said.

“Our ag exports are a strongpoint for the United States andwe’d like them to stay that way,”Vargo said, “but we’d like manu-facturing, even though manufac-turing exports are 80 percent ofour exports, we want steps takento make them grow faster.”

Vilsack, who also left for Vietnam,will be the first agriculture secre-tary to visit the country, which hasjumped from the No. 50 to the No.15 market for U.S. farm exports inthe past decade. He said he hopesthe Vietnamese see his visit as asign of the importance the U.S.places on their relationship.

He’ll then go to China, which hasbeen the leading U.S. agriculturaltrade partner most of this year,supplanting Canada. He’ll be partof the American delegation to anannual meeting on a broad range

US farm exports boom as rest of economy struggles

LEE JIN-MAN | ASSOCIATED PRESS

South Korean customers look at U.S. beef sold at a supermarket in Seoul, South Koreain 2008. The U.S. agricultural trade surplus is expected to top $42 billion this year. Andnew free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama are expected toboost farm exports by another $2.3 billion, according to the U.S. Department ofAgriculture.

24

SUND

AY, N

OV. 2

0, 2

011 A

RGUS

/ WED

NESD

AY, N

OV. 2

3, 2

011

INDE

PEND

ENT

ENTE

RPRI

SE

�� "��$%��$%��!%�#�"�%"��&�%�

��

�� OFFER ENDS November 30, 2011. honda.com UTILITY ATVs ARE RECOMMENDED ONLY FOR RIDERS 16 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER. BE A RESPONSIBLE RIDER. ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET, EYE PROTECTION AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING,

AND PLEASE RESPECT THE ENVIRONMENT. OBEY THE LAW AND READ YOUR OWNER’S MANUAL THOROUGHLY. Sale Prices + Tax, Title, DOC, Freight & Set-up. *All payments O.A.C. Low payment available for first 12 months at which time the finance offer converts to a standard installment loan at 9.99% for life of the loan. On Approved Credit.

2011 HONDA TRX 420 2 WHD

60 Months @ 3.99% (OAC)

2012 POLARIS SPORTSMAN 500

Stk #2P147

2012 HONDA TRX 420 FM

60 Months @ 3.99% (OAC)

2012 HONDA TRX 420 FPM

60 Months @ 3.99% (OAC)

NEW 2009 HONDA TRX 500

60 Months @ 3.99% (OAC)

2012 KAWASAKI KX250

60 Months @ 6.99% (OAC)

2011 KAWASAKI TERYX

60 Months @ 6.99% (OAC)

2012 KAWASAKI MULE 950 DIESEL

60 Months @ 6.99% (OAC)

2012 POLARIS RZR 800 50”

72 Months @ 6.99% (OAC)

2012 POLARIS RANGER 800 CREW

Stk #2P156

2012 POLARIS RANGER 800 LE

Stk #28155

2012 POLARIS RZR 4

�� Receive a free winch with the purchase of select Polaris ATVs

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

MSRP��$12,099Edge Discount ��$1,100

Sale Price $$1100,,999999Payment $9900MO

MSRP��$15,799Edge Discount ��$1,000


MSRP ��$11,299Edge Discount ��$1,000


MSRP $12,399Edge Discount $1,400








MSRP ��$6,699Bonus Bucks ��$300Edge Discount��$900






MSRP ��$6,099Bonus Bucks��$300Edge Discount ��$800


Stk #1H594 Stk #2H733

Stk #2H723 Stk #9H210

MSRP ��$7,349Bonus Bucks ��$300Edge Discount ��$1,350


Stk #2K108

Stk #2P152

Stk #2P157

Stk #2K112Stk #1K081

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

farm tab 2011

Documents