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| From strong women come strong farms |
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| Bette Davis Nelson and her daughter-in-law Wendi Nelson |
By Madeline MacGregor
Editor's note: This is the first in a series of articles about Oregon's century farms and ranches. The Agriculture Quarterly will highlight one farm or ranch in each issue over the next few years.
Farming in the early years
"The strawberries are as big as plums and the winters in Oregon are mild." So wrote the Oregon cousins of Wisconsin dairy farmers, Hedwig and Otto Schmeiser, in the year 1894. For weather- weary homesteaders, this was welcome news indeed.
In 1908, when Hedwig was expecting their sixth child, she boarded a train bound for Oregon. Otto had moved to Oregon earlier to establish the family homestead. The couple's five children entertained themselves on the long journey by pulling hairpins from their mother's hair. After an arduous week of cross-country travel, the young family (including daughter Magdalena) was reunited at the Oregon City train depot.
Hedwig worked diligently by Otto's side in the fields, but education for her children remained a high priority. Each child walked five miles of rutted wagon tracks from the farm to the school every day. Their success was measured by the high school degrees earned.
In 1918, Hedwig wrote to her son Carl, concerned about his welfare as a young army inductee.
"Glad you got to go with the rest of the boys and maybe not have to go to California. Was scared of rattlesnakes and tarantulas you might get closely aquainted (sic) with."
Only a few miles down the road from Oregon City, Catherine and William Davis were working non-stop on their homestead in Beavercreek. The Davis' had emigrated from Wales in the early 1880s, planted 50 acres of prune trees, and built a modern fire-powered prune dryer. Their farm sat on part of the land that was later to become known as Prune Hill. Plums from their locale were in such demand that packing houses, like the Hudson-Duncan Company, contracted one year in advance for the dried fruit.
Catherine Davis was very proud of her Welsh ancestry and missed her homeland immensely. As 4:00 pm rolled around in Beavercreek, she would set the farm table with her finest china, home-baked currant cakes, cheese squares and a large pot of steeped brisk brew. Her life wove in and out of the local Welsh community, and in 1884 she helped establish a Welsh-speaking church. Bryn Seion Church services, in both English and Welsh, are still attended by visitors from abroad.
Catherine's son John, a determined farmer in his own right, met and fell in love with Carl Schmeiser's sister, Magdalena. (Lena as she was known to family and friends.) Lena's German heritage proved problematic in Oregon during WWI, but with the protection of her family, and her teaching job at the El Dorado school, Lena fearlessly entered into life as a farmer's wife.
During the war years, John and his brother William left Beavercreek's fertile orchards for the battle-scarred fields of France. John was a medic in the Battle of Verdun, removing wounded soldiers from the maze of deep trenches. John's own injuries from a constant bombardment of chemical warfare left him weakened and debilitated. Eventually, John's chronic ill-health forced him to abandon farming altogether.
When their father died in 1938, Bette Davis (Nelson) and her twin brother were only five years old. Lena, widowed and a single parent at the age of 28, assumed the non-traditional role as manager of the Davis homestead.
Early each morning, Lena milked the cows, fed the stock, collected eggs, and fixed the twins' breakfast. Lena would enlist the help of young Bette and her brother to help gather fire wood for the prune dryer-a hungry monster that needed to be stoked 24 hours a day. Sometimes in the evenings, Lena would hike back from the woodlot with a newborn calf in her arms and the twins in tow.
As an adult, Bette reflected on how hard her mother worked; not only feeding the sheep, pigs, chickens, and dairy cattle, but driving a matched pair of draft horses, Prince and Dolly. "She horse-plowed the hay fields and, at times, hitched a sled to the team and hauled prunings back from the orchard."
Lena was a woman of strength and resolve in perpetual motion. During the day, she cut hay. She shook and picked prunes and brought them in to the dryer. She churned the morning's cow milk into butter and separated the cream. Then she walked the few miles to the nearby Beavercreek Co-op store where she exchanged her farm fresh goods for luxuries, like boxed cheese for the children.
Lena made her own soap from lard and lye; scrubbed her laundry without the aid of a machine; butchered and plucked chickens for company dinners; canned applesauce, peaches, pears, jams, jellies, and meat. During harvest, she cooked three meals a day for the farm workers.
Nighttime however, brought its hidden sorrows. Bette recalls, "Many evenings I would hear her crying herself to sleep because she missed my father. The pain and hurts she kept tucked deep in her heart." But the hum of the day's activities were never far off. Every morning she faced her world with quiet resolution.
Lena was not only the matriarch of a thriving agricultural business, but also tended the fertile minds of the children in her community, participating for over 50 years as a 4-H leader. Her life was one of devotion to education, her family, and above all-the farm.
Following in her mother's footsteps
Today, the John and Magdalena Davis homestead farm, in production since 1886, is a shining example of what determined women can accomplish. Honoring the memory and work of her parents John and Magdalena, Bette Davis Nelson tends lovingly to the historic site. The farm is a National Historic Register destination and was awarded Century Farm distinction for 2005.
Bette has preserved the history behind her farm's century-plus status, not only by her physical presence, but also through sheer riveted curiosity. What had provoked the women in her family to move to the Willamette Valley in the first place?
Bette was inspired to research their stories after reading a passage by author Susan Cheever: "I realized the price of their success had been high. I wanted to know who I am and how the lives of these courageous women in my family have influenced my life. I did not require superstars. I did require women who lead their lives in a manner helpful to others, either by specific deeds or through challenging lifestyles."
Bette remained intrigued by the challenging lifestyles that her own female ancestors led; so much so, that she authored a biographical tribute to them, Women of Courage, Strength and Beauty. "I found all of these qualities, and I found much more, within the women of my own family," Bette wrote.
"They reflect the stages of growth from that first exhilaration of young childhood through uncertainty, realization, and finally, appreciation of life's courses. Some have led lives of serenity. Others have suffered traumas. I hurt to know them. They are strong women, and women of beauty. Within their environments, great or small, they have contributed, reached out to touch, to influence, to give something of themselves to others."
Bette's own challenges seem parallel to the challenges faced by her family in the past. In the 1960s she married Victor Nelson, raised three children, and managed the family farm.Her lifelong dream of completing college was on hold. Bette's longing to graduate persevered through four more decades.
Bette recalls that her mother's words, "You can be whatever you want to be, if you set your mind to it," sustained her while finishing her degree in 1997-at the age of 64. What made the postponed degree richer yet, was the fact that Bette graduated in the same class as her youngest daughter Karen.
From her college work, a new legacy emerged; Bette composed three original historic tales about the family farm. She narrated, in folk style, a true-story highlighting a Molalla Indian family that lived on part of the original home-site and visited the Davis house regularly to honor an ancestral mound. The Davis farming women respectfully welcomed their native Oregon neighbors and, to this day, value the mound as an integral part of the farm's historic essence.
In October of 1962 the Davis and Nelson prune farm was nearly brought to ruin by the disastrous Columbus Day storm. Almost every tree was uprooted and lay broken on the ground. Everyone in the family rallied to clean up the wreckage and plant a new crop-raspberries. After five years, the family switched to Christmas tree production, specializing in Nobles and Douglas fir.
When asked what advice she has for a woman choosing farming as a vocation, Bette replies without hesitation, "My grandmother, mother, and her sisters all believed they were equal to the men in their family and were treated as partners-so women should not be afraid! Farming may be a risk and a challenge but in today's world, there is machinery available to women that makes up for any lack of physical strength."
"Get advice from your OSU Extension Service agent. Find out what crops grow best in your type of soil. Look at the market to discover what products are in demand. Use all available resources for hands-on advice, such as Ag Fest. Women need the strength and the courage to endure."
The Schmeiser, Davis, and Nelson families have carefully tended the land for over 100 years. Seventy-two year-old Bette holds close to her heart plans for the next hundred and beyond; she wants the land to be a heritage for future generations. "Children need to know what farmers raise."
In symbiosis with her grandmother, Bette's oldest daughter Lynda was just a child when she announced to her mother, "When I grow up I'm going to restore Grammie's farm." And that's just what she's done. Lynda is now business manager of the restoration project, and has been instrumental in the renovation of the barn and prune dryer.
As Bette wrote in her biography, the women in her family... "...were very ordinary, yet very special. They are not well known; their names will not go down in state history. They have never gained any recognition beyond their own circle of friends and acquaintances within their communities. Most of them have not perceived themselves as special human beings. But theirs are lives which have touched others for the better."
With a continued mission to touch others for the better, the Nelson's plan to open a living, hands-on visitor's center to teach the children of the future. They believe that the farm kept by determined and strong women of the past, will remain strong in the years to come.
If you would like to be included in Agriculture Quarterly’s Century Farm and Ranch series, please contact Madeline MacGregor in the ODA Information Office, 503-986-4758, or email mmacgreg@oda.state.or.us .
For more information on the Oregon Century Farm and Ranch Program, contact Glenn and Judith Mason at 503-297-5892, or email orcentury@juno.com . You may also download an application for the program at http://oregon.gov/ODA/cfr.shtml .
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| Board of Agriculture Profile: Jan Kerns |
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Jan Kerns was raised to "give back." When she had an opportunity to serve the industry she loves as part of the State Board of Agriculture, she took it. As one of the newest members of the 10-member board, Jan is wasting little time getting involved in key issues.
"The board has an opportunity to help ODA position Oregon agriculture in a competitive market position both nationally and internationally," says Kerns. "The board also has the opportunity to help assure that ODA always represents the interests of production agriculture in Oregon. I truly believe that the employees have the farmers and ranchers in their hearts."
Passionate about agriculture, Jan Kerns grew up as a "city girl" in La Grande and made the transition to "farm wife," as she says it, after meeting her husband Tim at Oregon State University, where she received a degree in Home Economics Education. Along with their two sons and their families, the Kerns operate a diversified farm and ranch in Baker County near Haines. The grandsons are the latest to learn all about farming. The Kerns run a herd of crossbred beef mother cows and their calves. They also raise potatoes, alfalfa, small grains as a rotational crop, improved pasture, and private timberland.
"I chose to not work a full time job in teaching," says Kerns. "Instead, I implemented a night school program of classes in clothing construction, interior decorating, and nutrition for low income families. Although I've done most jobs on the ranch, my expertise has been in the potato enterprise. I still work on the seed cutting crew and the harvest crew. My primary role is bookkeeper and office manager. I am also responsible for all regulatory compliance, doing water rights, and other permits."
The Kerns family farm is committed to the principles of sustainable agriculture and good conservation practices. Over the past three decades, they have invested nearly a million dollars in water conservation development. The beef cattle enterprise has also been accepted into the Country Natural Beef Program.
Jan has also been re-appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture to a second two-year term on the USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee. Technically, she represents potatoes, but says her mission goes further.
"The role I really represent is the smaller family farm in America," she says.
Being from the east side of the state, Kerns believes in bridging the urban-rural gap in Oregon. She says Oregon agriculture has a strong story to tell.
"I am a firm believer in strong communication networks, as well as inviting people from differing backgrounds or views to come visit and experience what we do," she says. "Agriculture is no longer the farm couple in the famous Grant Wood painting-we have to function in a highly technical and competitive world market. Opportunities to present farmers and ranchers in a positive light-whether it be through tours, exchanges, press, or one-on-one contacts-must be looked for and taken."
Kerns lists her top issues facing the Board of Agriculture as developing markets for increased profitability, labor, and the increasing regulatory burden. She is enjoying working with fellow board members.
"We are a very diverse group of people representing various segments of agriculture as well as the public," she says. "Each person is respectful of differing opinions. That attitude makes it easy to express a differing opinion."
Through her opinions, ideas, experience, and strong connections throughout the industry, Oregon agriculture will be well served by Jan Kerns.
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| Director's column |
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Spring is in full bloom in the Willamette Valley and not too far behind in other parts of the state. For those of us in the agriculture industry, the season brings new hope for a good crop, the desire for rains at the right time, and a strong wish for no new pests or diseases. Spring in the animal sector means a wealth of new calves, foals, lambs, and of course, chicks. This is the time of year when many of us have just celebrated the Easter season, and baby chicks are everywhere-sweet, fluffy, cute adorable chicks that all the kids love to hold and want to take home to mom!!
I think it's one of the true signs of being an agriculture director that the appearance of Easter chicks brings a whole new set of thoughts and challenges to me. First of all, chicks make me think of the significant poultry industry we have in Oregon and the benefits it brings to our state economy. Secondly, chicks make me think about the ever changing global marketplace, the consolidation in the poultry processing sector, and how we can ensure that both poultry producers and processors can have a good working relationship to compete in a global marketplace. And finally, chicks make me think about the potential and likely arrival of avian influenza to the US and perhaps to Oregon.
ODA, in concert with our sister agencies at the state and federal levels, has developed an incident response plan for avian influenza and feels well prepared to deal with this disease, once it arrives in Oregon. However, the most important message I want to deliver today is to the consumer. Just as the American consumer responded in a very positive way to the first case of BSE in beef, I am hopeful they will also respond in a very positive and supportive way to any future outbreak of high path avian influenza in the US. Poultry that is properly cooked, as it always should be, is safe to eat, even if the animal has the virus. Consumers should not worry that an outbreak of avian influenza means they can no longer eat chicken, turkey, or any other poultry product. These products continue to be healthy and nutritious food choices, regardless of the presence of avian influenza. I would hope that consumers in Oregon will continue to strongly support our poultry industry when avian influenza arrives by "eating chicken and lots of it, because its good for you!"
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| The truth about ODA's Water Quality Program, a.k.a. Senate Bill 1010 |
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In the ten years since the Tualatin Basin adopted the first so-called Senate Bill 1010 plan, many widespread fears and concerns about the Oregon Department of Agriculture's water quality management program have simply not come to pass. There have been no heavy-handed regulation or numerous enforcement actions. Instead, many farmers, ranchers, and other affected landowners around the state have taken advantage of the technical expertise that has come with the program. The result is noticeable improvement in natural resource management and general acceptance of SB 1010.
"Some people wonder why there have not been more enforcement actions taken against landowners who may be causing water quality problems," says ODA Director Katy Coba. "First, I would say that agriculture is generally doing a good job around water quality efforts. Second, if we do see a problem, our approach has been to work with landowner first to fix the problem. That approach has worked and has generally been appreciated by agriculture and others."
Currently, 39 individual basins throughout the state have agricultural water quality management plans and rules-often known as SB 1010 plans and rules. Many of the early misgivings about the program have been eliminated as landowners have experienced the reality of Senate Bill 1010. Assurances by ODA that the program would not be a hardship on landowners have largely come true. Some early critics and skeptics have actually embraced the approach.
A 10-year history may not convince everyone that all is well, but it has been a good start.
"As we contact individuals who are subjects of a complaint about water quality problems, a lot of them will thank us and tell us they've been looking for help," says Jaindl. "When we and our partners can provide technical assistance or other guidance, these landowners address the problem quickly."
ODA's water quality compliance program involves a team of water quality specialists, confined animal feeding operation (CAFO) specialists, technical specialists, and ODA staff that deal with pesticide-related issues. When a complaint is filed against a landowner, investigations are initiated and site visits take place to determine if there is a problem. If we find concerns, ODA will begin working with the landowner-normally in conjunction with the local soil and water conservation district and perhaps a representative from USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)-to correct the problem without taking any regulatory action.
Critics in the agriculture industry have been eager to see if ODA was going to be issuing enforcement actions. Skeptics in the environmental community have been eager to see if the program was going to have any regulatory teeth. For the most part, both sides are relatively satisfied with the results to date.
Out of 55 complaints received in 2005, 19 were unsubstantiated. With the others, ODA issued 24 water quality advisories, 11 letters of warning, one notice of non-compliance, and zero civil penalties. About 80 percent of the complaints are directed toward non-commercial operations. These are small operators who have horses, or farm on the side, and do not derive their principal income from agriculture. Traditionally, these types of operations are harder to reach and educate because they are not affiliated with an agricultural organization or commodity commission that can help direct some of the information about conservation practices.
Many farmers and ranchers have accessed funds through the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) or through NRCS to come up with the resources to improve management of their operation. When good projects-which run the gamut from the planting of riparian vegetation to better storage and handling techniques for animal waste-are on display, many neighbors take a good look and often adopt similar efforts.
It may take many years to see pronounced changes in water quality under these locally-derived and adopted SB 1010 plans and rules. On the other hand, it is not difficult in some basins to notice an improved condition of the land in short order. Erosion, siltation, animal waste problems, and the lack of riparian vegetation are all issues visibly dealt with by many landowners. Would these projects and practices have occurred without SB 1010?
"I think our program has been the driver for some people," says Jaindl. "I also think others would have pursued these practices on their own without SB 1010. It doesn't really matter. If it improves the resources and, at the same time, improves their economics, then we've had success."
With frequent land ownership changes, there will always be an ongoing need for outreach on effective water quality management. Initially, some feared there would be a requirement for a riparian buffer to protect streams and rivers from agricultural operations. Others expected widespread complaints and a heavy-handed approach by the Oregon Department of Agriculture. But the first decade of ODA's program has shown that Senate Bill 1010 is not the terrible and invasive disaster some predicted. In fact, it has been widely accepted as part of the daily business of effectively managing a farm or ranch in Oregon.
Committee advises Agricultural Water Quality Program on Implementation
After the last four sets of agricultural water quality plans and rules were adopted in 2004, ODA began meeting with a statewide Agricultural Water Quality Program Advisory Committee to discuss implementation of the program. The committee provided valuable input on implementation tasks, including outreach and education, Soil and Water Conservation District assistance, monitoring, biennial reviews of plans and rules, and compliance. Committee members placed a high priority on technical assistance and outreach activities, including outreach to the public about Oregon agriculture’s water quality protection efforts.
Committee members and department staff agreed the discussions were so valuable that the committee should continue meeting at least once a year to review the program’s accomplishments and provide direction for future activities. The committee met in January 2006 and will meet again in the spring and late fall.
Committee members include representatives from the State Board of Agriculture, agricultural organizations, environmental groups, and natural resource agencies. The department thanks the committee members for their high level of involvement in the Agricultural Water Quality Program and looks forward to their continued feedback on program implementation.
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| Eastern Oregon ranch puts water quality management in action |
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By Stephanie Page and Ken Diebel, ODA Natural Resources Div.
Conservation. Agricultural production. Family. They all come together on one Union County farm.
Fred Wallender, a Union Soil and Water Conservation District Director, and his son Tim often bicker jokingly about a few farm management issues. But there's no doubt how they really feel about running their La Grande farm together.
"It's wonderful," Fred says. "There's a love and partnership between us that just fills up my cup."
One passion Fred and Tim share is for conservation work. The Wallenders have completed a variety of projects on their farm that benefit natural resources and their bottom line. The projects also personify the philosophy of the Agricultural Water Quality Management (SB1010) Program, which is for landowners to protect water quality in a way that also benefits their operation.
Bright red and yellow watering troughs are one of their most visible projects. The troughs are insulated to prevent freezing in cold weather, providing a reliable water source for the Wallenders' cattle and calves. The troughs also allow Fred and Tim to limit animals' access to Ladd Creek and its tributaries, letting streamside vegetation grow.
"We still graze the riparian area lightly and sometimes burn parts of it. We see a lot of new growth on the grasses and shrubs after the disturbance," Tim says.
The result is a mix of willows, shrubs, and grasses that protect the streambanks from high flows, provide wildlife habitat, provide shade over the creek, which enhances water quality and meets local agricultural water quality management area plan goals.
The watering troughs are located throughout the farm, which allows the Wallenders to move the animals to different locations each year for winter feeding and calving. "The troughs allow us to rotate the winter feeding and birthing areas and spread manure and nutrients evenly throughout the farm," explains Fred. The manure distribution is just one part of a soil building and nutrient management system that also includes soil testing and importing organic matter from a local wood products facility.
After the animals winter in a particular area, Fred and Tim plant potatoes on that field the following spring. They follow the potatoes with a no-till planting of alfalfa. Potatoes and alfalfa are irrigated with pivot sprinklers. Fred and Tim recently upgraded to the pivots from a flood-irrigation system, which improves irrigation efficiency, conserves water, and prevents runoff to creeks.
The Wallenders have worked closely with the Union Soil and Water Conservation District on several of these projects. The SWCD has helped secure grant funding from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board and the Environmental Quality Incentive Program for the troughs, sprinklers and a project still in progress to create a bioswale.
The bioswale is a mound of earth that catches any runoff from one of the feeding areas. This area is steep and directly above Ladd Creek.
"We are putting this in to be doubly sure that we are not contributing any pollution to the creek," Fred said. "We just don't want that to happen."
Fred and Tim are proud of their accomplishments and are willing to share their success with others. They have partnered with the Union SWCD and Oregon Department of Agriculture to serve as an example of one way that producers can meet area plan goals.
"Fred and Tim were some of the first people I worked with when I came here," says Ken Diebel, Oregon Department of Agriculture. "They have an incredibly strong commitment to their natural resources, including water quality."
The work isn't over yet. The Wallenders are convinced there are many more opportunities for improvements on their farm.
"You never get it all done," Tim said. "Every time you think you have things just about the way you want it you get another idea. Then it is time to start all over again."
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| Plant pests and diseases keep ODA busy this spring |
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Intensive inspection of Oregon nursery stock is underway this spring. The Oregon Department of Agriculture continues its certification program designed to ensure there is no infestation of Phytophthora ramorum—the fungus that causes sudden oak death—within Oregon's number one agricultural industry. Last year, less than half of one percent of Oregon's nurseries were positive for P. ramorum. Current inspection results indicate another year of very low-level detection. Officials say such a small number indicates sudden oak death is not prevalent in Oregon nursery stock and that the certification program should give consumers confidence they are buying a clean, healthy product. Nearly 2,000 Oregon nurseries are inspected annually for P. ramorum by ODA.
In another bit of good news for ODA's Plant Division, there will be no gypsy moth eradication project this spring, for only the third time in 26 years. Only nine gypsy moths were trapped last year. There was no evidence at any of the locations where detections were made that a breeding population of gypsy moths was present. In addition, no gypsy moths were trapped in Clackamas County's Eagle Creek, the site treated last spring with an aerial spray program after three gypsy moths were trapped in 2004.
The detection phase for 2006 will get underway in May when some 19,000 gypsy moth traps are placed throughout the state. They will be checked over the summer. Gypsy moth is the major pest of trees and shrubs in the eastern US. If established along the West Coast, it would defoliate trees and shrubs, impact forests, agriculture, and urban environments. Back east, millions of acres have been defoliated by the gypsy moth. Meanwhile, ODA will continue its vigilance in anticipation that new introductions will once again take place somewhere in Oregon this year.
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| 2006 Ag Progress Awards Dinner |
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ODA celebrates 75 years of service.
Oregon agriculture saluted industry leaders at the fifteenth annual Agricultural Progress Awards Dinner, held at the Oregon Garden in Silverton, March 23. The event, scheduled during National Agriculture Week, also commemorated the 75th anniversary of the Oregon Department of Agriculture.
The awards dinner celebrates progress in agriculture made through partnerships between business, higher education, and state government. The event is sponsored by ODA, Oregon State University, the Oregon Farm Bureau, the Port of Portland, Oregon Seed Council, Oregon Wheat Growers League, Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission, Oregon Dairy Products Commission, Oregon Potato Commission, Oregon Dairy Farmers Association, Oregon Cattlemen's Association, Oregon Agricultural Education Foundation, Northwest Food and Forest Education Foundation, Northwest Food Processors Association, NORPAC, and West Coast Bank.
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| Like all other states, Oregon on guard for avian influenza |
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Despite the widespread attention of its threat to both human and bird populations, there have been no cases of the highly pathogenic Asian strain of avian influenza in North America, let alone Oregon. The disease has been spreading in Asia, Europe, and Africa, primarily through migratory birds for several years. With a comprehensive surveillance plan in place, along with a detailed response plan should even a low pathogenic avian flu show up in the state's bird population, there is no need for Oregonians to be overly worried.
"There is a level of concern but, at the same time, some strains of avian influenza have been in the US for many years and have been dealt with effectively by states and the poultry industry," says Bruce Mueller, field veterinarian with the Oregon Department of Agriculture.
While there are several strains of this agent, at this time there is concern about one that is fairly lethal in birds. However, even this high path strain doesn't necessarily translate into a significant public health threat. At this point, there is no evidence that this virus is spread from human to human.
Officials emphasize that the Asian strain (H5N1) of avian influenza virus is not yet present in the US. There have only been three high path avian influenza outbreaks ever in the US. The most recent case was in 2004 when an H5N2 high path outbreak in chickens was confirmed in the southern United States. The disease was quickly eradicated and limited to one flock. There were no reported cases of human illness because of that outbreak.
Even though there have been roughly a hundred deaths reported worldwide, due to respiratory infections caused by the high path Asian strain transmitted from chickens to humans, the situation needs to be put in perspective.
"The Asian H5N1 does not appear to be very successful in transitioning into the human population," says Dr. Don Hansen, state veterinarian with ODA. "In the cases that have occurred in the world's population so far, there have been less than 100 people who have died despite the fact that millions of birds have been affected by the virus. So at the present time, the risk to humans from this avian flu virus appears to be very low, even in countries where the agent exists."
In cases where the virus has been spread to humans, there has been very close physical contact between the person and an infected bird. In some instances, birds were slaughtered at home with improper handwashing or sanitation taking place. The bottom line continues to be that the risk of Oregonians catching the high path H5N1 avian influenza is minimal, if not impossible at this time.
A variety of bird diseases-not just avian influenza-have led to comprehensive management and surveillance plans for Oregon's $83 million poultry industry. The same kind of diligence has been on display when it comes to avian influenza.
"There is increased surveillance through the poultry industry that includes breeders, egg layers, and broilers," says ODA's Mueller. "There is daily monitoring of death loss, drop in egg production, and other signs. If there are dips in production, that could be a sign of low path avian influenza and would be something to investigate."
Oregon State University's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Corvallis annually tests about 100 samples from home and commercial poultry operations for avian flu viruses and will increase their sample numbers during the coming months.
Meanwhile, the commercial industry maintains a high level of biosecurity at facilities including strict sanitation procedures for employees who work directly with poultry. Similar procedures are being encouraged for those who own small, personal flocks of poultry as well.
USDA continues to maintain trade restrictions on the importation of poultry and poultry products from countries currently affected by H5N1 high path avian influenza. The federal agency is also working with global organizations to help prevent, manage, and eradicate the disease in those countries where it has been found.
Any introduction of the Asian strain of avian influenza to North America is likely to come from migratory birds. Wildlife agencies such as the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the US Fish and Wildlife Service are planning to increase sampling among wild birds throughout the remainder of the year.
Should any outbreak of avian influenza show up in Oregon, a well coordinated response plan involving state, federal, and industry partners will be ready to keep the disease from threatening the human population or adversely impacting commercial poultry operations.
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| Homeowners participate in pesticide use survey |
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Randomly selected Oregonians are helping to provide important information this spring on the use of household pest control products as part of a statewide survey sponsored by the Oregon Department of Agriculture. By the end of the year, ODA hopes to have more than a thousand surveys completed, which could help environmental and health researchers evaluate household use of pesticides in Oregon.
The household use survey is one component of the Pesticide Use Reporting System (PURS) that will electronically collect, summarize, and report information on pesticide use by all commercial applicators, beginning in 2007. The household use survey got underway earlier this year with 435 people agreeing to keep a three-month diary of pesticide use information. Another group of volunteers, recruited this spring, will keep track of household pest control product use for the second quarter of the year. Similar volunteer groups will be selected for the last two quarters of 2006. The survey distribution is designed to include households throughout the state.
ODA has contracted with the Gilmore Research Group, based in Seattle, to conduct the survey. Initially, phone calls were made to randomly selected households to identify volunteer participants. With 435 households participating, ODA hopes to receive at least 250 completed and valid surveys at the end of each quarter. Participants are asked to fill out the reporting form even if they do not use any pesticide products during that quarter.
The reporting form provided to participants instructs them to record which household pest control products are being used, when, where, how much, and for what purpose the products are used. The information provided by individual households will be aggregated with responses from all participants to get a total picture of household pesticide use around the state. Information provided on the form will remain strictly confidential. Aggregated results of the surveys will be made available to the public as part of a statewide pesticide use report in July 2007.
The household pest control product use survey is believed to be the first of its kind in the US.
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| New poster shows students and others what's grown in Oregon |
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Sometimes a map can give a better visual description than a page of text. And for kids wanting to learn more about Oregon agriculture, a map is probably more interesting. That’s why the Oregon chapter of Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) is excited to unveil a brand new beautiful poster that showcases the diversity of Oregon agriculture. From seafood, cranberries, and forestry on the coast to cattle, potatoes, and hay in Eastern Oregon, each of the state’s 36 counties has something agricultural to offer—and this 24 x 36 inch, full color poster graphically shows it.
Both leading and unique commodities in Oregon are depicted by agricultural symbols. Students can use the poster to learn the counties of Oregon, where each is located, and what they produce. Included on the back is more information and activities for students and teachers. The poster will be used when Ag in the Classroom makes school presentations and in teacher workshops.
Megan Tanaka, a high school student from Union, created the original artwork for the poster. Tammy Burlison, a fourth grade teacher at Turner Elementary, helped develop the lessons and information on the back of the poster. Printing of the posters has been paid for by McDonald’s of Oregon and Southwest Washington.
Order forms for the “Grown in Oregon” poster are available on the AITC Web site http://AITC.oregonstate.edu at and will be in the spring teacher newsletter. The poster will be free for classroom teachers with a nominal $5 fee to cover postage expenses. The public can purchase a poster for $10 with a $5 fee for shipping and handling.
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75th anniversary-Did you miss the Ag Progress Awards Dinner? See the recap, watch the video, and browse other ODA 75th anniversary features on our Web site. Go to oregon.gov/ODA and follow the "ODA celebrates 75 years of service" link.
Newsroom and events-Stop by oregon.gov/ODA weekly to read the "Story of the Week" and current news releases-all available directly from the ODA home page.
Current topics-Check this corner of the ODA home page for the latest information on avian influenza, pesticide use reporting, energy in agriculture and other topics of interest.
About Oregon agriculture-Check here for the online version of the Farmer's Handbook, the Oregon growing regions map, Oregon ag photos, and the armchair tour of Oregon agriculture.
Ag Resources Directory-Use this search tool to locate contact information for Oregon agricultural organizations (Commodity Commissions, government agencies, trade associations, and more).
Publications and forms-They're all right here. Need a form? You can download forms and order publications online.
Search ODA databases-Use the search tool to locate information about Oregon products, veterinary products, licenses, etc.
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