May 03, 2008 10:53 am
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 THE ART OF PRUNING: Warren Gilstrap, who is pretty particular about how his vines are handled, tried something new with cordon pruning this winter and cut the vines further back than ever before to one bud spur above the basal bud. The idea is that less quantity will yield higher quality. The 2006 harvest from these Kuhlman Foch grapes produced 280 cases of wine. - photos by Mardi Ford COVE — In June 2004, Warren Gilstrap left a successful career in the city and committed his efforts to the family winery in rural Cove. Planting both feet firmly in the rich soil of the Grande Ronde Valley has paid off for him.
“It was time to either ramp it up or ramp it down. And I think Dad will agree with me that we needed a serious marketing effort,” Warren says.
Rod Gilstrap nods his head in wholehearted agreement.
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April 19, 2008 01:07 pm
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 Across the valley, spring planting for some farmers like Wade Bingaman, above, may be off to a late start, but most agree there’s still plenty of time to catch up. The biggest concern may be that once the weather does warm up, it will turn too hot, too fast. - Observer Photos/Mardi Ford Spring has been a long time coming to the Grande Ronde Valley this year. Nobody knows that better than those whose seven-day work week is lived out in the elements 365 days a year, year in and year out.
At the north end of the valley, Imbler has had more than its fair share of wind, drifting snow and freezing temperatures.
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March 22, 2008 10:59 am
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 LET’S TALK TREES: An Oregon Department of Forestry employee teaches all these kids ever wanted to know about trees with a Project Learning Tree exhibit at a recent class on the Oregon State University campus. This kid’s class will be taught in La Grande by ODF representative Angie Johnson at Tree School East in April. - Photos courtesy OSU’s of Wood Science and Engineering department Extension Forestry agents Paul Oester and Bob Parker organized the first Tree School East program in 2006. Folks from all over the Union, Wallowa, Umatilla, Baker and Grant county region showed up for that first year and even more came back the second. In just its third year, Tree School East is setting the standard with the addition of something unique — a class tailor-made for the next generation.
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March 08, 2008 11:36 am
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 MOTHER UP: Though junior steer does his best and cutest nudging to capture mom’s attention, she is mesmerized by the paparazzi. - Photos/Mardi Ford COVE — first-time mommas need extra help no matter what species they are.
This spring, Jim Murchison has about 25 pairs of brand new mommas and their bovine babies pastured right across from his house on Highway 237 near Cove.
While the older, experienced cows may only need checking on a couple of times a day during calving, first-year heifers need more attention. First thing in the morning, last thing at night and several times in between around the clock, says Murchison, president of the Union County Cattlemen.
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February 23, 2008 11:46 am
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 FRESH FROM THE FIELD: This handful of flotsam and jetsam also holds hundreds of tiny little Kentucky bluegrass seeds within the clumps of cotton, straw clippings, rocks, dirt, sand and weed seeds. All superfluous material will be painstakingly cleaned at one of two facilities owned by Blue Mountain Seeds. - Observer photos/MARDI FORD IMBLER — Blue Mountain Seeds grass seed may cover the world, but it goes through a very intensive cleaning process before it’s ready to plant.
Since mid-July the grass seed cleaning operation at Blue Mountain Seeds has been running 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In the end, the Imbler operation’s 2007 grass seed harvest will generate well over 10 million pounds of clean seed. It is one of several seed cleaning facilities in the county.
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February 09, 2008 08:51 am
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 SIZE DOESN’T MATTER: Don’t let the diminutive daintiness of the clearwinged grasshopper (far right) fool you. Grasshoppers will eat approximately one-half of their body weight in green forage per day. Seven or eight grasshoppers per square meter in a four-hectare field will consume as much forage as a cow. - Observer photos/MARDI FORD ISLAND CITY — Entomologist Helmuth Rogg recently told farmers and ranchers about the 2007 grasshopper infestation and what the future may bring.
The presentation was part of Oregon State University Extension’s recent annual training for private pesticide applicator certification.
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February 09, 2008 08:47 am
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 It may have been the big day for their open house celebrating their new location, but as far as Jennifer Isley, county executive director for the Farm Service Agency, is concerned, there’s still work to be done. Wednesday marked the official celebration of the new offices of Rural Development, National Resource Conservation and Farm Service Agencies at 1901 Adams Ave. in La Grande. - The Observer/CHRIS BAXTER After more than 20 years in Island City, local agencies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture moved their offices into La Grande.
What prompted the move was the expiring of the USDA’s lease at the Ag Service Center. At that point, the agency was required to put the lease out for bid according to U.S. General Services Administration facilities standards.
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January 26, 2008 01:29 pm
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 WHAT'S BUGGING YOU? Oregon Department of Agriculture entomologist Helmuth Rogg provides insight into the problems of pest management at a recent Master Gardner class. Rogg will be making a presentation on the grasshopper infestation during upcoming pesticide training workshops. Workshop topics covered on Feb. 4 will include pesticide safety, toxicity and protection; state and federal record keeping; math for applicators; and pesticide labels and formulations. - Photo/Union County Extension Service ISLAND CITY — The Private Pesticide Applicator
Pre-Exam and General Training, a free all-day workshop scheduled for
Feb. 4 at 9:30 a.m., will include a presentation on the region's
grasshopper infestation and pest management by Helmuth Rogg, Oregon
Department of Agriculture entomologist.
Other workshop topics covered during the day will include
pesticide safety, toxicity and protection; state and federal record
keeping; math for applicators and pesticide labels and formulations.
Participants may receive pesticide applicator re-certification credits for this event. Please bring a sack lunch.
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January 12, 2008 08:18 am
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 WINTER FEEDING: Cattle find an oasis of feed amid a sea of snow on Hunter Lane last week. In the aftermath of the drought, flood and pestilence that impacted feed crops throughout the nation, cattlemen are feeling the pinch of needing more hay for the winter, but paying more for it. The fourth annual Cattleman's Workshop Jan. 19 at the Blue Mountain Conference Center will offer solutions and opportunities to ease the bite of spiraling feed prices. - The Observer/CHRIS BAXTER Not only does the cattle industry face myriad changes, but those changes continue to come at breakneck speed.
"Last year the big thing was ethanol. Then that stalled. Now
what we're facing is high feed prices," says Tim DelCurto, Oregon State
University associate professor and superintendent of OSU Extension's ag
research center in Union for the past 14 years.
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January 12, 2008 08:14 am
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 Chase Stewart, 10, atop Huckleberry Blues at the 2007 Arabian Youth Nationals held last summer in New Mexico. The pair took first in their class. - Submitted photo How many 10-year-olds can claim the heady feeling of being a national champion? Chase Stewart can.
Along with older sisters Kate and Brook, Chase, of Union,
competed at the 15th Annual Youth National Arabian and Half Arabian
Championship Horse Show last July. The week-long event was held at the
Expo in Albuquerque, N.M., and attended by more than 30,000 people.
Competing in the Arabian Country English Pleasure Walk/Trot for age 10 and under class, Chase took first place.
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