Oregon Agricultural College
Extension Service
PAUL V. MARIS
Director
A PROGRAM
For
Deschutes County Agriculture
Report of the County Economic Conference
Redmond, February 26 and 27, 1924
000Derative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics
Oregon Agricultural College, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, and Desckutes
county, cooperating
Printed and distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of
May 8 and June 30, 1914.
Foreword
This bufletjn is printed at the request of the general assembly on the
last day of the Deechutes County Economic conference at Redmond, Fedruary 26 and 27.
Approximately 200 farmers and business men from points throughout
the county attended the conference. It was organized along commOdity
lines, covering dairying, poultry raising, farm crops, livestock, land settlement, and boys' and girls' club work.
Each of these groups had before It the recommendations of the State
Economic conference held at Corvallis January 23 to 25. In cooperation
with specialists of the state college Extension Service all available information was assembled that would be of value in determining a program of
production and marketing best suited to furthering the interests of Deschutes county agriculture. The respective conference groups considered
this information as well as that supplied from local sources, and prepared
a statement and a set of recommendations. ThesØ were considered and
adopted by the general assembly on the last day of the conference.
Taken together these reports constitute a program for Deschutes county
griculture. Singly, they represent the most approved practices in the proluction and marketing of the county's major agricultural products.
The conference was a beginning. Its ultimate value will depend, however, upon the extent to which its recommendations are known and put Into effect by the various communities of the county. Consideration of this
bulletin is recommended to all persons interested in the welfare of Deschutes county. Particularly are farmers urged, individually and through
their organizations use these reports as a guide in developing the agriculture of the county. The program is not perfect. It is assumed that
it will require correction and amendment as conditions change and new
facts develop.
Farmers and town people cooperated in formulating this program. It
Is hoped that this spirit of cooperation will continue in the effort made to
accomplish its aims.
CONTENTS
Foreword
Introduction
Committee Reports:
Boys' and Girls' Club Work
Dairying
Farm Crops
Livestock
Poultry
Land Settlement
3
5
7
9
11
15
18
21
Introduction
Deschutes county was separated from Crook county December 13, 1916.
It contains an area of 1,928,137 acres according to the 1923 Oregon Blue
Book, classified as follows:
Privately Owned:
Acres of tillable lands
Acres of non-tillable lands
Acres of timber lands
89,039
387,288
243,078
Public Lands:
Forest reserves and other public lands
1,208,732
Total acres
1,928,137
U. S. CENSUS STATISTICS
The 1920 U. S. census gives the following information for this county:
Farm Area:
751
Number of farms
144,979
Acres in farms
Per cent of land area in farms
7.4
Improved land: acres 51,744, per cent of total farm
acres
35.7
193
68.9
Average acreage per farm
Average improved acres per farm
Farm Valuations:
Total value all farm property
Average value pr farm
$6,535,511
8,702
Population:
Total population of county
9,622
income From Sales of Farm Products:
The sources from which the county derived its agricultural income In
1919 were as follows:
PRODUCT
Livestock and meats
Hay and forage
Dairy Products
Vegetables, including potatoes
Cereals
Wool
Poultry
Total Income
INCOME
(Dollars)
$ 5 15.000
210,000
182,623
130,000
55,000
46,000
41,703
$1,180,326
% of
TOTAL
43.7
17.8
15.5
11.0
4.7
3.9
3.4
100.0
INTRODUCTION
Variation in unit prices and other factors would alter the above totals
at the present time. However, as they stand they represent the main
sources of agricuLtural income in this county.
Value of Total Agricultural Production:
Income from sales does not represent the entire value of all products
raised on farms. The following summary indicates that total production Is
lmost double the income from sales:
CROP PRODUCTION
Hay and forage
Vegetables
Cereals
Other grains and seeds
Fruits
Total
LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION
Beef Cattle
Horses
Dairy Cattle
Sheep
Swine
Poultry
Goats
Mules
Bees
Total
Total Crops and Livestock
VALUE
(Dollars)
$ 745,229
207,259
74,351
1,788
1,301
$1,029,928
VALUE
(Dollars)
$ 468,578
214,719
195,132
169,841
38,427
27,099
20,263
8,958
4,798
$1,147,815
$2,177,743
CONFERENCE GROUP REPORTS
On succeeding pages will be found reports of the various conference
groups as approved by the general assembly.
Boys' and Girls' Club Group Report
clubs finished their work 100 per
A. PRESENT SITUATION:
cent strong. The average per cent of
Deschutes county had 47 club completion in the United States of
members enrolled in work in the all members in club work was 58.
year 1923 of which number 31 filed The percentage of completion in Orefinal reports. These 31 were in the gon was 68.
following projects: Gardening, 8;
B. RECOMMENDATIONS:
pig, 6; calf, 5; sewing 12. They
gave a valuation of their work of
$1,410.16, costing them $1,182.54,
and leaving them a profit of $227.63.
Five clubs in the county completed their work as 100 per cent.
These were as follows: Gardening,
with Julius Pederson as local leader;
pig club at Sisters with H. H. Kilgore
as local leader; calf club at Redmond with Roy E. Stevens as local
leader; sewing clubs at Terrebonne
and Sisters with Mrs. A. McClay and
Mrs. Daisy Allen as leaders, respectively.
Club work has become permanent
with the boys and girls of the state
with the result that in the year 1923
there were 5,777 club members enrolled in different projects throughout the state. Of this number 3,971
filed their final report in the office
Correlate With
Conference Program.
We recommend that club work
be developed in Deschutes county and that it be correlated with
the program adopted by this conference so far as is possible.
That clubs be organized in the following projects: Gardening, poultry,
pigs, calves, sheep, sewing, cooking,
and canning.
Support Local Leaders.
That each community help secure
local leaders for whatever clubs may
be organized in that community and
that the local leader selected be given the support of the community.
ExhIbits at County Fair.
Fair boards in all parts of the
state have realized the value of
club work, thereby not only bettering the fair exhibitions, for the present but also training those young exhibitors to become better exhibitors.
The best way to build fairs is by
the encouragement of these club
members to exhibit at the county
In the year 1923 there
fair.
of the state club leader and made exhibits at one or more local county or
state fairs. These members reported a valuation of their work amounting to $120,940.23. This work cost
them $75,773.41, thus giving a profit of $45,166.82.
There were 742 standard clubs in
the state which means that there
'were 742 men or women willing to
act as local leaders of these various were 27 county fairs in this state
clubs, working with these boys and which offered $7,100 in prizes for
girls and assisting them in their club work.
work. As a result over 300 of these We therefore recommend that the
BOYS' AND GIRLS' CLUB GROUP REPORT
county fair board for Deschutes
county offer suitable prizes for club
members in all projects and divisions of projects for which club members are enrolled in this county.
That in the livestock projects the
club classification be by projects and
breeds.
That all club members be allowed
to enter competition with the adult
breeders under the same conditions.
That the people of each community see that the ezhibits of the cub
members in their community be sent
to the county fair.
Dairy Group Report
The dairy group of the Deschutes
Surplus of Milk
County Economic conference recogProduced.
nizes the probable expansion of the
The production of 500,000 lbs. of
dairy industry in this section and be- butterfat in the county is 25 per cent
lieves as long as there is any surplus more than that consumed if the
peralfalfa hay that dairying can be capita consumption conforms with
profitably expanded. it is desired, that in the United States
as a whole.
however, to call attention to certain
production statistics and also mar- . Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis testing has covered
keting conditions on which our recthe county, but should be continued
ommendations are based:
to make the county a free area.
A. PRESENT SITUATION:
6. Manufacturing Facilities.
Fat Production.
There are two creameries in the
county, one at Bend and one
According to the last census there
Redmond. The average Portare in Deschutes county 2600 cows 2 at
price of butterfat in 1923 was
years of age or older which have land
produced approximately 500,000 46.6c per pound. The average prices
received locally have compared favpounds of butterfat per cow, or an orably
with the Portland prices when
average production of 195 pounds transportation costs are considered.
of butterfat per cow.
The creameries in the county are
The production of 195 pounds of more
adequate to take care of
butterfat per cow annually in Des- all thethan
products prodced in the counchutes county is higher than the ty.
state average, but is 45 pounds less In view of the prices received for
than the average for Tillamook
county. Cost studies show that a products in the county there appears
little reason for shipment to outside
production of 240 pounds of fat per points. In fact, if Deschutes county
is
year on the average is required to to make any name for its products,
make profits above production costs.
Roughage.
In the production of roughage, alfalfa amounts to 43,000 tons and succulent feeds 1500 tons.
they should be manufactured locally
and as production increases shipping
in carload lots will be possible.
B. RECOMMENDATIONS:
Increase Average
Production.
That efforts be made to inamounting to 12,000 tons. The production of 1500 tons of succulent crease the average production of the
feed is 10,000 tons short of the dairy individual cows in Deschutes county
through the keeping of records and
cows' requirments.
There is a surplus of legume hay
organization of testing associations
and further that a committee of
three be appoined to assist the counThere are 60 hulls one year old or ty agent in forming such an organiolder in the county. These are Prob- zation.
Bulls.
ably no better bred than the averUse Registered Sires.
age for the state, which would indiThat every legitimate effort be
cate that 30 of them are grades or made to eliminate the scrub and the
scrubs.
grade bulls in the county and that
j
DAIRY GROUP REPORT
10
only registered dairy sires be used manufacturing plants one hundred
in dairy herds, and further, that as- per cent.
sistance of the 0. A. C. extension serButterfat of First Importance.
vice be secured in the organization
of bull associations in communities in vh'w of facts presented at the
'where desired.
State Economic
conference
cheese
factories or condensaries are not to
3. Compulsory T. B. Testing.
be recommended. Butter manufacThat every advantage be tak- ture should receive first consideraen of government and state aid in tion and quality of products must be
tuberculosis testing and that as soon emphasized.
as possible, sentiment be created for
the compulsory method of tubercuMinimum Herd 10 Cows.
losis eradication in order that the
county may become a free area.
The 2600 dairy cows of Deschutes
county are on approximately
farms,
making
an
average
400
of
More Succulent Feed.
about 7 cows per farm. The cost of
That every dairyman s t r I v e production studies in other sections
to provide at least twenty-five indicate that this is too small a unit
pounds of succulent feed daily for for economical production and on
each dairy cow when not in pasture this account the minimum herd
and that the growing of permanent should consist of at least 10 cows.
pastures be encouraged.
Encourage Club Work.
hnprove Quality of Cream.
That boys' and girls' calf
That since quality of product clubs and dairy record clubs be en-
is essential to successful marketing
and since quality of manufactured
products is dependent upon quality
of cream, better care in handling of
both milk and cream is urged. And
further that every means of public.
ity be used in disseminating infor
couraged and given our fullest support.
Support Dairy Council.
That we support the Oregon
Dairy Council in its advertising and
work relative to the use
mation as to the best methods oi educational
of
dairy
products
and request that
taking care of milk products on the
It is also recommended that its activities be extended to all parts
cream grading and payment upon of the state.
farm.
grades be demanded of the creamerHelp Defeat the Oleo Bill.
ies in the county and that only those
creameries complying with this reThat the State Dairy Association receive our moral and financial
quest be supported.
Support Local Plants.
That we support local
support in its efforts to defeat the
referendum on the filled milk and
lairy oleo law.
k
Farm Crops Group Report
I. SEED CROPS
A. RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Establish White Clover
Seed Industry, Because:
There is not enough white
clover seed grown in the United
States to supply the demand.
There has always been a wellestablished market for it at prices
ranging from 30c to 75c a pound.
It is a crop which naturally
does well here.
Seed crops average in Idaho
about 300 pounds per acre.
II. POTATOES
GENERAL SITUATION:
Potato acreage in Oregon is not in-.
creasing while it is in neighboring
states. The average yield in Oregon
is about 100 bushels per acre while it
runs from 140 to 180 bushels per
acre in the states around us. Our
only outside market is California
and the southwestern states. There
is a possibility of developing a mar-
ket by water with the Gulf Coast
states, but it will depend upon a
The freight rate takes a very steamship service better than in forlow percentage of the total value of mer years.
the crop.
The average yield in Deschutes
A cash crop is badly needed in co.nty is less than the state average,
this county.
2. Observe Following Production Practices:
Each man go into the crop on
a small scale at first, not over 5
being only 80 bu.
the business he can expand his acreage if he desires.
These small plantings should
total at least 200 acres in order to allow carload shipments.
No sulphur should be used until experiments are made to see if it
rate from Portland to, San Francisco
is 35 1-2 cents and from upper Willamette valley points it is 43 cents.
The Deschutes county grower is
acres iii most cases.
Tkis lo
yield is
due to two things; planting on sage
brush and stubble land and to occasional years of frost.
Freight rates are 24 cents to the
Portland market and 53 1--2 cents
As he learns a hundred to San Freneisco. The
thus at a handicap of from 18c to
5 1-2c a hundred as compared with
The
Oregon
growers.
western
helps or hinders seed setting.
western Oregon growers average
Seed or ground should be in- about 100 bushels per acre. Their
oculated before seeding.
freight differential therCfore is
Only the best seed should be
All seed used should be tested for purity in order to avoid weeds
which would ruin the value of the
worth from $5.50 to $18.00 an acre
to the average grower. This handicap, in part, has been overcome
by better grading and a better proseed.
duct here, but with better grading in
More experimental plantings western Oregon this condition canof Ladino clover should be made.
not be expecte4 to continue.
used.
To further the acreage of
small plantings we ask the state
LOCAL SITUATION:
leader of boys' and girls' clubs to From 80 to 200 cars of potatoes
agree to include in his club work a are shipped out each year. This fur-
the total cash.
clover seed project on limited acre- nishes about 10%
income of Deschutes county farmers
age for boys and girls.
FARM CROPS GROUP REPORT
12
and is probably destined to increase per acre cannot be expected to be
in importance.
very profitable.
The cash cost of growing an acre
of potatoes here is probably about Good Seed Is Cheapest.
$35, on the average. If a man hires
Good seed is the cheapest, no
the work done it is the consensus of
opinion of the farm crop group that matter what the cost.
the cost would be at least $75 per
acre. In other words, crops of less Grading Law Endorsed.
than 75 sacks per acre cannot be exWe endorse the compulsory law
pected to pay ordinary hired help
wages and pay for the actual cash as to grading.
cost of growing.
The operation of the old Deschutes Orgaiize Association.
County Potato Growers' Association
We favor the formation of a
helped to advertise and build up potato growers' association; such asmarkets for the county's surplus sociation not to engage in marketcrop. Part of this business, notably ing to any extent at first. The printhe seed business with Yakima, has ciple business of this association
since been lost because there was no would be to adopt a brand, sell po-
organized effort to maintain it.
tatoes on the outside markets only
C. RECOMMENDATIONS:
under the brand and attempt to build
following recommendation about potatoes:
No Increase In Acreage.
That there be no increase of po-
The
lutely guaranteed product.
members could sell through the present channels, but all members would
be bound to obey such grading rules
as the association should adopt. And
up the present good reputation of
The farm crop group makes the potatoes here by putting out an abso-
tato acreage at present, but that potatoes may, on the average, be recognized as the best cash crop so far
developed for Deschutes county.
Stick With the Business.
furthermore it would be the business of the association to build up
the seed by hill selection in order to
make yields here more profitable and
in order to attempt to recapture a
part of the Yakima seed trade. We
Every man growing potatoes do not hePeve that the potato surshould plant about the same acreage plus is large enough here to justify
every year and not skip in and out a marketing association but we do
of the business attempting to hit the believe that an association like the
above would help to put Deschutos
high markets.
potatoes on the map and would re-
Grow After a Legume.
sult in more profitable crops.
Potatoes should be grown only
on clover or aliaI:a lafld. When the More Storage Cellars.
new land is broken up, it may be put
We urge all growers not now
into potatoes in order to prepare it
better for alfalfa, but in such cases. equipped with proper storage space
it must be recognized that the first to construct storage cellars. Imyield will be low.
proper storage is the cause of great
losses of table stock and injures the
150 Bushels Per Acre,
seed so that poor crops sometimes re-
Yields of less than 150 bushels sult.
r
FARM CROPS GROUP REPORT
Ill. GRAINS
A. PRESENT SITUATION:
12
Fall Planting Risky.
(4) Fall planted grain is a risk i
most locations. Wheat should be
The acreages of grain in the coun- fall planted only on farms shown to
ty in recent years are as follows:
be free from late and early June
Yield
frosts.
Grain
Per acre Acres lbs per A
Oats
25
900
800
IV. HAY AN1 PASTURES
Barley
30
200
1440
Wheat
20
1400
1200 A. PRESENT SITUATION:
Rye
13
7000
780
The large acreage of rye is mostly
in the dry country south and southeast of Bend. The larger portion of
the other crops is on irrigated lands.
Most of the wheat raised here is used for feed. Roughly $100,000 worth
of food is Shipped into the county.
A large part of this is mixed feeds,
but sonic of it is feed oats and barley. For home feeding for horset.
cows, sheep, or hogs, barley is more
suitable with alfalfa hay than other
grains.
B. RECOMMENDATIONS.
The crop group then makes the
following recommendations in regard to grain:
Increase Barley Acreage.
That the barley acreage be
largely increased especially on farms
Where the grain is mostly fed at
home.
Deschutes County sent out as baled hay about 3000 tons last year
There are about 45,000 tons of hay
produced.
This small tonnage of exported hay sets the price for all hay.
Most of the hay sent out goes to the
.coast and Wiilamette valley counties
These districts are beginning to raise
more legume hay and can be expect-
ed to need less and less importel
hay, thereby cutting down the market for alfalfa hay. We believe that
no district can afford to build its
future on a basis of hay for export.
Individual farms with a special marX-
ket, such as lumber camps, etc., can
do this with satisfaction but an entire district cannot. Last year Idahe
farmers bought at Bend lOOQOtI
lambs for shipment to Idaho for
feeding.
B. RECOMMENDATIONS
Feed hay Locally.
Return Per Acre is Important
We strongly recommend that the
That farmers growing grain present dependence upon outside
to sell consider carefully the differ- markets for local hay be discontinences in price per ton that usually ued by feeding the hay locally. The
exists between barley and wheat and exports are not large enough t
grow the crops which in their opin- warrant any reduction of alfalfa
ion will return tim greatest price per- acreage.
acre. Barley can be expected to
Use Grimm Seed.
yield slightly more pounds per acre
than wheat.
We recommend the use of Grimrn
alfalta on all farms as it will keep
Hannchen Barley and
out grasses better, maintain the life
Federation Wheat.
better, and yield larger crops of
We urge standardization on more leafy hay. We urge the care
Eannchen barley and Federation in buying that will keep away froi
wheat for spring planting,
dodder and other weeds.
FARM CROPS GROUP REPORT
14
used in the Irrigation of alfalfa,
Apply Sulphur On
Alfalfa.
clover, and pasture land inasmuch as
it is the belief of the committee that
less water and less labor is required
than by the corrugation method.
In the irrigation of potatoes heavy
Alfalfa should be sulphured to
get the best results. The crude
ground sulphur gives as good return
as fine when it is not ground too irrigations make for superior qualcoarsely. It is not avilable as ity and yield. Light frequent irriquickly as finely ground, so it should gations followed by cultivation, are
be applied earlier in the winter.
recommended. It is further recommended that the furrows for irrigaSilo For The Dairyman.
tion of potatoes be not so long as
best
results
In order to get the
to over-irrigate the upper end of the
from dairy cows, it is necessary to field while reaching the lower end.
have succulent feeds the year ar- An extra head ditch across the midound. This can most economically dle of the field should be used when
be done by silage for winter and the furrows are too long.
grass pasture for summer feed. The
county is short 10,000 tons of sucIlunrns
culent feed. We therefore recom- Recommendations have been made
mend to every dairyman that he have
that increased yields of poa silo in view as a goal to work to- showing
tatoes and wheat are necessary for
ward. In many cases it is more ec- profit. There is one outstanding way
onomical to grow vetch and wheat or in which this can be accomplished.
peas and haney for ensilage than it This is by crop rotation and the use
is to grow sunflowers or corn. These of barnyard manure which adds
crops also help to build the soil.
humus and plant food to the soil.
jilimus increases the water-holding
More Grass Pasture.
Grass pasture will furnish a large capacity of the soil and makes it
amount of feed at a low cost. We easier to irrigate. High yields of
urge all owners of dairy cattle or grain or potatoes cannot be expectsheep to put a part of their acreage ed unless following a clover, alfalinto permanent grass pastures and to Ia, or irrigated pasture sod which
have their pastures divided into two hnjlds up the humus content of the
or more parts so that rotation of soil. Straw aids in building up the
humus on irrigated land and in the
graziag can be had.
cases where not all the straw is usV. IN GENERAL
Irrigation
ed for bedding or litter, or feed, it
can be profitably spread over the
land when worked into the soil in
It is recommended that the strip the fall or winter so as to begin
border method of
distribution be rotting before the growing season.
H
Livestock Group Report
The climatic conditions for cattle
and sheep in the county are very de-
A. PRESENT SITUATION:
County Adapted to
sirable.
Livestock Production.
Pork Production
Livestock production in Deschutes
Is Short.
county is largely carried on in connection with the range. Figures ob- Deschutes county produces only
tained from 1922 show there were about one-third of its pork require25,000 sheep, 8,700 beef cattle, and ment because of the lack of feed
1600 hogs. Reports show that live- grains. There is also a shortage of
stock is the leading industry, with pork production for the state.
43 per cent of the income from agricultural pursuits coming from that With these facts in mind the livesource.
The opportunity
for the stock committee submits the following recommendations on the various
phases of the industry concerned.
raising of livestock in the county is
emphasized by the fact that it is
tributary to the Deschutes, Cascade,
and Umpqua forests, all of which
afford summer range to Deschutes
county stockmen. A surplus of hay
on the farms of the county indicate
an opportunity for finishing of beef
and lamb for the market. It has also been demonstrated that silage
crops, such as peas and barley, oats
and vetch and sunflowers produce
well here.
B. RECOMMENDATIONS
I. RANGE LIVESTOCK
Expansion Limited to
Grass Available.
Figures show there is now on the
tributary forest lands rightly belonging to the county room for expansion
in the production of beef cattle to
the extent of about 25 per cent. The
same can be said of sheep, with the
possibilities of increase somewhat
grass available may be somewhat
Beef and Mutton Markets
Capable of Absorbing
greater than for cattle because of
Production.
grass that is available. There is a
Markets for beef and mutton, shortage of winter range in the
while not always satisfactory from county, however, for both classes of
the standpoint of price received, are stock. It is fully recognized by the
capable of absorbing all that is pro- committee that the economical produced. Feeders of lambs have found duction of range livestock should be
ready market from the section in Id- based on the amount of grass availaho and other feeding centers with able, and increasing beyond that
the fat stuff going to both coast and point is not justified from the standEastern markets. The same can be point of profit in the business. The
said of beef. Attention is called to present shortage of stock in the
the fact that the U. S. produces but county is having a beneficial effect
50 per cent of the wool consumed on the condition of the ranges in
and the three coast states produce that it is allowing for reseeding and
but 87 per cent of their beef require- and a better feed condition.
ment, making it quite unlikely in the
Regulate Uncontrolled
range territory where the production
Grazing Land.
is limited by cheap grass, that proInasmuch as there is a considerduction of these commodities will evable quantity of unappropriated grazer reach the point of saturation.
16
LIVESTOCK GROUP REPORT
big lands in Deschutes county, and
whereas this land is not being efficiently utilized because of non-regalation, it is recommended that this
body go on record as favoring some
form of control similar to that exercised by the Forest Service on the
iational forest ranges, with the view
of improving the grazing and estab-
highly specialized undertaking and
where carried on it should be considered carefully and the hazards
fully realized when it is attempted.
Good feeding using good stock and
high class feeds, such as are obtain-
able in Deschutes county, is essential
to success. Experience has shown
that the successful feeders are those
lishing more permanency to the live- who adhere to this principle, and
ztock business.
who study the feeding business,
carefully feeding every year within
3 Stability Urged.
reason and only on such a scale as
Shifting from sheep to cattle or their financial standing and feed
vice versa is a practice to be con- will permit. We offer this as a means
emned as it is felt that such pro- of marketing at least a part of the
cedure does not build for permanen- surplus hay. We recommend as the
y in the business. We commend the best practice among cattlemen the
Forest Service plan to issue 5 and marketing of steers as two-year-olds
10 year permits on the forests, as except under such conditiohs as obUeing a step toward putting the in- tained during the past two years,
dsistry on a sounder basis.
when calves were the best price getters.
F$ isisli Cattle oii Silage
ami Alfalfa.
Cull Ewe Flocks.
It is recommended that silage
Inasmuch as there is much variarrops be grown such as peas and ation in the fleece weights among
barley, oats and vetch, or sunflow- range sheep as well as farm flocks,
crc, and that local stockmen consid- and whereas this can be corrected
cv the matter of finishing cattle for by careful culling, we recommend
market on such silage and alfalfa the careful culling of the ewe flock
hay. Experiments conducted at the on the basis of fleece as well as the
Eastern Oregon experiment station other points now considered.
t Union have demonstrated this
Sudy Cost Of
combination as the most economical
Production.
ration for finishing steers. We alzo feel that lamb feeding can be en- We favor a careful study of the
couraged in the county, but that production costs of the range live-
where attempted it should be done stock business, as there are many
with an allowance of a pound of leaks that might thus be avoided.
grain per head per day in addition to We recommend a careful study of
all the hay the lamb will eat. Ex- the question of calf crop from the
perience of the most successful view of following such practices as
iamb feeders in the west has shown bring the most calves to each 100
this to be the most satisfactory ra- breeding females; also a careful
ion for lambs and gives the desired study of losses and their causes on
the range.
finish for market.
III. FARM SHEEP
Consider Hazards Before
1. Base Number On
Feeding Lambs or Beef.
Available Waste Crops.
It is fully realized that the feeding
Farm sheep have shown a good
.f lambs or beef for market
Is
a return when kept in small numberè
/
LIVESTOCK GROUP REPORT
17
the farm.
We recommend
this phase of livestock on Deson
lv. MARKETING
chutes county farms, to be handled 1. Study Is Urged.
under fence. The number of sheep It is our wish to go on reccarried should be based on suitable o r d a s favoring a study o f
waste crops. Pastures in form of the livestock marketing and to en-
grasses or winter rye are recom- dorse any plan that will assist the
mended as a supplement in this con- stockrnan in overcoming the present
nection. We emphasize the impor- hap-hazard method of marketing.
tance of every farmer of Deschutes We request the county agent to
county considering this phase of continue his livestock exchange list
livestock as a weed cleaner and a and urge stockmen to avail them-
gleaner of farm waste, but caution selves of this service in buying or
against overstocking
III SWINE
1. Keep Enough to Glean
Up The Wastes.
There is some room for expan-
disposing of livestock.
V. GENERAL
We endorse the boys' and girls'
club
work
for
Deschutes
coun-
sion of the hog industry in the coun- ty as the means of encouraging the
ty on the basis of farm waste. We boys and girls In better farm pracrecommend that every farmer keep tices. We urge seed, pig and calt
a brood sow for every five pigs he
needs to clean his farm of waste. We
strongly urge good type, prolific
sews only, as quality Is the basis of
determining the value of the animal.
clubs In this connection. We unqualifiedly recommend the use of the
best possible type of pure bred sires
in connection with all classes of
livestock.
Poultry Group Report
successful poultry keeping. Small
farm flocks, too small to be considered an important unit of farm work
usually suffer from poor management and neglect. Deechutes councensus report the value in 1919 was ty produces less eggs than are used
$77,435.00. In value of chickens at home, but with an increase in the
and eggs produce4, this county ranhs specialized farm units the county will
26 in the State of Oregon. The poul- soon produce more than it needs.
try interests of the county must con- This will then bring the problem of
sider later the cooperative market- how best to market the surplus eggs
ing of surplus products and any ex- produced in the county and will
pansion of the industry should be force the issue of producing and
along the lines of producing a prod- marketing a high grade exportable
uct of exportable quality.
quality. Eggs of this necessary
The poultry industry has suffered quality will never be produced by the
less perhaps in agricultural deflation haphazardly managed, nondescript,
than other lines. Its expansion should and ill-kept flocks.
be encouraged in the county because
A most serious drawback to
conditions warrant it and a larger the industry in the county is the fact
volume can be more economically that in the aggregate the greater
marketed if done cooperatively.
volume is produced by the general
The fact that poultry keeping has farm flocks, rather than by the well
been a profitable crop during this managed, economical units.
The
period of deflation has resulted in poultrymen assembled at this confersome farmers rushing into the busi- once therefore specially recommend
ness without due knowledge of the to the general farmer, where ademany problems that are necessary to quate housing and management can
permanent financial success.
be given, a side line unit flock of not
The poultry business is increasing less than 400 laying hens and puliapid1y, not only in Deschutes county lets. A flock of this size commands
but the state of Oregon as a whole. respect, regular attention, and reIt was therefore the work of this turns a more profitable return per
group to make a study of the produc- hour of labor. A flock of this size
tion and marketing condition and to further contributes to the ultimate
recommend a poultry program for solution of the marketing problem.
Deschutes county that will permit For the farmers who are not interthe permanent continuance and ex- ested to this extent, and for those
pansion of the industry along econ- who cannot prorate the necessary
omic lines of production, marketing daily time, It is recommended that
and management.
only a sufficient number of hens be
kept to supply the needs of the home
RECOMMENDATIONS:
table, or none at all.
1. Either 400 Hens Or Just
2. No Less Than 10 Acres
Enough for Home Needs.
For Each 1000 Hens.
is
The poultry business
a technical one, and requires much regu- The greatest undermining factor
lar detailed work and careful super- of permanent poultry farming in this
vision. It is not presumable that ev- county is the general lack of underry farmer or farm is adapted to standing upon the part of everyone
PRESENT SITUATION:
The poultry industry of Deschutes county is an increasing
agricultural asset. According to the
POULTRY GROUP REPORT
19
relative to the amount of land neces- such time as pullets may be moved
sary to commercial poultry keeping. out on free range, as explained In
Many established farms throughout Station Circular No. 54 of 0. A. C.
the state and county, successful for
Green Alfalfa And
a few years, have been compelled to
Roots For Succulence.
close their doors and go out of busisucculent fed is one of
ness as a result of soil contamin- theGreen,
four
major
classes of poultry
ation. It is therefore strongly urged
the out-standno one be influenced or even encour- feeds. Green alfalfa is for
supplying
aged to engage in commercial poul- ing recommendation However
to prothis
class
of
feed.
try keeping on less than 10 acres of
vide
for
green
feed
during
the
winter
systematically yarded, tillable soil
for each 1,000 hens. Commercial when green alfalfa is not available,
poultry keeping in one, two, and poultrymen of this county should
three acre tracts, where the young protect the health, growth and prostock is to be reared each year, must duction of their flocks by storing the
be considered only a temporary third cutting alfalfa to be used
and dangerous undertaking. Real as a substitute for the green feed. A
estate dealers should be discourag- root crop should be grown to
ed from exploiting small acreage be used as a supplement for green altracts as desirable units for perma- falfa,
nent and successful intensified poulDisease Investigation
try keeping.
Needed.
Non-irrigated land is not recom- One of the limiting factors of
mended for poultry farming unless Deschutes county poultry production
sufficient irrigated land is farmed is the increase of poultry diseases.
in connection with it to supply an It is recommended that the conferabundance of green feed.
ence of Deschutes county endorse the
action of the poultrymen assembled
at the State Economic Conference at
Corvallis, January 23-25, 1924, in
asking the state to employ one vetThe success of poultry keeping erinarian to devote full time to the
in Deschutes county depends upon investigation and study of poultry
the ability or the producers to raise diseases and their prevention. The
to maturity pullets that are healthy, poultry industry of Oregon is a tenvigorous, and free from intestinal million dollar industry annually,
parasites and inflammation. This aid its magnitude and permanent
can only be done through careful ef- security warrant at least a one man
forts to produce chicks on disease- study of Its problems along this linefree soil and providing free range
hatch Ohicks In
conditions for growing them to maMarch and April.
turity. It is not recommended that
new poultrymen build permanent It is recommended that chicks
brooder houses but follow the colony be hatched early enough to be old
brooder plan as recommended by the enough to lay eggs during the fall
poultry department of 0. A. C.
and winter, when eggs are high in
However, where permanent brood- price. For this county It is recomer houses are now built It is recom- mended that heavy breeds be hatchmended where possible the land ed in March and Leghorns in April.
around it should be divided into four Poultry producers must have the
yards and crop-rotated, one to be benefit of the high price months in
used each year and then only until order to get more months of laying
3. Healthy Pullets Are
NecessaryHow To Get Them.
POULTRY GROUP REPORT
20
from the pullet before moulting time
as well as to secure the best average
price per dozen for the year.
Secure Chicks At
One Time.
It is recommended that all
poultry producers make the effort to
desiring to construct new laying
houses be guided by the plans recommended by the 0. A. C. as fully
explainc4 in Station Circular No. 51.
Support Stnte
Association.
The poultrymen
of
Oregon in
secure all chicks for brooding pur- January organized an association to
poses at one time because of the encourage attention a'ong poultry
dangers underlying the attempt to lines; to securre the passage and enbrood together chicks of several dif- forc3ment of legislation, which will
ferent ages. In terms or results fin- protect and develop the poultry inances, labor, and permanency, it is terests of the state and to perform
cheaper for the average producer to such other functions as will promote
purchase for example, 500 day old the welfare of the industry. The
chicks to secure 200 vigorous, laying
pullets, than to attempt to hatch this
number from two or three hatchings
from insufficient incubator capacity.
A uniform lot simplifies the brood-
name of this organization is 'Oregon
Poultrymen's Association." It is,
therefore, recommended that the
Deschutes county poultrymen and
others interested, support this or-
ing, feeding, growing, housing and ganization.
production problems and contributes
Consider Marketing
largely towards a successful underPlans.
taking.
T h e poultrymen of Deschutes
county must consider that when this
BuIld Laying Houses
county reaches the point where it Is
By 0. A. C. Plans.
producing more than is consumed,
Proper poultry houses are es- marketing of the surplus will then
sential to successful poultry farming. become a problem; therefore it is
There is too great a tendency to con- recommended that this be given a
struct poultry houses along lines of careful study and a plan should be
individual hobbies rather than to made so that when the time comes
construct poultry houses that have they must either form their own loproven successful in this county cal marl.@t association or affiliate
through experimentatlou. It Is rec- with some local marketing associaommended therefore, that producers tion.
Land Settlement Group Report
Railroad Cooperation
welcome and that we want them to
be one of us, that it will have a much
The railroads are as much Inter- better effect than in the past.
ested, if not more so than the people
we now have on the lands in Central History of Laud Settlement in Oregon
Oregon in securing more settlers to One of the principal causes, if not
break up new lands coming under in fact the principal cause of the
irrigation etc. The two lines into Cen- agricultural land values and in the
tral Oregon, which were built some unprofitable production of agricul12 to 13 years ago, have been some- tural crops, is the unconscious crime
what of a disappointment due to the of land speculation which has precountry as a whole not settling up as vailed for the last sixty years.
fast as anticipated when the lines In addition to increasing the ovwere first built. Due to lumbering, erhead cost of all farm production
the railroads have m a n a g e d an unfortunate result of this specuto get by, but the revenue has not lation has been that of trading setcome up to their expectations at that.
The railroads have been working
all the time to try and induce more
settlers and are now spending some
million dollars or more to encour-
age settlers and others to get back
on the farm. The Hill lines have a
number of men now in the east tryjag to seure more people, putting
on a vast advertising campaign to
this end, and are in hopes of se-
tlers. The temptation of the success-
ful farmer to sell at a profit and the
temptation of the inexperienced man
to buy farm lands, has given an un-
favorable reaction to many of the
most prosperous communities.
The economic conditions of nearly
all of our irrigation projects and the
means by which these problems
could be solved was discussed at a
definite plan
curing a vast number during the next meeting in 1921. A
of the
meeting
took
shape
at
the
year or so.
at PenTo induce the settlers along with Oregon Irrigation Congress time
a
dleton in 1921, at which
this campaign of advertising, they committee,
known
as
the
Oregon
Dehave, or will put into ffect a home-
seekers' rate that will be attractive velopment committee, was appointand help the good work along. These ed to give careful consideration to
means of solving the ecorates should go into effect around ways andproblems
that confronted
June first and will remain in effect nomic
Oregon. It was found the mOst
all summer.
needs were better marketThe railroads will also try and see pressing
facilities and settlers for Orethat people coming to Central Ore- ing
gon's unoccupied farm lands, particgon will be well taken care of. That ularly the lands of bonded irrigation
truth
is, to see that they are told the
regarding the lands and will work projects.
with the people dealing in lands and The progress that has been made
try andget each one of them settled with the marketing problems is not
in such a manner that they will be the province of this committee and
satisfied with our new country. There we will deal only with that of land
has been a great deal of knocking settlement. It would not be possible
regarding Central Oregon in years to take the time that would be reof this
gone by and it is believed it the new quired to give you the details
settlers are taken care of in the right progress. We can only touch the
way and are shown that they are most important points.
VTCINITY
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MAP OF
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STATE OF OPGON