Ag News Roundup

In todays Ag News Roundup, Hermiston community rescues hundreds of cattle from neglect, OSU to build a new small-scale dairy for students, Owyhee River Basin gets even more snow than usual, Washington state continues with carbon cutting initiatives, and big data goes fishing.

Community Cares for Sick Cattle

Umatilla County Sheriff Terry Rowan, his deputies, over a dozen Blue Mountain Community College students, and local vets helped round up and care for 185 neglected cattle found at a Hermiston ranch. Nearly 20 were found dead from severe negligence. The herd’s owner will be charged with animal neglect.

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OSU Receives $1.5 Million from Tillamook County Creamery Association

OSU’s Department of Food Science and Technology will build a new Food and Beverage Facility at the college thanks to a donation from the Tillamook County Creamery Association. The $1.5 million will help build a $6 million facility that will include a new dairy pilot plant. The facility will enhance student experiences as well as collaboration between the dairy industry and the school.

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Owyhee River Basin Gets Even More Snow

Already snowpack for the Owyhee River Basin is at 164 percent above normal. With 118,000 acres of irrigated farmland in the area, the above-average snowfall is welcome. It’s estimated that the nearby reservoir could fill for the first time in many years.

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Washington Governor Continues with Climate change Agenda

Despite changes in U.S. policy, Governor Jay Inslee said his state will continue to cut carbon pollution. Working with the Washington Department of Ecology, his administration has already reduced carbon emissions and invested in renewable energy. However, some of those changes have negatively affected farmers, ranchers, and growers across the state.

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Researchers Compile 20-Years of Fish Migration Data

Using ichthyographs, teams in Oregon and California were able to assemble 20-years of fish migration data taken at the Winchester Dam in southern Oregon. The ichthyograph is a technique that tracks stream flow, water temperatures, and timing of upstream migration into color-coded charts. The results covered six fish species, including steelhead, sucker, lamprey, cutthroat trout, as well as Chinook and Coho salmon.

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