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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency services, April 12 Public meetings: April 13-17 Gold Hill may get a full-time police officer Staffing shortages keep vets waiting at SORCC VA clinics statewide can't compete with private sector Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services, April 12 Emergency services, April 11 Jury awards more than 200K in Rogue River dog-barking case, orders dogs debarked Alleged subscription scammers may be violating state restraining order Central Point police pull attempted theft suspect from prickly hiding spot Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Former state Senate President Brady Adams dies Arthur I. Cyr: Afghanistan progress is uneven but undeniable Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for one year Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Education Prepping before 9th grade Shumate says initiatives will require reserve spending Eagle Point school district violated union members' constitutional rights, federal judge says SOU celebrates Arbor Day early with awards and talks SOU student's play heads to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Environment Central Point's Arbor Day project will provide shade along Mingus Creek Evans Creek dams on track for removal this summer Nearly 400 steelhead die in Applegate fish-trap failure Forum looks at Crater Lake wilderness proposal A place to play State News Grants Pass state rep walks away from motorcycle crash unscathed Senators join in Oregon Caves dedication Forest Grove spelling bee celebrates bilingual students Oregon lawmakers, counties spar over public safety spending Runners to follow historic salmon migration path Nation - World Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries Paul Inserra James Raymond (“Jimy”) Angel Peggy Gene Ritchie-Potter Anthony (Tony) Ray Hansen Ian Witter Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Bats come alive for Ducks in win Heir Jordan Nieves' grand slam lifts Padres past Giants Expansion Orlando City defeats Portland Chaos, wins evenly distributed for Raiders Varsity 541 College Sports Bats come alive for Ducks in win Chaos, wins evenly distributed for Raiders UO’s Lockie sharp in spring practice Ducks top OSU on bases-loaded walk in 9th Strong pitching gives SOU pivotal sweep Pro Sports Heir Jordan Nieves' grand slam lifts Padres past Giants Expansion Orlando City defeats Portland Booker, Jazz upset Blazers Guthrie, Moustakas lift Royals to victory Community Sports Wilson delivers in return of local boxing Palmer breezes to second straight men’s title Business Latest Stories New bosses take charge at Harry & David Erickson shores up business with three contracts Ride & Drive: 2015 Ram ProMaster City Blog: Erickson signs construction, firefighting and logging deals, but investors remain a tough sell Dancin Vineyards covers up Real Estate News Jackson County median home price hits $215,000 in first quarter People In Business People in Business, March 26, 2015 Transportation Erickson shores up business with three contracts Lithia Motors shares break the $100 mark Road to health: Bike and pedestrian paths play greater role in transportation project funding Agriculture New bosses take charge at Harry & David Dancin Vineyards covers up Broth maker leaves San Diego for Medford Opinion Latest Our View: Medford School District's new spending appears prudent Letters to the Editor, April 12 Dana Milbank: After another tragedy, signs of progress George Will: Containing Iran's nuclear intoxication Charles Krauthammer: The Iran deal: What we've given up Editorials Our View: Medford School District's new spending appears prudent Other Views: Keep Klamath water plan moving in Congress Our View: Emails contradict claims of Kitzhaber, Hayes Our View: All ethics reform bills should get a hearing Our View: Cheers and jeers Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, April 12 Letters to the Editor, April 10 Letters to the Editor, April 9 Letters to the Editor, April 8 Letters to the Editor, April 7 Columns Dana Milbank: After another tragedy, signs of progress George Will: Containing Iran's nuclear intoxication Charles Krauthammer: The Iran deal: What we've given up Guest Opinion: Removing barriers to walking, biking benefits everyone Matthew T. Mangino: Shooting a fleeing suspect in the back Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Removing barriers to walking, biking benefits everyone Guest Opinion: Conversion therapy on LGBT youth is child abuse Guest Opinion: Pot opponents have good reason for concern Guest Opinion: If Courtney kills bill, $15 minimum wage will go to the ballot Guest Opinion: Phoenix embraces Bee City USA designation Lifestyle Latest stories Oregon Oldtime Fiddlers strike a chord Adopt a Pet Anniversary: Pacey Charlesworth-Murphy Go get physical Food Community blog: U.S. dietary guidelines change little with the times Season Stepp: Try farmer’s market sunchoke in a creamy potato soup Page H. Onorato: Bringing spring to the dinner table Tammy Kelly: Asparagus is in season Power of 5 Home and Garden Cry babies, it’s time to plant onions Garden Cameos: Good soil foundation of fabulous garden Ceramic tile: How it’s made and what’s new Dear Monty: How real estate relocation companies work Paul Rogers: Yard damage may not be as bad as it looks Health Go get physical Community blog: Better Living By Design: A Symposium You Must Not Miss Health Watch: Combat common running and walking ailments Dr. Jeff Hersh: Distracted driving Dr. Murray Feingold: Keep laundry detergent packets away from kids Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs: Friday, April 10 Religion briefs: Friday, April 3 Religion briefs: Friday, March 27 Religion briefs Religion News: Presbyterian Church gives approval on same-sex marriage Milestones and Achievements Charlesworth-Murphy Drizzle doesn't dampen Pear Blossom Parade spirit New Arrivals: Sunday, April 12 Haga-Parks Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Five picks for entertainment this week The Brothers Reed celebrate new CD 'Sick as Folk' Live Music in Local Clubs Britt Festivals line-up kicks off June 6 Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival Theater Oregon Cabaret Theatre's "The Musical!" delivers five clever Broadway parodies in Ashland OCT stages 'The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)' Auditions for youth musical set at Camelot Review: From past into present in OSF's 'Long Day's Journey' ‘A Dream of Red Pavilions’ at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Music The Brothers Reed celebrate new CD 'Sick as Folk' Britt Festivals line-up kicks off June 6 Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival Gene Burnett tonight at Liquid Assets in Ashland The Farr Side: No Zayn Malik? One Direction stays the course Community Events Ashland Co-Dependent Film Festival 2015 Pear Blossom Festival kicks off in Medford Ashland Independent Film Festival announces 2015 lineup Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival MailTribune.com rolls out new calendar Dining Restaurant inspections, April 12, 2015 La Tapatia offers authentically delicious cuisine RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS: Sunday, April 5 The Laughing Clam in Grants Pass offers seafood-heavy menu Standing Stone owners to open Medford brewpub and restaurant Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Grants Pass state rep walks away from motorcycle crash unscathed ... Senators join in Oregon Caves dedication ... Gold Hill may get a full-time police officer ... Grants Pass state rep walks away from motorcycle crash unscathed ... Senators join in Oregon Caves dedication ... Gold Hill may get a full-time police officer ... CONGRESS Wyden lobbies for Pendleton research center funding Comment By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Apr. 10, 2015 at 2:00 AM By The Associated Press Posted Apr. 10, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Social News PENDLETON — U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden is lobbying Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to maintain support of the Columbia Plateau Conservation Research Center north of Pendleton. The station stands to lose $911,000— nearly half its annual funding — in President Barack Obama's proposed 2016 budget. Such deep cuts would force the center to end its research into no-till farming for winter wheat and lay off three staff scientists. Established in 1970, the station is part of the federal Agricultural Research Service, or ARS, which serves as the USDA's principal in-house research agency. Located on Tubbs Ranch Road, the Pendleton center shares a building with Oregon State University's Columbia Basin Agricultural Research Center, though they are different programs. In a letter sent April 7 to Vilsack, Wyden, D-Ore., said the president's budget would end critical research on cropping systems for the Columbia Plateau, one of the largest wheat producing areas in the Pacific Northwest. Wyden also hopes to save forage and turf grass research on the ARS chopping block in Corvallis. "The research developed in Oregon will have lasting impacts on advances in precision agriculture and have clear benefits to farm productivity and profitability of wheat production nationwide," Wyden said. Wyden had proposed a budget amendment to continue funding for all agricultural research through 2025, though it was not adopted into the president's final recommendation. Money from the cuts would be shifted to pay for what the administration has identified as higher priority projects within the ARS. Since 2010, the Pendleton center has experimented with reduced tillage and no-till practices to save farmers money and improve soil health. Jerry Zahl, a crop consultant from College Place, Wash., and liaison between the ARS and OSU, said he cannot think of a greater return on taxpayer dollars than finding new ways to increase the region's farm production. The project also has support from the Oregon Wheat Growers League, the industry's foremost advocate for local growers. Stewart Wuest, soil scientist and lead researcher on the project, said the idea is to find more and more places where wheat farmers can cut down on their tillage, which if done right could save them money on fuel and boost their bottom line. "Growers are slowly experimenting with no-till, but it's a very gradual process," Wuest said. Because the region is so dry — some areas receive less than 14 inches of rain per year— farmers are unable to plant a crop in every field for every season. Instead, they rotate one year of winter wheat with one year of fallow, which allows moisture and nutrients to rebuild enough in the soil to generate decent yields. When farmers till, it allows them to tap into that water underground and plant their wheat earlier in the fall, usually around September. Otherwise, they won't be able to plant until the next big rain, which might not come until late October. The concern with starting late is it gives the plants less time in the ground before harvest, and could drop yields as much as 30 percent. Wuest's trials, however, have shown no-till can be just as productive. Without tilling, the soil stands a better chance of keeping water from evaporating and withstanding erosion. Farmers could also save 0.45 gallons of diesel per acre if they don't have to run their tractors as much in the field. "In some of the driest areas, we're finding that we can get good yields even with late-seeded wheat," Wuest said. "There's still the opportunity to improve crop yields and reduce fuel use, making the systems more profitable and more sustainable at the same time." Hydrologist John Williams and soil scientist Hero Gollany also work on the project. The researchers are working to draft a new five-year plan under the program, so long as its funding can remain intact.    By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Apr. 10, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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