South Eastern Oregon Information

When considering a farm or ranching endeavor in our area in Malheur, Baker or Harney Counties in Oregon or Payette or Washington Counties in Idaho consideration should be given what crop or type of agricultural endeavor you plan to undertake and where you plan to locate. Climate, soil, water and topography and cost of land and zoning may all be considerations.

What is it you plan to raise, Cattle, Horses, Alfalfa Hay, Grass Hay, Sheep, Dairy Cows, Dairy Heifers, Corn, Sugar Beets, Wheat, Barley, Onions, Beans, Potatoes, Orchard Crops, Wine Grapes, Table Grapes, the list goes on?

As you may be able to be able to imagine just in Malheur County alone the climate can vary dramatically from one area of the county to another. In just that Notheastern part of the county known as the Western Treasure Valley it would be prudent to consider certain areas over others if you were considering a cold sensitive crop.

When I get a call from someone who ask me what the weather is around Ontario, Oregon I usually tell them we have hot summers and cold winters. We have a growing season of 158 to 159 days we will get above 100 degree in the summer for as much as 7 days and below 0 degrees in the winter for as much as 7 days and will get approximately 18 inches of snow during the winter.

For very accurate weater history data the Malheur County Experiment Station south of Ontario, Oregon has been keeping data for many years and has access to that data on their website at. www.cropinfo.net. Anoother site to pick up current weather data located close to Nyssa, Oregon is www.beefnorthwest.com which has a weather station at the the feed yard.

When considering a farming or ranching endeavor in eastern oregon or southwestern idaho water is a concern both irrigation and domestic. Be sure that you have the capability to obtain all of the pertinent information you need to make an informed decision. Two websites that will help with this are in Oregon www.wrd.state.or.us which is the State of Oregon Water Resources Website and in Idaho www.idwr.idaho.gov which is the idaho department of water resources website.

In Mlaheur County for water both domestic and irrigation be sure to use a Real Estate Broker who understands all of the issues involved. For example Oregon only requires that domestic wells be tested for Nitrates and Coliform Bacteria but Arsenic is also is also a concern in in the Northeastern part of the County and all wells used for domestic use should be tested for arsenic.

All irrigation water is not equal. Malheur County Has approximately 260,000 acres irrigated served by streams, stored water and river flows.

Control and management of the irrigation water resource rests with a number of irrigation districts each with governing bodies and some sharing management with other districts.

Inter-district management assures effective use of the water resource.

Development control and distribution systems have been both by private companies and under the Federal Bureau of Reclamation Projects.

The Vale area is served both by a Federal Bureau of Reclamation Project. Vale Oregon Irrigation District (VOID) and a private Company known as Warm Springs Irrigation District. Water for that area and part of the area between Ontario and Vale comes from the Malheur River with three reservoirs (Beulah, Warm Springs, and Bully Creek) for later release into the system.

The Jamieson-Brogan area is served by the Ochard Ditch Company with The Malheur Reservoir and Willowcreek as its source.

The Jordan Valley area relies on Antelope Reservoir and Jordan Creek plus intermittent stream flows.

The area between Ridgeview and and the North end of the Owyhee project near Weiser recieve water from Owyhee Reservoir with supplemental water being pumped from the Snake River.

One pumping station is located between Nyssa and Adrian with another located in the Dead Ox area.

Water is distributed by irrigation districts through a series of canals and laterals to a point on or near the individual farm for distribution onto the farm.

Water is adjudicated on a per acre basis. A parcel of ground has been adjudicated so many acres of water right from a particular irrigation district.

For each acre of water on a normal water year on the Owyhee project you are entitled to 4 acre feet of water, on VOID you are entitled to 3.4 acres of water and on Warm Springs you are entitled to 3.0 acres of water.

What about irrigation wells?

What about domestic wells?

What about commercial wells?

How much ground can you legally irrigate from a domestic well without a irrigation permit?

What is the difference between a irrigation well permit and a certificate?

These are all good questions to ask when buying a farm or ranch.

Soils: The soils in the irrigated areas of Malheur County consist of low terraces and flood plains that have been reworked through the years by wind and water. soils are generally characterized by fairly high salt content. The majority of the irrigated soils are highly productive. Soils have a PH of 7.5 to 8.5 and are generally high in potash.

Soils of the lower flood plains along the Owyhee, Malheur and Willowcreek and Snake River tend to be Alkaline with PH'S from 8.5 to 10. These soils to become productive must be drained and treated.

Management and farming practices can either increase or decrease soil capabilities and productivity. The soil manual for Malheur County now in 2008 was was issued in 1980 many conditions have occured which may have changed soils since that manual was put together on certain properties.

What kinds of questions should I be asking about the soil on the property that I am looking at?

If I am just going to raise hay does soil really matter?

When I want to raise onions what type of soil should I be looking at?

When it comes to irrigated pasture what difference does soil make?

Find information on soils at www.or.nrcs.usda.gov or www.westernlab.com

Helpful Farm and Ranch Websites:

Malheur County Extension Service, www.extension.oregon.edu/malheur/agriculture/usefullinls.php

Chicago Board of Trade, www.cbot.com

Western Livestock Journal, www.wlj.com

Beef Magazine, www.beefmagazine.com

American Quarterhorse Association, www.aqha.com

American Paint Horse Association, www.apha.com