Planning for Tomorrow Sherman County, Oregon 1967 Long Range Planning Conference Contents Page MARKETING AND Introduction 3 TRANSPORTATION Sherman County, Oregon 4 Page Roads 26 PUBLIC AND ECONOMIC AFFAIRS State Highways 26 Recreation 5 County Roads 27 Irrigation 5 Grain Grades and Quality 28 Industry 5 Market Information 29 Legislation 6 Marketing Service Organizations29 Public Relations 6 Local Business 6 WATER RESOURCE Industrial Development 6 DEVELOPMENT Chart on Sherman County Population Data and Trend 7 Irrigation 32 County Government 8 Ground Water Survey 33 County Planning Commission 8 Soil Conservation Projects 33 Pumping Sites 33 COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT State and Federal Projects 34 Libraries 9 Long-Range Forecast 34 Museum 9 The Community 10 LIVESTOCK AND RANGE Housing 10 Beef Cattle 35 Summary 10 Hogs 36 Horses 36 RECREATION AND SPORTS Range 36 Park and Recreation Planning 11 Summary 37 Park Development 11 Chart on Sherman Counnty LAND USE AND CROPS Waterfront Development 12 Tennis Courts 13 Crop Production 38 Swimming Pool 13 Insect Problems 38 Summary 14 Plant Disease Control 38 Fertilizer Programs 39 YOUTH AND FAMILY LIFE Variety Testing 39 Youth Center 15 Barley and Spring Wheat 39 Swimming Pool 15 Seed Quality 40 New Families 15 Irrigated Crops 40 Summer Program for Youngsters16Soil Conservation 40 3uvenile Court 16 Dryland Farming 40 Emotional Problems of Youth 16 Conservation Practice Adoption40 Culture 17 Research and Demonstration Senior Citizens 17 Needs 41 Home Extension 17 Conservation Coordination, Tech- HEALTH AND SAFETY nicalAssistanceand Educa- tion 42 Areas of Health Concern: 42 Sewage Treatment 19 Irrigated Lands Garbage Collection 19 Weed Control 43 Mental Health Services 20 Weed Council 43 Visiting Nurse 20 Weed District 43 Areas of Safety Concern: Weed Control on Public Fire 20 Property 43 Farm and Home Safety 20 Noxious Weeds 44 Highways and Recreation 20 Rye as a Weed 44 21 Cheatgrass Problem 44 Civil Dfense Weed Awareness 44 EDUCATION Farm Management 45 Recommendations 22 Farm Size 45 Chart on Sherman County's Posi- Landlord-Tenant Relations 45 tion as to Net Effective Buying Farm Management Tools 46 Income and Property Value 24 Enterprise Data Studies 46 Summary 25 Equipment Costs 47 INTRODUCTION This 1967 Sherman County Long-Range Planning Conference was spon- sored by the Sherman Rural Advisory Council. In November of 1966, plans were laid and committees formed. Chairmen were selected for the 10 study committees, and instruction meetings were held to orient the chairmen. In January of 1967, the study committees started work on the problems that may affect Sherman County in the next 10 years.The purpose of each committee wasP to take a good look at Sherman county and try to figure a way to make Sherman County a better place to live, work and play in the next 10 years. On April 21, 1967, the public forum was held to report the findings of the 10 committees.Each committee chairman reported by using visual aids, pic- tures, etc., to illustrate the recommendations of the committees. To finish this report, it depends on the people of Sherman County to fur- ther study and work toward implemenation of these recommendations. Ted Thompson, Chairman Sherman Rural Advisory Council This is the fifth time Sherman County has embarked on a Long-Range Planning Conference. The conferences span nearly one-half century of com- munity planning for progress. The first such conference was held in 1924. Sim- ilar conferences were held in 1938, 1948, and 1958. During the past 10 years, the Sherman Rural Advisory Council has pro- vided leadership in continued planning to improve the economic and social condition of the county. Various subcommitteessuch as the Water Resource Development, Land Use and Crops, and Rural Road Advisory Committee along with the Sherman County Planning Commission have spelled out some of the needs and work toward their accomplishment. This conference besides look- ing into some new fields of interest in the county, also brings up to date activ- ities of various on-going planning and development groups. lV]embcrship of the Sherman Rural Advisory Council that help guide ac- tivities of this conference and groups they represent were: Ted Thompson, Chairman, Grain Co-op representative; Irving Hart, Vice-Chairman, Sherman Planning Commission; Charles Burnet, Wheat Growers Association; Henry Jaeger, 4-H Leaders Assn.; Delta Johnson, Extension Unit Council; Rolland Johnson, Weed Council; Larry Kaseberg, Water Resource Development Com- mittee; Bob Martin, Cattlemen's Association and Chairman of the Livestock and Range Planning Committee; Owietus McDermid, Health Council; Rev. Leo Tautfest, Ministeral Association; Vernon Miller, County Judge; Bob Montgomery, School Superintendent; David Moore, Sherman County Club; David Richelderfer, ASCS Committee; Vernon Root. 4-H Leaders Association; John Shipley, Soil Conservation District Board of Supervisors; Don Thompson, Sherman County Granges and Chairman of the Land Use and Crops Planning Committee; F. L. Watkins, Rural Road Advisory Council; Alice Riëhmond, County Extension Agent, 4-H and Home Economics, and myself. For more than 40 years, the OSU Cooperative Extension Service, through their County Extension Agent staff and specialists, have cooperated with the citizens of Sherman County in doing long-range planning,if Sherman County is to realize its greatest potential, continual planning to meet changing condi- tions will be necessary. Results of the latest planning effort are contained in this publication made possible by the Sherman County Court and the Cooperative Extension sion Service of Oregon State University. Thomas W. Thompson, Chairman Sherman County Extension Agent SHERMAN COUNTY, OREGON Sherman County was established February 25, 1889, with an area of 827 square miles.Moro, the county seat, is near the center of the county and is 120 miles by highway from Portland.The trend in population is shown by chart form on page. 7. Sherman County lies in the heart of the Columbia Basin dryland grain area.Most citizens breathe, eat and talk wheat. The county is strictly rural with agriculture the major industry. During recent years, mass scale construction of the John Day Dam has brought in new people, payroll and problems.Industrial production is in the planning stage and tourist trade on the upswing. The county is the only forestless Oregon county. There were more businesses in Sherman County in 1900 than there are to- day. At the beginning of the century one could buy nearly everything in the county he could purchase elsewhere. Decline in farm numbers and work force, improved transportation facil- ities and change in modern business practices have reduced local business estab- lishments. 1V1uch of the needs of Sherman Countians are purchased in The Dalles; for southern Sherman Countians, at Madras, or in many cases in Port- land. Surrounding on three and a half sides by water, the county sets high and dry.Rainfall averages are close over the countyWasco (elevation 1,222 feet) has 11.72 inches, Moro (elevation 1,858) has 11.83 inches, and Kent (elevation 2,707) has 10.83 inches.With this low rainfall, farming is under a summer- fallow-grain rotation. Irrigation is minor with less than 2,000 acres of pasture and hay under intensive production. High lift irrigation from the Columbia and/or John Day Dam pool is under investigation. Winter wheat is the most important crop.For 40 years, dryland grain hay was second, but in recent years, due to government farm programs, barley has moved into second in importance. Fifty-seven percent (299,882) out of 529,280 acres is cultivatedthe high- est percentage in the state.Only two counties exceed Sherman in total tillable acres.The soil is silt loam, productive, rolling and low in organic matter, making it highly erosive. Around 1,200 acres of cultivated land is the average farm size.Farm units number near 250, but are declining due to unfavorable farm prices. Farm tenancy is high with about 70% of the land farmed by non-owner operatives. Beef cattle provide an important supplementary source- of income. They utilize native spring, early summer ranges and crop aftermath.Most cattle are sold as weaners but some trend in feedlot production is underway, utiliz- ing wheat and barley as feed grains.Sherman County has no dairies, a good number of horses, and sheep and hogs are of minor importance. A variety of statistical material is available about the county's people, economy and resources.Various statistical information was used by the study committees but is limited in this publication.Such information is available from county, state, and federal agencies and private institutions. Public and Economic Affairs Charles Burnet, Chairman Thomas M. Thompson, Secretary In any attempt to forecast futureRecreation development of an area, a prime con- With development of parks and sideration should be past history androads along the rivers bordering the present conditions. county we are becoming more at- Agriculture has been the basic in-tractive to tourists and to residents dustry in Sherman County since theofwesternOregon,and Portland county was first settled by the whitemetropolitan areas.The freeway to man.The principle crop has beenPortland provides easy access to our grain, mainly wheat with some bar-area, and there will be an influx of ley, oats, and hay.The major kindpeople seeking our fresh air and sun of livestock is cattle, with some sheepshine. and hogs.Milk cows and chickens have declinedas farming becameIrrigation