The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1920-03-12
WINTER FEEDING IN
THg ot<ANooAN VALLEY.

At the time Of the Northwest Livestock
conference. held In spokane at the first
of the month the Spokesman Review is
81 the 1G he
were number of contributors to this
section from various placee In the north
west. and among them was 3. b .Starrett,
Of Oroville. Mr.. starrett has treated the
subject SO thoroughly and ably that we
are publishing his article below as 1t ap-
peared In the Spokesman heview:
1.-The bringing of the annual national
live setock convention "a Spokane en-
phasizes the fact that oyf northwest is
being recognised as one 81 the greatest
live stock sections Of the United States.
However, the developn1ant Of this In
dustry has only begun u The Okanogan
valley under our West OlAnogan Valley
Irrigation project. Here tho winter feed
ing of live stock. which = has only been
until our valley. between oroville and
Tonasket. q distance Of II miles. presents
ground.
Together with the rataing of alfalfa,
our soil. together with an abundance Of
water, sunshine and a most favorable
climate, has made the producing of corn
and sunflowers for silaGe very large
alfalfa hay are looking forward to the
time. which may not be far distant, when
their product can not profitably be placed
on the market. With this in view, 1t Is
only natural that they are Becoming more
interested in this great industry, since 1t
insures a more permanent prosperity,
particularly when developed under prac-
tical and favorable conditions.
1T Is also universally recognized that
In order to obtain the b0st production
and largest returns from the soil. sys-
tenn Of rotation or fertali3ing must be
carried out whereby there can be return.
ed to- the land the substances most re-
nlri In nf fntrf ftSe-
away from the land. thereby reducing in
stead Of increasing its productiveness.
"Silage has been termed the winter
pasture there Is little or no noticeable
waste In the feeding of this rich ami
JUICY feeding commodity and since 1t can
be stored in large quantities within
small space, 1t allows the feeding of more
stock than a farmer. could otherwise
handle. While alfalfa Ia acknowledged as
yielding the greatest possible returns per
acre from a feeding standpoint, is Is al
so at the same time an excellent balance
for the silage.
s'These two most excellent crops to
which our farmers can give their careful
attention to producing through the grow
ing season are certain to lead to the win
ter feeding Of live stock on q scale which
In our vicinity, but will tend to a more
rapid development and settling up of our
lands
1.-The feeding problem having been set
tied in the minds OF our farmers, the next
step is the securing of this live stock for
the winter feeding. All OF the available
feeders that come off the neighboring
here. but the major supply will have to
be purchased on the market at the Spo-
kane union stock yards. ~ is not sur
prising then, that our feeder4 of live stock
are intensely interested In the remarkable
and substantial growth tRht has been
made at these yeards. bec{6se they are
not only looking to this inafseS because It
supplies a market for the purchase Of
feeders, but because II also provides q
most excellent outlet for the finished
product.
II am confident that the winter feed
ing Of live stock can be profitably car
ried on in this vicinity under the West
Okanogan Valley Irrigation Project and
the growth of the industry here will be
along practical lines"