The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1941-10-02
Profit from Farm
Possible Thru Use
of Waste Products
All to profit from
utilization of agri-
cultural resources
BY H. w. DERRY

its strongest adherents would be the
first to deny that their efforts are
anything but a program which, tho
it offers high hopes for the future
can be achieved only by good hard
work and lots of it.
The very essence OF the program,
production and creation of new
work, implies that it is a work pro-
| gram.
And the thing that will make men
work is the same thing that has
made the American industrial sys-
tenn the envy of the world-incent-
i've, the chance to make a profit.
AS with everything else, such a
program cannot succeed without
leadership, the willingness to take
hold of problem and see it through.
Interest already has been express
ed in various parts of the Columbia
river region to enlist the aid of the
National Farm Chemurgic Council
in setting up farm chemurgic COM
| mittee similar to the one recently
organized in Idaho. A number of
new memberships in the National
organization adding to the approx
imately 40 members already in
Washington and Oregon, have been
taken out in the past few weeks.
The principal requirement of
members is a genuine interest in the
program and willingness to work.
Almost as widespread as the pro-
ducts of this area are the by-prod-
ucts, wastes and SURPRISES which
even now are being given individual
attention in an attempt to wiring
added values from them.
A quick survey, making no at
tempt to present a complete list,
shows the following possibilities:
Wheat straw: large quantities &C
company the raising of wheat in
the Walla Walla-U Mid-Co-
lumbia areas. Straw board for
packing uses has been mentioned as
a possible use. Might be used as
basis for plastic molding powder.
Waste wood: fuller use of the re-
gion,s timber resources by converting
present wastes into some cellulose
form has long intrigued many in
tereStS. Lignin content of wood is re-
ceiVing attention.
Fruits: distillation of apples, pears,
peaches, etc., for beverage purposes
already has helped consumption of
portions of these crops but distilla-
ton for chemical products for in
dustry is receiving thought Pits and
stems are a possible source of act
waited carbon.
Potatoes: starch production, al
ready contemplated in Idaho pota-
to areas, is being considered like
wise in Yakima and Deschutes areas.
Casein: dairying is fairly general
throughout the Columbia river area
and could be increased through in
creased hay production.
Fish: good progress already has
been made in the Astoria region in
utilization of fish wastes in the de-
Velopment of by-products, such as
fish meal and vitaminS. Shark
hides, by-product of the shark liver
trade, seem. to offer opportunity for
development.
The list of possible raw materials
is long. ANY crop which leaves
portion unused, presents a posi-
bllity: pea vines, grape seeds, as
paraguS vase, sugar beet pulp, etc.
The main consideration must be
that the cost of collecting the waste
is low, because by the very nature
Of things substitute raw materials
must be low-cost or they cannot
compete.
New uses for agricultural products
are p4Ing constantly sought i'm
many public and private research
efforts, many of the latter main
tanned as a part of normal opera
lions by business and industrial in
situations.
Nor is the Columbia valley region !
tagging too far behind in it's search |
for new products to grow on it's fer
tile acres. Already portions of the
area, Astoria and Redmond for ex-
ample, are noted for production of |
grass seeds. Bulbs and flowers are
a thriving industry, one of the few
to benefit heavily by the war, which |
has shut off foreign production CEN
tiers in the Low Countries of Europe.
Paintings Of the fabulous SOY bean
in the Pomeroy district of southeast
ern washington already are out
growing the experimental stage.
Peppermint oil production has a
strong foothold in the White Bluffs
area north of Pasco. Mustard for
condiment production is being tried
out in the Pomeroy-Dayton district.
Three other new crops are in the
experimental planting stage Just this
year under the direction of the farm
service department of the Pacific
Power & Light Company. They are
castor beans, coriander and SAT-
flower, using seeds supplied by the
National Farm Chemurgic Council.
It's pretty easy to see where every
in the region can benefit
from program of complete utiliza-
ton of the areas agricultural re-
sources.
If the farmer can sell all Of his
present crops at a reasonable price,
he gains. If he can raise new crops
which command a good price be-
cause of scarcity, he gains. If he
can sell, even for a small price, the
present crop wastes which now are
an expense of, he gains. If the
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