From the Chair

By Martin Kerns

One can’t help but wonder what has happened to all the time that went by this past year or for all the years that now are just a slight memory. Every year has its’ catastrophes and successes. Some we laugh at later, some we are proud of and some leave us with sad memories that dim with time – so, too, 2006 will join the rest of the years that have gone by.

For the District, we had a new experience and an adventure that we hope we will never have again. Certainly we will all be stronger, more concerned for others. In addition, the government agencies we partner with and we in the Soil District should be able to work together with a better understanding of our different roles.

Our successes are worth bragging about. It never ceases to amaze us how people have taken to no-till drilling! Both of our drills were busy all spring, summer and clear into the fall season when rain made it too muddy to get on the ground.

Our District and the Klamath Waterusers, along with special help from Lynn Long and Harold Hartman put on an Alternative Energy Forum at the Fairgrounds on November 29^th. Over 160 people attended and some from a distance. This is only a start, however, as other forums are coming. The first is by the Klamath Extension Office, with help from O.I.T. We plan to stay involved by keeping you informed of new ideas, possible funding opportunities and articles on what people are doing on their Basin farms. The high cost of energy certainly has caused a new direction on energy sources, how it is used and what it costs.

Last, I want to say IWM (Irrigation Water Management) is here to stay. For years across this country, our agriculture-oriented universities have been studying and experimenting with optimum watering strategies. The purpose is to get the most out of the least amount of water applied at the lowest input cost. Here in the Basin, projects through the NRCS that fund water application equipment require some IWM information. Without this required information that is only requested for one year of use, the project is considered a “breach of contract” so please comply! Anyway this is just the beginning. In the future, we will see many seminars and work sessions just on ways to do IWM.

Our wish for all of you is that 2007 will be both profitable and enjoyable.