[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 113 (Monday, July 28, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S10044]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         LEADERS IN STEWARDSHIP

 Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about some 
Oregonians who are real leaders in environmental stewardship, the 
Bailey family of The Dalles, OR. Their family-owned and operated cherry 
operation, Orchard View Farms, is renowned for its high standards, both 
in product quality and in environmental management. Orchard View Farms 
was established in 1923 in the heart of Oregon's cherry growing region, 
the mid-Columbia Gorge area nestled in the foothills of Mt. Hood.
  The Baileys have worked hard to ensure their operation is a good 
neighbor the environment and the surrounding community. They have 
championed the Mid-Columbia cherry Integrated Fruit Program, a total 
farm conservation plan that is modeled on a similar program in northern 
Italy. The Integrated Fruit Program, or IFP, encompasses all aspects of 
fruit production, from growing to packing and marketing. IFP emphasizes 
high quality fruit production that is economical for the grower and has 
a minimal impact to the environment. This requires careful placement of 
orchard plants, close monitoring of soil moisture levels and nutrients 
to avoid unnecessary irrigation or excess fertilizers. There is also an 
emphasis on non-chemical means of controlling plant pests and disease. 
The end result is more than 3000 tons of Ranier and Bing cherries that 
the Baileys ship to markets across the country and to Europe and Asia 
every year. Their accomplishments have not gone unnoticed by the farm 
conservation community--the American Farmland Trust recognized the 
Bailey family last year with its prestigious Steward of the Land Award.
  In addition to their important work in the area of farm conservation, 
the Baileys have also worked closely with my office in the past on the 
challenging problem of reforming the agricultural guest worker program.
  I am speaking about Orchard View Farms today to remind my colleagues 
that every day farm families like the Baileys are working hard to make 
a living in farming, ranching, or forestry in a way that is good for 
their community and good for the environment. They take their 
stewardship responsibilities seriously and deserve our commendation for 
adhering to these principles, especially in a time of unprecedented 
economic challenges for farmers in the form of increasing food imports 
and numerous regulatory mandates. I think we can all be proud of 
families like the Baileys who are truly leaders in environmental 
stewardship and demonstrate how American agriculture can succeed in 
this increasingly competitive global food market.

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