The Oregon Natural Resources Report - Agricultural News from Oregon

Wyden-Merkley Oregon Wildlands Act

Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bill to Protect Oregon Wildlands and Scenic Rivers, Supporting Rural Economies and Local Recreation Jobs

via Senator Ron Wyden

Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley introduced their bill to protect some of the state’s most pristine and environmentally significant areas, which are essential for recreation jobs and the economies of rural areas across Oregon.

Oregon Cattlemen’s Association applauds Secretary Zinke for touring Siskiyou National Monument

Oregon Cattlemen’s Association

Secretary Of The Interior Ryan Zinke, “Glad To Be Back In Oregon” For Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument Review

Announcing on twitter that he was “Glad to be back in Oregon! Here for a monument review…” the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association applauds Secretary Zinke for touring with OCA President John O’Keeffe and for hearing both sides of the issues of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument.

Droughts in the west leave implications for spring wheat

Spring Wheat Markets Respond to Supply Concerns

Jaime Luke, Farm Bureau

Spring wheat, typically planted in late spring and harvested in late summer and early fall, prefers the mild summer weather of the northern states in which it is primarily grown. However, in recent months parts of the Upper Midwest and Pacific Northwest have been battling drought conditions, and this year’s spring wheat crop is showing the effects of little rain. Spring wheat is grown exclusively in the High Plains and Pacific Northwest, with nearly 99 percent of acres planted in 2017 in the states of Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Washington.

Oregon’s bountiful summer harvest

Oregon growers display fruits of their labor

Via Oregon Department of Agriculture

Oregon is a veritable cornucopia, producing a “horn of plenty” filled with high quality tree fruit, berries, and a type of nut not grown anywhere else in the United States. Newly released national statistics show the state is a leader in production of many types of non-citrus fruits. Many of these delicious crops are in season or will be soon.

American bullfrogs adapt to environs while still in their eggs

Photo by Lynn Ketchum, OSU

In the egg, American bullfrogs learn how to avoid becoming lunch

By Chris Branam, Oregon State Extension

When exposed to potential predators as an embryo, the invasive American bullfrog becomes harder to kill when it becomes a tadpole, according to a new study by Oregon State University researchers.
Tadpoles that hide more and develop faster when predators are present have better chances at survival, and the study sheds light on the frog’s capacity to proliferate across the Pacific Northwest, said Tiffany Garcia, an aquatic ecologist in OSU’s College of Agricultural Sciences and lead author of the study.

Renewable Fuel Standard new proposed standards for 2018

EPA Lowers Proposed Volume Standards for RFS

By John Newton, Farm Bureau

The Environmental Protection Agency released Proposed Volume Standards for 2018, and the Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for 2019. This proposal includes volume requirements for cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuel, biomass-based diesel, and total renewable fuel for 2018. The 2018 proposed volume requirement for total renewable fuel is 19.24 billion gallons, down 40 million gallons from the 2017 volume standards and well below the lofty goal of 26 billion gallons set in the Renewable Fuel Standard statute.

OSU Extension: Demystifying buying seafood off the boat

Dock tours in Newport and Warrenton show consumers how to buy seafood off the boat

Via Oregon State Extension

Have you ever wanted to buy seafood right from the boat, but weren’t sure what questions to ask or what to look for? Have you ever stood at a seafood market staring at all the choices but not been sure what was local or in season?

Bipartisan work on Federal Columbia River Power System

Schrader & Bipartisan Pacific Northwest Delegation Introduce Legislation to Address FCRPS Biological Opinion

Via Congressman Kurt Schrader

Pacific Northwest Reps. Kurt Schrader (OR-05), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), and Greg Walden (OR-02) introduced bipartisan legislation to approve the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) Biological Opinion (BiOp) until 2022. This legislation will work to support the FCRPS and the benefit it brings to our region through the clean, renewable, and affordable energy it provides while allowing salmon to recover at record rates.

Livestock industry applauds Endangered Species Act Initiative

Livestock Industry Supports Western Governors Association

Via National Cattlemen’s Association 

Dave Eliason, Utah rancher and president of the Public Lands Council (PLC), and Craig Uden, Nebraska cattle producer and president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), issued the following statements regarding the recommendations stemming from the Western Governors Association Species Conservation and Endangered Species Act Initiative: