By Oregon Association of Nurseries, Nurseries have many issues to be concerned with in this economy, but a higher minimum wage will not be one of them – at least, not this year. Oregon Secretary of Labor Brad Avakian announced that the Oregon minimum wage will remain at $8.40 an […]

By American Farm Bureau WASHINGTON, D.C.,  – Citing the vital importance of trade to U.S. agriculture, the American Farm Bureau is urging the Obama administration to submit the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA) and the U.S.-Korean Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) to Congress for a vote.In separate comments sent this […]

By USDA,

By Oregonians for Food and Shelter, The spotted wing Drosophila (often named “Dragon Fruit Fly”) has invaded Oregon from California and has already been confirmed in several Oregon fruit crops – blueberries, caneberries and grapes. Stuart Olson, a local peach, apple and cherry grower, believes this could literally shut down […]

By Oregon Department of Agriculture, Buy local has a whole new meaning when it comes to protecting Oregon from invasive species this fall and winter. Consumers are urged not to purchase firewood from out-of-state and all the insects and diseases it might carry. Instead, buying local firewood can help keep […]

American Forest Research Council, AFRC NEWS, September 11, 2009 On September 8, a legal challenge to the Obama Administration’s decision not to implement the BLM’s Western Oregon Plan Revisions (WOPR) was filed by the Douglas Timber Operators, the Carpenters Industrial Council and AFRC members, C&D Lumber, Seneca Jones Timber, and […]

NOAA Strengthens 2008 Columbia River Salmon Protection Strategy Plan based on sound science; strengthened contingency plan added as insurance for salmon By NOAA, Backed by sound science, strong stakeholder support and extensive outreach, the federal government today filed with a United States district court a strengthened plan to implement NOAA’s […]

State seeks to change forest plans By Oregon Natural Resource Report, More logging in state forests is on the way if proposed changes to two forest management plans are approved.  The Oregon State Board of Forestry decided recently to begin the public process to revise habitat goals for state forests […]

A trip to the grocery store, simple enough, but now there is a choice to be made, organic or non-organic products? What does organic really mean?  Whatever it means, organic farming has been one of the fastest growing segments of U.S. agriculture in the last decade and Oregon is no […]

American Farm Bureau Federation: Set for repeal for 2010, the estate tax will return in full force in 2011—unless reform-minded lawmakers such as Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) are able to push through a higher, inflation-adjusted exemption and a lower top rate. Under current law, the maximum estate tax rate is […]