The Oregon Natural Resources Report - Agricultural News from Oregon

by Todd Wynn
Cascade Policy Institute

Portland General Electric (PGE) customers may have noticed something new on their bills recently. Last month, a “renewable resource adjustment” was added to electricity bills to pay for additional renewable resources like wind power. Even if you are not enrolled in the Green Power Program, all PGE customers are forced to pay for renewable energy. According to PGE, ratepayers can thank their legislators for this added electricity cost.

In 2007, Oregon legislators passed a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), forcing major utilities to procure 25% of their electricity from new renewable resources by 2025. With much fanfare, Governor Kulongoski claimed that this would be “protecting ratepayers with more stable and predictable utility rates.” Environment Oregon also claimed that ratepayers will save money by having utilities invest in wind energy instead of in fossil fuels. They were wrong.

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition,

Yesterday’s Federal Register announced the availability of grants to fund projects designed to help rural communities create wealth, repopulate and become self-sustaining.  Projects can receive up to $250,000 across a period of up to two years. These Regional Business Opportunity Grants (RBOG)  give preference to  “Great Region” applications, or applications from multijurisdictional areas within a State, territory, or Federally-designated Tribal land or crossing such boundaries.

This regional approach could be considered a test run for the Regional Innovation Initiative proposed in the USDA’s budget for FY 2011 which would create set-asides in a number of USDA programs for applications that are part of a comprehensive regional development plan. Once selected,  grantees may be provided with targeted technical assistance by the USDA or other federal agencies.

Warm and dry winter leads to water concerns in Oregon
By Oregon Department of Agriculture,

In typical El Niño fashion, winter in the Pacific Northwest has been generally warm and dry, as predicted. Spring officially arrived this past weekend but may not carry with it as much precipitation as needed following the low snowpack in Oregon’s mountains. The result could be challenging times for agriculture and irrigators in the summer.

“After the early season cold air outbreak in December, the months of January and February were incredibly mild,” says meteorologist Pete Parsons of the Oregon Department of Agriculture. “Of course, that led to some poor mountain snowpacks around the state. It will probably be a tough year for irrigators. At this time, it appears nearly all areas of the state are going to be short on water.”

By Mike Mehren
Oregon Feed and Grain Association

This little beauty will be quite a bit different than any of my columns. This is about an organization calling itself ‘Global Animal Partnership’. The organization is headquartered in Wa D.C. Members of the Board include Wayne Pacelle of the H.S.U.S. and Steven Gross from P.E.T.A. Neither of these groups represented on their board have been friends of animal agriculture. The Ag Marketing Service of the USDA reported that their 5 step approach was a natural extension of the Organic Standards. Some of the standards that I consider ridiculous are: no cattle shall go through an auction barn, no cow shall be hauled within 12 weeks of calving, no rodents in the barn…I can’t seem to keep them out of my house!

Their stated goal is to facilitate and encourage improvement in animal agriculture. Sounds something LIKE the government man that stops by the ranch and says ‘I’m here to help you’.

American Farm Bureau Federation,

As Americans start to fill out the U.S. Census forms they have received in recent days, one government agency is working on another kind of census: a National Water Census to get a handle on the water resources that are available for various uses—irrigation, livestock, public use, thermal electric power generation, aquaculture, mining, industry and well withdrawals.

The water census is part of a broader Interior Department project called the Water Smart Initiative. The initiative tasks department agencies—the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and office of the assistant secretary for Water and Science—with establishing current water footprints and identifying ways to conserve. The census, overseen by USGS, is an ongoing accounting of the changing quantity, quality and use of water resources across the nation. Congress ordered the project when it passed the Secure Water Act in early 2009 as part of an omnibus public lands bill.

U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey

Vancouver, Wash.—A magnitude 4.2 earthquake 30 years ago Saturday (3/20) marked the reawakening of Mount St. Helens after 123 years of inactivity and set the stage for the most destructive eruption in U.S. history. The catastrophic eruption of May 18, 1980, claimed 57 lives and caused an estimated $1 billion damage. It was a very visible reminder that volcanoes can reawaken quickly and with little warning, and that Cascade Range volcanic activity was far from being a thing of the past.

By National Association of Wheat Growers

As the budget process tilts into full gear amid ongoing debates about health care and tax extenders, agriculture supporters are making known their opposition to cuts proposed in the Obama Administration’s budget and the Standard Reinsurance Agreement (SRA) renegotiation.

NAWG joined this week a coalition of 35 agricultural groups in writing Budget Committee leaders in the House and Senate to express opposition to the proposed cuts, saying Congress should ensure the government keeps its five-year contract with agricultural producers.

By Natural Resource News Note:

A rising star solar company in Bend, named Powered, was purchased for $90 million by Advanced Energy. Below is the press release from Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.

Fort Collins, Colo., March 24, 2010 – Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq GM: AEIS) today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire PV Powered Inc., a leading manufacturer of grid-tied PV inverters in the residential, commercial, and utility-scale markets. The acquisition is expected to add an estimated $40-50 million to Advanced Energy’s 2010 revenues and be neutral to marginally dilutive to GAAP net income in 2010.

Researchers to study newly discovered sturgeon spawning area in Willamette River
By Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife,

CLACKAMAS, Ore. — Researchers from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife recently began surveying the Willamette River downstream of Willamette Falls to learn more about a previously unknown white sturgeon spawning area. According to Tucker Jones, ODFW white sturgeon project leader, researchers were surprised to discover white sturgeon spawning in the Willamette River last spring. Until then, the only known spawning grounds for the lower Columbia River white sturgeon population, which includes sturgeon in the lower Willamette River, was immediately downstream of Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River.

New lumber forecast predicts slow, steady recovery for sawmills
By Western Wood Products Association

PORTLAND, Ore. – Lumber mills are starting to emerge from the worst downturn in the history of the industry and recovery will be slow yet steady, according to a new forecast released by Western Wood Products Association. The lumber trade association’s forecast calls for modest gains in housing, lumber consumption and U.S. production this year after setting modern lows during 2009. While markets are expected to improve in the coming years, lumber demand and housing construction will remain far lower that what the industry saw in the mid-2000s.

Demand for lumber in the U.S. is expected to increase 6.1 percent in 2010 to 32.9 billion board feet, ending consecutive 20-percent-plus declines recorded the previous two years. WWPA anticipates lumber demand to rise to 36.1 billion board feet in 2011, up 9.7 percent.

Announcement from Oregonians for Food and Shelter,

Date: Wednesday, March 31
Time: 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Location: Seminar Room, Pendleton Agricultural Research Center, 48037 Tubbs Ranch Road
Title: Importance and Control of Dryland Root Rots and Cereal Nematodes in the Rainfed Wheat Production Systems of West Asia, North Africa and China
Speakers: Drs. Julie Nicol and Amer Dababat

USDA Announces $2 Million Initiative To Help Drought-Stricken Klamath Farmers

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore, March 18, 2010 – USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) California State Conservationist Ed Burton and Oregon State Conservationist Ron Alvarado today announced $2 million is available from for a special drought initiative for the Klamath Basin. “Ron and I encourage all eligible producers in the Klamath Basin to apply for this additional funding to assist them in establishing necessary cover crops because of decreasing soil moisture and the risk of productive topsoil loss due to wind erosion,” said Burton.

The sign up continues through April 9, 2010.  Applications will be ranked and selected for funding every Thursday throughout the sign-up until available funds are depleted.

Greg Walden urges prompt drought declaration, assistance, and public workshops to explain aid options in Klamath Basin
Congressman Greg Walden,

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In anticipation of the Bureau of Reclamation’s announcement today of their plans to provide water to irrigators in the Klamath Basin during this drought disaster, Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) today asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior for a federal drought declaration and the agencies’ assistance in launching a public information campaign to give guidance to farmers, ranchers, and members of the business community who will be impacted by the federal government’s ruling.

“I have worked extensively on water and related issues in the Klamath Basin for many years. And I recall well the Bucket Brigade with thousands of hard-working basin residents during the 2001 water shut-off and the tremendous strain it placed on scores of families and businesses.  I assure you the preparation and clarity I request here are key to the chances of successfully managing the extremely challenging drought reality in the basin.  I stand ready to assist,” Rep. Greg Walden said.

The Oregonians In Action Education Center is holding its annual Land Use Forum on Saturday, April 10 at the Holiday Inn in Wilsonville.
Oregonians In Action

This year, we have a great program featuring speakers from the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development, candidates for state and federal office (this portion of the program will be sponsored by OIA PAC), and land use experts.

Forum attendees can expect the following:

1.    A chance to meet candidates for Congress and the Oregon Governor’s race;

2.    An update on county efforts to implement House Bill 2229, the bill that gives counties the opportunity to fix the many zoning mistakes that plague rural property owners;

NCBA Supports Transparency in Nutrition Labeling
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

WASHINGTON – The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) submitted comments today in support of a proposed rule by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)  to require nutrition labeling of meat products.

“As an industry, it’s our responsibility to provide accurate information about the nutritional value of our products—because consumers have a right to make educated decisions about the food they purchase for their families,” said Steve Foglesong, NCBA president. “Cattlemen and the beef industry have a great story to tell, especially when it comes to the nutritional value of our product, and we’re fully committed to transparency as we continue to meet growing consumer demand for high-quality beef.”

American Farm Bureau Federation

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 19, 2010 – The American Farm Bureau Federation is urging members of the House to “to stand with our nation’s agriculture producers” and vote “no” on the massive bill that will dramatically transform the nation’s health care system.

In a letter sent Thursday to all members of the House, AFBF President Bob Stallman said the legislation’s “negatives of new taxes, mandates, growth in government programs and overall cost far outweigh its benefits.” Stallman said Farm Bureau strongly favors health care reform, but it must be “workable, sustainable and balanced against the overall cost of doing business.”

ESA Law Alert: Conservation Advocacy Group Files Lawsuit to Force ESA Decisions on Dozens of Pacific Northwest Species
By Ryan Steen
Stoel Rives LLP, Attorneys at Law

In February 2010, the Center for Biological Diversity (“CBD”) filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon alleging that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (the “Service”) violated the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”) by failing to take action on a number of listing petitions. The lawsuit implicates a wide range of Pacific Northwest species including the Dusky Tree Vole, the Lake Sammamish Kokanee, the Black-Footed Albatross, and 32 mollusk species. An ESA listing of any of these species could have significant implications for activities occurring in or near areas inhabited by the species.

Governor simultaneously requests a federal natural resource disaster determination
By Governor Ted Kulongoski,

(Salem) — Governor Ted Kulongoski issued Executive Order No. 10-03, determining a state of drought emergency in Klamath County as well as all bordering counties which includes Jackson, Douglas, Lane, Deschutes and Lake counties. This declaration provides the state flexible water management strategies to assist irrigators, municipalities and other water users, not generally available under Oregon law.

Governor Kulongoski also wrote to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to request a federal natural resource disaster determination. Such a determination would provide eligible farmers and ranchers with access to two other federal financial assistance programs, in addition to three federal programs that are already available.

Forest Policy Briefs
by Rex Storm, Forest Policy Manager
Associated Oregon Loggers

Chief Says Wyden Bill Wrong-Headed: Former US Forest Service Chief Jack Ward Thomas wrote a guest opinion in the Oregonian newspaper, blasting US Senator Ron Wyden’s proposed bill on Eastern Oregon forests.  Thomas accurately attacked the Senator’s bill, saying, “The approach is flawed, inappropriate, less than fully-informed and has implications for management of the entire national forest system… Clearly, the governance of national forests is dysfunctional due to numerous, overlapping, contradictory laws continuously and variously interpreted by the courts. That’s the problem. Would it not be better to recognize and comprehensibly address that dysfunction?”

Ag Workers Seek Work Elsewhere: Oregon’s agriculture industry saw only a 2.2% year-over-year employment drop in the second quarter of 2009.  While the decline isn’t as severe as in the logging industry, ag workers are finding it increasingly difficult to find work in their specialty.  Ag employment experts suggest that large numbers of unemployed ag workers will retrain, relocate and ultimately leave the sector for jobs in other industries—thereby being unavailable for agriculture job openings when ag markets improve.  We suspect that this sort of exodus is occurring in the now-unemployed segment of the forest sector workforce.