Archives

March 22, 2012 - Redefinition of Southern Oregon farm-forest land goes to rulemaking

By Michael Gelardi Davis, Dwight & Tremaine LLP Oregon law firm A budgetary earmark passed by the 2012 Oregon legislature allows three southern Oregon counties to move forward with efforts to rezone local farm and forest lands for other uses. In order to rezone land, however, the counties must first […]


March 21, 2012 - Wolf Delisting Update

Wolf Delisting Update Washington Farm Bureau March 16, 2012 In a great decision issued by the 9th Circuit , the court ruled that Congress can indeed delist a species. In a rider to a budget bill last April, Congress ordered the delisting of the Northern Rocky Mountain wolf population. This […]


March 20, 2012 - Retail rebounds for Oregon outdoor lifestyle industry

Retail sales improve in February By Curt Kipp, Dailyu Digger Oregon Association of Nurseries Retailers — particularly those geared toward the outdoor lifestyle — did much better in February than they did a year ago, according to new figures released by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The numbers indicate that […]


March 19, 2012 - Dueling lawsuits on Murrelet Habitat

By Rex Storm Associated Oregon Loggers Too Little Murrelet Habitat Contested: On January 19th, three environmental groups filed a 60-day notice of intent to sue the state of Oregon for alleged federal violations of the Endangered Species Act. The notice claims that logging in the Elliott, Tillamook and Clatsop state […]


March 18, 2012 - OSU Ag dean accepts Obama appointment

OSU ag dean leaving for DC post By Kurt Kipp Oregon Association of Nurseries Sonny Ramaswamy, the Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences at Oregon State University, is leaving. President Obama has appointed him as the new director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). NIFA replaced […]


March 17, 2012 - Deadline pressed for new Farm Bill

Wheat President Calls for Farm Bill Reauthorization By Sept. 30 National Association of Wheat Growers NAWG President Erik Younggren called on Congress Thursday to approve new farm policy legislation before the 2008 Farm Bill expires on Sept. 30. Testifying before the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee on safety net […]


March 16, 2012 - Farmers press for farm vehicle exemption

AFBF Supports Farm Truck Measures in Transportation Bill By American Farm Bureau Federation The American Farm Bureau Federation is supporting measures to make certain farm vehicles exempt from federal motor vehicle regulations that are appropriately aimed at the long-haul trucking industry. AFBF is urging senators to support two amendments to […]


March 15, 2012 - Merkley-DeFazio: Reform visa program that hires foreign workers over Oregon ones

Merkley, DeFazio Introduce Bill to Ensure Americans Get Hired for Forest Work — Legislation Will Reform Temporary Visa Program Sen. Jeff Merkley, Congressman Peter DeFazio Press Release Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Rep. Peter DeFazio introduced The American Jobs in American Forests Act to tighten restrictions on a visa program […]


March 14, 2012 - Final Legislative Review of Ag Bills

By Oregon Farm Bureau Legislative Wrap-up On Monday, March 5, 2012, the first annual even-year “short” session adjourned. While Legislative leadership limited the number of bills introduced, the scope and size of the issues were large and encompassing. This made many in and out of the Capitol wonder if 35 […]


March 13, 2012 - Oregon removes bald eagles from Endangered list

By Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission today approved removing the bald eagle from the Oregon Endangered Species List. Commissioners called recovery of bald eagles in Oregon a great success made possible through the cooperation of many agencies, landowners and other partners. Biologists estimated […]