Archives

January 31, 2013 - Oregon’s $63M Rural Funds, WA lawmaker’s timber plea, Walden…

Timber News Update by Rex Storm, Forest Policy Manager Associated Oregon Loggers Counties Receive Rural Schools Funds Paid:  USDA Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in January announced the US Treasury paid $323 million to counties within 41 states having national forests.  The fiscal year 2013 payment is the last to support […]


January 30, 2013 - Protest over NM coyote killing contest

Activists protest New Mexico coyote killing contest Activists are protesting a coyote killing contest sponsored by Gunhawk Firearms of Los Lunas, New Mexico. The idea is for teams to shoot as many coyotes as possible during a certain weekend. The activist group Animal Protection of New Mexico has organized a […]


January 29, 2013 - Ag Dept. makes policy recommendations to Kitzhaber

Biennial report to the governor & legislature provides priority policy recommendations By Oregon Dept. of Agriculture The State Board of Agriculture has completed one of its primary biennial tasks and is ready to share the results with Oregon’s governor and legislature. The 2013 Oregon State of the Agriculture Industry Report […]


January 28, 2013 - Oregon bills that impact farmers

By Oregonians for Food and Shelter Several bills that are important of OFS members were introduced while the legislature was in town last week.  They are giving us a flavor of what challenges we will be facing this year. Below is a list of issues that we know we will […]


January 27, 2013 - Corn syrup not to blame for nation’s obesity

By Cindy National Corn Growers Association In 2012, Americans consumed less high fructose corn syrup per person than they have since 1997. Dieters, who have become increasingly conscious of calories in HFCS sweetened beverages such as soda, have dropped their HFCS consumption but not the extra weight. Levels of obesity […]


January 26, 2013 - USDA micro-farmer loans applauded

By National Farmers Union  National Farmers Union applauds U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on today’s announcement of a new microloan program designed to help small and family operations, beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers secure loans under $35,000. “The next generation of family […]


January 25, 2013 - 2013 Farm Bill emerges in Senate

American Farm Bureau “The American Farm Bureau Federation is pleased that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has introduced in the 113th Congress the same version of the farm bill that was passed by the Senate last session. We are also encouraged to hear that Sen. Reid is making the […]


January 24, 2013 - Forest Certification: Are we paying more for less?

American Consumer research Institute for Citizen Research Earlier this year, the American Consumer Institute started studying issues surrounding “forest certification” and their impact on domestic timber and consumer markets.  These are under the radar issues for many Americans, but they are important to raise because they impact consumer perception of […]


January 23, 2013 - Coming to Oregon: Super Fish or Frankenfish?

A company called AquaBounty is helping to bring genetically-engineered salmon to Oregon. Oregonians for Food and Shelter calls the super-fish safe and well monitored by the FDA. But the Center for Food Safety says it is more like Frankenfish. Watch the KATU-TV News story below.


January 22, 2013 - Food label petition starts in Washington

By NW Food Processors Association Northwest Food Processors Association (NWFPA) responded in opposition to I-522, an initiative that would require Washington-only labels on thousands of common food products. Similar to Prop 37—which failed in California—Initiative 522 would require labels on any food products sold in Washington that contain genetically modified […]