Archives

May 29, 2015 - Defense bill has ESA rules on Sage Grouse, Prairie Chicken

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Defense Bill Passes with ESA Provisions on Sage Grouse and Prairie Chicken Language to block the listing of the greater sage grouse passed the House as part of the Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act. The Public Lands Council and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association […]


May 27, 2015 - Benton County rejects GMO bill by 70%

By Oregonians for Food and Shelter Benton County GMO Ban Defeated May elections can sometimes seem like minor events as the ballot usually consists entirely of local offices and levies, but for voters in Benton County, much more was on the line this week. Benton County measure 2-89 would have […]


May 25, 2015 - Disappointing trend in log & stud prices, housing starts

Timber Industry Report May 1, 2015 By Rick Sohn, PhD Umqua Coquille LLC With disappointing stud prices, log prices, and housing starts, spring is weaker than expected, more like a premature summer. Low unsold home inventory and mortgage rates do offer promise. Trends of lumber, home construction, and housing markets, […]


May 22, 2015 - House panel votes to repeal COOL labeling rule

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association The House Agriculture Committee approved legislation that would repeal Country of Origin Labeling (H.R. 2393) by a bi-partisan vote of 38 to 6. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President and Chugwater, Wyoming, cattleman Philip Ellis applauded the action. “I thank Chairman Conaway (R-Texas), Rep. Costa (D-Cali.), and […]


May 20, 2015 - Extraordinary combustion- Oregon Forests in Peril

Healthy Forest, Healthy Communities By Jodi Schneider McNamee “If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them something more than the miracles of technology. We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we […]


May 18, 2015 - Legislature ramps up Ag bills

By Oregonians for Food and Shelter Bills of Interest Scheduled for Hearings The Legislative Session is ramping back up next week with a couple of OFS priority bills up for hearings. HB 2443 – On Monday, the Natural Resources Ways & Means Subcommittee will hold a hearing on HB 2443. […]


May 15, 2015 - EPA Court case on farmer privacy

NFIB The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) urged the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit to uphold federal privacy laws and prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from releasing sensitive data on farmers and ranchers to environmental activist organizations. “The idea that the EPA has the […]


May 13, 2015 - Should wolves be delisted?

Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission  The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission  decided to direct ODFW staff to develop two options for delisting wolves from the state Endangered Species Act: one that would delist wolves in eastern Oregon (boundary Hwys 97-20-395) and one that would delist wolves statewide. The state’s Wolf […]


May 11, 2015 - Newspapers tout timber reform on Obama visit

Oregon’s top two newspapers, The Oregonian & Statesman Journal gave strong editorials on behalf of Oregon timber during Obama’s visit.  See excerpts below: From Statesman Journal Editorial Page Editor Dick Hughes: “But there’s an even more important issue that cries for your help: increasing timber harvests on federal lands.Trees are […]


May 8, 2015 - Polling results on renewable fuel

Renewable Fuels Association Morning Consult released the results of a national survey conducted on behalf of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). Morning Consult contacted 2,047 registered voters on April 5–7. The results show that Americans overwhelmingly support the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) as 62% came out in support of the […]