Archives

January 31, 2020 - Farmers need better hemp rules

By American Farm Bureau Federation, Improved testing rules, an expanded testing timeline, and clarity around hemp transportation would help farmers grow and market this new crop, the American Farm Bureau Federation said in comments submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The comments relate to USDA’s Interim Final Rule regulating […]


January 29, 2020 - Bill would dramatically rezone Oregon

By Oregon Property Owners Association, Rural property owners should pay VERY close attention to LC 83, the latest effort by the Governor to stop rural development. This time, the purported reason is wildfire prevention. The bill directs the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) to create a “statewide […]


January 28, 2020 - OSU $3.3M study on plastics and sea life

Oregon State University Extension office, Oregon State University researchers will use a $3.3 million grant from the National Science Foundation to study tiny plastics and their potential impacts on aquatic life. Microplastics are large-scale plastics that have broken down to a size that can only be seen under a microscope. […]


January 24, 2020 - New grazing regulations

National Cattlemen Beef Association, Western ranchers welcomed a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Notice of Intent (NOI), which appeared in Public Inspection and will publish in the Federal Register on January 21st, announcing that the agency is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on new grazing regulations. The NOI opened […]


January 22, 2020 - Farm Bureau’s new President Barb Iverson

By Oregon Farm Bureau, Over the years, Iverson has served as OFB 1st vice president, 2nd vice president, 3rd vice president, chair of the OFB Budget Committee, board member of the Oregon Ag Education Foundation, Clackamas County Farm Bureau president, on many OFB issue advisory committees, including labor and water, […]


January 20, 2020 - Early Ag bills in upcoming Legislature

By Oregonians for Food and Shelter, Last week the legislature convened in Salem for the January legislative and organizational days. These days are typically reserved to prepare bills and budget requests for the upcoming short session, but all that anyone could talk about was the latest version of the carbon […]


January 17, 2020 - USMCA a huge win for Mexico & US!

American Farm Bureau Federation, America’s farmers and ranchers received a second round of good news this week with Senate approval of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). At a time when farmers continue to face strong economic headwinds, the agreement is expected to increase U.S. agriculture exports by $2 billion. “This […]


January 15, 2020 - New Oregon laws for 2020

Oregon Wheat Growers League, 2019 is in the books, and as such the Oregon State Legislature passed hundreds of new bills both large and small. While we have heard of some big ones non-stop, here are a few that you may have missed. These new bills took effect on Wednesday, […]


January 10, 2020 - Spending bill: Kills heath tax, extends biodiesel credits

American Farm Bureau Federation, Legislation to fund the U.S. government in 2020 included several tax provisions important to farmers and ranchers. At the top of the list is permanent repeal of the Health Insurance Tax, which was enacted as part of the Affordable Care Act. The Health Insurance Tax has […]


January 8, 2020 - Food Study: ‘Local’ label has unexpected effect

By Dave Kranz, California Farm Bureau Words have power and one specific word—”local”—appears to have particular power in the marketing of fresh vegetables. That’s the conclusion of a study published by researchers from Cornell University in New York. According to a university news release, the Cornell researchers conducted a blind […]