Archives

May 18, 2016 - Ag awards wolf grants to stem 36% rise

The Oregon Department of Agriculture The Oregon Department of Agriculture has approved $129,664 in funding distributed to 13 counties as part of the Oregon Wolf Depredation Compensation and Financial Assistance County Block Grant Program. Funds for 2016 have been distributed for actual livestock losses or injuries caused by wolves, for […]


May 16, 2016 - Reasons for optimism in timber, logs

By Rick Sohn, PhD Umqua Coquille LLC Timber Industry Report April 27, 2016 While lumber production is slow and prices are low, there are favorable trends in mortgage rates and steady increase in home value nationally. Pockets of demand for homes and apartments in cities has created serious localized shortages […]


May 13, 2016 - Farmer’s Right to (data) Privacy

 By American Farm Bureau Federation Farmers and ranchers want to control the information their equipment collects every time it passes through a field, a survey released today by the American Farm Bureau Federation shows. Farmers also believe that creating a cooperative-style central repository for their data is the best way […]


May 11, 2016 - BOLI over-reaches on minimum wage rule

By Oregon Farm Bureau, The Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) recently released draft rules to implement the new minimum wage law passed in Feb. 2016. We need your help to make sure the voice of small businesses and farmers is represented during the public comment period! BOLI’s draft rules […]


May 9, 2016 - Ag Dept. unveils Hemp rules

By the Oregon Department of Agriculture The Oregon Department of Agriculture has adopted temporary administrative rules to implement legislative changes to the state’s industrial hemp program. The rules, which take effect immediately, modify production and handling requirements for registered growers and handlers of industrial hemp. Several modifications are now in […]


May 6, 2016 - Labor Visa backlogs put 2016 crops at risk

By American Farm Bureau Federation Agency delays in processing visas for workers who tend and harvest America’s food crops are fast approaching crisis proportions, all but guaranteeing that crops will rot in the field on many farms this year, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said today. Communications with […]


May 4, 2016 - Oregon Ag hurt daily with trade delay

By Oregon Cattlemen Association Everyday Congress waits to pass the Trans Pacific Partnership; the Oregon cattle industry is hurt by export tariffs that could be addressed with the passing of TPP. Jerome Rosa, executive director of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, is currently in Washington D.C. with 6 other OCA members. […]


May 2, 2016 - Update: ODFW funding, Energy Tax Credits, Natural gas

State Senator Doug Whitsett, Even though the 2016 Oregon Legislative Assembly has adjourned, many of its committees, task forces and work groups continue to meet in the interim between sessions.  I was back in Salem for three interim meetings that covered a variety of topics of interest to residents throughout […]


April 29, 2016 - Senate vote hurts Western States

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Votes for permanent reauthorization of controversial federal land acquisition fund WASHINGTON– As part of the Energy Security and Research Bill (S.2012) passed  by the U.S Senate, the Senate inappropriately included a provision permanently reauthorizing the $900 million Land and Water Conservation Fund with a requirement that […]


April 27, 2016 - Good news on Spotted Frog

By Oregon Farm Bureau, Central Oregon farmers and irrigation mired in the spotted frog issue twice had reason to celebrate in recent weeks. On March 22, the Federal Judge Ann Aiken denied WaterWatch of Oregon and the Center for Biological Diversity’s preliminary motion to restrict irrigation flows in their Endangered […]