Archives

October 24, 2014 - Survey: Farmers embrace Big Data (with fears)

By American Farm Bureau Federation A survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation shows more farmers are reaping the benefits of the latest agricultural technologies, but most remain wary of risks involved with big data collection. Fully 77.5 percent of farmers surveyed said they feared regulators and other government officials […]


October 22, 2014 - County pesticide measure raises concerns

Pesticide Measure Has Too Many Flaws (17-63) – Grants Pass Daily Courier Use of pesticides by businesses and governments wasnt really much of an emotional issue, until lately. The supporters Measure 17-63 have certainly turned this campaign into an emotional one. Indeed, it is difficult to argue with their main […]


October 20, 2014 - ODA: $2M in Specialty Crop block grants

By Oregon Department of Agriculture, The Oregon Department of Agriculture and US Department of Agriculture have announced this year’s recipients of Specialty Crop Block Grant Program funds. In Oregon, nearly $2 million will fund 29 projects to help boost the competitiveness of the state’s fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, nursery crops, […]


October 17, 2014 - Cattlemen to USDA – Don’t hijack the checkoff!

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association This month, 45 state cattlemens’ associations representing more than 170,000 cattle breeders, producers and feeders sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Vilsack, urging him not to issue an Order for a supplemental beef checkoff under the 1996 General Commodity Promotion, Research and Information Act. Bob McCan, […]


October 15, 2014 - Report blasts Elliott State Forest misuse

Oregon Cascade Policy Institute By Jordan Lofthouse, Randy Simmons, and John A. Charles, Jr. With Oregon’s schools constantly facing budget crises, why are our lawmakers missing out on the opportunity to give more money to our kids? As part of the Common School Trust Lands, the Elliott State Forest has […]


October 13, 2014 - Farm Bureau issues guide to measures, candidates

By Barry Bushue, President Oregon Farm Bureau Oregon Farm Bureau offers its 2014 Election Guide, designed to help Farm Bureau members select the best candidates and ballot measures for Oregon agriculture. The endorsements reflect OFB’s public policy positions, which are developed by family farmers and ranchers through an open, grassroots, […]


October 10, 2014 - EPA loses in court against farmer

By American Farm Bureau Federation West Virginia farmer Lois Alt’s victory in court stands after the five environmental groups that sided with the Environmental Protection Agency against Alt took their cue from the agency and dropped their appeal. “We are proud of Lois Alt for courageously standing by her convictions […]


October 8, 2014 - Latest wolf depredation has ranchers at crossroads

By Oregon Cattlemen Association With latest wolf depredation, Oregon ranchers now wait to see what happens next “It’s a negative thing to kill a wolf and for it to come to that. It’s one of those no-win situations that we get into as an industry.” Since 2009, Oregon ranchers have […]


October 6, 2014 - Mills $100M upgrade while Federal forests burn

By Rick Sohn, PHd, Umpqua Coquille LLC Timber Industry Report September 30, 2014 Log and lumber prices remain unseasonably strong. Family owned mills, optimistic about demand, are making over $100 million in machinery and electronics investments in the near future. Yet, regional Federal forests are drowning in wood, with nowhere […]


October 1, 2014 - Lawsuit shows contempt for rural Oregon, forest rehabilitation

By American Forest Resource Council Litigation Against Douglas Complex Salvage Project Reveals Disregard for Rural Communities, Forest Rehabilitation On August 1, Cascadia Wildlands, Oregon Wild and the Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit in Oregon federal district court to block salvage of timber from the Bureau of Land Management’s […]