Natural Resource News Note: Jennifer Rouse wrote an interesting article in the Corvallis Gazette Times on why Oregon younger workers are disappearing from the Ag workforce. “In Oregon, 60 percent of youths aged 16-19 are neither employed nor looking for work. Sports camps, volunteer work, odd jobs, and other activities […]

Wyden Statement on Hemp Amendment to the Farm Bill Oregon Senator Ron Wyden U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement on the amendment to the Farm bill he introduced lifting prohibitions on the growing of industrial hemp: “I firmly believe that American farmers should not be denied an […]

According to National Public Radio “Al Armendariz, the former EPA Region Six administrator who resigned after controversy erupted over remarks he made about EPA enforcement, will join the Sierra Club’s “Beyond Coal” campaign, according to a statement released by the Sierra Club this afternoon. Armendariz oversaw the EPA in Texas […]

by National Cattlemen’s Beef Assocation The World Trade Organization (WTO), June 29, 2012, issued its final ruling on Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), which was originally released in November of 2011 and appealed on March 23, 2012, by the U.S. Trade Representative. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Vice President Bob […]

Cathryn, Corn Commentary National Corn Growers Association As temperatures rise and an array of fresh, vibrant produce options fills grocery baskets, the Environmental Working Group issued its annual summer scare list with this week. Deemed the “dirty dozen,” EWG again drags out its pseudoscience in the hopes of terrifying consumers, […]

Oregon’s largest egg business, Willamette Egg Farms, had a terrible incident happen on their farm where police discovered illegal cockfighting. The Salem Statesman-Journal reports, For owners of a company that prides itself on the humane treatment of its chickens, this was their worst nightmare: Police break up a cockfighting event […]

This 4rth of July I would like to honor our firemen and our foresters who work hard to protect our natural resources. This photo is from the Colorado fire when it overwhelmed entire neighborhoods this summer.

Sacrificing to the Sacred Owl By Margaret Goodwin, In ancient religions, practiced by primitive cultures, it was customary to make sacrifices to sundry gods and idols. Some of the more sanguinary cults engaged in human sacrifice. We like to consider such practices far removed from our civilized modern society. However, […]

Oregon counties get rescue timber payments By Guest Opinion Oregon counties are set to receive a much needed but short term one year extension of federal timber payments. The advancement was made possible by a last minute House-Senate conference committee agreement that is part of the federal transportation bill. The […]

WSU Extension Trains U.S. Troops on Afghanistan’s Viticulture Photo: U.S. Army Spc. Joseph Wilhelm (right), with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, patrols a grape vineyard with members of the Afghan National Army during Operation Mountain Cougar, in Char Shaka, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, on […]