Archives

June 26, 2011 - Food police and farmers

When Did Food Become So Complicated? Bob Stallman, President American Farm Bureau Federation Sustainability. Organic. Biotech. Big Ag. Local. Pure. These are just a few labels being tossed around freely to discuss something that I’ve always thought of as a pretty simple and straight-forward concept: Eating.  There is no doubt […]


June 25, 2011 - Congress hears ideas to make farms more efficient

Grower Testifies on Making Farm Programs More Efficient By National Association of Wheat Growers Producers’ experiences with USDA’s local offices working to deliver farm and conservation programs can be dramatically improved by streamlining programs and using more Internet and cell phone communication, Washington state wheat farmer Brett Blankenship testified to […]


June 24, 2011 - 2010 Oregon timber harvest rebounds from record low

2010 Oregon timber harvest rebounds from record low By Oregon Dept. of Forestry Although Oregon’s forest products industries are still struggling, a glimmer of hope appeared with increased timber harvesting in 2010. Overcoming a weak housing market and tightened lending standards, the 2010 harvest hit 3.2 billion board feet, a […]


June 23, 2011 - Farmers ready to fight E-Verify bill

By Christine Souza California Farm Bureau Federation Unless it contains a viable program for agriculture, farm groups say they are prepared to oppose legislation introduced in Congress last week that would require all U.S. employers to check work authorizations against the federal database known as E-Verify. The Legal Workforce Act, […]


June 21, 2011 - Agreement reached on Wolf Bill

Legislature & Stakeholders Agree On Wolf Compensation Bill By Oregon Farm Bureau Legislative Leadership moved HB 3650 to the Full Ways & Means Committee. HB 3650 was carefully negotiated by Farm Bureau, Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, Defenders of Wildlife and the Governor’s Office. The Legislation creates a wolf compensation fund at […]


June 20, 2011 - Senator: New water rules are extreme and impossible

EQC adopts Administrative Rules for Water Quality Standards in Oregon Senator Doug Whitsett Thursday in Pendleton, TAPS were played for the future of Oregon’s natural resources based economy, and the private sector jobs they sustain. The Oregon Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) adopted, by Administrative Rule, new Oregon water quality standards […]


June 19, 2011 - 87% of food items survey increased in price

Energy Cost Run-up Drives Retail Food Prices in Second Quarter By American Farm Bureau Federation, WASHINGTON, D.C., June 9, 2011 – Retail food prices at the supermarket increased during the second quarter of 2011, according to the latest American Farm Bureau Federation Marketbasket Survey. The informal survey shows the total […]


June 18, 2011 - Senate ethanol vote leaves everyone confused, questions unanswered

Renewable Fuels Association, For ethanol interests, the United States Senate was a cauldron of confusion this week. In rapid succession, the Senate voted to keep ethanol tax credits through the end of the year, to repeal those tax credits immediately, and then to allow federal funds to assist in the […]


June 17, 2011 - Oregon opens arms to China’s biggest retailers

China Inbound Retail Buyers Visit By NW Food Processors Association The Oregon Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the USDA Agricultural Trade Office in Shanghai, is pleased to provide you with a unique opportunity to meet with some of China’s leading retail and retail distribution firms. The Chinese market continues […]


June 16, 2011 - Ag could lose their farm vehicle exemptions

The FMCSA Rulemaking Explained By Oregon Farm Bureau Federation Many members have inquired about the proposed rulemaking by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to regulate farm vehicles as commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) thus precluding exemptions for farm vehicles under both state and federal laws. Below is a brief […]