By Natural Resource News Note, A 64-square-mile lake in the high desert of south-central Oregon dried up again last year—and it’s possibly the fault of a dam erected upstream in 1994 using government subsidies. During an extremely dry and hot year in 2014, Lake Abert, the state’s only saltwater lake, […]

By Oregonians for Food and Shelter, Legislative Update The Legislature commenced the 2022 Legislative Session last week. Proceedings began on Tuesday, and immediately, the House elected Rep. Dan Rayfield as the new House Speaker. The first week was relatively drama free, as virtual committee hearings began. OFS is tracking and […]

By National Cattlemen Beef Association, During the 2022 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show, the executive committee of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) approved the organization’s 2022 policy priorities with an emphasis on strengthening the economic, environmental and social sustainability of the cattle industry. NCBA’s policy priorities include: […]

By Oregon Farm Bureau California and Washington are the only states that have mandated a 40-hour workweek threshold for agriculture. 48 other states allow for more flexibility to accommodate the unique, seasonal needs of agriculture and times of peak harvest. An Oregon solution must preserve farmworkers’ jobs, recognize Oregon’s family […]

By Oregonians for Food and Shelter, Legislative Update Last week week the Oregon legislature published the set of bills that will be introduced for consideration in the upcoming short legislative session. In addition to monitoring a couple of major bills impacting timber (Private Forest Accord) and agriculture (overtime), OFS has […]

By Oregon Small Business Association Foundation, The first month of the commercial Dungeness crab season in Oregon has surpassed the yield of the entire season last year. The season opened on time Dec. 1 for the first time in seven years, despite worker shortages and rough weather, according to the […]

By American farm Bureau Federation, A new vaccine mandate on essential workers coming into the U.S. will further complicate supply chain issues. Micheal Clements shares more from the American Farm Bureau Federation. Clements: A new vaccine mandate on essential workers entering the United States means more supply chain disruptions are […]

By Oregon Small business Association Foundation, With commercial fishing of salmon cut in half by drought, most of Oregon’s congressional delegation wants the U.S. Department of Commerce to declare “a catastrophic regional fishery disaster” as requested by Gov. Kate Brown. Between 2013 and 2017, the commercial Chinook haul was worth […]

By American Farm Bureau Federation, The Chief Economist of the nation’s largest general farm organization says the coming year should include higher prices for many crops but rising input costs will remain a challenge. Micheal Clements shares more on what to look for in 2022. Clements: Lingering issues from the […]

By Taxpayers Association of Oregon Foundation Oregonians who use natural gas could see their rates increase by nearly 10 percent if regulators grant a request from NW Natural—its second rate hike in three years. The average residential rates would increase from $63 to $70 a month, according to the Portland […]