Archives

November 6, 2020 - Labor Dept. extends farmworker pay rule

By American Farm Bureau Federation, The Department of Labor announced that it will stabilize the wages paid to guest farmworkers. The Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) will remain at 2020 rates for the next two years. The following statement may be attributed to American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall: “Farmers […]


November 2, 2020 - Wyden criticizes DEA over Hemp processing rule

By US Senator Ron Wyden Press Release, Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley expressed strong objections to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)’s unilateral and uncalled for actions on hemp that run counter to the 2018 Farm Bill and congressional intent by treating this legal crop as a Schedule I […]


October 30, 2020 - Ranchers applaud gray wolf rule

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Leaders from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Public Lands Council (PLC) joined Department of the Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Aurelia Skipwith in Minnesota to mark the historic announcement that gray wolves in the contiguous 48 United […]


October 28, 2020 - Gov. subverts public process with last-minute Executive Order

By Oregon Farm Bureau Oregon Farm Bureau is dismayed by the Governor’s decision to release a last-minute Executive Order extending the rules for employer-provided agricultural housing and shocked that the Governor would add criminal penalties to the enforcement of these rules. Adoption of the original temporary COVID-19 rules for agriculture […]


October 26, 2020 - Farmers grassroots summit Nov. 9th

OFS Grassroots Summit By Oregonians for Food and Shelter, With community papers reeling from economic hardship and hurting for print ready content, there is no better time to put fingers to keyboard and seize this great opportunity to advance conversations about natural resources. OFS is excited to present a workshop […]


October 23, 2020 - Agritourism provides hope for younger farmers

By Cyndie Shearing American Farm Bureau Federation, Incorporating agritourism into a farm or ranch offers numerous benefits, but it’s best to start this new aspect of your business gradually. That’s according to a trio of young farmers and ranchers who recently addressed grassroots Farm Bureau members about their real-world experiences […]


October 21, 2020 - Walden: How much more of our forest must burn?

Congressman Greg Walden, Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) penned an op-ed in The Washington Examiner in response to the deadly fires in Oregon and the need for modernizing forest management policies. So far this year, fires have burned over one million acres in Oregon. Over the weekend, Walden brought Federal […]


October 20, 2020 - President: ‘Green’ policies must be realistic

By California Farm Bureau, There’s been a lot going on, what with harvest continuing amid the pandemic, the terrible wildfires and an active election season, so you may not have noticed a couple actions taken by Gov. Gavin Newsom that could have wide-ranging and long-lasting impacts on rural California. Most […]


October 16, 2020 - Current status of voter turnout

By American Farm Bureau, As of October 14, less than three weeks before Election Day, voters have cast over 14.2 million ballots nationwide. This equates to 9.6% of all votes cast in the 2016 election. Ten states have already surpassed 20% of their 2016 turnout, including the critical swing states […]


October 14, 2020 - Wildfires impact on wine industry

By Oregon Family Farm Association, Willamette Valley vintners who suffered smoke damage to their grape crops in years past face more serious threats this year—the destruction of their crops by wildfires. Dry weather and wind fueled wildfires throughout Oregon, Washington and California this fall, including the 875-acre Chehalem Mountain-Bald Peak […]