Archives

March 6, 2020 - Fake meat movement spurs criticism

by Colin Woodall, NCBA CEO There are countless articles about the fake meat business lately and most of them are little more than promotional pieces for the companies producing plant-based alternatives to meat. A recent Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article titled “This Anti-CEO’s Mission Impossible: Use Capitalism to Kill Meat,” […]


March 4, 2020 - Ag should attend CAT-tax listening tour

By Oregon Farm Bureau, The 2020 Short Session isn’t officially over, but the Department of Revenue (DOR) will be meeting with constituents across the state, beginning March 2, to learn more about issues with the temporary rules and implementation of the commercial activity tax (CAT). What is the CAT? Oregon’s […]


March 2, 2020 - A historic decision for Wilco farmers

By Jeff Reynolds Here is timely information I received from the Ag community that brings attention to very important issues facing Oregon farmers.   Co-Op Board Election Raises Questions Is it wise to have a small group of growers, with a vested interest and potential conflicts, have majority control on […]


February 29, 2020 - Oregon Wheat Stands with Oregon Republicans!

Oregon Wheat Growers League Pendleton, OR – The Oregon Wheat Growers League is disappointed in the breakdown of process that led to SB 1530, Cap and Trade, being pushed out of committee without adequate consideration given to the impacts such legislation would have on rural communities. We support our Senate […]


February 28, 2020 - Wyden: Backlog of Hazardous Fuels and Wildfire Prevention

Ron Wyden Press Release, In a hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., pressed the chief of the U.S. Forest Service for an update on implementation of the “fire borrowing” fix and the agency’s plans to prioritize the 2.5 million acres backlog […]


February 28, 2020 - Wildfire smoke impact on Oregon wine

James Osborne Elizabeth Tomasino Oregon State University Extension Service An increase in the frequency of wildfires in California, Oregon and Washington in recent years has exposed wine grapes in some areas to high levels of smoke. Smoke from wildfires contains a number of different volatile phenol compounds that can be […]


February 28, 2020 - Bill to help Timber farmers disaster recovery

American Farm Bureau Federation A Farm Bureau-backed bill would help timber farmers recover from natural disasters by increasing the amount of financial relief provided by the casualty loss tax deduction. The Forestry Recovery Act of 2019 (H.R. 1444) would allow timber farmers to “continue their businesses, encourage the reforestation of […]


February 26, 2020 - Top 5 ways Ag is treated unfairly

The Top Five Ways Ag Is Treated Unfairly In Oregon By Jeff Reynolds, Oregon has some of the richest, most productive farm and ranch land in North America. Yet, the agriculture sector in Oregon faces significant challenges. In fact, Oregon may represent one of the most challenging environments in the […]


February 25, 2020 - Senate GOP walkout over rejected amendments, blocked public vote on Carbon bill

Oregon State Senate Republican Press Release, Senate President Peter Courtney (D-Salem) used partisan politics on the Joint Ways and Means Committee, the most powerful budget committee in the legislature, to move SB 1530out of committee. He rigged the vote by joining the committee in an unprecetented move and cast his […]


February 24, 2020 - Legislative week Ag bills update

By Oregonians for Food and Shelter, Last week was a challenging week in Salem with several risks for those employed in natural resources, including movement on legislation that would ban chlorpyrifos (HB 4109) and continued uncertainty over cap-and-trade (SB 1530, HB 4167). OFS staff remained in the Capitol late Friday […]