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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

By American Farm Bureau, Twenty-one farm and ranch groups representing millions of U.S. farmers and ranchers are launching Farmers for a Sustainable Future (FSF), a coalition committed to environmental and economic sustainability. This coalition will serve as a primary resource for lawmakers and policymakers as they consider climate policies. The […]

State Representative Christine Drazan Release,, House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby) released the following statement on Tuesday’s expected introduction of a cap and trade bill in House Rules: “Slowing down the pace allows us to work together to govern, rather than simply substituting closed door negotiations with special interests, for […]

By Oregonians for Food and Shelter, Last week, the legislature charged closer to a meltdown as the controversial cap-and-trade bill, SB 1530, left its original committee late Thursday. Meanwhile many other committees scrambled to meet yesterday’s deadline to pass bills, even if it meant truncated time frames for public testimony […]

By National Association of Wheat Growers The White House Office of Management and Budget Acting Director Russell Vought released the President’s Fiscal Year 2021 Budget of the United States Government. In response, NAWG President and Lavon, TX wheat farmer Ben Scholz issued the following: “While NAWG continues to review the […]

By Natural Resource News Note, Greg Miller, representing several timber companies, announced a new compromise between the timber industry and environmental groups in Oregon over forest management ad logging practices. Two groups of opposing ballot measures on the issue will now be pulled in favor of a mutually agreed solution […]

Oregonians for Food and Shelter, The opening week of Oregon’s legislative session started with a flurry. The major focus was cap-and-trade, including the massive Timber Unity rally on Thursday. With only six days remaining until the first deadline to move bills out of committees, legislators scrambled to fit testimony within […]