US Senator Ron Wyden Press Release, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley  urged federal officials to make much-needed federal timber sales payments as quickly as possible to Oregon counties in need of funding for schools, roads and law enforcement. In letters to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and Agriculture Secretary […]

By Rick Sohn, PhD Umqua Coquille LLC Interest rates continue a rapid rise, and last month’s good housing starts report turned out to be a bubble. Other than that, trends are positive or steady. Recent trends of lumber, logs, home construction, and housing markets, are compared to 2009 and 2005. […]

By National Association of Wheat Growers The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) and the U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) welcome two trade dispute actions by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) challenging Chinese government policies that distort the wheat market and harm wheat growers throughout the rest of the world by […]

 Oregon Association of Nurseries When it comes to water issues, the Oregon Association of Nurseries is very active and involved, OAN Executive Director Jeff Stone said. Stone was a guest on the Water Zone talk radio program last week, which originates in Loma Linda, California. He gave the nursery industry […]

Oregon Farm Bureau, We offer a heartfelt thanks to the more than 200 Farm Bureau members who traveled from all parts of the state to attend the 84th OFB Annual Meeting, Dec. 6-8 at the Salem Convention Center. Volunteer leaders were honored, experts shared useful knowledge in a variety of […]

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association After reviewing the report released on Wednesday by the Endangered Species Coalition, entitled “Removing the Walls to Recovery: Top 10 Species Priorities for a New Administration,” the Public Lands Council and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association announced today several additional species overlooked by the report.

By Oregonians for Food and Shelter It was a busy week around Salem as legislators gathered for the December Legislative Days . As is the case with all interim legislative committee meetings, they don’t consider any bills but hold “informational hearings” that give a preview of the issues that are […]

By Rick Sohn, PhD Umqua Coquille LLC Housing starts achieved a new 9-year high, while interest rates jumped 56 basis points to 4.03%. Logs topped 700 for the first time in 20 months. Recent trends of lumber, logs, home construction, and housing markets, are compared to 2009 and 2005. * […]

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Proposed Tax Regulation Threaten Multigenerational Cattle Operations Cattlemen Call for Proposed IRS Regulation to be Withdrawn  The Internal Revenue Service hosted a public hearing on a Department of Treasury proposed rule that would eliminate or greatly reduce available valuation discounts for family-related entities. Kevin Kester, National […]

By Oregonians for Food and Shelter In late 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a major update to the Worker Protection Standards (WPS). These rules apply when most pesticide products are used on an agricultural establishment. You can read the updated EPA rules HERE. And an OFS overview can […]