Archives

October 24, 2016 - Ag Dept. announces $1.7M specialty crop grants

The Oregon Department of Agriculture The Oregon Department of Agriculture and US Department of Agriculture have announced this year’s recipients of Specialty Crop Block Grant Program funds. In Oregon, nearly $1.7 million will fund 15 projects to help boost the competitiveness of the state’s fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, nursery crops, […]


October 19, 2016 - Doubling the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument?

By Oregon Cattlemen’s Association Oregon’s Democratic U.S. Senators have proposed an expansion to the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument that is overwhelmingly opposed by Oregon’s ranchers that make their full-time living off their ranches. Designated June 9th, 2000 by President Bill Clinton, the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument was described as a “home to […]


October 17, 2016 - 64% of farms will have new owners

By Oregon Department of Ag. It’s becoming increasingly difficult for older farmers to hand over their operations or keep them in the family. It’s as challenging as ever for younger would-be farm operators to gain access to the land. The graying of Oregon’s farmers and ranchers is an issue receiving […]


October 14, 2016 - Understanding FAA Drone Regulations

American Farm Bureau Federation, The American Farm Bureau Federation says drone users need to be aware of the specific regulations under the new Federal Aviation Administration rule. Micheal Clements has more. Clements: Drone users must abide by specific FAA regulations under a rule announced in August. That’s why the American […]


October 12, 2016 - Report: How agencies grow their power

California Farm Bureau, Emphasizing the need for congressional action, farm groups renewed their call for reform of Clean Water Act enforcement, following release of a report documenting how federal agencies overreach their authority to regulate farmland. The report, issued last week by the majority staff of the U.S. Senate Environment […]


October 10, 2016 - Oregon nurseries closer to billion in sales

Oregon nurseries approach $900 million in annual sales By Curt Kipp — Posted August 23, 2016 Oregon nurseries and greenhouses sold $894 million worth of plant material in 2015, according to a new estimate by the Oregon Department of Agriculture. This was good enough to make nursery and greenhouse products […]


October 7, 2016 - AG fights backdoor estate tax

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association along with more than 3,800 organizations and family-owned enterprises sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew adamantly opposing and asking for withdrawal of the newly proposed estate tax regulations by the Department of Treasury. The proposed regulations under section 2704 of the […]


October 5, 2016 - 8 myths on Oregon sick leave

By Oregon Farm Bureau, This spring, Linn County Farm Bureau hosted two seminars about what employers have to do to comply with the new state paid sick leave law. Staff from OFB and the Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries presented an overview and took questions from attendees. Based on […]


October 3, 2016 - The past & future of Oregon’s timber industry

By Oregon Employment Department, Between 1990 and 2016, annual average employment in wood product manufacturing dropped 23,600, or 51 percent. Similar losses were experienced in all subsectors, with sawmills and wood preservation dropping 5,400 (45%); plywood and engineered wood products dropping 9,500 (53%), and all other wood product manufacturing, which […]


September 28, 2016 - Feds clarify Hemp farming rules

Congressman Kurt Schrader After Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Representatives Peter DeFazio, Kurt Schrader, Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici raised concerns about funding for industrial hemp pilot projects last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has taken a key step by clarifying which industrial hemp research programs […]