Archives

August 12, 2015 - Drought: Why California is not Australia

California Farm Bureau By Chris Scheuring There has certainly been a great deal of furious legislative and administrative activity in the halls of government in this season of drought—some of it essential and very timely, and some of it simply opportunistic. The Farm Bureau team in Sacramento has been front […]


August 10, 2015 - Blueberry farms close to breaking record

By Oregon Department of Ag. One of the earliest blueberry harvests in decades is now underway in Oregon and, by the end of the season, it could be one for the record books. A mild winter and spring has led to excellent growing conditions. Combined with an increase in acres […]


August 7, 2015 - Farmers need broadband

By American Farm Bureau Federation The digital economy is rapidly growing, and farmers and ranchers who can’t keep up are being left in the dust. Broadband services play an integral part in the global economy, and those without access can easily fall behind in the rapidly expanding global market. Farmers […]


August 5, 2015 - GMO Ballot Initiative Rejected

GMO Ballot Initiative Rejected By Oregon Family Farm Association A ballot initiative seeking to overturn Oregon laws pre-empting local control over GMOs and pesticides has hit a roadblock. The initiative sought to give counties and cities immunity from the State of Oregon’s pre-emption statutes and sole jurisdiction. Proponents of the […]


August 3, 2015 - Sage-grouse rules adopted

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife The Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted amended administrative rules for sage-grouse management in Oregon at its meeting in Salem. The new rules require mitigation actions to offset impacts of large-scale and other developments such as aggregate mining, wind, solar, and geothermal energy plants. Before […]


July 31, 2015 - Senator’s bill would start a trade war

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Senator Stabenow (D-Mich.) introduced legislation that fails to fix mandatory Country-of-Origin labeling, driving the United States even closer to the forthcoming trade war with Canada and Mexico. With four decisions against the law, the World Trade Organization will soon allow Canada and Mexico to impose over […]


July 29, 2015 - House passes Klamath water bill

By Congressman Greg Walden, The U.S. House of Representatives has passed—on a bipartisan vote—a plan offered by Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) and Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) to help protect water users on the Klamath Project in Oregon and California. The proposal would confer applicant status on these users, ensuring that […]


July 27, 2015 - Rep. Clem: Farm to School

The Farm to School Bill, SB 5507, has been signed by the Governor.  Below are comments from State Representative Brain Clem Press Release . Farm to School Program to expand Statewide with new allocation By State Representatiev Brain Clem The bill contains an expansion of the Farm to School program […]


July 24, 2015 - Cattlemen lay out national agenda

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Over 600 cattlemen and women gathered in Denver, Colo., this week to discuss the policy priorities for the cattle industry for the upcoming year. Throughout the meeting, the various policy committees reviewed expiring policies and discussed proposed policy brought forward from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s […]


July 22, 2015 - Opposition mounts to Wyden’s Land Grant Act

By American Forest Resource Council The Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on the Oregon and California Land Grant Act of 2015 (S. 132), legislation sponsored by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden to change the management of O&C timberlands administered by the Bureau of Land Management. The committee […]