Congressman Kurt Schrader U.S. Congressman Kurt Schrader introduced the Molalla Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, a bill that would protect more than 21 miles of the Molalla River by designating it as “recreational” under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The legislation, introduced at the request of the Molalla community, […]

By Oregon Wheat Growers League 2015 Legislative Session Updates Jana Jarvis, Paladin Public Affairs/ Amanda Dalton, Dalton Advocacy, OWGL Lobbyists SB 613 was introduced which would establish new regulations around the aerial application of pesticides including, among other requirements: 1) establishing buffers around schools, residences and waterways; 2) providing extensive […]

Problems abound with Timber Tax Bill By Taxpayer Foundation of Oregon The 2015 Legislature has resurrected a controversial Timber Tax bill from the 2014 Session.   This bill is being hailed by timber groups as costly and unmanageable, unnecessary, and with serious financial harm at a vulnerable time. Timber Tax […]

By Rick Sohn Ph.D Umpqua Coquille LLC Timber Industry Report February 27, 2015 Mortgage Interest rates are still under 4% but rising. Logs prices are dropping unseasonably, and lumber prices are lower. Yet, housing starts remain stable, and home values are still rising but gradually. Trends of lumber, home construction, […]

By Cindy National Corn Growers Association Last year at the National Ethanol Conference in Orlando, EPA’s Director of the Office of Transportation and Air Quality told the ethanol industry that the agency intended to finalize the volume requirements for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) by the end of spring 2014. […]

By Oregon Farm Bureau Wednesday was the deadline for members and committees to submit legislation. After Wednesday, each new bill introduced will count against the five bills that members are allotted for the remainder of the session. Because of this deadline, nearly 500 new bills were introduced this week alone, […]

By Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife Photo by Rick Swart/ODFW- The Oregon chub today became the first fish in the United States to be taken off the federal Endangered Species List as the result of population recovery. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the delisting  during a ceremony […]

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 636 America’s Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2015. This bill, sponsored by Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-Ohio) will make permanent the $500,000 expensing levels for small businesses under Section 179 of the tax code. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President […]

By Oregon Farm Bureau Update on Personal Property Tax Exemptions (HB 2105) HB 2105 would sunset multiple property tax exemptions in 2018, including those related related to agriculture and forestry: 307.315 – Nursery Stock 307.320 – Deciduous trees, shrubs, plants, crops, cultured Christmas trees or hardwood on ag land 307.325 […]

State Senator Herman Baertschiger Jr. aims to liberate rural communities from the tax death trap. By Taxpayer Foundation of Oregon State Senator Herman Baertschiger is bringing to light the tax death trap that rural Oregon is facing. The trap is that rural counties cannot grow due to deadlocked failed land-use […]