Oregon Cascade Policy Institute By William Newell In February, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 4126. This bill would allow utilities to purchase renewable energy certificates, or RECs, to meet Oregon’s renewable portfolio standards, rather than actually purchasing electricity produced by renewable sources. The bill is simply “greenwashing.” “Greenwashing” is […]

State clarifies role over GM crops Natural Resource News Note: The Oregon Department of Agriculture said this week that they are limited on their regulatory authority over GM farms. The discussion was featured in the Capitol Press this week. For biotech crops that remain regulated by the federal government, the […]

Oregon Farm Bureau “Farmland” by Oscar winner James Moll to be shown in Portland on May 15 Academy Award®-winning filmmaker James Moll’s new feature length documentary, Farmland, will make its Oregon debut on May 15 at Portland’s Century 16 Eastport Plaza theater, 4040 SE 82nd Ave. in Portland. Farmland offers […]

By Cindy National Corn Growers Association Agriculture is a big part of the new White House climate change assessment report out this week. “Corn producers in Iowa, oyster growers in Washington state and maple syrup producers in Vermont are all observing climate-related changes that are outside of recent experience,” the […]

By Daily Digger Oregon Association of Nurseries Judge sides with growers in ‘hot goods’ issue A federal judge has confirmed an earlier ruling that two Oregon blueberry farmers were coerced into signing a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor over alleged labor law violations. According to the ruling, the […]

Natural Resource Note: The Oregon Hatchery Research Center is trying to fix a growing problem among fishermen which is hatchery fish are less likely to bite than wild fish.   Can science save the day?   Below is a news clip on these developments that made national ABC News. A growing body […]

By Rick Sohn, p.H.D Umpqua Coquille LLC Prices are down some, and rental rates are up. This is not a very exciting Spring for wood products manufacturers. It would not take much to upset a fragile recovery. Recent lumber manufacturing, home construction, and housing markets from selected years are compared. […]

By American Farm Bureau Federation Farmers and ranchers need tax certainty to thrive in a modern economy, and making permanent deductions that expired in 2013 is a good first step, the American Farm Bureau Federation told the House Ways and Means Committee. “One of the major goals of tax reform […]

The No on Measure 15-119 campaign (Protect Oregon farmers) against the GMO ballot Measure in Jackson County has released a new ad. This ad focuses on the public safety impact of Measure 15-119. It features a former Jackson County Sheriff. See video clip below. C.W. Smith | No on Measure […]

By Oregon Department of Agriculture, ODA issues civil penalties for CAFO violations in 2013 During 2013, the Oregon Department of Agriculture Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) Program had an average of 519 facilities registered to a CAFO Permit. Program staff conducted 721 inspections with facility operators. During 2013, the program […]