by Cathryn Corn Commentary National Association of Wheat Growers Rural America, in large part, votes. With a keen awareness of how government policies and regulations directly impact their operations, farmers head to the polls. While most farmers actively support candidates who value agriculture, understand the impact of over-regulation and who […]

by Rex Storm, Forest Policy Manager Associated Oregon Loggers Forest Owners React to Fire Suit: The fallout from the punitive US Forest Service lawsuit that extracted over $122 million in a fire damage settlement from Sierra Pacific Industries has Oregon landowners scrambling to prevent similar attacks by Obama administration federal […]

By Idaho Forest Products Commission Had enough of the fire and smoke this summer? Part of the reason for wildfires burning in Idaho this year is because the state’s national forests are overstocked with dead and dying trees, and timber harvest levels are nearly at an all-time low. In hopes […]

Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals Clarifies Permitting Pathways for Wine Businesses on Farmland By Michael Gelardi Davis Dwight & Tremaine LLP Oregon business law firm The Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) has issued two important new decisions regarding wine businesses on Exclusive Farm Use (EFU) land. Across […]

Farm Trucks with US DOT No. – Aggressive Marketing! By Oregon Farm Bureau In recent weeks, we have received numerous inquiries regarding companies using aggressive marketing tactics to sell supervisor training (see: sample advertisement) to employers who may be subject to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s drug and alcohol […]

By Stephen Pociask American Consumer Institute  The familiar saying “you get what you pay for” applies in many circumstances. Under certain conditions, however, this statement can be very misleading. For example, when customers pay a higher price for wood and paper products with “green” labels, they may not actually be […]

Governor Brown Signs into Law Sweepstakes and Contests Bill for Wine, Beer and Spirits Licensees By Wine Institute Governor Jerry Brown has signed the Wine Institute-sponsored SB 778 (Padilla), the bill that allows manufacturers or licensed suppliers of wine, beer or spirits to conduct consumer sweepstakes and contests in California. […]

By National Association of Wheat Growers The 2008 law governing many of our nation’s farm policies expired on Sunday, September 30th, and the 2012 Farm Bill needed to replace it is bottled up in Congress. While the Senate and the House Agriculture Committees were both able to pass their versions […]

Breaking the LEED Monopoly Will Create Opportunity for Rural Oregon By Bruce Hanna Co-Speaker Oregon House From commercial buildings to manufacturing to packaging and distribution, sustainability has become an integral part of nearly every business practice.  For Douglas and Lane Counties, whose timber and wood products sectors are vital to […]

American Forest Reserach Council The American Forest Resource Council today announced it has withdrawn its administrative action concerning the Friese Camp Forest Management Project on the Medford District of the Bureau of Land Management.  No timber harvesting would have been stopped by the protest filed in late August.  However, AFRC […]