By U.S. Wine Institute U.S. wine exports, 90% from California, reached a new record of $1.39 billion in winery revenues in 2011, an increase of 21.7% compared to 2010. Volume shipments were up 5.8% to 455.7 million liters or 50.6 million nine-liter cases. “The quality, diversity and value of California […]

By Rick Sohn, Umpqua Coquille LLC, All indicators are moving in a positive direction this month, including the seemingly negative unsold inventory. The four-year trends of lumber, logs, housing, and mortgage statistics are shown below. Information and interpretation. Every statistic shows reason for optimism this month, even unsold inventory.

Wolf OR7 crossed back into Oregon March 1 BY Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (NRR Note: Photo of Wolf OR-10 by ODFW) SALEM, Ore.—Wolf OR7 was located in Oregon for the first time since late December at noon yesterday, March 1. As of midnight last night, OR7 was in […]

Oregon commodity commissions seeking applicants By Oregon Dept. of Agriculture The Oregon Department of Agriculture is seeking applicants to fill 78 positions on the state’s 23 agricultural and commercial fishery commodity commissions. ODA Director Katy Coba appoints commissioners to make decisions about how to use producer assessments on promotion, education, […]

US House Passes Legislation to End “Man-Made Drought” in California by National Cattlemen’s Beef Association The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley Water Reliability Act (H.R. 1837) in a bipartisan vote of 246 to 175. The legislation, introduced by Congressman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), will end a “man-made […]

Crumbling Locks and Dams Endanger Farmer Profitability Deteriorating condition of the U.S. lock and dam system puts the competiveness of U.S. soybean farmers at risk according to a soybean checkoff funded study. By Soybean Transportation Coalition The study, “America’s Locks & Dams: A Ticking Time Bomb for Agriculture,”highlights how farmers […]

Draft Spotted Owl Critical Habitat Rule Continues Administration’s Failed Forestry Policies American Forest Research Council The timber industry is unimpressed with the Obama Administration’s latest efforts to cloak its failed forest policies in the rhetoric of forest restoration, jobs and old growth protection. In a press conference, Interior Secretary Ken […]

Oregon marine reserves greatly expanded By Oregon Sportsmen Association Oregon’s state senate approved a new marine reserve bill, thereby creating three additional protected areas extending for three miles off the state’s coast (and giving the state a total of five such protected areas). One caveat: the protection doesn’t actually start […]

Forest Policy Briefs by Rex Storm Associated Oregon Loggers False Media Reports of Rule Change: Early January’s news media reports erroneously stated that, “…the Oregon Board of Forestry decided to strengthen the state’s logging regulations to better protect water quality in streams. The board voted to revise the state Forest […]

Legislative Update: Water Bill, Wolf Bill & Farm Tax Credit By Oregon Farm Bureau Water is for fighting……..Oregon Farm Bureau entered the February session with one mission: to promote policies that directly relate to economic growth in the natural resources sector. We are disappointed with inability to agree on policies […]