Archives

March 10, 2011 - Farmers use owls to kill gophers

Farmers provide homes for owls that control gophers By Steve Adler California Farm Bureau Federation Mark Browning, left, of the Pittsburgh Zoo, is doing barn owl research in a 100-acre chardonnay vineyard near Sloughhouse. Vino Farms viticulturalist Chris Storm, right, said the field being studied has had problems with gophers. […]

March 9, 2011 - 9 Ag groups oppose fee sweeping

SB 5002, Oregon Department of Agriculture Budget Oregonians For Food and Shelter: Oregon Department of Agriculture Budget (SB 5002) – On Thursday, the Ways and Means Natural Resources SubCommittee completed their hearings on the Department of Agriculture’s budget with a public hearing. A packed room of farmers, processors and many […]

March 8, 2011 - $500 Milllion ratepayer hike wasted on absent threat

$500 Million ratepayer hike wasted on absent threat in Oregon known as cryptosporidium By Natural Resource Report: The Oregonian reports that Oregonians are expected to pay over $500 million in higher utility bills to stop a parasite that does not exist in Oregon. The EPA is forcing Oregon to take […]

March 7, 2011 - Lawsuits derail local timber sales, OR trumps WA in complaince, more

Update on Current Policy News Affecting Forest Business & Timber Supply by Rex Storm, Forest Policy Manager Associated Oregon Loggers BLM Withdraws Timber Sales: The Bureau of Land Management in January unilaterally cancelled two timber sales on the Medford and Coos Bay Districts, totaling 20.9 million bdft. The Chew Choo […]

March 6, 2011 - Bill to preempt EPA regulation on Greenhouse Gas

American Farm Bureau Federation supports Bills to Preempt EPA Greenhouse Gas Regs By American Farm Bureau Federation WASHINGTON, D.C., March 3, 2011 – The American Farm Bureau Federation supports legislation introduced today in both the House and the Senate that would preempt regulation of greenhouse gases by the Environmental Protection […]

March 5, 2011 - What China’s 700 million new middle class means for Ag

Growing Middle Class Changing Dynamics in China By Marri Carrow U.S Grains Council China is a global leader in the production of a number of agricultural products – from rice to pork to milk – while also being the world’s second-largest producer of corn. Yet the country is also the […]

March 4, 2011 - Livestock theft now goes online

Livestock theft concerns rise during calving season — The internet gives rise to would-be rustlers By Oregon Department of Agriculture, A crime that has been around since the days of the old west has evolved with modern technology. Cattle rustling, or livestock theft in general, is still a major concern […]

March 3, 2011 - Senate bill would merge 10 agencies into one

Senate bill would merge 10 agencies into one Natural Resource News Note: The Oregon Senate is hearing Senate Bill 521 which would move 10 state natural resource agencies under one authority. That central agency would be the Oregon Department of Natural Resources. The Oregon Farm Bureau opposes the bill telling […]

March 2, 2011 - Prediction on Oregon home values

Timber Industry Report which includes timber, lumber prices and a prediction on Oregon home values. By Rick Sohn, Umpqua Coquille LLC Overall, the good news outweighs bad news. Some recent federal and international developments are reported. See below for details and a six-year span of prices and analysis of lumber, […]

March 1, 2011 - Business criticizes Metro 2030 plan as hurting jobs

Below is a letter from Jonathan Schlueter, Executive Director of the Westside Economic Alliance, to the Oregon Land Conservation and Development Department regarding the Metro 2030 plan: West Side Economic Alliance Re: Objections to Metro 2030 Capacity Ordinance for Housing and Employment Last month, Metro presented your agency with their […]