By Karla Kay Edwards Cascade Policy Institute, Redistricting decisions made in 2011 will have a significant impact on the future of all Oregonians. If history replays itself, Oregonians in rural areas again may become victims of poorly drawn political districts. For ten years, rural “communities of interest” have been victims […]

Report evaluates Oregon agriculture and energy — Farmers doing well in energy efficiency, but can do better By Oregon Dept. of Agriculture Some Oregon farms are doing well in becoming energy efficient, others have even started undertaking renewable energy projects. However, most farmers and ranchers across the state can and […]

House Bill 2800 connects Oregon farms with school cafeterias Oregon House Democrat Press Release Salem – The House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources approved the Oregon Farm to School Act today, sending the innovative program to Ways and Means for budgetary approval. Sponsored by Representatives Brian Clem (D-Salem) and […]

by Rex Storm, Forest Policy Manager Associated Oregon Loggers Diesel Rates Quickly Climb: The average price of Oregon diesel fuel jumped 54 cents per gallon in the last month to $4.10 per gallon, according to AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report (3/18/11). This rate is 38% above diesel prices at this time […]

Retail Food Prices Rise Slightly in First Quarter of 2011 By American Farm Bureau Federation — AFBF’s Cyndie Sirekis and AFBF economist John Anderson interview. Sirekis: Farm Bureau’s quarterly marketbasket survey tracks and reports on retail prices of 16 staple foods that can be used to prepare one or more […]

101 Members of Congress Call for EPA to Back off Dust By National Cattlemen’s Beef Association WASHINGTON (March 29, 2011) – The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Lisa Jackson received a letter today from 101 members of the U.S. House of Representatives expressing concerns about EPA’s potential revision […]

Hazing of birds in Tillamook and Nehalem bays to protect migrating juvenile salmon and steelhead begins April 1 By Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Newport, Ore.— Hazing of double-crested cormorants that eat juvenile salmon and steelhead on their migration from freshwater rivers to the sea will begin on April […]

House Budget Calls for Continuation of Secure Rural Schools By Congress Greg Walden Press Release Salem – In a welcome development out of Washington, D.C., the U.S. House Budget Committee Chair, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) made the reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 […]

By Rich Sohn Umpqua Coquile LLC, We are again near record LOW domestic housing starts and building permits, yet both Stud and Log prices increased? See below for details and a six-year span of prices and analysis of lumber, logs, housing, and mortgage stats. The domestic fundamentals, like housing starts […]

By Curt Kipp Oregon Association of Nurseries Tree prices on the rise? Are tree prices about to increase significantly? John Balfour of Bold Spring Nursery in Hawkinsville, Ga., believes the answer is yes. He explains why in this must-read blog post. Short version: it’s all about supply and demand. Nurseries […]