How ‘green’ is your Christmas tree? by Lynn Ketchum Oregon State University Extension Office CORVALLIS, Ore. — Bring home a Christmas tree that is both green and “green,” and you’ll enjoy its fragrance while knowing that it is 100 percent recyclable. When people ask what kind of Christmas tree is […]

By U.S. Grains Council Kevin Latner, USGC director in China, answers five questions regarding the state of the market and future of agriculture in China. 1. With China’s increasing population and demand for products, what role do you see U.S. farmers playing in China? China’s urban middle class is expected […]

By National Association of Wheat Growers, The House and Senate Agriculture Committees will have new leadership in January following midterm elections Tuesday that promise to dramatically change the power dynamic in Washington. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee Chairman Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) lost her bid for reelection to John Boozman […]

Editorial Pick of the month: The huge cost of fast trains By Democrat Herald, Hasso Herring Oregon and the federal government are about to spend another $10 million or so on planning for high-speed rail in the corridor from Eugene to Portland via Albany and Salem. It’s time for a […]

Study on trees fighting crime is flawed By Patrick Emerson Oregon Economics Blog Once again I am moved to post on my favorite bugaboo: mistaking correlation with causation. This time the subject is a study of the affect of neighborhood trees on crime in Portland that The Oregonian reports. Part […]

Timber Industry Report By Rick Sohn Umpqua Coquille LLC Lumber continues to strengthen, while Housing Starts and Permits move sideways. Chinese purchasing may be the cause, according to Random Lengths. Watch for mortgage interest rates to drop even lower! See below for details and a five-year-span of prices and analysis […]

Wasco County a primary natural disaster area U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Oct. 25, 2010 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated Wasco County in Oregon as a natural disaster area because of losses caused by the combined effects of a freeze, high winds and excessive rain that occurred April […]

By National Corn Growers Association, One of the chief arguments used by opponents of Proposition B in Missouri, which passed by a small margin in Tuesday’s election and restricts the size of dog breeding facilities and places burdens on them it exempts others from, was that it was a “foot […]

NCBA: Fixing the Death Tax is Lame Duck Priority National Cattlemen’s Beef Association WASHINGTON (Nov. 2, 2010) – As the American people vote today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) reminds the current members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate that there is still work to be […]

2010 Election Impacts on Ethanol, Biofuels Policy Bob Dinneen, President and CEO Renewable Fuels Association As expected, Republicans made tremendous gains last night. While some races are not yet final, it is clear that Washington will be a more Republican town in January. Will that have a meaningful impact on […]