Natural Resource Report News Note: The Oregonian Editorial Board gave an insightful editorial on Oregon biomass.  Below is an excerpt. “A promising fraction of Oregon’s energy now comes from burning wood debris: slash piles on the forest floor from logging or thinning, naturally fallen and decaying trees within uncut forests, […]

Commission adopts updated Wolf Plan By Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife BEND, Ore.—The Commission adopted an Updated 2010 Oregon Wolf Conservation and Management Plan.The update makes minor changes to the original Plan to make it more practical. Many of the changes are intended to improve the management of wolf-livestock […]

Oregon Wheat Growers League Meetings and Luncheon Slated Oregon Wheat Growers League OWGL President Darren Padget invites the wheat grower community to actively engage in the activities planned for Tuesday, October 19th beginning with committee meetings in the morning, followed by a hosted luncheon at noon.  Meetings and the luncheon […]

Food prices drop 12% American Farm Bureau Federation WASHINGTON, D.C., October 5, 2010 – Retail food prices at the supermarket dipped slightly during the third quarter of 2010, according to the latest American Farm Bureau Federation Marketbasket Survey. The informal survey shows the total cost of 16 food items that […]

Should hunters be required to wear orange? Natural Resource News Note: Should hunters be required to wear orange is the question that the Oregon Fish and Wildife Commission took up last week.  The result was to apply an orange requirement for all young hunters in Oregon.   Bow hunters and turkey […]

By Rick Sohn Umpqua Coquille, There are incremental improvements in the stud prices and housing starts, but high log prices are squeezing mills. Banks are a continuing roadblock with loan requirements and also appraisal valuations.  See below for details and a five-year-span prices and  analysis of  lumber, logs, housing, and […]

EPA puts at risk Oregon biomass By Thomas McLain Oregon State University professor The Environmental Protection Agency recently adopted new rules that have the potential to quash Oregon’s efforts to create renewable energy from biomass. Unless changed, next January the EPA will consider the emissions from burning biomass to be […]

Genetically engineered fish is answer to seafood crisis By James Greenwood CEO of the Biotechnology Industry Organization Right now, the government is deciding whether it’s safe for us to eat genetically engineered salmon. The fish, called AquAdvantage, is being developed by a Massachusetts biotech firm and is in every measurable […]

Treasurer Wheeler urges better regulation of coal ash to reduce health risks and lessen need for costly cleanups — As a major investor, Oregon supports responsible corporate practices and sensible regulations Oregon State Treasurer SALEM – Oregon State Treasurer Ted Wheeler is asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to better […]

ODA awards $1.75 million in federal funds to 24 projects by Oregon Department of Agricultre Oregon’s specialty crop industry is hoping to increase its success in the marketplace with the help of $1.75 million in federal funds authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill. The money will fund 24 projects selected […]