By Andrew Hillard Cascade policy Institute If all goes as planned, July will be the start of a sunny future. Next month, Oregon Public Utilities will offer feed-in tariffs, or subsidies, for solar power. Under House Bill 3039, homeowners will be eligible to receive 55 to 65 cents for solar […]

Water-friendly Dishwasher Detergents Now on Oregon Grocery Shelves By Department of Environmental Quality In Oregon, a new DEQ requirement mandates that all automatic dishwasher detergents for residential use have low-phosphate formulas. Effective, July 1, the law requires that dishwasher detergents contain no more than 0.5 percent phosphorus. Because soaps designed […]

USDA Announces Recovery Act Efforts Aimed at Creating Jobs, Supporting Local and Regional Food Systems Natural Resource News (USDA) – On Monday, the USDA Deputy Undersecretary Victor Vasquez used the backdrop of a gardening project in Corvallis to announce federal support for a number of Oregon projects. Oregon joins 9 […]

Oregon blueberries enjoy local and worldwide appeal Oregon Department of Agriculture The production value of Oregon blueberries in 2007 reached nearly $65 million. Last year, with flat prices, that value was down to $37 million, making it the state’s 19th ranked agricultural commodity. This year, it should bounce back up. […]

Natural Resource News Note: Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced an agreement had been reached with all 16 private insurance companies who participated in the 2011 federal crop insurance program. The plan is designed to cut their subsidies by $6 billion over the next 10 years. […]

By Oregon Small Business Association, A sluggish economy and hard times are decimating Oregon’s dairy market, as demand and prices decline. Fewer people are buying premium cheese and milk suppliers, such as Rogue Creamery and Darigold, aren’t buying as much from farmers.  Today, a gallon of milk that may cost […]

USDA Report shows crop acreage has dropped for second straight year Natural Resource News Washington – The amount of land dedicated to crops in the United States has dropped for the second straight year in 2010, according to a report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Crop acres in […]

Forest Policy Briefs by Rex Storm, Forest Policy Manager Associated Oregon Loggers State Forestry Sees Further Budget Cuts: In May, the State Economist released the latest state revenue forecast, showing continued weakness in the economy and a $577 million shortfall in state income tax & fee revenue for the current […]

“Agvocacy”, a new word that simply means farmers and ranchers in the agriculture business are advocating for their own industry. Rather than allowing someone else to paint a picture of whether a farmer takes the proper care in producing grain, or ranchers in raising their cattle, they are stepping into […]

Progress in first year of implementing Food Safety Working Group recommendations USDA, HHS, Washington, D.C. – On Friday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius commended federal food safety agencies for their accomplishments supporting the charge of President Obama’s Food Safety Working Group, which […]