By Oregon Department of Agriculture, Senate Bill 676, passed by the 2009 Oregon Legislature, permits production and possession of industrial hemp and trade in industrial hemp commodities and products. What is industrial hemp? Industrial hemp includes a number of varieties of Cannabis sativa L. that are intended for agricultural and […]

From Oregon Association of Nurseries, Sacramento, California – The California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers (CANGC) and the Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN) today filed a suit in U.S. District Court in Columbia, South Carolina, seeking to overturn a new regulation aimed squarely at blocking California and Oregon nursery […]

From Bureau of Land Management, HINES, Oregon – For the second year in a row, the Extreme Mustang Makeover challenge is headed to the Northwest Horse Fair and Expo in Albany, Oregon. This thrilling competition will take place over three days, culminating in a fantastic freestyle event in front of […]

Northwest Food Processors Association The FDA signaled that more criminal prosecutions of corporate officials for FDA-related offenses may be on the way. Commissioner of Food and Drugs Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg March 4 said that the FDA was acting in response to an internal committee’s recommendation that the “appropriate” use […]

By Karla Kay Edwards Cascade Policy Institute, The Klamath Basin has been waging a water war of epic proportions since 2001. Although this community has had a long history of water disputes, the issue garnered national recognition in early 2001 when a drought was declared and irrigators’ water was turned […]

USDA farm income report shows modest rebound By American Farm Bureau Federation Economists often like to point out that we have two hands. “On the one hand,” they’ll say as they state a fact, and then they’ll introduce an alternative viewpoint with “on the other hand.” So it’s no surprise […]

DEQ Report Concludes Up to $1.2 Billion Needed to Restore Streamside Vegetation, Improve Habitat in Willamette Basin Dept. of Environmental Quality A recently released report from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, completed as part of a federal watershed needs survey, estimates that it could cost up to $1.2 billion […]

By Daily Digger Blog Oregon Association of Nurseries There’s no question about it. Any form of agriculture, including the production of nursery stock, requires energy. And, energy costs money. Some may see that as a burden, which it is, but here’s a chance to see it as an opportunity. This […]

Jenson Legislation Protects Family Farms By Oregon Wheat Grower’s League Legislation by State Representative Bob Jenson (R-Pendleton) has successfully protected the estates of several local farming families and protected the Jim Boyd Hydroelectric project by passing bills through both chambers of the Legislature that will now move to Governor Ted […]

From Washington Senator Mark Schoesler, Last month I predicted agriculture likely will experience a net loss from the 2010 legislative session. Unfortunately, the potential for loss has shot up exponentially with the action taken Thursday on Substitute House Bill 3181. This legislation would almost triple (to 2 percent, from 0.7 […]