Archives

April 3, 2020 - 31 Ag groups: Include farmers in disaster loan program

By American Farm Bureau Federation, Thirty-one agriculture organizations and businesses are calling on the U.S. Small Business Administration to include agricultural businesses in the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, as intended by Congress in the CARES Act. The notice on the SBA website currently states applicants must certify they are […]


April 1, 2020 - What Gov. Brown’s order means for Ag

By Oregon Farm Bureau Federation, Gov. Brown issued Executive Order 20-12 requiring certain kinds of businesses to close and all others to adopt Covid-19 measures in order to stay open. The order does not require agricultural or related businesses to close. Here are the measures required for your business to […]


March 29, 2020 - Week in Review: Lockdown, Sick Leave, CAT tax, more…

By Oregonians for Food and Shelter, On Monday this week, Governor Brown issued Executive Order 20-12, a “Stay Home” order that took effect immediately. The governor’s order took a different approach than other states, mandating that certain businesses close and providing direction related to social distancing for those that remain […]


March 28, 2020 - Washington Ag. Dept. halts field tests due to virus

By Jeff Reynolds, In a March 23 letter to ag industry stakeholders, the Washington State Department of Agriculture announced measures it was taking to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The letter reads, “Beginning Monday, March 23, 2020, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Food Safety Program […]


March 27, 2020 - Senate passes $2 trillion aid deal

By American Farm Bureau Federation The U.S. Senate passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which will provide $2 trillion in various programs to address the pandemic, reports Progressive Farmer. Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, called on swift passage of the bill through […]


March 25, 2020 - California: Pot shops ruled ‘Essential Business’

Natural Resource News Note, California recently declared a massive statewide shut down of commerce in the state, allowing only for essential businesses to remain open. Citizens (customers) have also been ordered to stay shelter-in during this time. Los Angeles is threatening to shut off water and electricity to stores that […]


March 23, 2020 - Unsung heroes in the Oregon flood relief

By Natural Resource News Note: The outpouring of love, manpower and community support over the recent flooding only reminds me that Oregon has what it takes now to get through this new season of economic challenges. Here is the story of some unsung heroes from just a few weeks ago […]


March 23, 2020 - Ag groups join business response to Coronavirus

By Oregonians for Food and Shelter, Last week the COVID-19 crisis became very evident. The newly formed Joint Committee on Coronavirus Crisis held two public hearings this week on COVID-19 response. OFS joined other trade associations in testimony Wednesday, endorsing needed economic support for Oregon families and businesses. We are […]


March 20, 2020 - Farm Bureau lays out COVID Ag impact

American Farm Bureau, American Farm Bureau has released its first assessment of the impact on farmers and ranchers in the wake of the national mitigation efforts to combat COVID-19. In a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, AFBF President Zippy Duvall pledged that “America’s farmers and ranchers will be […]


March 18, 2020 - Wall Street Journal on Brown’s Carbon Order

Wall Street Journal Editorial; Oregon’s Democrats say they want “cleaner” energy, but the politics of carbon emissions cuts sure are dirty. Democrats, who hold a supermajority in the statehouse, have twice tried to ram through cap-and-trade, but Republicans blocked them by walking out of the last two legislative sessions. The […]