By Oregon Farm Bureau, The 2020 Short Session isn’t officially over, but the Department of Revenue (DOR) will be meeting with constituents across the state, beginning March 2, to learn more about issues with the temporary rules and implementation of the commercial activity tax (CAT). What is the CAT? Oregon’s […]

By Jeff Reynolds Here is timely information I received from the Ag community that brings attention to very important issues facing Oregon farmers.   Co-Op Board Election Raises Questions Is it wise to have a small group of growers, with a vested interest and potential conflicts, have majority control on […]

Oregon Wheat Growers League Pendleton, OR – The Oregon Wheat Growers League is disappointed in the breakdown of process that led to SB 1530, Cap and Trade, being pushed out of committee without adequate consideration given to the impacts such legislation would have on rural communities. We support our Senate […]

Ron Wyden Press Release, In a hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., pressed the chief of the U.S. Forest Service for an update on implementation of the “fire borrowing” fix and the agency’s plans to prioritize the 2.5 million acres backlog […]

James Osborne Elizabeth Tomasino Oregon State University Extension Service An increase in the frequency of wildfires in California, Oregon and Washington in recent years has exposed wine grapes in some areas to high levels of smoke. Smoke from wildfires contains a number of different volatile phenol compounds that can be […]

American Farm Bureau Federation A Farm Bureau-backed bill would help timber farmers recover from natural disasters by increasing the amount of financial relief provided by the casualty loss tax deduction. The Forestry Recovery Act of 2019 (H.R. 1444) would allow timber farmers to “continue their businesses, encourage the reforestation of […]

The Top Five Ways Ag Is Treated Unfairly In Oregon By Jeff Reynolds, Oregon has some of the richest, most productive farm and ranch land in North America. Yet, the agriculture sector in Oregon faces significant challenges. In fact, Oregon may represent one of the most challenging environments in the […]

Oregon State Senate Republican Press Release, Senate President Peter Courtney (D-Salem) used partisan politics on the Joint Ways and Means Committee, the most powerful budget committee in the legislature, to move SB 1530out of committee. He rigged the vote by joining the committee in an unprecetented move and cast his […]

By Oregonians for Food and Shelter, Last week was a challenging week in Salem with several risks for those employed in natural resources, including movement on legislation that would ban chlorpyrifos (HB 4109) and continued uncertainty over cap-and-trade (SB 1530, HB 4167). OFS staff remained in the Capitol late Friday […]

By American Farm Bureau, Twenty-one farm and ranch groups representing millions of U.S. farmers and ranchers are launching Farmers for a Sustainable Future (FSF), a coalition committed to environmental and economic sustainability. This coalition will serve as a primary resource for lawmakers and policymakers as they consider climate policies. The […]