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Please take quick OFB survey about on-farm energy use
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Farm Bureau members: Growing food and fiber requires energy use at all steps of the process. Please help us better understand the type and quantity of energy needed to raise your crops and transport those goods to market by taking this quick online survey.
Your answers will be anonymous and will be used by OFB staff to get a general sense of the real-life demands for energy on Oregon's farms and ranches.
The survey should take about 10 minutes. Thanks for your input!
START THE SURVEY |
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OFB ditching overregulation & red tape
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Besides advocacy in the legislature, Farm Bureau members benefit from OFB's year-round work on state and federal regulatory issues.
A hot topic these days: Ditch cleaning.
Occasional ditch cleaning is part of the job for farmers, particularly in wetter regions of the state.
About a year ago, when OFB Public Policy Counsel Mary Anne Cooper started to receive multiple calls from Farm Bureau members saying they'd been fined by the Dept. of State Lands (DSL) for the practice, OFB sprung into action. Farmers were facing fines between $1,000 and $8,000.
There's an exemption in Oregon law that allows for the cleaning of drainage ditches, but over time, DSL began to interpret what many farmers consider a ditch to be a "channelized stream," subject to more rules and regulations.
"We've really seen enforcement creep up over the last several years," said Cooper.
While it's legal to remove up to 50 cubic yards of material without a permit in most ditches around the state - and there's a general permit for up to 100 cubic yards of material - those exemptions aren't sufficient to meet the needs of most farms and ranches.
The only other option that exists today is a full individual permit, which requires an extensive, complex application process.
To help make it easier for farmers to stay compliant, OFB convened a workgroup with several stakeholders, including DSL.
"We're trying to create a general permit with DSL that will hopefully be much easier to fill out, much easier to understand than the existing individual permit, which is currently farmers' only option for cleaning ditches," said Cooper.
As part of that effort, John Scharf, member of Polk County Farm Bureau, volunteered his farm to serve as a demonstration project. So far, Scharf has successfully completed the cumbersome application process for an individual permit - the first one ever.
And over the summer and fall, he will invite DSL to his farm to show agents exactly how ditch cleaning works in the real world.
"Thanks to John's work, we now have a model for other farmers on how to successfully fill out the individual permit if they need to do work in the short term. The hope is that it's not quite so daunting a process because there's a really good example to refer to," said Cooper.
The ultimate goal is to develop a new general permit for ditch cleaning that's easy to understand and is workable for farmers - along with taking legislative action to reduce DSL's jurisdiction over drainage ditches.
Farm Bureau is participating in a legislative workgroup, where OFB is advocating for these fixes in the 2019 session. |
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Story on impacts of trade dispute features FB members
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This story features Ryan and Wade Glaser of Linn County Farm Bureau and OFB Director of National Affairs Gail Greenman.
> Mid-Valley InBusiness: Ag feels the effects of ongoing trade disputes
Via Democrat Herald
Cousins Ryan and Wade Glaser are fourth-generation family farmers who work fertile land in the Willamette Valley first planted by their great-grandfather. They have 1,300 acres near Lebanon, growing mostly grass seed, but also perennial rye grass, peas, white clover, some fescue, flax, soft white wheat and canola.
The farmer has to be an optimist or he wouldn't be a farmer, the saying goes.
But lately, farmers are feeling a lot of uncertainty and anxiety caused by ongoing trade disputes. Agriculture has been the target of retaliatory tariffs, and export markets have been affected.
"The way the news has been the last six months, it definitely puts a question of what next year's crops should be," Ryan Glaser said. "With the uncertainty of not knowing what the future tariffs are, it definitely affects our strategy."
Glaser and other mid-valley farmers, as well as interest groups representing crops and commodities grown here, are seeing and feeling the impact of ongoing trade disputes, particularly with China.
Glaser considered planting more soft white wheat. But China quit buying U.S. wheat four months ago.
"I can't budget for next year," Glaser said. "With high tariffs and small markets, it won't be economical."
Even as the Trump administration recently announced $12 billion in government payouts to farmers hurt by retaliatory tariffs, most in the agriculture industry seem wary. It's likely that the bulk of those programs will benefit soybean growers in the Midwest, with little help for Oregon farmers.
"In years past, with relief efforts and farm bills, they don't have a great direct impact on us, especially here in the valley," Glaser said.
Still, he welcomed the news because of the possible trickle-down effect it could have. But what farmers say they really want is open markets to export their goods. International trade is crucial to the future of Oregon agriculture. And no one likes being caught in the dispute between President Donald Trump and China.
Export markets
Gail Greenman, director of national affairs with the Oregon Farm Bureau, said the effects of high tariffs are beginning to show, from disrupted markets to higher costs and lower profits for Oregon producers.
Being on the West Coast, the Pacific Rim is Oregon's primary export market.
"Where we are hit is wheat and dairy," Greenman said, but also fresh fruits and vegetables and nuts. "We are concerned about all of our farmers."
Greenman said if a market is lost, even if it's temporary, there's no guarantee it will come back. Many markets took years, even decades, to establish.
"We are always interested in expanding markets for the products we grow," Greenman said. "It's some of the best in the world and we're proud of it."
Greenman said the Farm Bureau welcomes government programs that provide even temporary relief to farmers. The administration said it plans to release details about the farm payments around Labor Day.
"We don't know how this is going to play out," she said. "We haven't been told."
Full story |
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AFBF podcast: Waiting for details on trade assistance package
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The Trump administration recently announced a $12 billion relief package to help the nation's farmers who are currently struggling under the weight of trade disputes. While the help is appreciated, farmers are waiting to hear more details on how the relief will be distributed.
American Farm Bureau's Chad Smith has more.
Smith: Farmers do appreciate that the administration recognizes the impact that recent tariff battles are having on agriculture, especially on commodity prices. Dale Moore, American Farm Bureau Federation vice president of public affairs, says while farmers wait for aid details, they would much rather see the tariff disputes resolved in a way that opens vital overseas markets to American agricultural goods.
Listen to/read full podcast |
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Linn CFB's Boshart Davis featured in shipping story
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Shelly Boshart Davis, member of Linn County Farm Bureau, OFB-endorsed candidate for HD 15, and international exporter of grass straw, is featured in this story about solutions to shipping traffic jams.
> Is the Willamette Valley's proposed intermodal facility on the right track?
Competing plans for a state-funded intermodal facility would help ag shippers avoid Portland traffic jams.
Via Capital Press
...To help agricultural shippers in the Willamette Valley avoid Portland's traffic problems, Oregon lawmakers authorized spending $25 million for a Mid-Willamette Intermodal Facility as part of a broader transportation package.
...People are continuing to move to Portland and Seattle while those cities aren't building major new roads, so congestion is likely to keep growing as a problem, said Shelly Boshart Davis, vice president of international sales for her family's straw-pressing and trucking businesses, Bossco Trading and Boshart Trucking.
It's better for Oregon lawmakers to proactively look for a solution to the problem now, before the added costs of shipping delays become prohibitive, she said. "It might be too costly for my trucks to drive to Portland or through Portland."
The company currently uses intermodal facilities in Portland but trucks containers directly to Seattle for time-sensitive shipments. The mid-Willamette site would provide another option.
"The less we put all our eggs in one basket, the better off we are," Boshart Davis said.
Full story (with subscription) |
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YFR hosts young Canadian farmers
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OFB's Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee recently hosted a group of peers from Canada as part of a super-cool ag exchange.
Last spring, 15 Oregon YF&R members took a tour of farms based in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia (read about that here). Then last week, a group of young Canadian farmers came to visit operations in the Willamette Valley.
Among the farms the group visited were Rossi Farms (pic above), member of Multnomah County Farm Bureau, and Chapin Farms, member of Marion County Farm Bureau.
See photos from the tour - and much more - on YF&R's Facebook page.
No matter where they're from, when farmers and ranchers meet, there's an instant connection!
OFB thanks YF&R Committee member Jon Iverson in particular for his work putting together a successful tour. Excellent job, YF&R! You make us #FarmBureauProud! |
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Baker CFB's Haweses named Fair Family of the Year
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[Above photo taken from Baker City Herald website]
Congrats to Eugene and Christine Hawes, longtime leaders in Baker County Farm Bureau, for being named Fair Family of the Year for 2018! Eugene also served on the OFB Board of Directors for many years.
via Baker City Herald
Baker County Fair season is a busy time for Eugene and Christine Hawes.
Little wonder, then, that the couple was named Fair Family of the Year for 2018.
The Haweses were honored for their work with the 4-H Leadership Association, Oregon Farm Bureau and Eugene's service as the swine superintendent at the Fair for the past six years.
Between the two of them, Eugene and Christine have also held positions as a youth livestock judge, a rabbit judge, a parent FFA adviser and participated in the FFA tractor contests. Their involvement continues with the Hawes family's presence at the Fair and with other community events.
...Christine said one of the reasons she gets excited around Fair time is because of the time she and Eugene spend with their grandkids.
"We head to the Fair at zero dark thirty with the kids and they have to muck out the stalls and get set up and they love it," Christine said.
Full story
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Sign up new Farm Bureau members online!
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#DYK that new voting and supporting members can join Farm Bureau online?
If you're at a fair, with a friend, on the job, etc. and you want to sign up a new member, go to oregonfb.org/join/.
New voting and supporting members can quickly and easily sign up with a credit card.
We challenge all in Farm Bureau to sign up at least one new voting or supporting member this year! Help make our organization grow! |
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Interesting maps track U.S. land use
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This week Bloomberg released a fascinating series of maps identifying how land in the United States is used.
A couple takeaways:
> "Agricultural land takes up about a fifth of the country."
> "The U.S. is becoming more urban-at an average rate of about 1 million additional acres a year. That's the equivalent of adding new urban area the size of Los Angeles, Houston and Phoenix combined. U.S. urban areas have more than quadrupled since 1945."
See the maps |
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OFB calendar
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> Aug. 23: Young Farmers & Ranchers FFA Tractor Driving Contest at Oregon State Fair. Contact jacon@oregonfb.org.
> Aug. 25: Century Farm & Ranch Program award ceremony at Oregon State Fair. Contact andrea@oregonfb.org.
> Aug. 29-31: Farm Bureau booth at Oregon State Fair organized by OFB Ag Education Committee.
> Sept. 18: OFB Classic Golf Tourney, Stone Creek Golf Club in Oregon City. 1 p.m. start. LEARN MORE HERE!
> Sept. 18 & 19: Safety and Health in the Cannabis Industry from Seed to Shatter, Bend - presented by Oregon OSHA, Descshutes County Farm Bureau, and the OFB Health & Safety Committee. GET EVENT FLYER. Starting mid-July, REGISTER HERE.
> Oct. 6: Farm Bureau booth at Oregon's Bounty event at state capitol. Contact annemarie@oregonfb.org.
> Oct. & Nov.: County Farm Bureau Annual Meetings. Details to come!
> Nov. 9-11: Young Farmers & Ranchers Leadership Conference, location in Central Oregon TBD. Contact: yfr@oregonfb.org.
> Nov. 30-Dec. 2: YF&R Coyote Hunt in Burns. Details coming soon!
> Dec. 4-6: OFB Annual Meeting in Salem. Contact tiffany@oregonfb.org.
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