Salem

State lawmakers in Oregon are considering changes to rules governing home-based food businesses.  Bend State Senator Tim Knopp is chief sponsor of the bill he said opens up opportunities for more small food-based businesses.   “Baked goods, confectionary items, coffee beans, teas, popcorn, jams, jellies, honey, syrup, fruit butters, mixed nuts, freeze-dried foods, dried and dehydrated foods.”   Je

A year after the legislature mandated overtime pay for farm workers, an effort is underway in Salem to make changes to the law.  State Representative Shelly Boshart Davis said since taking effect in June, the rules have created hardships for family farms and resulted in lower pay for ag workers.  She’s lookin...

Oregon projects aimed at increasing water efficiency will receive $198,668 in federal funding.  The grants, announced last week by Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, will help the Arnold Irrigation District in Bend, the Van Brimmer Ditch Company in Klamath Falls, and the West Extension Irrigation District in Morrow County.   “Reli...

Oregon is expected to get between $400 million and $1 billion dollars from the federal government over several years to expand broadband access.  Secretary of State Shemia Fagan said an audit of the Oregon Broadband Office finds it needs funding to add staff, to administer and distribute the funds.   “...

The Oregon Health Authority urges people to test their homes for a deadly gas this month.  It’s the second leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking, and it’s tasteless, odorless and invisible.   “Radon is something that comes from the ground, it’s from geology," noted Jara Popinga.  "It’s a breakdown of uranium rock; ...

Oregon’s 2023 Legislative session gets underway Monday with a new Governor, House Speaker and Senate President being sworn in.  House Minority Leader Vikki Breese-Iverson, a Prineville Republican, is optimistic about the change.   “I thi...

Earlier this week, the Bureau of Land Management announced a public meeting to solicit feedback on utility-scale solar energy planning.  BLM is considering updates to its 2012 Western Solar Plan that included six southwestern states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah.  On top ...

Over the holidays, Alexis Taylor officially changed roles from Director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture, to the USDA’s Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs.  And many in the farming community say the move is good news for Oregon.   “She w...

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack said he is pleased that Alexis Taylor was finally sworn as the USDA’s Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs.  Vilsack noted Taylor, the former Director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture, has a deep-rooted and impressive career working on matters related to agriculture, trade, and enhancing as many export opportunities as possible for America’s far

The Oregon Department of Agriculture will need to search for a new Director, after the Senate voted Wednesday to confirm Alexis Taylor as Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs.   Taylor was first tapped to serve as ODA Director by Governor Kate Brown in 2016.  Pr...