Clark: Oregon Policy Making It Difficult To Farm

Are farmers in Oregon and Washington moving east because of policy that makes it more and more difficult to farm?  Some say yes.

Madi Clark has a front row view from her farm Eastern Oregon farm situated south of Ontario.  She said the decision to relocate is all about economic benefits.

“Because it is cheaper. Or to move your ground into Idaho and the rent might be more expensive because you're competing with housing development. But at the same time, your labor costs are so much lower.” 

Clark said not everyone can, or wants to leave their farm.  But she noted that policy is forcing people’s hands.  She noted that farmers are embracing new technologies, such as irrigation pivots or automatic weeders as a way to lower labor costs.

“So a lot of our labor decisions look at what’s going to make things cheaper because we can't one, we can't even find the labor. And two, the cost of Labor is so expensive or cumbersome because the state hasn't made it,” Clark stated.

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