First Sugarbeet Day Scheduled For Salem

Sugarbeet growers from across Oregon, and the Northwest, will be in Salem Wednesday May 28th, for the first ever Sugarbeet Day at Salem.  Samantha Parrott, Executive Director of the Snake River Sugarbeet Growers Association, said it is important they start building relationships in the Beaver State.  She noted not only are there dozens of growers and operations across eastern Oregon, but all of the sugarbeet seed for the nation is developed in the Willamette Valley.

“And really, the goal is to connect our sugarbeet and sugarbeet seed farmers with these key policy makers in the state of Oregon," Parrott said.  "So, I'm super excited to see how this turns out. We do a day like this in Idaho every year, but again, it's just so important that we have a presence in Oregon.”

Parrott added education is the top priority for Wednesday event.

“[It's important] That we have a footprint there," she said.  "What the economic impact is. Kind of meeting the key players. That's really the most important piece of the day. And then there will be specific legislation that we will be working on. They're to a point in their session where they know what bills are going to move through Oregon or not. And so, there will be some bills that we'll be talking about. We're working now with those other Ag groups to develop what bills should be our priority. We'll probably be talking about two or three that deal with various regulations and things.”

Parrott added unlike Idaho, the plan is to do these capitol days every other year in Oregon, since lawmakers hold longer sessions during odd number years.  Learn more about Sugarbeet Day at Salem by listening to our conversation with Parrott:

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