Climate Change

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Here are five important agricultural-related highlights from the first week of the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference.

Governor Tina Kotek has issued two more drought declarations in Central Oregon.  The emergency declarations for Deschutes and Grant counties clear the way for state coordination of resources in an area now in its fourth year of drought.  ...

After the sharp increase in the cost of doing business, the Washington State Dairy Federation is hoping the industry can avoid more consolidation.  The Federation is also optimistic about legislation in Olympia to initiate a carbon reduction program for dairy.  In case...

The American Farm Bureau Federation estimates 2022 crop losses due to weather and climate change at more than $21.4 billion.  The AFBF Market Intel analysis shows in 2022, 18 weather and climate disasters, each with damages exceeding $1 billion struck the United States.  As we t...

A bill in the Oregon legislature would add electric farm tractors to the list of vehicles eligible for rebates.  State Representative, Wilsonville’s Courtney Neron said an incentive would start the process.   "If we do not incentivize the transition to electric agricultural vehicles, then we are also missing an important opportunity to reduce emissions in the agricultural sector which also pl

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said recently it’s premature to ask if billions of dollars in Inflation Reduction Act conservation funds can be transferred to the upcoming Farm Bill, even though the need will likely exist.  The decision will be up to Congress, but Vilsack and the administration will have a say in whether to use some of the Inflation Reduction Act’s $16 billion for programs like

Ahead of National Ag Day, March 21st, the Agriculture Council of America is hosting an essay contest.  The theme for the year is "Growing a Climate for Tomorrow: How American Agriculture Does it Every Day".  The essay contest is divided into two categories, either a written essay or a video essay.  Both are nat...

The National Milk Producers Federation commended Congress this week for including the Growing Climate Solutions Act and the SUSTAINS Act in its final fiscal year 2023 budget package.   The measures, NMPF said, will help dairy producers seek additional sustainability opportunities as they work to fulfill the dairy sector’s voluntary, producer-led goal of becoming greenhouse gas neutral or better by

On Thursday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the USDA is investing $285 million in critical infrastructure.  The investment seeks to lower energy costs, expand access to clean energy for people across rural America, and combat climate change.  USDA is...