The Commerce Dept. figures indicate adding at 17,000 new homes by 2044 at market-rates will not be enough to meet the local demands in Chelan and Douglas Counties. The state projects between 40 and 55 percent of the new homes that are added will need to be affordably priced for people earning under 80 percent of the area’s median income.
On Friday, the USDA confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza in a non-commercial flock in Oregon’s Douglas County. The flock included approximately 25 birds, a mix of chickens, ducks, and geese. According to the Oregon Department of Agriculture, the flock owners did not sell eggs or other poultry products from their property therefore federal guidelines do not require a quarantine.
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A nearly $100 thousand federal grant aimed at helping farmers and ranchers find new ways to stop wolves from killing their livestock is coming to Oregon. Elli Gage, with Western Landowners Alliance, said preventing depredations is difficult because wolves are very intelligent.
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On Friday, Oregon Governor Kate Brown declared a drought in Baker, Douglas, Wallowa, and Wheeler Counties. The declaration directs state agencies to coordinate and prioritize assistance to the region.
"Baker, Douglas, Wallowa, and Wheeler Counties are facing historic challenges from drought conditions that are creating hardships for the people, farms, ranches, communities, and ecosystems of
Thanks to the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act, eight western Oregon counties will share $29.4million. The payments are made in lieu of timber harvest receipts, based on a formula set by Congress. According to the Bureau of Land Management, $2
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During the 2021 legislative session, Washington lawmakers passed a new capital gains tax; a tax that will be challenged in court. Pam Lewison with the Washington Policy Center said with no exemptions for farm lands, the tax will have severe impacts on producers statewide.
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With spring just around the corner, the State and Health Districts across Washington are formulating plans to vaccinate farmworkers. Chelan-Douglas Health District Administrator Luke Davies said there’s an estimated 50,000 people that will need to get vaccinated.
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Washington Governor Jay Inslee has released new guidance that will permit agritourism activities this fall for counties in a modified Phase One. The five counties currently under a modified Phase One, Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin and Yakima, will be able to offer corn mazes, hay wagons, fire pits and more, similar to counties that are currently in Phase Two and Three counties
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