Morrow County

Governor Kotek’s latest announcement highlights a critical situation for several counties. Warm winters and low snowpack mean challenges Oregonians can’t ignore.

Earlier this week, family farmers were in Salem voicing their opposition to Senate Bill 747.  The legislation, sponsored by Portland Senator Khanh Pham, would require farms 200 acres and larger to report their annual fertilizer use to the state Department of Agriculture.  The leg...

On Monday, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency for Morrow and Umatilla counties, due to the economic risks posed by ongoing wastewater issues.  High levels of precipitation and a lack of adequate lagoon storage capacity left the Port of Morrow without space to accept more wastewater from food processing and other industrial facilities.  Kotek s...

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a reward for information regarding the recent illegal killing of a gray wolf in Morrow County.  On November 8th, a radio-collared male gray wolf, known as OR 159, was found dead on private land twenty miles south of Heppner.  Morrow ...

The Oregon Department of Agriculture is inviting producers impacted by wildfire in Umatilla and Morrow counties to an informational meeting where agencies will answer questions.  Participants will learn about resources available for residents, landowners, livestock and agricultural producers.   ...

Farm operations in Oregon have been significantly impacted by recent wildfires.  To help, the NRCS-Oregon technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover from these wildfire events.   A total of $2 million of FY24 funds have newly been made available to support producers in wildfire recovery. Producer...

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...

An effort to move Oregon’s border gained support in last week’s election.  Leader of the Greater Idaho Movement Mike McCarter said Morrow County voters want County Commissioners to hold meetings on the idea.  And a 2020 request in Jefferson County was met with confusion by Commissioners, since they have no power to change a state’s border.   “The citizens signed a petit...

On Tuesday, Oregon Governor Kate Brown announced the appointment of two new members to the State Board of Agriculture. Miguel Lopez, owner of Red Dirt Vineyard Management Company in Carlton, and Eric Orem owner/operator of a diversified dryland wheat, hay, and cattle farming operation in Heppner, will each serve four-year terms effective immediately ...

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife investigators were called out to a dead 450 pound calf found in Morrow County Monday. The calf was found on a gravel road adjacent to a large timbered private pasture. Investigators said it appears the calf had been dead for less than 24 hours ...