Oregon

Last week, senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced a total of $758,810 in funding for two projects that will work to increase and improve pollinator habitats in Oregon.  The funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Monarch Butterfly and Pollinators Conservation Fund is part of $5.2 million in na...

Money is coming from the American Rescue Plan Act to expand broadband access in Oregon.  Nick Batz, Director of the Oregon Broadband Office, said there are more proposals than the money will cover.   "We received 63 applications totaling $440 million.  So, highly c...

Last week, Oregon senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced $5,416,405 in Inflation Reduction Act funding, for hazardous fuels transportation projects across the state.  The goal of the federal funding awarded by the U.S. Forest Service is to reduce the risk of wildfires by moving hazardous fuels, such as smaller trees, live or dead brush, tree limbs, and other natural debris, from national fo

Earlier this month, the Potato Leadership, Education, and Advancement Foundation, better known as Potato LEAF, announced the 2025 class of the potato industry’s Leadership Institute.  During the 10-day program, which runs February 19th through the 28th, participants will receive an overview of the local and national potato industry, including some of the challenges and issues beyond the production

On Thursday, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is funding new projects in nearly every state to lower costs, expand access to clean energy and strengthen American farms and small businesses.  USDA is making the investments through the Rural Energy for America Program, better known as REAP.   “...

According to the latest numbers from NASS, Idaho’s potato crop this year is forecast at 135 million cwt, down 6% from last year.  Harvested area, at 314,500 acres, is down 15,000 acres from 2023.  Yield is expected to be 430 cwt per acre, down 5 cwt from 2023.   Potato prod...

Come January, Republicans will take control of the U.S. Senate, putting Washington’s and Oregon’s Senators in the minority, for the first time in four years.  Despite the change, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley said he will continue to find Republican partners for legislation he believes is good for his state.   “I’ve been able t...

Local meat processing plants across the county will work to expand capacity, and improve efficiencies thanks to recent investments via the USDA.   “USDA's local meat capacity grant program, or we call it local MCap," said Department of Ag’s Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Moffitt.  "It provides targeted pr...

The Oregon Department of Agriculture continues to monitor a Crook County farm where bird flu led to the euthanization of around 70 ducks and geese as well as five pigs.  State Veterinarian Dr. Ryan Scholz said they’re testing other animals at the property, but not neighboring farms.   “Becau...

The Oregon Association of Nurseries is now accepting speaker proposals for the 2025 Farwest Show, scheduled for August 20th through the 22nd at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, OR.   “Education is a key component of Farwest,” Show Director Allan Niemi said. “We are looking...