ranchers

The Department of Ag seeks nominations for individuals to serve on the Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers.  The committee will recommend solutions to challenges faced by minority farmers and ranchers and is part of USDA's commitment to advance equity for all, especially for farmers and producers in underserved communities.  The com...

Last week, Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced that 11 Oregon farmers will receive a combined $2.1 million in grants from the USDA.  The funds will be used to for those producers to expand their influence and market new products.   ...

Both parties challenged U.S. Trade Ambassador Katherine Tai repeatedly on the administration’s failure to negotiate market-opening free trade deals and even pursuing a ‘go-it-alone’ policy without consulting lawmakers on trade.   “Congres...

Tuesday is National Ag Day, and American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall says the date is an opportunity to celebrate the farming sector.   “National Ag Day is a celebration of the food and fiber community that has been taking place since 1973. This is t...

A bipartisan group of senators, including Ron Wyden, reintroduced the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2023.  In addition to Oregon's senior senator, Montana’s Jon Tester, and Republicans Chuck Grassley and Deb Fischer rolled out the legislation.  The lawmakers...

In central Oregon, planning is underway for a new Deschutes County Committee, to address potential conflicts between wolves and livestock.  County Commissioner Phil Chang said other counties have had Wolf Depredation Committees for years, but only recently was Deschutes County declared “an area of known wolf activity” or AKA.   “We’ve had w...

Since 2008 the gray wolf population across Washington has grown nearly 28%, annually.  And despite that continual increase, the wolves remain on the endangered list.  State Representative Joel Kretz would like to give northeast Washington counties the ability to delist the wolf.  The Wauconda area...

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced several major developments at the USDA that will help benefit farmers and ranchers across the nation.  Vilsack said the Department wants to provide all farmers with the opportunities they need to continue farming, build and maintain their competitive edge, and access more, new, and better markets.  He says...

Last week, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced an investment of $9.6 million across the country to help farmers, ranchers, processors, and rural businesses diversify the meat supply.   “We’re putting the needs of farmers, ranchers, and consumers at the forefront of our work to strengthen the resiliency of America’s food supply chain while promoting competition,” he said. “USDA is working on an appr

The USDA is out with its latest edition of the America’s Farms and Ranches at a Glance report.  It’s intended to be a snapshot of what’s actually taking place on the farm nationwide.   “Farming is still overwhelmingly a family business, 98% of US farms are family owned and operated and they accounted for over 80% of total value production,” said ERS Research Economist Noah Miller.  “Of these famil