Willamette Valley

Agritourism and the economic and social opportunity it provides, the family farms and communities they serve, continues to expand.   “There are large, diverse opportunities there and it really depends on your situation, your farm, and what you produce,” noted Audrey Comerford of Oregon State University Extension.   The div...

According to the latest numbers from the U.S. Drought monitor, only 9% of Oregon is where it should be for soil moisture numbers for this time of year.  And of that 91% that’s dry, the driest conditions are found in the central part of the state, with a large portion of Crook County under a Exceptional Drought designation.  While snowpac...

The U.S. Geological Survey will use the Willamette River Basin to study what factors affect water supply and demand across the country. The department recently named the basin as its 4th Integrated Water Science Basin study, joining the Delaware, Upper Colorado and Illinois River basins ...

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 ...

The dry spring has been challenging for a variety of producers, particularly canola growers. Karen Sowers with the Pacific Northwest Canola Association said winter canola is actually looking pretty good, including in Oregon’s Wilamette Valley. “Spring cano ...

The Oregon Department of Agriculture, Dynamic Seed Source, LLC, and Dynamic’s owner, Trevor Abbott, have settled allegations of violation of the state’s Seed Law. According to ODA, an investigation found Abbott and Dynamic Seed at least 161 seed lots as Kentucky 31, resulting in 207 violations. In Oregon ...

Earlier this week Oregon Governor Kate Brown announced the appointment of Elin Miller of Roseburg and Josh Zielinski of Salem to serve on the Oregon State Board of Agriculture. Both appointments were effective October 29th, and each will serve a four-year term ...