Klamath Falls News - Locally owned news brand, reporting stories affecting citizens of the Klamath Basin.
Commentary by, Anne Marie Moss, Communications Director, Oregon Farm Bureau
In recognition of National Ag Day, March 22, the Oregon Farm Bureau invites readers to remember the importance of farmers and ranchers to their daily lives.
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Today, the Oregon legislature approved $20 million in funding for critical needs in Klamath County caused by water curtailments and wildfire. “This is welcome news,” said Klamath County Commissioner Kelley Minty Morris, who was on point for local interests pursuing the funding. “We are grateful for this action, and for Governor Brown’s support for this desperately needed funding package.”
Read MoreONTARIO, Ore. – Today, Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) was named the Ranking Member on the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife. This places Oregon’s freshman Republican congressman front and center on matters concerning America’s water resources, federal irrigation projects, hydroelectric power, interstate water issues, and fisheries management.
Read MoreKLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - On January 1, power costs for irrigators in the Klamath and Lost River Basins in Oregon will drop by 3.5 percent, according to the Klamath Water Users Association. The reduction is welcome, especially given that Pacific Power had requested last February that the Oregon Public Utility Commission approve a ten percent increase in base rates for irrigation. KWUA intervened in the OPUC proceeding to oppose the increase, and the OPUC issued its decision last week.
Read MoreSALEM, Ore. - Oregon ranks fourth in the nation for the number of farmers and ranchers who are women, according to the latest U.S. Census of Agriculture (2017). There are 29,868 female farmers and ranchers in Oregon, representing 44% of the state’s agricultural community.
Read MoreSALEM, Ore. - Today Senate Republican Leader Herman Baertschiger Jr. announced that House Bill 2020 is dead and the Oregon State Legislature will finish the 2019 Session this weekend to keep Oregon’s agencies funded. The bill will remain dead through sine die on Sunday.
Read MoreSusan Liskey of Klamath-Lake County Farm Bureau was honored with the 2018 Outstanding County Farm Bureau Secretary Award during the 86th Oregon Farm Bureau (OFB) Annual Meeting, which took place Dec. 4-6 in Salem.
Read MoreSalem, OR – At the annual awards ceremony at the Oregon State Fair, families from across the state will receive recognition for operating as Century or Sesquicentennial (150-year) Farm or Ranch. The 2018 ceremony will be held on Saturday, August 25, 2018, at 11:00 am at the Oregon State Fair. The public recognition ceremony and awards celebration will be held in the Picnic Grove Area. Please join us for this special event that celebrates Oregon’s agricultural heritage.
Read MoreToday, President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Grants of Clemency (Full Pardons) for Dwight Lincoln Hammond, Jr., and his son, Steven Hammond. The Hammonds are multi-generation cattle ranchers in Oregon imprisoned in connection with a fire that leaked onto a small portion of neighboring public grazing land.
Read MoreThe 2018 OFB Buyers’ Guide — the premier resource of products and services for farming and ranching professionals. The updated guide features expanded company and product listings by ag suppliers, in addition to other valuable information relating to farming and ranching in Oregon.
Read MoreOregon Farm Bureau, the state's largest general agriculture organization, encourages all Oregonians to take a moment to thank the hard-working farm and ranch families across the state and nation during National Ag Week.
Read MoreIn recognition of the National Agricultural Safety Awareness Program (ASAP) Week, March 4-10, Oregon Farm Bureau's (OFB) Health & Safety Committee urges farmers and ranchers to make safety a priority.
Read MoreApplications are now being accepted for the 2018 award year for the Oregon Century Farm & Ranch Program. The application deadline is May 1, 2018. Families throughout Oregon who have continuously farmed portions of their family acreage for the past 100 or 150 years are invited to apply.
Read MoreOregon's Jenny Freeborn, chair of Oregon Farm Bureau's (OFB) Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Committee, was the second-place winner in the National YF&R Discussion Meet, which took place at the American Farm Bureau Federation's 2018 Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show January 5-10 in Nashville.
Read MoreThe tax reform package passed by Congress and awaiting the president's signature includes many provisions that will help Oregon's farm and ranch families.
"This bill lowers taxes for the vast majority of our agricultural families," said Oregon Farm Bureau President Barry Bushue.
Bushue points out that the bill simplifies rate structures and eliminates the death tax for estates under $11 million while maintaining annual indexing for inflation, which covers nearly all family ag operations. The bill preserves important tools, such as cash accounting, stepped-up basis, deductions for business interest, and carry forward of net operating losses.
Read MoreOregon Farm Bureau's Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee invites Farm Bureau members between the ages of 16 and 35 to attend the 2017 Oregon Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Leadership Conference, Nov. 11-12 in Salem.
"The conference will be an excellent opportunity for young farmers and ranchers to learn about policy issues facing Oregon agriculture, gain useful information for their businesses, sharpen advocacy skills, network, and have a lot of fun," said Jenny Freeborn, vice chair of the YF&R Committee. "Registration for the two-day conference is also a great deal at only $40."
Salem, Ore. - Oregon Farm Bureau and John Deere are excited to announce a new partnership that will give Farm Bureau members special access to John Deere's GreenFleet(TM) Loyalty Rewards program, providing members with a free two-year Platinum 2 membership. This new member discount program will strengthen the existing partnership between John Deere and Farm Bureau, and continue to grow John Deere's dedication to strengthening their support of America's farmers and ranchers.
