In their well-intentioned effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change, the French government announced it would increase fuel taxes to discourage driving and encourage low-carbon transportation. It did not go over well.
Farmers and ranchers are under increasing pressure to produce more food to feed the world while improving their stewardship of critical land and water resources.
Agriculture is a large economic driver for the state of Wisconsin, contributing $88.3 billion annually to the economy and providing 413,500 jobs, according to the state’s Department of Agricul…
Now that the election is behind us, we can put the rhetoric aside and get back to work on policy solutions for our most important challenges.
Oregon farmers and ranchers face many challenges. In a global economy, they often cannot be assured of a decent price. In a changing climate, they might get too much or too little water in any…
Most farmers are skilled at managing risks, but some risks, such as weather and natural disasters, are completely out of their control. As American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duval…
Lawmakers in the Oregon State Legislature are meeting this fall to consider adopting a new law called “cap and trade,” which is intended to reduce our state’s greenhouse gas emissions. While t…
This summer, the U.S. House and Senate passed their versions of the 2018 Farm Bill. With the Sept. 30 expiration of the 2014 Farm Bill, the pressure is on to pass a finished product by the end…
Thomas Jefferson, one of the leading architects of our republic, is often quoted as Election Day nears. His words serve as a reminder that every American has a responsibility to participate in…
One of the core promises that swept President Donald Trump into office was that he would renegotiate better deals for the United States with our traditional trading partners.
Blockchain record-keeping is more than just a fad — it’s something leaders at the world’s largest food companies have decided is the future of their businesses. And that means your farm or ran…
No one should be surprised at the continued overreach of some Oregon state agencies. The expanding use of computer modeling to “prove” points that actual, on-the-ground science does not prove,…
While we tend to talk about millennials as a homogenous group and characterize them with sweeping statements, trust research from The Center for Food Integrity shows there’s a distinction in a…
It was a very difficult summer. We suffered through more 90-degree days than any year in history. It was just plain hot and dry, the worst season that anyone around here could remember.
Arizona is known for its exceptionally hot summers and mild winters. It’s also one of the few places in the country where people can farm 365 days a year. This makes the Grand Canyon State a p…
If you were to poll farmers, orchardists, dairymen and ranchers across the country asking why they chose agriculture as a profession, few, if any, would say “I am in it for the money.” The rea…
I farm grain in Montana on the Rocky Mountain Front. Sixty miles to the west are mountains with gorgeous rolling hills, but the rest of our landscape is flat — not exactly prime grizzly bear h…
Our right to farm is under attack. I’m not talking about attacks from state laws. Think of this in the context of our social license to farm. We see this threat in varying degrees nationwide, …
Those of us who understand the existential threat posed by climate change have been waiting for the “Pearl Harbor moment” that galvanizes people and politicians alike into taking action to min…
August presents a huge opportunity for agricultural advocacy, with federal lawmakers in their home districts, hosting constituent meetings and interacting directly with the people they were el…
Hi, I live close to Medford, Ore., and we are having smoke so bad a person cannot go outside for anything. Today I think it is hazardous. Bad stuff.
In a recent interview, I reiterated my support for President Trump’s stated objectives on recasting American trade policy. The international trade playing field is fundamentally unfair to the …
There’s a reason it’s called a trade war. There are casualties. The first of victims on this battlefield are American farmers. Like any battle, the element of surprise can be advantageous, but…
A storm is brewing in farm country in the form of a dragging agricultural economy, a shaky outlook for our export markets and a dire ag labor shortage. Farmers and ranchers are used to dealing…
In the Olympics, if opposing athletes continuously broke the rules while the officials let them get away with it, American fans would want our coaches to raise a fuss. That’s what has been hap…
Holding town meetings in all of Idaho’s communities enables me to hear clearly some of the most pressing issues on the minds of Idahoans. Oftentimes those concerns are echoed by their neighbor…
Most people don’t think much about trade, but it is very important for farmers. We are dependent on trade with other countries to sell our products at a fair and equitable price. My husband us…
Recently in Idaho we celebrated a number of important anniversaries, among them the Fourth of July, of course, and Idaho Day, on July 3, which commemorated the anniversary of statehood. A less…
Neonicotinoid insecticides aren’t the problem for bees that activists have made them out to be. In fact, years of monitoring show proper use of neonicotinoids doesn’t harm bees. But a combinat…
As National Dairy Month comes to an end, it’s an excellent opportunity to reflect on the cows’ contributions to society and its vital role in the sustainability cycle of agriculture.
In communities across America, farmers’ markets continue to offer homegrown and homemade products — everything from freshly picked fruits and vegetables to mouthwatering baked goods, fresh egg…
Consumers are increasingly curious about their food. We want to know what’s in our food and how it is produced. We are interested in the latest food and dietary trends.
Oregon agricultural products are more popular than ever, especially in Asia.
As summer heats up, the Oregon Farm Bureau Health & Safety Committee wants to alert farmers and ranchers who are employers that the Oregon Occupational Safety & Health Administration (…
The United States has a land area of 2.3 billion acres, with half used for agricultural purposes — cropland, forestland, pasture and range. The farm bill is vitally important legislation affec…
Under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA), the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is required to conduct status reviews of species listed as either threatened or endang…
Every five or so years, the U.S. Congress has the difficult task of trying to pass an act that will guide the future of the agriculture industry, while simultaneously trying to minimize the ru…
It only took one unpleasant experience speaking with individuals at a casual dinner party to realize I needed to make a change in the way I approached socially and emotionally charged topics r…
Farming is a real struggle for many of us these days. Not a day goes by that I don’t hear of a fellow farmer who is thinking of leaving the business or choosing to sell his or her dairy cattle…
Over 70 percent of all wildlife is born and raised on agricultural land, yet farmers do not have any voice in the management of these game animals that cause untold millions of dollars in dama…
The Idaho BLM is implementing what is sometimes called “targeted grazing” with livestock in an effort to reduce large wildfires. The theory is that if livestock graze enough of the “fuel,” the…
This week Colorado State University hosts the symposium, “Water in the West,” to discuss water policy and community, environment, and industry issues for Colorado and the entire West. The prog…
Recent Capital Press articles (March 8 and 15) have covered the lawsuit over the threatened Streaked Horned Lark, a ground-nesting grassland bird found in the Willamette Valley. This lawsuit h…
Knowing how to properly protect your crop is essential if the rewards for its research and development are to be realized. A new plant variety can be covered by more than one intellectual prop…
On March 21, the Capital Press and the Herald and News reported “OWRD on track to overspend litigation budget.” In the article, Tom Byler, director of Oregon Water Resources Department, said: …
Unless something changes in the moisture situation, Barb Downey and her husband, Joe Carpenter, will not burn their grassland in the Kansas Flint Hills this season. The ranch couple report no …
In honor of National Ag Week, March 18 to 24, I’d like to share a few things I’ve learned while working for Oregon Farm Bureau since 2004:
We’ve made a lot of progress over the last year, from reducing burdensome regulations to enacting tax reform that allows immediate expensing of equipment, raises the threshold for the estate t…
What are the three priorities determining a Pacific Northwest wheat farmer’s success? 1.Trade. 2.Trade. 3. Trade.
When was the last time you seriously thought about safety on your farm or ranch?
Trade is a hot topic in the news today, and a high priority for America’s farmers and ranchers. Not convinced global trade has a real effect at the farm level? Let’s look at some ways I know t…
I recently had the honor of hearing President Donald Trump address my fellow members at the 99th Annual Convention of the American Farm Bureau Federation in Nashville, Tenn. Not surprisingly, …
Not all news is good news.
Americans across the political spectrum recognize that our federal immigration system is broken. It does not work for those seeking to become part of our nation and pursue the American dream. …
In the colder and, for some, quieter winter months farmers have a bit more time for reflection and planning. As we look ahead toward a new year, generating a stronger and more unified public v…