| Agriculture Quarterly, Spring 2005 |
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| Adding value to the great taste of Oregon |
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by Bruce Pokarney
For thousands of visitors, the Oregon Capitol Building gift shop
characteristically offers a variety of products representing the finest
the state has to offer. The shelf containing jams is the exclusive
domain of Fresh to You Produce and Garden Center, which has evolved
from a basic farm and fruit stand to maker of high quality jams and
syrups. The great taste of Marionberry jam was also part of a gift pack
presented to delegates of all 50 states attending a tourism conference
in Portland last fall.
"Adding value to what we grow has helped," says Nancy Hendricks of
Fresh to You. "If we don’t sell the fresh berries the day they are
picked, we can use them in jams, jellies, and syrups. That allows us to
market our product year around. So it’s a good marketing tool as well
as good use of the berries."
Carl and Nancy Hendricks are part of a fifth generation family
farming operation near Stayton. They have learned in recent years, like
many other producers in Oregon, that just growing a commodity is no
longer good enough. Taking an active role in marketing the product is
now part of the equation. Adding value to what is grown holds the key
for Oregon agriculture.
It boils down to dollars and sense.
"Monetarily, you get more for value-added products than the basic commodity," says Nancy Hendricks.
Scratch that niche
The Oregon Department of Agriculture and Oregon State University are joint tenants of the Food Innovation Center (FIC) in Portland. ODA’s Agricultural Development and Marketing Division and Export Service Center are housed at the FIC. OSU operates a range of programs that help food entrepreneurs succeed in an increasingly global marketplace. Adding value and differentiating products are more necessary than ever. OSU’s suite of services includes food concept development, sensory and consumer research, process and packaging technology, and more. ODA combines expertise in business development, market research, and strategic planning. The team approach has helped several clients. But in the big picture, adding value is helping Oregon agricultural commodities find new markets.
“It’s not Oregon agriculture’s pattern or practice to produce the lowest cost anything,” says ODA Assistant Director Dalton Hobbs. “Our job is to find niches where we have a comparative advantage. Value-added agriculture can take a lot of forms—everything from formulation, packaging, branding or certification—today it’s a lot more than putting it in a can.”
The philosophy of adding value is being espoused by ODA and OSU in an effort to bring the state’s producers a consistent price and higher margins.
“Many growers are content with simply planting a crop, harvesting it, and not being concerned about how it might be processed, or where it ends up,” says Hobbs. “But it’s getting more difficult these days for a grower to be just a producer.”
Like the Hendricks, they need to find ways to add value.
The peeling is appealing
Take a visit to Harry and David’s retail outlets today and you may find a new product on the shelf. It’s a glass pack of Oregon pears—very unique and very different from the old-style canned pears of past generations. Truitt Brothers of Salem has offered up processing equipment in a partnership that includes a market development company based in Corvallis, Green & Green, and the Medford-based Fruit Growers League. Thanks to initial investment from industry and Green & Green, and a specialty crop grant awarded by ODA, one of Oregon’s top ten commodities is now finding use for undersized and under utilized pears.
Green & Green's Dennis Anderson believes in adding value through innovation. "Fresh pears are a wonderful item, but finding new customers is hard because people who don't already buy them don't buy them for a reason. Innovators find out why and then find a new way to package pears that will bring in new buyers."
Green & Green took its idea to the FIC where ODA and OSU helped to pursue the concept. With additional assistance from OSU's Food Science Department, the experience evolved into the current product, which packages winter pears in a way that keeps the colorful peels on the fruit. Consumers are able to look into the glass container and notice the specific variety of pear. The result is product differentiation in the marketplace. Test marketing of the product at Harry and David's has been successfully completed.
The challenge for value-added agriculture is getting producers to embrace change in a dynamic environment. A pear orchard hasn't changed that much over the years, but the product it delivers has, because it needed to change.
Taking the value-added plunge
"At the FIC, we see producers who want to take responsibility for a new level of involvement in the agricultural process," says ODA Business Development Manager Jerry Gardner. "These people want to get more involved in where the product goes and who buys it. They want to be price makers, not a price takers."
Oregon farmers and ranchers have traditionally produced commodities and accepted whatever prices they could get. It is getting more difficult to survive under that scenario. That's why producers are being encouraged to add value and assume more control over their own futures.
"Despite Oregon's increasing farmgate value, we still have producers who can't recover the cost of production and need to add value to their product," says Gardner. "By nature, producers are risk takers. What's riskier than being a farmer and depending on things like the weather? Now we're talking about a different kind of risk. In order to make it nowadays, they need to commit to being a price maker."
Milking it for what it's worth
A handful of both dairy and non-dairy folks see an opportunity to
add value to milk. These people are looking at manufacturing specialty
cheese. Product demand is increasing dramatically. As a result, steps
are being taken that might eventually create a specialty cheese
production facility to be shared among new producers in Oregon. Gardner
is trying to bring all the pieces together. Some have already blazed a
trail. Volbeda Dairy of Albany has succeeded in value-added dairy
products. Cohelo Dairy of Woodburn is another.
"When dairy prices are low, producers need to add value to sustain,"
says John Cohelo, a third-generation member of a longstanding
Willamette Valley dairy. "We identified the Hispanic community as a
target and have specialized in producing queso fresco cheese."
With the help of OSU Extension Dairy Products Specialist Lisbeth
Goddik, the Cohelos have taken a small percentage of milk produced by
their 400 Jersey cows and turned it into a value-added specialty cheese
that already is found in more than 30 grocery stores and several
restaurants.
"We built our factory," says Cohelo. "It took a lot of money and two
years of working like a dog to build the facility, but we know we have
a market. The Mexican cheese market is huge. We are going to have to
ramp up production slowly, but we are on a five to seven-year plan.
There is only one other company on the West Coast that produces queso
fresco cheese that has the cows and the processing facility at the same
location."
Cohelo has turned down several large retailers interested in their
product simply because they can�t produce enough at this time to
satisfy the need. Eventually, the company would like to use all its
milk in cheese production. Currently, most of it is marketed through
Darigold in Portland.
"When milk prices are good, dairy producers don't think about doing
something different, but they should," says Cohelo. "Some specialty
cheeses command $15 a block. We aren't making money yet, but we aren�t
giving the cheese away either. Hopefully by next year, we�ll get a
premium price and then be able to increase production."
ODA and OSU will work with the dairy industry on the idea of a
specialty cheese processing facility to be shared by those who want to
do more with their milk.
Value-added in the city
Value-added agriculture is not exclusive to the farmer. A new culture has come alive around food and the idea of producing unique and healthy natural food products.
"People who don't have a background in production agriculture but are food entrepreneurs have stepped forward and started new businesses," says Gardner.
These folks have great ideas but need to search for help in getting past the concept stage. Once again, the FIC has provided a boost.
They scream for ice cream
Value-added agriculture is not exclusive to the farmer. A new culture has come alive around food and the idea of producing unique and healthy natural food products.
"People who don't have a background in production agriculture but are food entrepreneurs have stepped forward and started new businesses," says Gardner.
These folks have great ideas but need to search for help in getting past the concept stage. Once again, the FIC has provided a boost.
Innovation equals success
Oregon agriculture is replete with examples of companies and individuals who recognize the value of value-added. From Bob's Red Mill of Milwaukie, who has added value by employing centuries-old milling technology to produce a wide range of whole grain products, to the three Oregon seafood commodity commissions working with the FIC to develop products specifically targeted at Korea, there is plenty of evidence that when people are thoughtful and creative about value-added agriculture- and willing to take some risk- they can be successful and sustain production.
We are fortunate to have a diverse base of high quality agricultural products to draw on, says Gardner. A lot of states talk about value-added but don't have the same quality or variety as Oregon. We are also fortunate to have innovators who have a passion for the food culture." That passion is leading to value-added products that can pull Oregon agriculture into a brighter future.
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| Director's Column |
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Editor’s note: ODA Director Katy Coba submitted the following guest article for the Portland Business Journal, March 18, 2005. Her comments were in response to a previous article indicating that the State of Oregon has been less than successful in marketing its products to China.
For Oregon agriculture, China has been more than just a land of opportunity. Over the past two decades, a collaborative effort between state government, higher education, and the private sector has resulted in tremendous progress in accessing the rapidly growing Chinese export market.
Any assertion that Oregon is not making sufficient efforts to market itself or promote its products, particularly agricultural products, doesn’t recognize historical fact.
Oregon’s grass seed industry took the initiative in exploring the possibilities in China back in the early 1980s. Within the last ten years, the industry has gained a reputation and a demand for its product unrivaled by other states or countries. A team approach consisting of the Oregon Seed Council, Oregon State University, and the Oregon Department of Agriculture has worked with the Chinese government in introducing, testing, and ultimately selling Oregon grass seed for such environmental purposes as erosion control and overall beautification of urban areas. Oregon is the number one supplier of grass seed to China at 60 percent of the market, exporting about 15 million pounds annually with a realistic goal of increasing that amount to 50 million pounds by the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. When the world watches the Olympics on television three years from now, it will be seeing a great deal of green that comes from Oregon.
The grass seed success has opened the door for Oregon’s top agricultural commodity, nursery products. Last fall, a trade mission designed to target Oregon nursery stock as a solution to China’s needs culminated in the creation of a display garden inside the Beijing Botanical Garden. That garden will be dedicated this spring. China’s nursery import market has averaged an annual increase of 40 percent the past few years. A reasonable goal is for Oregon to be the top US supplier of nursery stock in China.
Those same pioneering efforts by the grass seed industry have created an awareness and identity that paves the way for agricultural food products from Oregon. The Chinese appetite for seafood has caught the interest of the state’s Dungeness crab industry among others. ODA has employed a strategy of product demonstration—often using a chef to prepare seafood for Chinese importers, distributors, and restaurant owners. Live Dungeness crab has been flown via Air China Cargo out of Portland to help satisfy the Chinese demand for live seafood. More recently, ODA and an Oregon-based distributor of products into China worked with the state’s wine industry to facilitate the first shipment of Oregon wine into the fast-growing Chinese market. Promotion of Oregon Pinot noir has been targeted at upscale hotels and restaurants—taking advantage of the booming tourist trade in China. Oregon food ingredients have found their way into the Chinese market, including specialty products like hazelnuts and berries.
Along the way, the state has established strong relationships with Chinese government officials through personal meetings and missions that have included Oregon’s past two governors. Two years ago, Governor Kulongoski and I invited Chinese private sector and government officials to Oregon as part of a reverse trade mission that allowed them to see the state for themselves. Nearly 80 trade delegates were able to see how we grow, process, and package the products they are interested in such as grass seed, nursery products, beef and dairy cattle, seafood, fruits, and vegetables. Meeting the people who actually grow or process the product is critical to the Chinese, and these kinds of efforts help create an advantage for Oregon over other states.
All this has happened only because many in the agriculture industry as well as Oregon State University, the Oregon Department of Agriculture, the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department, the Port of Portland, and others have put in the research, planning, implementation, and follow-up necessary to successfully compete in perhaps the world’s most dynamic export market. Finding targeted opportunities for our products will continue to be a high priority. Can the state do even better? You bet. But let it be known that paying a great deal of attention to China is not a new phenomenon for Oregon agriculture.
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| Farmers markets gear up for expected busy season |
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As is the case with a variety of locally-grown produce, the time is nearly ripe for the spring opening of several farmers’ markets in Oregon. A handful of the more than 64 farmers’ markets throughout the state are already open for business, primarily those in Southern Oregon. Some of the popular markets in the Willamette Valley will be open in April with others to follow as the season progresses.
Farmers’ markets continue to be a huge success in many ways by providing an important marketing option for local farmers as well as a source of fresh, local food for consumers. Their popularity is backed up in survey data recently released by Oregon State University Extension Marketing Economist Larry Lev. Among his findings:
Estimated sales total from Oregon farmers’ markets in 2004 is $22 million, approximately the size of the state’s blueberry industry.
Estimated attendance per week at all Oregon farmers’ markets during peak season is 100,000 customers.
A majority of customers, when asked why they go to Oregon farmers’ markets, respond that the agricultural products available at the markets are the main reason. But overall atmosphere of the markets is also a major factor in drawing customers.
With an estimated 1,000 farmers participating as vendors in Oregon farmers’ markets each year, the connection between urban and rural remains strong through direct marketing. Consumers increasingly want to know where their food comes from, and farmers’ markets continue to provide that face-to-face experience, matching the producer with the customer.
For a complete listing of farmers’ markets in Oregon or to find a market near you, visit the Oregon Farmers’ Market Association Web site at <www.oregonfarmersmarkets.org>.
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| Board of Agriculture profile: Bob Levy |
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Like many folks in ag, Bob Levy knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life from a young age.
“I have always had an affection for ranching and farming, and I’ve never intended to do anything else,” he says.
That affection has culminated in a trio of separate farming and ranching operations in Eastern Oregon as well as a spot on the State Board of Agriculture. In many ways, Bob Levy typifies the drive and determination of the Oregon farmer to succeed as a producer. He is now doing what he can to ensure success for all of Oregon agriculture, especially that which exists east of the Cascades.
It is never easy to make a living in a land where water is so precious a commodity.
“There have been some very difficult times in the irrigated farming business over the past 30 years,” says Levy. “Swings in economic conditions, controversy over water, and endangered species issues have given me a broad perspective on agriculture’s relationship to our environment.”
The Levy family has been an agricultural mainstay in the Columbia Basin. Bob and his son Bill are partners in Windy River Land Company, an irrigated farming operation in the Hermiston-Boardman area. The company leases farmland, owned by the Levys, that produces green peas, lima beans, grass seed, corn, asparagus, alfalfa, mint, and wheat among other crops. Bob is also president of American Onion, Inc., which grows and packs onions in the area. The sweet onions are marketed both nationally and internationally. Third, Bob assists in the daily management of a closely held family corporation headquartered in Pendleton that produces wheat, cattle, sheep, and timber.
“Mine is the third generation that is actively involved in management of the business,” says Levy.
Born and raised, of course, on a farm near Pendleton, Levy graduated from Oregon State University with a masters degree in agricultural economics. He worked as a field representative for potato processor Lamb Weston but eventually found his way back to the day-to-day job of farming. When the potato market changed for the worse, Levy began to diversify.
“My family background and education prepared me to farm and that is always what I wanted to do,” says Levy.
With four grown children and a wife, Bobby, who teaches at Blue Mountain Community College, Levy has taken his time and talent statewide. Appointed to Governor Kulongoski’s transition team more than two years ago, Levy provided an important voice for agriculture as the newly elected governor developed strategies and positions. He has added that voice to the Board of Agriculture as one of its newest members.
“It is an honor and privilege to serve in an organization that has the best interest of Oregon agriculture at heart,” says Levy. “The natural resource industries are the most important industries in the state. The economic well-being of forestry and agriculture are the keys to the long-term success of our land-use system, health of our rural communities, protection of the environment, and reestablishment of healthy streams. Policy set by the Board of Agriculture will help the state achieve long-term sustainability in what is important to the citizens of Oregon.”
Like so many others who have always known they would be farmers, Levy is working hard for the benefit of Oregon agriculture.
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| Resolutions approved by the Board of Agriculture |
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ACTION ITEM: BOARD OF AGRICULTURE SUPPORTS ESTABLISHMENT OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING FOR AGRICULTURAL WORKERS AND THEIR EMPLOYERS IN THE STATE OF OREGON
WHEREAS, employees’ rights to form or join a union should continue to be protected by federal and state laws;
WHEREAS, neither federal nor state law provide for collective bargaining rules and regulations for Oregon farm workers and Oregon farm employers;
WHEREAS, the Oregon State Board of Agriculture does not believe that this represents a free and fair process to determine whether or not a majority of workers support forming a union;
WHEREAS, Oregon agricultural employers have for many years supported the establishment of Oregon law that would enable equitable rules and regulations to control collective bargaining for Oregon farm workers and their employers;
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of Oregon agriculture to ensure a fair process for collective bargaining.
RESOLUTION: Be it resolved that the Oregon State Board of Agriculture supports extending collective bargaining protections to Oregon agriculture.
ACTION: Motion passed unanimously.
ACTION ITEM: BOARD OF AGRICULTURE INVOLVEMENT IN BIOPHARM POLICY FOR THE STATE OF OREGON
RESOLUTION: Be it resolved that the Oregon State Board of Agriculture requests to be directly involved in the development of a policy for the state of Oregon related to biopharmaceutical crop production in Oregon.
ACTION: Motion passed unanimously.
ACTION ITEM: BOARD OF AGRICULTURE SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT OF A BIOFUEL INDUSTRY IN OREGON
RESOLUTION: Be it resolved that the State Board of Agriculture supports tax credits, property tax exemptions, sighting assistance and other methods of promotion and use of biofuels, biofuel development, and biofuel processing in Oregon.
Be it further resolved that the Board feels any increase in resource requirements needed for the Oregon Department of Agriculture related to monitoring, evaluating, and testing of biofuels shall be provided by fees related to specific activities or the state general fund to support such activities. Biofuel standards adopted by the Oregon Department of Agriculture shall be enforced by analysis on department equipment according to established screening protocols, unless a funding mechanism to pay for the additional costs of testing in outside laboratories is authorized.
ACTION: Motion passed unanimously.
ACTION ITEM: BOARD OF AGRICULTURE REAFFIRMS SUPPORT OF OREGON’S LAND USE SYSTEM TO PROTECT THE VIABILITY OF OREGON AGRICULTURE
WHEREAS, the State Board of Agriculture is committed to supporting viable operations of agriculture throughout Oregon;
WHEREAS, the establishment of Exclusive Farm Use Zones (EFU) have supported the viable operation of farming in Oregon;
WHEREAS, a large majority of citizens in Oregon passed Measure 37 providing for compensation or waiver of regulations that affect real property value;
WHEREAS, waivers of the land use laws developed to protect agricultural lands will most likely lead to location of large scale developments, new subdivisions and other nonfarm uses in and amongst ongoing farm and ranch operations; and
WHEREAS, current Measure 37 claims filed with the state and listed by the Department of Land Conservation and Development shows a high percent of the claims involve land zoned for agriculture use;
RESOLUTION: Be it resolved that the Oregon State Board of Agriculture:
Reaffirms its commitment to protect viable farming operations in Oregon as a valuable natural resource for our state.
Urges that waivers not be granted and that a system for compensation be developed.
Urges consideration of delaying the implementation of Measure 37 until the legal issues are resolved and compensation systems are developed by the legislature.
ACTION: Motion passed unanimously.
ACTION ITEM: BOARD OF AGRICULTURE SUPPORTS A 30-YEAR REVIEW OF LAND USE IN OREGON
RESOLUTION: Be it resolved that the Oregon State Board of Agriculture: Supports the comprehensive 30-year review of land use in Oregon. Urges formal involvement of the State Board of Agriculture in the 30-year review.
ACTION: Motion passed unanimously.
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| Expanded eligibility for riparian buffer program |
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Ralph Duyck (middle) receives a CREP t-shirt from ODA
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Oregon celebrates CREP incentives
Washington County farmer Ralph Duyck and the partner agencies and organizations who recently gathered on his farm have many reasons to celebrate. More landowners across Oregon are now eligible for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). Landowners in the Tualatin Watershed within Washington County will now receive enhanced financial incentives through CREP, thanks to a unique urban-rural partnership. Ralph Duyck is one of the first to enroll in CREP in Washington County, hopefully starting a popular trend among local landowners.
The US Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), Oregon Department of Agriculture, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, and other partners have been working on the statewide eligibility changes for nearly two years.
“We’re thrilled to have finalized the changes, because we have landowners lined up to enroll in several counties as soon as they became eligible,” says Larry Frey, executive director with FSA’s state office. “Entire regions, such as Crook County in Central Oregon, were not eligible before because they had no threatened and endangered fish species. Now landowners in Crook County and other areas can provide significant benefits to water quality through this program and receive great incentives for doing so.”
The program was created in 1998 through a unique partnership between USDA and the State of Oregon. Its purpose is to establish vegetation on agricultural land along streams, protecting water quality and restoring fish and wildlife habitat. CREP allows agricultural landowners to enroll eligible near-stream lands into a 10 to 15 year contract and receive annual conservation payments for the contract period, reimbursement for 75 percent of the costs of riparian restoration practices, and other financial incentives.
The revised CREP includes more riparian restoration options for pasture and rangeland statewide. There are also special funding provisions for the Tualatin watershed in Washington County, thanks to a partnership between local CREP agencies and Clean Water Services.
In Washington County, Clean Water Services decided to provide additional incentives to CREP participants. Clean Water Services manages municipal wastewater for the metro area of Portland, and was facing considerable expense meeting new temperature requirements in the Tualatin watershed. Instead of installing expensive cooling equipment to meet the temperature requirements, CWS is putting additional funds into CREP in the Tualatin and also entering into an agreement with the Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District to provide technical assistance.
Bruce Cordon with Clean Water Services led an advisory group of agencies and landowners to develop the enhancements to CREP in the Tualatin watershed.
“It has been a joy to work on this project and the farming community has been an excellent resource,” Cordon says. John McDonald, board member of the Tualatin SWCD and member of the advisory group, adds, “Federal, state and local agencies, Clean Water Services, and landowners all stepped out of the box to make this happen.”
ODA-NRD staff Larry Ojua and Stephanie Page participated in the tour of Duyck’s future buffer area.
“The statewide program enhancements, as well as this cooperative effort in Washington County, will help landowners meet their conservation goals and comply with Senate Bill 1010,” says Ojua.
CREP is already highly popular in several regions of Oregon. For the past two years, the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board and ODA have worked together to increase staffing for the program at Soil and Water Conservation Districts in areas where landowner interest exceeds staff resources to enroll participants. Many other partners, including the Oregon Department of Forestry and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, provide assistance to landowners to implement projects.
In other regions, such as the Tualatin, the program has historically been less popular. One reason is that financial incentives were not enough to convince landowners with high-value crops to participate. However, with the new funding from Clean Water Services, several landowners have signed up in the local USDA office, including Ralph Duyck.
“I support conservation, water quality and wildlife habitat,” Duyck said during the tour. “If you put a few bucks with it, I’m ready to go!”
For more information, landowners can contact their local Farm Service Agency office. A list of offices is available at offices.usda.gov.
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| Irrigation - a lifeline for Oregon agriculture |
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Federal survey results are back
Recently released results of a new federal survey emphasize the importance of irrigation to Oregon agriculture, despite the common perception that the state is often soggy and wet. Even though the number of irrigated acres is down from five years ago, the US Department of Agriculture’s latest farm and ranch irrigation survey shows Oregon ranked third in the nation in the number of farms and ranches utilizing irrigation, and ninth in the amount of acreage irrigated.
“Many people think irrigation is not a big issue in Oregon because of how wet the state usually is,” says Jim Johnson, land use and water planning coordinator for the Oregon Department of Agriculture. “However, irrigation is really a key to Oregon agriculture. Nearly 45 percent of all farms and ranches in the state do some type of irrigation totaling about 1.9 million acres.”
Oregon does not normally receive the summer rain enjoyed by the Midwest states and other parts of the country. Irrigation provides water necessary for much of agriculture during the growing season.
The latest figures show 17,776 of Oregon’s 40,033 farms irrigate some or all of their land. The number of farms is up slightly from the 1997 irrigation survey, but the number of acres irrigated is down by 55,850 acres. Reasons for the relatively small drop in acreage vary from drought in certain counties to specific management decisions made by farmers and ranchers in that specific year.
Another reason for a decrease in irrigated acres may be attributed to farmers’ efficiency in the use and delivery of water. Oregon ranks sixth in the nation for dollars invested in water conservation efforts related to irrigation systems. In 2003, when the survey was conducted, Oregon producers spent nearly $39 million on irrigation equipment—47 percent of which was used to replace old equipment, 26 percent used for water conservation equipment and improvements, and 25 percent used to expand irrigation systems. In all, about 15 percent of all Oregon farms and ranches made investments in irrigation equipment. There were 36 operations investing more than $75,000.
“All these numbers tell me that farmers are looking at going from less efficient systems such as flood irrigation to more efficient systems like drip irrigation or sprinklers,” says Johnson.
The survey shows that about 40 percent of Oregon’s irrigated lands—about 700,000 acres—are gravity flow systems. Most of the rest of the irrigated acreage is watered through sprinkler systems. A small percentage of farms and ranches have moved to drip, trickle, or low-flow micro-sprinklers on about 16,000 acres. The expense in such equipment has kept that number from being higher.
Oregon farmers and ranchers also provided for environmental and wildlife benefits. Oregon leads the nation in the number of farms transferring water—either by renting or leasing—to environmental uses. In all, 51,283 acre-feet of water was transferred by farmers and ranchers to others with a significant portion going to help the environment. The survey also shows that 97 Oregon farms used irrigation water on nearly 35,000 acres to aid wildlife or waterfowl habitat, ranking fifth among all states in the amount used for such a purpose.
The survey clearly points out the greatest benefit of irrigation still rests with agricultural production itself. The dollars earned by farmers and ranchers can often be directly tied to the use of irrigation water.
“When you look at the value of agricultural production, 85 percent of the value of all Oregon crops comes from farms that irrigate,” says ODA economic analyst Brent Searle. “In addition, those farms that irrigate all of their production produce 55 percent of the value of all Oregon’s crops.”
The year-to-year concern about a strong winter snowpack needed for summer irrigation (see sidebar) is no different this year as conditions are well below normal in most basins. Whatever happens, one thing won’t change—Oregon agriculture will always need irrigation in order to be fully successful.
Stage set for summer of drought
Precipitation and snowpack levels this winter have been shockingly low. Barry Norris of the Oregon Water Resources Department told the Board of Agriculture in a recent meeting that if the state were to get the needed amount of rain and snow over the next several weeks just to catch up to the average, Oregon would experience a different set of problems—namely flooding.
Above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation in February followed a warm and dry January. Statewide, the forecasted streamflows are as low as 20 percent of average to no higher than 83 percent of average, at best. Reduced water availability across most of Oregon is predicted for the summer with water users cautioned to begin conservation actions now.
In response, Governor Kulongoski has developed a statewide drought and fire strategy for the coming summer.
“Oregon is experiencing the second driest winter on record, and that has serious implications for our economy as our summer months are critical to agriculture, fishing, and recreation,” Governor Kulongoski said. “While I can’t make it rain, I can ensure that we have systems in place to manage these conditions and that we tap every available resource from the federal, state, and local levels so we can meet the needs of Oregon communities.”
As part of the Oregon Drought Plan, the governor will continue to make use of emergency drought declarations for hard hit areas. Klamath and Baker counties already have received declarations, which provide flexible water management tools, not generally available under Oregon law. A statewide drought emergency may be declared in the near future.
Online news and information on Oregon’s drought conditions will be made available in the coming months by the Governor’s Office at oregon.gov/gov and ODA at oregon.gov/ODA/drought.shtml.
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| SOD certification effort nears halfway mark |
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Under requirements of a federal control order, the Oregon Department of Agriculture has inspected, sampled, and certified more than 900 nurseries as free of Phytophthora ramorum, the fungus that causes sudden oak death (SOD). These nurseries account for 45 percent of all Oregon nurseries required to be inspected and certified by June 30, 2005. Even though an overwhelming majority of nurseries are P. ramorum free, the inspection program, to date, has detected the presence of the fungus in two small nurseries—one in Washington County, the other in Marion County. An immediate hold has been placed on SOD-susceptible plant material on the premises, pending further sampling and testing.
ODA officials believe the overall findings clearly indicate that sudden oak death is not established in Oregon. To date, ODA has tested nearly 20,000 samples from almost 400 growing areas statewide. The fact that P. ramorum has only been detected in only two Oregon nurseries during 2005 shows that SOD has been isolated and can be controlled and eradicated in Oregon.
Meanwhile, ODA nursery inspectors and the Plant Pathology Laboratory will continue their work to meet this summer’s deadline.
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| Alert Oregonians have a nose for news, help find stink bugs |
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Brown marmorated stink bug established in Portland area
There is nothing like the power of a catchy name with an odorous quality to grab attention of the media and, ultimately, the public. When the Oregon Department of Agriculture released information in January about the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha hayls, and a plea for citizens to help in its detection, numerous potential sightings were reported almost immediately. Several of those reports of the unwanted exotic insect pest have been confirmed and, although ODA officials are grateful for the terrific public response, their fears have been realized: The brown marmorated stink bug appears to be established at least in the Portland area.
“With all the media coverage we received with our pest alert, people started looking for this insect,” says Jim LaBonte, taxonomic entomologist with ODA. “The extra eyes have given us a better idea of whether this bug is a guest or now a resident of Oregon.”
This year’s detections are the first reported appearances of the insect pest west of the Mississippi. The stink bug brings with it the potential for agricultural damage as well as for being an uninvited house guest in large numbers.
“Our expectation is that there could be many more out there in Oregon and that they may have been here for at least a few years now,” says Labonte.
The brown marmorated stink bug is common to Japan, China, Taiwan, and Korea. It was first found in the United States in 2001 and, until last summer, was confined to a handful of east coast states, including Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and West Virginia. In August, LaBonte made an unexpected find while looking in a trap set up for exotic woodboring insects in southeast Portland’s Ladd’s Addition. The trap contained a single specimen of a half-inch by half-inch brown bug that LaBonte soon identified as the same pest that has already caused problems back east. While similar in looks to Oregon’s native stink bugs, this one could be especially troubling in areas where it has no natural predators, parasites, or diseases to help control its population.
Like several other insects in Oregon—including box elder bugs and Asian multicolored lady beetles—the brown marmorated stink bug likes to seek shelter in homes during the fall and winter months. Where the bug has become established, it can enter homes by the thousands, which can be stressful and disturbing to residents.
“You can imagine having thousands of these things crawling through your house,” says LaBonte. “Homes work perfectly for the stink bugs and they are happy to join us in our houses even if we aren’t quite as happy to have them. They will crawl in through cracks and crevices, and will often aggregate on windows, particularly on sunny days.”
As creepy and crawly as the stink bugs may be, they won’t cause harm to humans although, as the name suggests, they can release an unpleasant odor when disturbed. The brown marmorated stink bug is probably a larger concern for agriculture.
“They are starting to cause damage to the fruit harvest back east—especially to organic orchards,” says LaBonte. “This insect is a very generalist herbivore. It feeds on a number of plants and commodities ranging from fruit to soybeans and practically everything in between. It can achieve very, very large numbers and can do a lot of damage just feeding on fruit. It doesn’t take much damage to render an individual fruit essentially worthless in the marketplace.”
If this pest became established, an area or a state could be subject to quarantines halting or restricting movement of plant material and other agricultural products. Control measures are few and not generally effective. For organic growers, the usual assortment of pesticides to control insect pests would not be an option.
For homeowners, the best control is a vacuum cleaner.
Meanwhile, the search for more brown marmorated stink bugs continues. Where there are some, there are probably many more. LaBonte is hoping to devise a lure and trap that may give a clearer picture about the established population of the pungent pest.
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| ODA gears up for gypsy moth eradication in Eagle Creek |
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It reads like a championship boxing match:
What: ODA vs. gypsy moth
When: April and May 2005
Where: Eagle Creek, Oregon
The Oregon Department of Agriculture is hoping to deliver a knockout punch this spring in what continues to be an annual battle with the invasive gypsy moth. This time, ODA will treat a 268-acre spray area that includes residential properties. Two gypsy moths were detected in the area last summer following a single detection in 2003. In addition, ODA was able to find gypsy moth egg masses and a pupal case on blue spruce trees imported from Ontario, Canada in 2003 and planted in a nearby Eagle Creek nursery. The evidence indicates a breeding population of gypsy moth is present in the area.
Beginning in late April, ODA will make three aerial applications of the biological insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk), which has been used routinely in other gypsy moth eradication projects throughout the West, including Oregon, since 1984. If all goes according to plan, the eradication project this spring should conclude by mid-May. At that time, ODA’s annual gypsy moth detection program will commence with traps placed throughout the state to see if any new infestations can be located.
No new detections were made last summer in south Eugene, the site of last year’s only gypsy moth eradication project.
Early detection and eradication of gypsy moth infestations are goals of ODA to prevent economic and environmental losses to Oregon by restrictive quarantines on commodities, by loss of foliage and even trees, or loss of favorable fish habitat due to expanding gypsy moth populations.
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| ODA unveils test program of premises registration |
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Voluntary program is now assigning identification numbers
The Oregon Department of Agriculture is open for business when it comes to premises registration, having taken the first step towards a nationwide program ultimately designed to identify all livestock as well as track their movement and location. A voluntary program is now assigning identification numbers to all physical locations in Oregon where livestock animals may be found. The test program is made possible through a US Department of Agriculture grant that encourages individual states or groups of states to develop and test animal tracking programs.
“The United States is interested in establishing a national program to track livestock species,” says Dr. Don Hansen, state veterinarian with ODA. “The goal is to protect the health of the livestock animal industry and be able to trace and control outbreaks of specific diseases of concern within a 48-hour period of time after they are discovered.”
The first step in this program is the identification and registration of premises throughout the state. A premises is a unique, identifiable physical location where livestock can be found. This includes farms, ranches, pastures, feedlots, slaughter facilities, and other locations. The registration can be done by producers and livestock handlers by way of the internet at <oregon.gov/ODA/AHID>, or by calling ODA’s Animal Health Division at 503-986-4680. A nationally unique seven-digit number will then be assigned to the property location, not the owner.
“Knowing where animals are located will be the first step in a system that ultimately will provide better protection for livestock animals and consumers,” says Hansen.
The likely goal of the second phase is to have every livestock animal individually identified and to have its movement traced at specific times in its life. Individually identified animals would be issued a unique 15-digit number that can be used to track movements from location to location.
It is safe to say that the events of September 11, 2001 elevated the level of concern for many issues, including animal disease control. Whether intentionally or unintentionally introduced, diseases of concern could wreak havoc on the agriculture industry. The first ever detection of BSE in the US also intensified public interest in a national animal identification program.
“Protecting the health of our herds is the primary concern under the National Animal Identification System (NAIS),” says Hansen, referring to the specific initiative being directed by USDA in cooperation with individual states. “The effort should reduce the financial and social impacts of animal health incidents. If you can actually curtail the spread of something like foot-and-mouth disease within 48 hours, that could save billions of dollars. The system can also help gain market access and perhaps increase consumer demand.”
The European Union, Canada, and Australia already have animal identification systems in place. Export markets for US livestock products are increasingly demanding a similar program for the United States. The domestic marketplace is also joining the chorus.
“American consumers are telling us they have more confidence in an identified product,” says Hansen. “Tracking an animal’s movement through commerce may provide comfort to consumers. A completed and workable animal identification system should continue the confidence in American animal products.”
Once fully operational, the NAIS could trace a sick animal or a group of animals back to the herd or premises that is the source of infection. The system will also trace potentially exposed animals that were moved off the premises before the disease outbreak was discovered. In animal disease control, every moment saved can make a huge difference in successful control of the outbreak.
Success of the current grant-funded test programs will be necessary if a national premises registration program becomes mandatory. ODA’s current grant program is aimed at dairy cattle—both cull cows that are transported through market channels and young calves that leave their original premises, primarily out of state. Another program—the Northwest Pilot Project—deals primarily with beef cattle, and does not directly involve ODA, although its goals are similar.
Whether online or over the phone, dairy farmers are encouraged to participate in a voluntary program in which the information will remain confidential.
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| Oregon braces for expected increase in west Nile virus cases |
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Oregon was one of the last states to report the presence of west Nile virus, finding it in birds, horses, and humans in 2004. If the mosquito-carried disease follows its normal course, year two of west Nile will likely be much more severe. With that in mind, Oregon health officials are unleashing a preemptive attack by providing outreach and public information about the disease to the general population.
For agriculture, the issue is about horses. State Veterinarian Don Hansen of the Oregon Department of Agriculture is once again advising horse owners to help protect their animals against west Nile virus by vaccinating them and taking steps to control mosquitoes this spring and summer.
“We are reminding horse owners that vaccination against the disease provides good protection against west Nile,” says Hansen. “For those who have already vaccinated their horses several months past, a booster shot now will strengthen protection. Knowing that the virus has already made its way to Oregon, it is now even more important to vaccinate animals before the mosquito season gets into high gear.”
The vaccine for horses is available through local veterinarians.
Oregon was one of the last holdouts against west Nile virus when the disease was confirmed last year in eight counties. The final tally for 2004 showed detections of the virus in 32 horses, 23 birds, and five humans.
Infected wild birds are the source of west Nile virus. Mosquitoes bite infected birds and then can potentially transmit the infection to horses and humans. The disease does not transmit from horse to horse or human to human. A bite by an infected mosquito is the only known route of transmission.
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| Specialty crop grants update |
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Editor's note: The Agriculture Quarterly is featuring selected summaries of projects funded through the Specialty Crop Grants Program. ODA and the State Board of Agriculture have distributed $3.2 million in federal funds to dozens of proposed projects. A complete listing and description of all 54 projects can be found online at: oda.state.or.us/dbs/crop_grants/hitlist2.lasso.
Project profile: Development of markets for tuna loins and box crab
Total grant applied toward project: $90,000
Total provided by other entities: $10,000
This project helped Local Ocean Seafoods develop niche value-added markets for albacore tuna loins and live boxed crab.
Results: The development of specialized processes and equipment have enabled Local Ocean Seafoods to create niche products and market development for sashimi grade albacore tuna loins through a national distributor and over 15 Portland white table cloth restaurant accounts. The company has developed a Web marketing portal <localoceanseafoods.com/index.cfm>. As a result of this program, in its first year of development, $66,000 was paid to Oregon fishermen, $42,455 to custom processors, and $18,000 to logistics providers (offloading, freight and cold storage)- an indication of the multiplier effect of this project throughout the coastal economy. The company is excited about the prospect for tuna products. The live crab effort proved difficult, with live shellfish export to China bans put in place just as orders were being packed. Frozen product was sent to Korea, but quality was not as good as the fresh. The company is reevaluating this product.
Project profile: Mid-Columbia alternative and rotational specialty crops
Total grant applied toward project: $59,000
Total provided by other entities: $277,154 financial, $10,000 in-kind
The goals of this project include: 1) investigating potential alternative field crops for the 400,000 acres of small grains production cropland in the Columbia Basin of Oregon, 2) development of a resource book that details potential rotational crops, their potential markets, and opportunities for value-added benefits; 3) crop screening research to field test several of the alternative crops, and expanded research trials in various crop rotation systems, and 4) conduct outreach and education for growers regarding the findings.
Results: The resource book on alternative crops has been published in draft form and is undergoing peer review for final publication by Oregon State University in 2005. Crop screening field trials were conducted during the 30 months of this project. The results have been published in a separate publication titled, "Alternative Crops for Eastern Oregon: Research." Crops included in this publication include peas, lentils, chickpeas, faba beans, lupin, mustard, flax, safflower, sunflower, euphorbia, buckwheat, millet, Indian ricegrass, green needlegrass. Long-term rotational field trials are ongoing. These include a winter tritical-pea rotation; winter wheat-pea intercrop; legume inoculant trials, and an organic no-till system trial. OSU researchers heading this project have given over 46 local area, regional, and national presentations concerning the results of the research work to over 2,200 participants. Currently, over 50 growers have some 9,700 acres under alternative crop production in Eastern Oregon. The project has attracted over $270,000 in other local, state, and federal grant funds to continue the effort.
Project profile: Extending Oregon's fresh market blueberry fruiting season using Spanish tunnels and the latest rabbiteye cultivars
Total grant applied toward project: $40,000
Total provided by other entities: $49,000
The intent of this project is to evaluate the viability of various blueberry varieties grown under canopy for extended fresh market season production. Oregon's blueberry season runs from July through early September. The only berries available from September through late October are from greenhouse production, with berries from the southern hemisphere coming on after that. This presents a market opportunity if production can be extended into this period.
Results: Three acres of rabbiteye blueberries were planted on raised beds under canopy with micro prayer irrigation during the fall of 2002. The plantings yielded over 7,000 pounds of fruit gross, and netted 6,440 pounds of fresh marketable fruit after sorting and grading. These are significant yields for two-year old plantings. The area received over one inch of rain just prior to harvest and the tunnels became necessary to protect the crop, where 20-25 percent of unprotected crop was lost. However, use of the canopies does alter field management, equipment design and use, and other aspects of crop management. Prices received for berries from this effort during the September to October period averaged $2.21 for bulk fruit, a price three to five times midseason prices. Early indications from this project demonstrate an opportunity for some growers who invest in tunnels to capture a premium market for extended fresh season blueberries.
Project profile: Improved management of cover crops and tillage systems to enhance vegetable crop yields, economic return, and environmental quality
Total grant applied toward project: $52,000
Total provided by other entities: $ in-kind-use of fields by growers.
This project focused research on evaluating cover crop mixtures for increasing sweet corn yield and improving efficiency of strip-tillage management.
Results: OSU Department of Horticulture researchers worked with eight growers for on-farm trials from 2002-2004. In strip-tillage trials on four farms, results indicated that the oat-legume mixture increased average corn yields by an average of 18 percent compared to the non-cover cropped plots. After factoring costs of cover crop establishment, the oat-legume cover increased net profit by $86 per acre. In two fields where reduced tillage was used instead of strip-tillage, the oat cover crop produced the highest graded yields, producing 12 percent more than the no-cover, fallow crop plots. (Strip tillage is a form of conservation tillage that involves cultivation of narrow bands or strips in the row area, separated by bands of undisturbed soil. This provides for a suitable seedbed for vegetable crop establishment while leaving surface residues in the inter-row area to reduce soil erosion. It requires special equipment.) Trials conducted over a four-year period have demonstrated that strip-tillage and conventional tillage systems produced equivalent yields, but labor and input costs were reduced for strip tillage, and there were additional conservation benefits from reduced erosion, improved soil quality, etc. Cover crop research can be accessed online from OSU at: orst.edu/dept/hort/faculty/LunaPub.pdf
Project profile: Steam distillation process in mint oil production
Total grant applied toward project: $110,000
Total provided by other entities: $20,000 cash, $45,000 in-kind
The objective of this project was to develop more energy-efficient, yet cost-effective, mint distillation equipment. Modification and testing of equipment focused on three separate phases of the distillation process, including the cooking tubs, the steam delivery system and condenser, and the receiving cans.
Results: Project results showed that a combination of a modified tub and redesigned steam delivery cut cooking time up to 33 percent, reducing cook time from 97 minutes to 65 minutes. Insulating the tubs assisted energy efficiency but proved too costly to adopt as a recommendation for growers. Increasing steam pipe size and location were the most cost-effective and timesaving methods tested. Work was also done to make distillation condensers more efficient so they are able to handle the increased volume of mint oil from the faster cooking process. Reports of the findings were presented to the Oregon Essential Oil Growers League meetings in 2004 and 2005. The amount of savings to growers will depend on the rate of adoption. A simple retrofit kit for existing tubs can cut cooking time by 10-12 percent. A complete distillation plant and tub makeover can cut up to 33 percent cooking time. Growers will have to evaluate the cost of the modification to the benefits for their operation.
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| Fighting back the invaders |
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Report card and "most unwanted" list
Oregon's Invasive Species Council is doing what it can to raise the profile of some of the nastiest, unsavory organisms to ever face the state. In an effort to educate the public on invasive species, the council has issued two separate documents- one a report card for Oregon and the other a kind of "most unwanted" list.
First, the council gave the State of Oregon a letter grade of "B" for 2004 in its coordinated effort to battle invasive species. Oregon received the same grade in 2003, but has improved upon the "B-" grade of 2002. Council members believe many efforts have been successful in excluding or eradicating undesirable invasive species. Still, as the most recent grade reflects, there is room for improvement in many areas.
The annual grade recognizes Oregon's collective success at excluding the most dangerous invasive species threats to the state. In issuing its report card, the Invasive Species Council has listed 27 important invasive species interceptions and actions taken in 2004. Among those significant incidents were introductions of Phytophthora ramorum- the cause of sudden oak death- in several nurseries in Oregon. An inspection and certification program by the Oregon Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the nursery industry, has kept the disease from becoming established in the state. (See SOD update on page 6). This past year, eradication projects against eight species were carried out: ramorum blight, giant hogweed, meadow hawkweed, kudzu, Patterson's curse, purple starthistle, distaff thistle, gypsy moth, and Japanese beetle. Only one species from the list, feral swine, is in danger of becoming permanently established in Oregon.
Meanwhile, the council has also released a revised list of the 100 most dangerous species threatening to invade the state. These species have yet to call Oregon home and, if officials have their way, most won't even become temporary visitors.
"The list is designed to focus attention on exclusion because time after time, it has been proven that the most cost effective way to deal with invasive species is to keep them out in the first place," says Dan Hilburn, administrator of ODA's Plant Division and member of the Invasive Species Council, which issues the annual list of 100. "Right now with the budget as tight as it is, we need to do our best to keep things from ever coming to Oregon. If they do come here, we need to find them quickly and eradicate them so they don't get established."
Three new species have been added to the list of the 100 worst invaders, replacing species no longer deemed as bad as the new ones taking their place. The new members include: Phytophthora kernovii- closely related to Phytophthora ramorum, the microorganism that causes sudden oak death. Discovered in the United Kingdom last year, P. kernovii has a similar wide host but is considered to be more virulent. Thankfully, P. kernovii has not been found in Oregon.
Yellow floating heart, Nymphoides peltata- an aquatic weed that forms a mat of lily pad-like leaves in still bodies of water that can prevent boating and swimming should it become too dense. Yellow floating heart was discovered last year in a Beaverton city park. It has been found in a small enough area that it should be able to be treated and eradicated.
Sea squirt, Didemnum iahillei- an aquatic invertebrate that coats the bottoms of pilings and other underwater objects with a slimy gel that crowds out other marine organisms. Discovered in the Puget Sound last year, it has not made an appearance in Oregon yet.
The general public continues to play an important role in helping Oregon maintain a good grade in its battle against invasive species. A special telephone hotline (1-866-INVADER) allows Oregonians to report sightings of potentially dangerous species.
The complete list of Oregon's worst invasive species and the 2004 invasive species report card can be found at oregon.gov/OISC.
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| Oregon counties still count on Agriculture |
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Top ten list and diversity of product underscore importance of Oregon agriculture
Thirty-one of Oregon’s 36 counties reported an increase in agricultural sales last year, according to preliminary statistics released by Oregon State University. The latest figures underscore the importance of agriculture to both local and state economies. Oregon’s total agricultural sales figures for 2004 are up nearly 10 percent at $3.8 billion with several counties recording double digit increases this past year.
Once again, the diversity of agriculture in Oregon resulted in winners and losers among various commodities. The mixed bag of results continues to tweak the rank order of counties when it comes to 2004 gross farm and ranch sales. Still, the top ten list contains the same names:
Marion County $518 million
Clackamas County $354 million
Washington County $252 million
Yamhill County $242 million
Umatilla County $235 million
Linn County $230 million
Morrow County $211 million
Klamath County $182 million
Malheur County $171 million
Polk County $124 million
Marion becomes the first county in Oregon to record more than half a billion dollars in agricultural sales in a single year.
Overall, the OSU numbers confirm where Oregon’s agricultural production is taking place. The industry is not confined to rural Oregon. Five of the top six agricultural producing counties continue to be located within an hour’s drive of Portland or Eugene—the state’s two largest cities. About 42 percent of the state’s agricultural sales are tied to those five counties. Greenhouse and nursery production remains largely concentrated in the Portland area and the northern Willamette Valley.
Still, the impact of agriculture may be even greater in rural Oregon as farming and ranching represent a larger percentage of the local economy.
The overall increase in agricultural sales for 2004 reflects a new trend that comes on the heels of some tough years for the industry. For Oregon, that can only help the entire state economy.
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| Applications sought for farm and ranch awards for 2005 |
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Applications are now being accepted for the 2005 award year of the Oregon Century Farm and Ranch Program, a statewide recognition program honoring farm and ranch families who have worked the same land for at least 100 years. The program is administered through the Oregon Agricultural Education Foundation (OAEF) in Salem and is partially funded through a partnership of the Oregon Department of Agriculture, the Oregon Historical Society, and the Oregon Farm Bureau.
Family farmers and ranchers throughout Oregon are encouraged to apply by the June 1, 2005 deadline. Successful applicants receive a handsome certificate, with acknowledgement by the governor of Oregon and the director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture. A durable metal road sign to identify their property as having historic Century Farm or Century Ranch status is also available. Each family will be honored during a special ceremony and reception at the Oregon State Fair in September.
Since the start of the program in 1958, more than 1,000 farms and ranches across the state have been registered. Oregon has one of the oldest agricultural heritage programs of this type in the entire nation.
A formal application process is required for properties to be considered for the program.
To receive the official application form and guidelines, contact Glenn Mason, Oregon Century Farm and Ranch program coordinator at 503-297-5892 or orcentury@juno.com or download the application guidelines from the Oregon Farm Bureau Web site atoregonfb.org, or the Oregon Department of Agriculture Web site at oregon.gov/ODA/cfr.shtml.
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| Farm Direct Nutrition Program |
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Senior and WIC nutrition coupons available
The Oregon Farm Direct Nutrition Program (FDNP) is a federal nutrition program bringing $1.04 million dollars into Oregon in 2005. The program is managed cooperatively by ODA Agricultural Development and Marketing Division staff and the Department of Human Services (WIC and Seniors and People with Disabilities Divisions).
Farm Direct Nutrition Program funds are distributed to low-income nutritionally at-risk pregnant women and young children enrolled in the WIC (Women Infants and Children) program and to eligible low income seniors (registered with Seniors and People with Disabilities Division as of April 1, 2005). These federal funds will be distributed as checks to purchase locally produced fresh fruit, vegetables and cut herbs directly from farmers at participating farmstands and farmers markets. The funds thus end up going directly to farmers.
Oregon WIC and senior clients receive nutrition education along with their checks and a list identifying all participating farmstands and farmers markets.
For more information, contact Laura Barton, 503-872-6600, or visit the ODA Web site, oregon.gov/ODA/ADMD.
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| Commodity Commission Spotlight - Oregon Albacore Commission |
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Established
1999-The Oregon Albacore Commission (OAC is the state's newest Commodity Commission)
Address
964 Central Ave., P. O. Box 1160, Coos Bay, OR 97420
Phone
541-267-5810
Fax
541-267-5772
E-mail
nfurman@oregonalbacore.org
Web site
www.oregonalbacore.org (presently under construction)
Chair
Jerry Bates
Commissioners
Eight members, appointed by the ODA director, representing harvesters, first receivers, and includes one public member position.
Administrator
Nick Furman- The OAC contracts with the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission (ODCC) for administrative, marketing, and promotional support.
Assessment
.75 percent of the cash value of all albacore landed in the state, split equally between the harvester (.375 percent) and the first receiver (.375 percent). Fishermen selling direct to the public under a limited fish sellers license pay the full assessment (.75 percent).
Activities and accomplishments
Marketing
The OAC has had an ambitious program to introduce alternate market forms (fresh and frozen loins) to the consumer through product donations to high profile chefs for events where albacore can get time in the spotlight. As a result, albacore is now featured as a seasonal menu item in many of the finest restaurants in the state. The commission exhibits at three major trade shows a year under the seafood Oregon umbrella and recently participated with Brand Oregon on a major in-state promotion during the peak of the harvest. The OAC also helps consumers locate opportunities for fishermen direct purchases during the summer months. The commission furnishes trade leads to the industry and promotes the efforts of the small, custom-canned operations selling high-quality albacore. The OAC produces informational and point-of-sale materials to support all these activities.
Research
The OAC recently joined with an industry trade association to fund research conducted at the OSU Seafood Laboratory in Astoria, Oregon, to determine the mercury content of troll-caught albacore. The resulting data show that albacore landed in Oregon contains, on average, less than half of the FDA's allowable levels of mercury.
Education
The OAC has partnered with the Seafood Consumer Center in Astoria, Oregon on a series of successful consumer events titled Albacore Saturday. These in-season presentations take the participants from sea to plate, and culminate in an opportunity to sample dishes prepared by the center's on-site chef. The commission will be participating in the Oregon's Best Program at this summer's State Fair to educate consumers on both the culinary and health aspects of consuming albacore.
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