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<description><![CDATA[<p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: #0a0a0a; f ...
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Source: https://cdn.ymaws.com/oan.site-ym.com/resource/rss/news.rss

<rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
<channel>
<title>Nursery News</title>
<link>https://www.oan.org/news/</link>
<description><![CDATA[ Recent events, essential information and the latest community news. ]]></description>
<lastBuildDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2025 22:46:14 GMT</lastBuildDate>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Sep 2025 00:18:00 GMT</pubDate>
<copyright>Copyright © 2025 Oregon Association of Nurseries</copyright>
<atom:link href="http://www.oan.org/resource/rss/news.rss" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"></atom:link>
<item>
<title>OAN hosts water officials, state senator at Farwest</title>
<link>https://www.oan.org/news/709770/</link>
<guid>https://www.oan.org/news/709770/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[What: State
Sen. Janeen Sollman (D-Hillsboro) toured the Farwest Show with Oregon
Association of Nurseries Executive Director Jeff Stone and met with 10 OAN
members including past president Todd Nelson (<a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fse5jb7iab.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001o-jBVVQ2vPlKI7zJreJZYsSEk9YtlyvFS3dW9Pyrq--nIqZtjSuwUD4lrF-kd_PlVW59tZ7YgJn7d_bMmhX9A8tP2MQ84kc5ZsaRbxhjHLjmEvCyllIKQhdWBBYfUaOgEM6O9HjVoF4JXYRYye5QKhfuSZ1_BcP7%26c%3DWMye4jkwTXktYE7zu2T-3bV3puSsEqu5ZWkTV8jowumSCID5Mdyl5Q%3D%3D%26ch%3DerJ3q6TlK1VgmY89tcBhBq3WYD1xfWL9eimrUo6zAoE2Rkr7TOJ_Bg%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cbfarmer%40oan.org%7Cfc964d8a310e4e979ad208ddeb23b128%7C0808b23c81f84fa88d57b28429248c76%7C0%7C0%7C638925260749655049%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=PwYGk7VdeUXN%2F%2Fyyu9Lw0IwhqZ3o3O7trdsKWsavsbc%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">Bountiful Farms</a>,
Woodburn, Oregon). They discussed issues including labor, automation and
plastic pots.
Sollman,
chair of Senate Committee on Energy and Environment, toured the annual trade
show for over an hour. Ivan Gail, director of the Oregon Water Resources
Department (<a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fse5jb7iab.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001o-jBVVQ2vPlKI7zJreJZYsSEk9YtlyvFS3dW9Pyrq--nIqZtjSuwUHrXBIwWE16LoWF3LYD_AHk-_rvTq4r3keVysgsthfQlOSeFTFpnEPgq6K4RnEFpqz3ISPwIPxAf6Ev7-49lYN-pKTX3pyFxKWb3GUQC0SniwvgRZvuxLNOv3myXDa_2rA%3D%3D%26c%3DWMye4jkwTXktYE7zu2T-3bV3puSsEqu5ZWkTV8jowumSCID5Mdyl5Q%3D%3D%26ch%3DerJ3q6TlK1VgmY89tcBhBq3WYD1xfWL9eimrUo6zAoE2Rkr7TOJ_Bg%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cbfarmer%40oan.org%7Cfc964d8a310e4e979ad208ddeb23b128%7C0808b23c81f84fa88d57b28429248c76%7C0%7C0%7C638925260749674850%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=jAisLYSdZHgPpxo9aR6LMJdA2NUXHSag7ttsApWYhkg%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">OWRD</a>) also
attended Farwest at the invitation of the OAN and met with over a dozen nursery
operations to discuss the critical water issue for the industry. Gail’s
two-hour tour was led by OAN legal counsel Steve Shropshire (<a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fse5jb7iab.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001o-jBVVQ2vPlKI7zJreJZYsSEk9YtlyvFS3dW9Pyrq--nIqZtjSuwUNI3SI3pmwtdAXAyigSWwE1ekGmQ4-XDDEfHCkw-x5WPq2o9L7q84Wvs4f6UMVuvU6HjRml9H8h-Eb1M1kyMzykMKcohTazwqw%3D%3D%26c%3DWMye4jkwTXktYE7zu2T-3bV3puSsEqu5ZWkTV8jowumSCID5Mdyl5Q%3D%3D%26ch%3DerJ3q6TlK1VgmY89tcBhBq3WYD1xfWL9eimrUo6zAoE2Rkr7TOJ_Bg%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cbfarmer%40oan.org%7Cfc964d8a310e4e979ad208ddeb23b128%7C0808b23c81f84fa88d57b28429248c76%7C0%7C0%7C638925260749693087%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=LXKBLy9u%2F9Flk%2FgFbW5v33wsDv3wiluiMMEzeeTMQgc%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Jordan Ramis</a>) and
was joined by Kim Fritz-Ogren, administrator of Field Services Division, and
Stone.
What’s
next? Stone will organize a tour of nursery operations in Sen.
Sollman’s district in the first two weeks of September.
Why
does it matter? There is a major rulemaking effort being made by the OWRD that
could have serious repercussions for the industry and the time on the tour
helped provide an exchange of ideas. Stone will serve as the industry
representative on this rulemaking committee.
Between
the lines: “There is currently a wide gulf between the department and the
OAN on issues such as water transfers and obtaining new water rights,” Stone
said. “Several members expressed concern that the department is willing to
allow agriculture to shrink instead of using modern technology to use water
over a greater distance or property. Many voices, including the department, are
openly talking about ‘highest and best use’ of the water resource and wish to
spread the pain on mismanagement of groundwater permits on all users —
predominantly agriculture.
“The OAN sincerely hopes
that we are able to educate department management regarding the industry’s
excellent stewardship of available water, innovative ideas for future growth,
and our need for a flexible and functional partner at the state agency level.
The bottom line is that 2026 will be a pivotal year in water policy.”]]></description>
<category>News</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Sep 2025 01:18:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>2026 Garden Trends Report focuses on ‘lemonading’</title>
<link>https://www.oan.org/news/709769/</link>
<guid>https://www.oan.org/news/709769/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Garden Media Group has identified ‘lemonading’ — making lemons into lemonade — as the unifying trend in its new 2026 Garden Trends Report. A cultural shift: “In 2026, people are finding sweetness in unexpected places. From cozy games to catios, consumers are embracing small joys and simple pleasures that brighten daily life. We’re calling this cultural shift ‘Lemonading’ – a movement that transforms challenges into opportunities through creativity, mindfulness, and joy. Amid climate anxiety and digital overload, the garden is becoming the place where chaos softens and possibility blooms.” The tie to horticulture: “The horticulture industry is uniquely positioned to embrace lemonading because we’re rooted in resilience. We work with living things, face seasonality, unpredictability, and failure as part of the process.” Specifics: The report identifies seven specific trends that relate to gardening, touching on what people want out of plants and gardening, as well as how gardening ties to other hobbies such as videogaming and pet ownership. It also mentions the trendy plant color of “faded petal,” a soft blush color with a touch of ash. Download the report: Go to <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fse5jb7iab.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001o-jBVVQ2vPlKI7zJreJZYsSEk9YtlyvFS3dW9Pyrq--nIqZtjSuwUHrXBIwWE16LwlVZ7nGRTUOCSHDQtTfateaoMFd4MTuX0k3LnfS1qlHq35aezIROc10IzXWl32ZCdtHibZ11H4Lggb0jwCESRVcq-1pFna2JBdfa1iCUnzA%3D%26c%3DWMye4jkwTXktYE7zu2T-3bV3puSsEqu5ZWkTV8jowumSCID5Mdyl5Q%3D%3D%26ch%3DerJ3q6TlK1VgmY89tcBhBq3WYD1xfWL9eimrUo6zAoE2Rkr7TOJ_Bg%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cbfarmer%40oan.org%7Cfc964d8a310e4e979ad208ddeb23b128%7C0808b23c81f84fa88d57b28429248c76%7C0%7C0%7C638925260749613929%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=4vxi3JIvQTcRK4jKq2aAhxkA7wkKwrk%2FdZOgq7B9LzA%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">GardenMediaGroup.com/Trends</a>. Must submit contact information to receive.]]></description>
<category>News</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Sep 2025 01:17:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Oregon Legislature delays action on transportation bill</title>
<link>https://www.oan.org/news/709767/</link>
<guid>https://www.oan.org/news/709767/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[What: Oregon Senate leaders announced Tuesday they have postponed a vote on Gov. Tina Kotek’s transportation package by two weeks, due to the absence of state Sen. Chris Gorsek (D-Gresham). Gorsek’s vote is needed to get to the 18 required for a tax-increasing measure, but he had recent surgery complications and is unable to attend the session, The Oregonian/Oregonlive <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fse5jb7iab.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001o-jBVVQ2vPlKI7zJreJZYsSEk9YtlyvFS3dW9Pyrq--nIqZtjSuwUHrXBIwWE16Lymcj_DqTmIxfTMTkQUTByi3MyrDTi_mcXcpT78gcVzIYGz13rfOw05y9o4MFwlF2kUUtC23jhKRH1GK_pRUphkEZuXKebOwt6UUQvjzLZZcNEUqF8pH3TFXCrQ9qMSv_yQxI2WrJw13nYfvaIunomt2UtlQF5NlmVohK_V5MdyhkiclesGvtjZyBK5cwDRFUD4IJt5I5Fw3GM9Zx4yulm2RmLPOzayNcItGlWbfbZxCHqd2G84Zl_TUDBnQFDkXd7v7ipnFwDt4%3D%26c%3DWMye4jkwTXktYE7zu2T-3bV3puSsEqu5ZWkTV8jowumSCID5Mdyl5Q%3D%3D%26ch%3DerJ3q6TlK1VgmY89tcBhBq3WYD1xfWL9eimrUo6zAoE2Rkr7TOJ_Bg%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cbfarmer%40oan.org%7Cfc964d8a310e4e979ad208ddeb23b128%7C0808b23c81f84fa88d57b28429248c76%7C0%7C0%7C638925260749528674%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=o7Hm3H%2FrVRQTQI5eHieUKzkFxiQcgqWZPO2eM%2Bs6Nqk%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">reported</a>. Senate passage is the last step needed for the bill to reach the governor’s desk. The Oregon House of Representatives passed <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fse5jb7iab.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001o-jBVVQ2vPlKI7zJreJZYsSEk9YtlyvFS3dW9Pyrq--nIqZtjSuwUHrXBIwWE16Li5TnPJTf3Imjgq7X8_alICqIXbztnJGQ6XF9E__VTOGGWEUMtalKmlvvHFjuqJ8dUtm6lFsUuxh60yvgthMjD9LB2a1CXO1PKe4wdKhvsmXoMpNOYHckPNQXNX4Tc_a0u4K-mFMJIJ6R1-hplLJ1yrdB9LeRglqJ%26c%3DWMye4jkwTXktYE7zu2T-3bV3puSsEqu5ZWkTV8jowumSCID5Mdyl5Q%3D%3D%26ch%3DerJ3q6TlK1VgmY89tcBhBq3WYD1xfWL9eimrUo6zAoE2Rkr7TOJ_Bg%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cbfarmer%40oan.org%7Cfc964d8a310e4e979ad208ddeb23b128%7C0808b23c81f84fa88d57b28429248c76%7C0%7C0%7C638925260749551261%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=AjxhqB3EH%2BbPNpC10%2BCkFTbBhU1dGkFV7clqYcg3fB0%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">House Bill 3991</a> on Monday, Oregon Public Broadcasting <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fse5jb7iab.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001o-jBVVQ2vPlKI7zJreJZYsSEk9YtlyvFS3dW9Pyrq--nIqZtjSuwUHrXBIwWE16LiKzXUK5heLGkO6t4L6Cn6DDDYZZnSS4P23LCyQlLuaEmaEqXWxFq5LYankR90clm7ZMYC2IfPkVx9NtFYXyUPK_MzrbzYD__DqWTFSTKhfJQi_BKUNScDti08pQRYXGepEgv1Lx3TYet0wQ-5rIh5oTPRCyfkGpM3e2K2pUovjw%3D%26c%3DWMye4jkwTXktYE7zu2T-3bV3puSsEqu5ZWkTV8jowumSCID5Mdyl5Q%3D%3D%26ch%3DerJ3q6TlK1VgmY89tcBhBq3WYD1xfWL9eimrUo6zAoE2Rkr7TOJ_Bg%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cbfarmer%40oan.org%7Cfc964d8a310e4e979ad208ddeb23b128%7C0808b23c81f84fa88d57b28429248c76%7C0%7C0%7C638925260749574663%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=0alu2EpMICBTaLU6Ya6XUM%2Bqo6KH7q%2Bj4z5DyZ%2FM0uc%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">reported</a>, and a Senate committee did the same on Tuesday. Kotek had earlier said that ODOT would be faced to lay off workers on Sept. 15 due to lack of funds. On Tuesday, she postponed the layoffs to Oct. 15, based on assurances from Senate leaders they can pass the bill and restore needed revenue. What it contains: The bill is expected to raise $4.3 billion for road maintenance and transit over the next decade, or about $430 million per year. It would raise the money through several sources: <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li>Increase the state gas tax from 40 to 46 cents per gallon starting in January.</li><li>Raise title fees by $139 and registration fees by $42, with electric vehicles paying a $30 surcharge in addition.</li><li>Double the state payroll tax for transit temporarily from 0.1% to 0.2%. Democrats agreed to sunset this in two years as a concession to Republicans and hope to come back with a permanent solution later.</li><li>Require drivers of electric vehicles and hybrids to enroll in the OReGo program. This program charges these drivers by the mile driven to make up for paying less (hybrids) or nothing (electrics) in fuel taxes.</li><li>Require more frequent auditing of ODOT — a response to backlash over cost increases on ODOT projects.</li><li>Eliminate existing statutory language requiring tolling for some highway projects.</li></ul> Of note: In the House, the bill passed with 36 yes votes, which is the minimum required to raise revenue. It was mostly along party lines, with 35 Democrats supporting, but one Democrat (Rep. Annessa Hartman) voted no and one Republican (Rep. Cyrus Javadi, R-Tillamook) voted yes. Among other Republicans, 11 voted no and 12 were not present for the vote. OAN stance: “To date, ODOT has not delivered on past promises to complete freight movement projects that the association supported eight years ago,” OAN Executive Director Jeff Stone said. “This bill is a band-aid and does not improve the transportation system. We need operational roads during the winter to get product to market, but let’s not convince ourselves that members will see much of a difference in the coming months.”]]></description>
<category>News</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Sep 2025 01:16:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>ODA urges input on Specialty Crop Block Grant Program</title>
<link>https://www.oan.org/news/709255/</link>
<guid>https://www.oan.org/news/709255/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[What: <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fse5jb7iab.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001cRgGrf4bztvXyI8LOraYIzwrVrNq0-2lCrYf_BU0eMr6wHyfaF-AJ3PMbKje3DZ7_NK0yNSpL830wALQAIb0CvlOojgQD6EycJT1r7i0QRn6rfgjMD6-cGfkZd7Y9hK5igIu1Bh2eoQyfoEM3sTo7Rvj6pAsWeQmeIh65IjlZrRT5qqny9wUeg%3D%3D%26c%3Dtiyhy7FyxwVGlvPXaH2HklZpSzV1mHF8IuApLSqzTOOT9ePySmT52w%3D%3D%26ch%3DLMLLdFEL6Tb6gF44YOQuVk5k5A7q1QAytohwVxlbzlcEH7946UcJkg%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cbfarmer%40oan.org%7C1a8f8dd8de1a499ad83708dde59c5b25%7C0808b23c81f84fa88d57b28429248c76%7C0%7C0%7C638919181896263144%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=qq3FRtJQJVEXCLGJm%2BX3oV4jco7%2F4qMRQhedYpXBlRY%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA)</a> is urging all members of the specialty crop industry to take part in an important new survey. This survey aims to gather feedback that will help shape the future of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and identify the types of projects that should receive funding. The anonymous survey takes about ten minutes to complete and focuses on, key areas, including suggested spending priorities, project sizes, and technological needs. The data collected will provide a snapshot of the industry's current condition and help establish funding priorities to enhance the competitiveness of Oregon specialty crops. What’s a specialty crop? According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), specialty crops are defined as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture)”. ODA invites anyone involved in any sector of agriculture related to the crops listed above to participate in the survey. <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fse5jb7iab.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001cRgGrf4bztvXyI8LOraYIzwrVrNq0-2lCrYf_BU0eMr6wHyfaF-AJyX34VtkwzPS82FUsT3IfgvSAmf0eFr9jGOCzCS9mIphBClnLrQLWDoHF7BmXoLovOsuYYwvTROjBkBuCv7rLlHJ_TmWluPSv7axTrNcqYHFnVvuExl-8iVysO0vYaLa2LUGf5-0RTTIv2BKuQh96dUnTesLkp3PvLEnR_wlnffIVDXQoLYEfVi2V9YJiwZ9wqkntQn1pcWk3zA2kstGtTERYU7a8aD8981drRxzvOGpMH928yLMkJgDoSpVhGbAEA%3D%3D%26c%3Dtiyhy7FyxwVGlvPXaH2HklZpSzV1mHF8IuApLSqzTOOT9ePySmT52w%3D%3D%26ch%3DLMLLdFEL6Tb6gF44YOQuVk5k5A7q1QAytohwVxlbzlcEH7946UcJkg%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cbfarmer%40oan.org%7C1a8f8dd8de1a499ad83708dde59c5b25%7C0808b23c81f84fa88d57b28429248c76%7C0%7C0%7C638919181896284534%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=lr0IAJmWFK%2BwCbBa1WvVhk5CIeEK1mX7qDK77N8JAVM%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Take the survey now</a>]]></description>
<category>News</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 2 Sep 2025 21:11:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>EPA to host webinar on pesticide mitigation measures</title>
<link>https://www.oan.org/news/709253/</link>
<guid>https://www.oan.org/news/709253/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[What: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a webinar on September 16, 2025, at 2 p.m. to provide information on the ecological runoff/erosion and spray drift mitigation measures that can be used to protect endangered species from pesticides. These measures are part of EPA’s online menu of mitigation measures pesticide users can choose from depending on their crop, region, agronomic practices, and the individual field to protect endangered species. The mitigation menu approach is intended to improve flexibility for pesticide users by providing options that work best for their situation, while still achieving an appropriate level of mitigation. The purpose of the webinar is to help users better understand and use the mitigation menu webpage. The webinar will include:   <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li>An overview of the mitigation menu, including runoff/erosion and spray drift mitigation measures, and how pesticide users and growers can evaluate their fields for these mitigation measures.</li><li>An explanation of how to navigate the mitigation menu webpage and available resources including the new Pesticide App for Label Mitigations (PALM).</li><li>A demonstration of the available tools to calculate runoff/erosion mitigation points and spray drift buffers.</li></ul>   <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fse5jb7iab.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001cRgGrf4bztvXyI8LOraYIzwrVrNq0-2lCrYf_BU0eMr6wHyfaF-AJ0HwxfZtzuUW7c8D16-csXLv4n1alK6tZtOsE1XmS7Sy43MGP3VKCZunWGphfeuvAjjjUFz4fEOi0GKzAcwDWtQigQSo2GAzHOyUDbPHT264ocrB_eMC_WCQ0YzQmA7vQGr_bf73aGKxrXQEU4SQBriVE6-MDnl51849qH4K7lFgVcD05NEH8kRW8sQ5_Fd0F0owyUNohMfYaOW3BOA1D5I%3D%26c%3Dtiyhy7FyxwVGlvPXaH2HklZpSzV1mHF8IuApLSqzTOOT9ePySmT52w%3D%3D%26ch%3DLMLLdFEL6Tb6gF44YOQuVk5k5A7q1QAytohwVxlbzlcEH7946UcJkg%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cbfarmer%40oan.org%7C1a8f8dd8de1a499ad83708dde59c5b25%7C0808b23c81f84fa88d57b28429248c76%7C0%7C0%7C638919181896219870%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=DKcI4laXC3FIFu3OyFgn4MffJ8s2DhW%2B74oNRy4zSBY%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">For more information and to register</a>]]></description>
<category>News</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 2 Sep 2025 21:10:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>OAN asks ODA to ‘stretch their staff’ for Japanese Beetle</title>
<link>https://www.oan.org/news/709252/</link>
<guid>https://www.oan.org/news/709252/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The OAN is still working to solve a shortfall in funding for Japanese beetle eradication, caused when Gov. Tina Kotek did not include the money in her budget. The OAN will be asking the state Emergency Board for stopgap funding in December to continue the program, and in the meantime is “asking the state to stretch their staff,” according to OAN Executive Director Jeff Stone. Current status: Stopgap funding to stop the highly destructive nursery pest ran out in June. The Legislature was expected to provide continued funding, but a proposed $2 million line item was left out of a spending package at the last minute. “You may have heard, ODA is breaking down the program,” ODA state plant regulatory official Chris Bennemann told members of the OAN Government Relations Committee at their Farwest meeting August 21. “We are, because that’s what we’ve been directed to do. We have an obligation to do what’s directed and budgeted.”   What’s next: Due to the lack of funding, the state’s full-time Japanese beetle specialist will work their last day this coming Friday. Benemann told Member Update that the ODA can do a few things with general program funds. It will be removing all Japanese beetle traps by the end of September and will clean them. It will also tabulate final data for the season. Normally, in the fall, the agency updates its treatment maps for the next season, but won’t do that this fall due to the lack of funding, meaning next year’s program will lose momentum even if eventually funded. Market impacts: The shutdown of the program affects market access for Oregon growers. Some states such as New Mexico have quarantined material due to the lack of an eradication program. The OAN remains determined to head off this outcome. “We are going to get the funding, predominantly because we don’t want to be forced to be regulated,” Stone told the committee.]]></description>
<category>News</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 2 Sep 2025 21:09:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Tips for managing redheaded flea beetles in container nurseries</title>
<link>https://www.oan.org/news/707969/</link>
<guid>https://www.oan.org/news/707969/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[New research shows how systemic insecticides can provide extended residual control of redheaded flea beetles, helping growers protect container-grown plants from costly damage, according to Nursery Management magazine. The redheaded flea beetle, Systena frontalis, is an insect pest of container grown nursery production systems in the Midwest, Northeast and Southeast regions of the United States. Redheaded flea beetle adults feed on the leaves of a wide range of ornamental plants grown in nursery production systems including, but not limited to: Cornus spp., Hydrangea spp., Itea spp. and Weigela spp. Redheaded flea beetle adults cause damage when feeding on the leaves of ornamental plants, leading to a reduction in aesthetic quality and salability, and an economic loss. Management challenge: Redheaded flea beetle adults are difficult to manage with foliar applied insecticides because of their jumping behavior and tendency to fall onto the growing medium surface when disturbed, thus allowing them to escape exposure from insecticide sprays. Three experimental trials were conducted under greenhouse conditions at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fse5jb7iab.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001h7eFTevDPQ6zrEcbllWE6N0iegQe1-oqo1vB_zq_mYkuJhbBVGlObisyPNRUl_b3ZCLWknPZrlEiPQXhH5CXYULWQwteoqxQV8GBOYDdQA8UGeM701i4PhTmCCdb4giXVyirePuFS6wdpVBPL5wQ--jsYZ2nz7i50VTQM5padpeo7vczcQMAKEUPdMF7NzSpmLJukK3-mVv0yIJi_sncRrm2cFQVe7JMReudLxxrqOuikTxU8L7cnmAi3-wvd8R4BSe0VDvtWZ6KSEG8mtWQHg%3D%3D%26c%3D8qHcwlGh6TDQn7_qHj5ez4kjEL4i_pB4ywY279iDbpdIwLTOs4M54g%3D%3D%26ch%3DzQdqs_CrX4c6pYkJqvlH-7ThUZ4OY7SROHpur0MW3ETfDndRt3_8Fg%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cbfarmer%40oan.org%7Cfa4045d3a19d4b9a6dd208ddd5229862%7C0808b23c81f84fa88d57b28429248c76%7C0%7C0%7C638901066798415877%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=AQVGpxrdPzQocsUkNPOTcRTIOD9vxO8BXP6yk6odEfU%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">Read about the experimental trials of systemic insecticides</a>]]></description>
<category>News</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 13 Aug 2025 02:02:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Portland releases EAB Response Plan</title>
<link>https://www.oan.org/news/707967/</link>
<guid>https://www.oan.org/news/707967/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Pre-emptive action: Portland Parks & Recreation’s Urban Forestry division has developed an Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Response Plan to manage the arrival of this highly destructive tree pest. Though EAB has not yet been confirmed in Portland, infestations have already been found in nearby Clackamas, Marion, Yamhill, and Washington counties.What’s the city doing?<ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li>Treating healthy ash trees in city parks with insecticide, to prevent infestation.</li><li>Allowing residents to treat street trees or remove and replace small ash trees (under 6 inches in diameter) with free permits.</li><li>Mapping and keeping inventories of ash (and other) trees across the city to enhance forest management and protection.</li><li>Requiring species diversity in regulated tree planting.</li><li>Ensuring species diversity and avoiding ash in tree give aways and planting programs.</li><li>Joining with ODF in creating the State of Oregon’s emerald ash borer response plan.</li></ul>Additionally, the city removed ash tree species from the City of Portland’s Approved Street Tree Planting List in 2019.<a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fse5jb7iab.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001h7eFTevDPQ6zrEcbllWE6N0iegQe1-oqo1vB_zq_mYkuJhbBVGlObisyPNRUl_b34jcUCpl29mPD-c29kq2F9A0fTORmLy8XS3kPKjVLSsuogxVAgYL4ala6I1uSBFAoVB3cXYXT0Gc1yWqEKlJPthJyEQwREjqeST87b-0aY_VGkgFQfH9Pu2U2ZkJQoCT5-IZ6EDf2PCWKrDzaB74kpo9OAulpEBzF8vdFDI2BMNogA8CtCqRq5oxp_pag0IMzykI8WgwwLOV6BbChAeKmAw%3D%3D%26c%3D8qHcwlGh6TDQn7_qHj5ez4kjEL4i_pB4ywY279iDbpdIwLTOs4M54g%3D%3D%26ch%3DzQdqs_CrX4c6pYkJqvlH-7ThUZ4OY7SROHpur0MW3ETfDndRt3_8Fg%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cbfarmer%40oan.org%7Cfa4045d3a19d4b9a6dd208ddd5229862%7C0808b23c81f84fa88d57b28429248c76%7C0%7C0%7C638901066797486275%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=z55VbxxLYydDuOhSZFRew37Uqg%2FqZa8q6aLfr%2B1YyNQ%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">Read more details of the city’s plans</a>]]></description>
<category>News</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 13 Aug 2025 02:01:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Volunteer for Farwest and get free All-Access Pass!</title>
<link>https://www.oan.org/news/707968/</link>
<guid>https://www.oan.org/news/707968/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The opportunity: We’re looking for friendly and enthusiastic people to volunteer and help at the <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fse5jb7iab.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001h7eFTevDPQ6zrEcbllWE6N0iegQe1-oqo1vB_zq_mYkuJhbBVGlObmviM5CqPpbgdLd40QQbO8pbl6gkMJGPjOBj1w1suf64lx0qNls9Ikgs1wlvl53wOqrSicTAPtovlH10S9-yaAnG4WdsYY2jtreSaDynVIgx%26c%3D8qHcwlGh6TDQn7_qHj5ez4kjEL4i_pB4ywY279iDbpdIwLTOs4M54g%3D%3D%26ch%3DzQdqs_CrX4c6pYkJqvlH-7ThUZ4OY7SROHpur0MW3ETfDndRt3_8Fg%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cbfarmer%40oan.org%7Cfa4045d3a19d4b9a6dd208ddd5229862%7C0808b23c81f84fa88d57b28429248c76%7C0%7C0%7C638901066797594261%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ycgy7fuCQKouptMaHE9zkoJKZsszI%2B7Golge%2FFwvLj0%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">Farwest Show</a>, August 20–22 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. Why do it? This is a fun way to get involved, make connections, and gain hands-on experience in the horticulture industry. Volunteer for just four hours and receive a free All-Education Pass — good for all seminars, networking events, and social gatherings during the show! Volunteer roles include assisting with <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fse5jb7iab.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001h7eFTevDPQ6zrEcbllWE6N0iegQe1-oqo1vB_zq_mYkuJhbBVGlObmzbWQ8BqwbUBoXWueWVrz3t3tGUXie8QpeQJXd9oJIzbMEuttxqE6ML_604Q7HDsCuJD9Ws_SbDxaIoPmlv8UtQoSMHQXyQX8m4H6WG5elKIM8B-RD79gY%3D%26c%3D8qHcwlGh6TDQn7_qHj5ez4kjEL4i_pB4ywY279iDbpdIwLTOs4M54g%3D%3D%26ch%3DzQdqs_CrX4c6pYkJqvlH-7ThUZ4OY7SROHpur0MW3ETfDndRt3_8Fg%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cbfarmer%40oan.org%7Cfa4045d3a19d4b9a6dd208ddd5229862%7C0808b23c81f84fa88d57b28429248c76%7C0%7C0%7C638901066797624922%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=iSz4UcN2%2F5ftAdqWTXEpC7toZJZGXTiYJulFG34sYUA%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">seminars</a>, monitoring the <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fse5jb7iab.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001h7eFTevDPQ6zrEcbllWE6N0iegQe1-oqo1vB_zq_mYkuJhbBVGlOblhBEvkA4paUYsEnuQ8N11mcyU2OCe5lpJD1Pj1mpKQwuKar82rK_Ah3pyrP_Nv-Tp4IYrkzCmnHg5vbDae46_v4C-QInltXo_1cxy2UbaEXuKiel-ael8cH-o85beInUbUvjo9o7X11%26c%3D8qHcwlGh6TDQn7_qHj5ez4kjEL4i_pB4ywY279iDbpdIwLTOs4M54g%3D%3D%26ch%3DzQdqs_CrX4c6pYkJqvlH-7ThUZ4OY7SROHpur0MW3ETfDndRt3_8Fg%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cbfarmer%40oan.org%7Cfa4045d3a19d4b9a6dd208ddd5229862%7C0808b23c81f84fa88d57b28429248c76%7C0%7C0%7C638901066797652780%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=vjf8YfsykPgUEPVW%2BJxzB5ws0P%2Fn99vDnIFAHD9DwVc%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">New Varieties Showcase</a>, and helping at the Farwest photo booth. Open to anyone 16 and older.  Questions? Email <a href="mailto:Farwest@OAN.org" target="_blank">Farwest@OAN.org</a>. <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fse5jb7iab.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001h7eFTevDPQ6zrEcbllWE6N0iegQe1-oqo1vB_zq_mYkuJhbBVGlObq-0eDXPoK9M1xCYyfwN3wntt-6JaqdhT91Z-XPHTnXqm-DY0_FetrjW5P0e0NApKePuKs7HF3NsDdVim0GMn5R6DDKc-iCAKqt0W_gvvnZuYzKVMClxeuZ3D0VO5Kr3eg%3D%3D%26c%3D8qHcwlGh6TDQn7_qHj5ez4kjEL4i_pB4ywY279iDbpdIwLTOs4M54g%3D%3D%26ch%3DzQdqs_CrX4c6pYkJqvlH-7ThUZ4OY7SROHpur0MW3ETfDndRt3_8Fg%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cbfarmer%40oan.org%7Cfa4045d3a19d4b9a6dd208ddd5229862%7C0808b23c81f84fa88d57b28429248c76%7C0%7C0%7C638901066797679361%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Bki4WpSkisxqckn%2BMEcd%2F6zTlvvKyCdRSoOLOoQ%2F32o%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">Learn more and apply</a>]]></description>
<category>News</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 13 Aug 2025 02:01:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Nursery input much needed for IR-4 Survey</title>
<link>https://www.oan.org/news/707966/</link>
<guid>https://www.oan.org/news/707966/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Act now, or the needs of the nursery industry may be under-represented in IR-4 Environmental Horticulture Program’s priority-setting process. Why it matters: “Grower input is essential to determining what pest management research gets funded over the next two years and as it stands our needs may not be getting accounted for,” said Oregon Association of Nurseries Executive Director Jeff Stone. Currently, 75% of survey responses are from cut flower growers, according to the Horticultural Research Institute. “If nursery and greenhouse growers don’t participate, our challenges will not be reflected in IR-4’s priorities when it comes time for them to decide where to allocate their resources,” Stone said. What to do:  <ul><li><a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fse5jb7iab.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001h7eFTevDPQ6zrEcbllWE6N0iegQe1-oqo1vB_zq_mYkuJhbBVGlObisyPNRUl_b3V9gJwfQ218kew2yb3c5PPw4cPZJI7wB_QOauhfDsdl2LfLofLnLDAiWRkh4oB2YUSoDY_ZLX63Bmj0FegP1CgLT31vHoUEF7UPNoPbsw-7IQYgfxCLlkII-WD0EbuF3oAz0ltD2zaDIKREeV2_IzsxLmdi2yMeWls-32K-Qjo_rj2_g9mz9T4g%3D%3D%26c%3D8qHcwlGh6TDQn7_qHj5ez4kjEL4i_pB4ywY279iDbpdIwLTOs4M54g%3D%3D%26ch%3DzQdqs_CrX4c6pYkJqvlH-7ThUZ4OY7SROHpur0MW3ETfDndRt3_8Fg%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cbfarmer%40oan.org%7Cfa4045d3a19d4b9a6dd208ddd5229862%7C0808b23c81f84fa88d57b28429248c76%7C0%7C0%7C638901066797263750%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=17Jh8hcqIQaWHhE2bTur79LPEjgsKwPAcBhhsJopur4%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">Complete the survey now by clicking here</a></li></ul><ul><li> Make plans to attend the upcoming IR-4 Priority Setting Workshop in Kansas City, Missouri, where participants will help finalize the research road map. "It’s an excellent opportunity for members to have a direct voice in which pest, disease and weed issues receive attention," said Jennifer Gray, Horticultural Research Institute administrator. <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fse5jb7iab.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001h7eFTevDPQ6zrEcbllWE6N0iegQe1-oqo1vB_zq_mYkuJhbBVGlObrKlU0T-i4r1U37q2Qr8SASXZ_1djjeJ2ALt_6cYoP_9KfP1AH83P_qSFwPRn2lu_4VqR8p6g5flpafGIMsWNdgu_h6FvldotDqpUqZfF8J-r2GHn_s-J9lHX3lD2RoExl7nPh-6r0ns%26c%3D8qHcwlGh6TDQn7_qHj5ez4kjEL4i_pB4ywY279iDbpdIwLTOs4M54g%3D%3D%26ch%3DzQdqs_CrX4c6pYkJqvlH-7ThUZ4OY7SROHpur0MW3ETfDndRt3_8Fg%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cbfarmer%40oan.org%7Cfa4045d3a19d4b9a6dd208ddd5229862%7C0808b23c81f84fa88d57b28429248c76%7C0%7C0%7C638901066797297783%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=y%2B1KJTbS%2Ft8BO%2F2OaPQHHbbm4jGvk3E4NRiNWYZkGc0%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">Workshop details</a></li></ul>]]></description>
<category>News</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 13 Aug 2025 02:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>New detections of sudden oak death in Oregon</title>
<link>https://www.oan.org/news/707606/</link>
<guid>https://www.oan.org/news/707606/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The spread: The U.S. Forest Service provided an update on sudden oak death (SOD) in Oregon recently to the working group comprised of scientists, Oregon Department of Forestry officials, Oregon Department of Agriculture officials and the OAN. There are new detections outside of the quarantine zone areas. Bureau of Land Management, private landowners, ODF and USFS are worried about the Elk River area as sudden oak death makes it way towards Port Orford.  Funding: Oregon Senator David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford) was not successful in obtaining additional funds to fight SOD during the legislative session but will work toward funding during the September emergency board meeting. (The Oregon Association of Nurseries will also be seeking funds to fight the Japanese beetle during that time). U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) reports that $1.5 million has been secured for SOD survey and detection work. Out of that amount, $1.1 million will go to the ODF. <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fse5jb7iab.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001p-dZNN-jNiBvsV5w1srz589x99BbbakQlYpRlL6pTyZmWl0adp36VC-VjRddzvPI9_Fmb8FXskd7cHWxM-7bE49Cnhb37YUqPEWOqy212CBBTSPvLEQX0lmHNtnNbS6gONTsixgMTggB6Yp4rnNdriFaijAan52mn1djdlTuKn7M8k7_AFP1e-WWi2ulnb_1AcWBxbCcRj12kH9bZ76peOO36dQZ-Kv0JxhRWMuIug4%3D%26c%3DQZLFOwH0IhzliWqCeBrqGuJskpOl4yTKdAJ9YPEojW_lVaPJMcQuzA%3D%3D%26ch%3DMeYm6xaUDIzPsGr8jtFyJFcgeO7ojulHXm_qh-4FN-WAa3o97zMDIA%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cbfarmer%40oan.org%7Cc314f59f15ec47a7f47808ddcf948832%7C0808b23c81f84fa88d57b28429248c76%7C0%7C0%7C638894959047330720%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=yfr0V7M%2BCWX8EkpMhrtojI5IbA9Yx2w89hkt8dPpiw0%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Read the SOD report</a>]]></description>
<category>News</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 6 Aug 2025 19:01:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Oregon Gov. Kotek halts farmstand rules amid firestorm from farms</title>
<link>https://www.oan.org/news/707607/</link>
<guid>https://www.oan.org/news/707607/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Outcry from local farms, including a flood of more than 2,300 emails directed to the governor’s office, and a storm of posts on social media that decry the proposed Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) rulemaking on farm stands, has prompted Gov. Tina Kotek to ask DLCD to pause the rulemaking process, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting. Kotek: “I want to reassure farmers who have been anxious and frustrated about how proposed changes to existing rules regarding farm stand operations may affect their businesses that I hear from you and am paying attention. We can support local farm businesses while also preserving Oregon’s historic land use system. This is not an either/or conversation. We need to acknowledge that some of our small and midsize farms need to maintain or consider different business models to continue to deliver the agricultural products and working farms we all value in Oregon. New models for financial sustainability do not have to be at odds with our values. “Dialogue is critical to coming together and building understanding across sectors, and across regions. I have directed DLCD to pause the rulemaking process to allow for more conversations with all interested parties and the public on this really important agri-tourism issue,” the governor said in a statement. Concerns on rulemaking: Emily Iverson (OAN member <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fse5jb7iab.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001p-dZNN-jNiBvsV5w1srz589x99BbbakQlYpRlL6pTyZmWl0adp36VOGgy4JsHojOxVuWAELxTyvJAXAShpgMfPJUgD5HzV2bCugTyE84pg8a_1zri4Bq1TpTDbvz-jvLS1aX9_zSw2hGsdZlbm0FIySUaLWQHKIC%26c%3DQZLFOwH0IhzliWqCeBrqGuJskpOl4yTKdAJ9YPEojW_lVaPJMcQuzA%3D%3D%26ch%3DMeYm6xaUDIzPsGr8jtFyJFcgeO7ojulHXm_qh-4FN-WAa3o97zMDIA%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cbfarmer%40oan.org%7Cc314f59f15ec47a7f47808ddcf948832%7C0808b23c81f84fa88d57b28429248c76%7C0%7C0%7C638894959047360667%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=fUjhH3XKBdmxDk27KnpTwD4t%2FMfSRx%2BYToWhY97xicI%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm</a>) represents farm stand operations on the rulemaking advisory committee and detailed several concerns on behalf of farm stand operators to Member Update.  <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li>The proposed rule on retail items at farmstands needing a direct connection to the farm crops or livestock would affect operations such as Wooden Shoe. “For this, as a tulip farmer, am I not allowed to sell marionberry jam from a neighbor because it is not grown directly on the farm? Farm stands already have a 25% income cap on items that are ‘incidental,’ which includes admission,” she said.</li><li>The rules also go into processed and prepared food products and enforcement and require the local governing body to review permits seven years after it was approved and every seven years afterwards. “This is huge. This states that all pre-existing farm stands in the state would be under review for compliance,” Iverson said.</li><li>“We have always operated under a farmstand permit. However, Clackamas County’s current alternatives for operations like ours are unworkable. The agritourism permit has strict limits on the number of days an event can run (6–72 hours events, so up to 18 days), well below the 37 to 45 days of our spring tulip season,” she said. </li><li>“The commercial activity in conjunction with farm use pathway is vague and inconsistent across counties, with no guarantee of approval and no clear standards. A conditional use permit process is not only time-intensive and costly, but lacks predictability. It opens the door to extensive legal review, appeals, and hearings, something that is simply not feasible for a legacy operation already functioning safely and effectively for decades,” she said.</li><li>“These pathways were not designed for long-standing, large-scale, community-supported farmstands,” she said. "Pushing farm operators into uncertain or overly restrictive land use processes does not encourage compliance. It encourages instability."</li></ul> The need: “We are asking for rules that reflect reality. Farming in Oregon has changed. Climate, costs, and consumers have shifted. The public wants authentic experiences on the farm. We need policies that allow us to respond to those demands in ways that keep our land in production and our family farms intact. We are real farmers. We work this land every day, planting, harvesting, managing soil health, and preserving its productivity for future generations. The opportunity to share that with the public so they can see, learn, and appreciate the dedication it takes to farm in Oregon is something deeply meaningful to us,” Iverson said. OAN reaction: “I have heard from OAN members who have varying concerns and perspectives on this debate. But there is no debate that farmland in Oregon is a limited resource and preserving that land to grow and sustain the nursery and agriculture industry is important. On the other hand, it’s also a reality that many of our members need additional income that comes from agritourism to stay afloat and need the flexibility to supplement their farming business. It is all a matter of degree, and as an association we encourage DLCD, the governor and the agricultural community to come together and attempt to find a reasoned solution. In the meantime, a pause to let tempers cool is a good idea.” <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fse5jb7iab.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001p-dZNN-jNiBvsV5w1srz589x99BbbakQlYpRlL6pTyZmWl0adp36VC-VjRddzvPIZ4sbFTKGxKNCq0qkya11Un8ZzKBO3TOQE_Y4OnmXMQr3gvYR7oNT4yXZnlhQhQ52sz5rqilvAR69GouRY1FjqGNIS6yoZEhhQ-no4dC-U9cDX1pfsGO0Sw%3D%3D%26c%3DQZLFOwH0IhzliWqCeBrqGuJskpOl4yTKdAJ9YPEojW_lVaPJMcQuzA%3D%3D%26ch%3DMeYm6xaUDIzPsGr8jtFyJFcgeO7ojulHXm_qh-4FN-WAa3o97zMDIA%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cbfarmer%40oan.org%7Cc314f59f15ec47a7f47808ddcf948832%7C0808b23c81f84fa88d57b28429248c76%7C0%7C0%7C638894959047374935%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=bx6oIgMUx87Sa60zvMLQB%2F9W8H3OvGuzlHF3OkfDxO4%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">View a video message from OAN member Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm on the decision</a> <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fse5jb7iab.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001p-dZNN-jNiBvsV5w1srz589x99BbbakQlYpRlL6pTyZmWl0adp36VC-VjRddzvPILbX5viUEUkE6bpiidlUuXgwiiQuRJe_FyD6v8Fs0Ztp9vdqkybtE_0FmQerrgV_FA_Ud7r_jb5uuSiZABC-4SaKsKgJV69kJAxN7CJcyQNkRKkBtC3sjAPKVvWTIpv_75m1Npov_7NWXyPDOaCxMlZ0L4wQHTUd9hcd3YYrz471pvIyKZ-Znm2l7J_ZTN8kM9LcqDJ4YQtQ%3D%26c%3DQZLFOwH0IhzliWqCeBrqGuJskpOl4yTKdAJ9YPEojW_lVaPJMcQuzA%3D%3D%26ch%3DMeYm6xaUDIzPsGr8jtFyJFcgeO7ojulHXm_qh-4FN-WAa3o97zMDIA%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cbfarmer%40oan.org%7Cc314f59f15ec47a7f47808ddcf948832%7C0808b23c81f84fa88d57b28429248c76%7C0%7C0%7C638894959047389035%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=S%2BgLhXz2%2BWwa%2BlQL%2FgDhXqhiAYt%2FWwOlo1j87EwzaBw%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">Read the OPB story</a> <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fse5jb7iab.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001p-dZNN-jNiBvsV5w1srz589x99BbbakQlYpRlL6pTyZmWl0adp36VC-VjRddzvPIToasvIe0qc8jjXY4aikM1N0JG9T4UD743CId1Rc2oTzGHsfgBhu9SjXd6dzYusKiyvXX1xnDK0Mfylc6VwtPqN2qM6V8zMp-hGoEGL7nqyTI7xBilo_2__jThyToCvkWbOqBg00Toy100YxpHxTLH56hIGDary4y9EqZ7X-vOzPzhjcbWK8t_260LUO-Zb3dg_UAcWMyQ6nFniUXS6r9fKh5jG9--80AOFzP2mxRd9E%3D%26c%3DQZLFOwH0IhzliWqCeBrqGuJskpOl4yTKdAJ9YPEojW_lVaPJMcQuzA%3D%3D%26ch%3DMeYm6xaUDIzPsGr8jtFyJFcgeO7ojulHXm_qh-4FN-WAa3o97zMDIA%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cbfarmer%40oan.org%7Cc314f59f15ec47a7f47808ddcf948832%7C0808b23c81f84fa88d57b28429248c76%7C0%7C0%7C638894959047403868%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=qelI80S6yvLht6FWen4hWcrDTwie%2F%2BklnHSOUopkglg%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">Read the governor’s statement</a>]]></description>
<category>News</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jul 2025 19:02:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Applications open for ODA Nursery Program Advisory Committee: by August 31</title>
<link>https://www.oan.org/news/707605/</link>
<guid>https://www.oan.org/news/707605/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Get involved: The Oregon Department of Agriculture is recruiting members for the Nursery Program Advisory Committee. There are seven positions currently open. Each position carries a three-year term following the completion of the initial partial term.
Why it matters: This committee serves an important role in advising and consulting with ODA on the administration of statutes related to Oregon’s nursery industry. The committee is also tasked with reviewing the nursery inspection program.
How to apply: To be considered for an appointment, please complete and submit the <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fse5jb7iab.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001p-dZNN-jNiBvsV5w1srz589x99BbbakQlYpRlL6pTyZmWl0adp36VC-VjRddzvPIIwm9QAl1NZb4wfEcfRyr8zJlBmWCDA3-lyRSg-ODNi_M-L0JqsS5-C9Tyw8w2nI6bmw5UXm5v_gC8um6NqmRfjwrep37YRhOvpOIIA1O7hkrJd5uJAWpDz5IyvfIAPGm3XSd99lUbE0Sl3fGkm3ZWeiVdtNXjZjwBodKQefYg3wuksVlbnxmbNK7Zth3hLXUhzcod95uH76z4UvP9qljSra5cxo_t_762iYWaaxJDvPiDfsx5Ap5H6ubFIPf-yKjhffm8V4ik10QvUs2BqsJwg%3D%3D%26c%3DQZLFOwH0IhzliWqCeBrqGuJskpOl4yTKdAJ9YPEojW_lVaPJMcQuzA%3D%3D%26ch%3DMeYm6xaUDIzPsGr8jtFyJFcgeO7ojulHXm_qh-4FN-WAa3o97zMDIA%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cbfarmer%40oan.org%7Cc314f59f15ec47a7f47808ddcf948832%7C0808b23c81f84fa88d57b28429248c76%7C0%7C0%7C638894959047297730%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=vhb4e4NshYXmV24dtlJwrXkxzakRj1a%2F45N5991GqDg%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">Nursery Program Advisory Committee Interest Form
</a>
by August 31. You may submit via email or mail. Email:
<span
style="color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> <a href="mailto:Kevin.F.Bailey@ODA.Oregon.gov" target="_blank">Kevin.F.Bailey@ODA.Oregon.gov</a>. Mail:
<span
style="color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> State Nursery Regulatory Committee, Attn: Kevin Bailey, Program Manager, Oregon Department of Agriculture, 635 Capitol St. NE, Salem, OR 97301. Phone:
<span
style="color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> 503-508-6733. 

OAN call to action: “OAN needs involvement from our members on this committee. The actions of this committee have a huge impact on our industry and we need to make sure our voices are heard loud and clear,” Executive Director Jeff Stone said. Please let Stone know if you’re applying: <a href="mailto:JStone@OAN.org" target="_blank">JStone@OAN.org
</a>
or call 503-582-2003.
]]></description>
<category>News</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jul 2025 19:01:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Box tree moth spreads to Virginia and Maryland</title>
<link>https://www.oan.org/news/707603/</link>
<guid>https://www.oan.org/news/707603/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[First detection in two states: Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) announced the detection of box tree moth in four sites in Clarke and Loudoun Counties, Virginia. Within days of the announcement, the Maryland Department of Agriculture and USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) confirmed box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis) in a state park in Washington County, Maryland. This is the first detection of the destructive pest in both Virginia and Maryland.  Action: VDACS said it will provide treatment for boxwood plants, if box tree moth is confirmed on boxwood plants. Maryland Park Service staff are removing and destroying the affected boxwoods that were found at Fort Frederick State Park as a way to prevent the spread of this invasive pest. Background: The box tree moth (BTM), a federally regulated insect, is a destructive pest of boxwoods, feeding primarily on them. They can produce multiple generations per year and, if left unchecked, can destroy the plant. BTM was first found in the United States in New York in 2021 and has rapidly spread with populations found in Delaware, New York, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Early detection is the key to preventing significant damage, loss and spread of BTM. OAN reaction: “This expands BTM infested states from 17 to 19,” OAN Executive Director Jeff Stone said. “Currently, there is no national quarantine against BTM. However, USDA does place localized quarantines on counties where BTM is found and infested nurseries are required to enter compliance agreements, which require inspection and treatments.” Threat to Oregon: “<a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fse5jb7iab.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001p-dZNN-jNiBvsV5w1srz589x99BbbakQlYpRlL6pTyZmWl0adp36VC-VjRddzvPIRdpm63cD7GPY-V87R4uV63iJxRWcIEQ5WY6gDoEnYltyVOHx2xE60hmJaNOYR5E2pg7cc6gbeAyw9clCzLHgkKuJx6js09cBOmYrdgf12Sz1P-vb9tbLLQ%3D%3D%26c%3DQZLFOwH0IhzliWqCeBrqGuJskpOl4yTKdAJ9YPEojW_lVaPJMcQuzA%3D%3D%26ch%3DMeYm6xaUDIzPsGr8jtFyJFcgeO7ojulHXm_qh-4FN-WAa3o97zMDIA%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cbfarmer%40oan.org%7Cc314f59f15ec47a7f47808ddcf948832%7C0808b23c81f84fa88d57b28429248c76%7C0%7C0%7C638894959047241715%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=YUwjWMYmHFHvRvdPqxVrnkeTKcoM3oaShhvCSrvdt4Q%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">The Oregon Department of Agriculture</a> is under the impression that boxwood growers are not either aware of the risk BTM poses to the boxwood industry in Oregon and/or it is not seen as a concern due to the perception that boxwood is exported more than it is imported,” Stone said. However, boxwood is imported into Oregon (i.e. into the retail setting of big box stores) — though they do not have complete quantitative data to support that statement. Other states are finding BTM very hard to control, as will Oregon once it is introduced.” Move to de-regulate: “APHIS is seeking to de-regulate the pest and the National Plant Board is beginning to discuss what deregulation would look like. APHIS is seeking to de-regulate imported fire ant and brown garden snail (which is currently regulated at ports of entry). Spotted lanternfly (SLF) is also spreading, and with several near misses in Oregon, the clock is ticking for its introduction into Oregon. SLF infested states are either removing quarantines or not placing up quarantines, as that model of regulation is proving ineffective.  Zoom in on Boxwood: Stone said OAN plans on holding a Zoom meeting on BTM sometime in early September after the Farwest Show. “If you grow boxwood, I highly encourage you to participate in that meeting when it is scheduled,” Stone said. <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fse5jb7iab.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001p-dZNN-jNiBvsV5w1srz589x99BbbakQlYpRlL6pTyZmWl0adp36VC-VjRddzvPIr4gNLsWPBB7Pjpy4dtmYlS4p19HgGnoYm57q-hwqPiPnm14hPsQr6mde6N69l5QNDct5Z94l-kBK5D0U-tHI_d0pC9AfJwPH8dcmleGTHu2z_QWRL1xmaY2w8pMxAyvXOvKQHc0wwCO0Yu2-RmNyaTuZ81vjwIE5L5aLtzD17e-BGmfMIRXo-Q%3D%3D%26c%3DQZLFOwH0IhzliWqCeBrqGuJskpOl4yTKdAJ9YPEojW_lVaPJMcQuzA%3D%3D%26ch%3DMeYm6xaUDIzPsGr8jtFyJFcgeO7ojulHXm_qh-4FN-WAa3o97zMDIA%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cbfarmer%40oan.org%7Cc314f59f15ec47a7f47808ddcf948832%7C0808b23c81f84fa88d57b28429248c76%7C0%7C0%7C638894959047255564%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=FC7VdX%2B%2FbzuSBLhxpvzu1i4o4BSmOyWWvO3TFNFJBpo%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Read the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services statement</a> <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fse5jb7iab.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001p-dZNN-jNiBvsV5w1srz589x99BbbakQlYpRlL6pTyZmWl0adp36VC-VjRddzvPI8v2scJb0RJxB9WZ0VlFx86MCV7qWKhCmFqGz-e5OYKaASJdqfb6DcFTX4iHFjg9tArm_K-NIlOGrnGZhxuR6DvwjmF35GCodi559h0fQvIVAsBLDFKFYagowA6jFF1lqV8iumEta1mKHM03EYivHnAdGb0pm2-eWUjwgltKB1CUF-8kb6WbEPWAWf637t8z1nOkGKsndfBY%3D%26c%3DQZLFOwH0IhzliWqCeBrqGuJskpOl4yTKdAJ9YPEojW_lVaPJMcQuzA%3D%3D%26ch%3DMeYm6xaUDIzPsGr8jtFyJFcgeO7ojulHXm_qh-4FN-WAa3o97zMDIA%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cbfarmer%40oan.org%7Cc314f59f15ec47a7f47808ddcf948832%7C0808b23c81f84fa88d57b28429248c76%7C0%7C0%7C638894959047269544%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=q3dNC3afsVFhJFcnxplFROCY0yd5k38LWzivxROe0x0%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">Read the Maryland Department of Agriculture statement</a>]]></description>
<category>News</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jul 2025 19:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>OAN ACTION ALERT: Water Rights Transfers</title>
<link>https://www.oan.org/news/702812/</link>
<guid>https://www.oan.org/news/702812/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Farmers’ future ability to transfer water rights is on the line with Senate Bill 1153, and we urgently need your help to defeat the bill.
<h3>What it does:</h3>
Senate Bill 1153, proposed by the office of Gov. Tina Kotek and requested by environmental groups, would require proposed water transfers in Oregon to undergo a public interest review for impacts on the environment and fish health. Transfers will be presumed
harmful, and the burden of proof will be placed on the applicant to show otherwise.
In a Rules Committee hearing on Tuesday afternoon, Steve Shropshire (Jordan Ramis on behalf of OAN)), April Snell (Executive Director of the Oregon Water Resources Congress) and Greg Addington (Executive Director of the Oregon Farm Bureau) outlined how
this bill will adversely impact agriculture.
<ol>
<li>It will set a vague standard of harm to stream flow and water quality.</li>
<li>This new standard will cause greater confusion and likely increase litigation costs.</li>
<li>The standard forces transfer applicants to prove they have not harmed a stream (proving the negative instead of the department bearing the burden of proof that the transfer causes harm).</li>
<li>The bill will add a workload to beleaguered staff at the Water Resources Department, who already have backlogs on water applications. Although the bill lists no fiscal impact, there’s no question it will cost the state time and therefore, money.</li>
</ol>
Despite our testimony, the legislation is expected to clear the committee on Wednesday afternoon and advance to the full Senate. Unfortunately, efforts to get the bill amended to protect agriculture, so that we can support it, or at least be neutral,
have been unsuccessful. We must defeat Senate Bill 1153 when it gets to the Senate.
<h3>OAN’s stance:</h3>
Oppose Senate Bill 1153 with the –10 amendment
<h3>What you can do:</h3>
The OAN is targeting nine key Democratic senators in hopes they will vote no. One is in your district. Please contact them ASAP and urge a no vote.
<h3>Contact your state senator:</h3>
<h4>Senator Floyd Prozanski</h4>
Party: Democratic 
District: 4 (Springfield/Eugene) 
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1704 
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-413, Salem, OR, 97301 
Email: <a href="mailto:Sen.FloydProzanski@OregonLegislature.gov">Sen.FloydProzanski@OregonLegislature.gov</a> 
Website: <a href="https://www.OregonLegislature.gov/prozanski" target="_blank">OregonLegislature.gov/Prozanski</a>
<h4>Senator James I. Manning Jr.</h4>
Party: Democratic 
District: 7 (Eugene) 
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1707 
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-213, Salem, OR, 97301 
Email: <a href="mailto:Sen.JamesManning@OregonLegislature.gov">Sen.JamesManning@OregonLegislature.gov</a> 
Website: <a href="https://www.OregonLegislature.gov/manning" target="_blank">OregonLegislature.gov/Manning</a>
<h4>Senator Deb Patterson</h4>
Party: Democratic 
District: 10 (Salem) 
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1710 
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-411, Salem, OR, 97301 
Email: <a href="mailto:Sen.DebPatterson@OregonLegislature.gov">Sen.DebPatterson@OregonLegislature.gov</a> 
Website: <a href="https://www.OregonLegislature.gov/patterson" target="_blank">OregonLegislature.gov/Patterson</a>
<h4>Senator Courtney Neron Misslin</h4>
Party: Democratic 
District: 13 (Wilsonville) 
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1713 
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-425, Salem, OR, 97301 
Email: <a href="mailto:Sen.CourtneyNeronMisslin@OregonLegislature.gov">Sen.CourtneyNeronMisslin@OregonLegislature.gov</a> 
Website: <a href="https://www.OregonLegislature.gov/neron" target="_blank">OregonLegislature.gov/Neron</a>
<h4>Senator Janeen Sollman</h4>
Party: Democratic 
District: 15 (Forest Grove/Cornelius/Hillsboro ) 
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1715 
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-207, Salem, OR, 97301 
Email: <a href="mailto:Sen.JaneenSollman@OregonLegislature.gov">Sen.JaneenSollman@OregonLegislature.gov</a> 
Website: <a href="https://www.OregonLegislature.gov/sollman" target="_blank">OregonLegislature.gov/Sollman</a>
<h4>Senator Mark Meek</h4>
Party: Democratic 
District: 20 (Happy Valley) 
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1720 
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-417, Salem, OR, 97301 
Email: <a href="mailto:Sen.MarkMeek@OregonLegislature.gov">Sen.MarkMeek@OregonLegislature.gov</a> 
Website: <a href="https://www.OregonLegislature.gov/meek" target="_blank">OregonLegislature.gov/Meek</a>
<h4>Senator Lew Frederick</h4>
Party: Democratic 
District: 22 (N.E. Portland) 
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1722
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-419, Salem, OR 97301 
Email: <a href="mailto:Sen.LewFrederick@OregonLegislature.gov">Sen.LewFrederick@OregonLegislature.gov</a> 
Website: <a href="https://www.OregonLegislature.gov/Frederick" target="_blank">OregonLegislature.gov/Frederick</a>
<h4>Senator Chris Gorsek</h4>
Party: Democratic 
District: 25 (Gresham) 
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1725 
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-403, Salem, OR, 97301 
Email: <a href="mailto:Sen.ChrisGorsek@OregonLegislature.gov">Sen.ChrisGorsek@OregonLegislature.gov</a> 
Website: <a href="https://www.OregonLegislature.gov/gorsek" target="_blank">OregonLegislature.gov/Gorsek</a>
<h4>Senator Anthony Broadman</h4>
Party: Democrat 
District: 27 (Bend) 
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1727 
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-423, Salem, OR, 97301 
Email: <a href="mailto:Sen.AnthonyBroadman@OregonLegislature.gov">Sen.AnthonyBroadman@OregonLegislature.gov</a> 
Website: <a href="https://www.OregonLegislature.gov/broadman" target="_blank">OregonLegislature.gov/Broadman</a>
<h3>What to tell your state senator: </h3>
<ol>
<li>This bill is not simple. Water law It is very complex and this bill has unintended consequences to your operation if you would request a water transfer.</li>
<li>Water transfers are the only way for us to move water around our property for a variety of reasons. These can include a failed well, climate change adaptation, flooding changing the course of a stream, among other reasons.</li>
<li>The new environmental standard in the bill is really vague. It will result in more lawsuits – especially by third parties who have nothing to do with our business.</li>
<li>The bill places the burden on family farm operations to hire expensive water rights consultants and lawyers to “prove the negative” if OWRD decides that a transfer will contribute to the loss of fish habitat. This will be extremely costly if not impossible
to do. </li>
<li>Water Resources Department is already overburdened and cannot get their work done. This will add cost and workload and make the department fall even farther behind in their core duties.</li>
<li>The OAN provided thoughtful, well researched proposals for how to address our remaining concerns with this bill and make it something we could accept. The Governor’s office rejected those proposals.</li>
<li>The bill is a solution looking for a problem. Through many meetings with the Governor’s office, the OAN asked them to provide us with specific examples of how past agricultural transfers had caused the type of harm they believe this bill prevents.
They we unable to provide us with a single specific example.</li>
</ol>
If you have any questions, please contact Jeff Stone at JStone@OAN.org or 503-682-5089.
<h3>Sample Email:</h3>
Dear ,
My name is (or name of organization is) _______, I live in (we are based in) _______, and I/we urge you to engage on House Bill 1153 – which would be devastating to the family farm and is simply a step too far by the proponents of the legislation.
[Body of Email; beginning with the bill and what it does; followed by a personal story that reinforces why the committee should oppose the bill; stats and other useful talking points —this could be a few paragraphs.]
Thank you for your time and attention. We would respectfully request you vote no on Senate Bill 1153.]]></description>
<category>News</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 4 Jun 2025 18:59:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Pendleton weather office to lose overnight forecasts</title>
<link>https://www.oan.org/news/702695/</link>
<guid>https://www.oan.org/news/702695/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Pendleton, Oregon’s National Weather Service Office is set to no longer staff overnight meteorologists because of recent cuts by the Trump administration, potentially resulting in fewer emergency weather updates for much of Oregon and Washington, according to Capital Press, an agricultural newspaper in Salem, Oregon. The Pendleton office is one of seven regional offices set to halt overnight staffing, according to the Washington Post. Why it matters: One of the main duties for the Pendleton office is to provide forecasting and hazardous weather warnings for parts of Washington and much of Central and Northeast Oregon, including the snow-ridden eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains. According to the National Weather Service’s website, the office provides daily forecasts and emergency reports for commuters and residents about general weather, snow conditions, hail storms, wind storms, thunderstorms, flooding, freezing rain and heat waves. The National Weather Service offices also provide reports specific to fire weather, which helps firefighters respond appropriately to wildfires during the summer based on wind and heat conditions. <a href="https://capitalpress.com/2025/05/19/oregon-weather-office-set-to-lose-key-overnight-forecasts/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #3d6d38; font-weight: bold;">Read more</a>]]></description>
<category>News</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 3 Jun 2025 18:22:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Get certified to provide Worker Protection Standard training</title>
<link>https://www.oan.org/news/702696/</link>
<guid>https://www.oan.org/news/702696/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Details: The Oregon Department of Agriculture is partnering with several groups to provide a two-day Worker Protection Standard training for agricultural workers and pesticide handlers. For the first time in over five years, an EPA-approved regional bilingual training event is scheduled to improve knowledge and skills to provide annual pesticide safety training at agricultural establishments. Meals and refreshments for both days are included in registration. When: June 17 and 18 from 8 a.m.–4 p.m.Where: Pine Grove Grange. 2935 Van Horn Drive, Hood River. Cost: $85, includes materials, lunch, coffee, pastries and snacks for both days. How: This two-day workshop will run concurrently in two sessions based on the language of your preference: English or Spanish. The workshops will include hands-on activities and skill development, and participants will be provided with educational materials. <a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORODA/bulletins/3dfb56e" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #3d6d38; font-weight: bold;">Find more information</a><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/english-language-worker-protection-standards-train-the-trainer-tickets-1338018823319?aff=erelpanelorg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #3d6d38; font-weight: bold;">Register for English session</a><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spanish-language-worker-protection-standards-train-the-trainer-tickets-1338005643899?aff=oddtdtcreator" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #3d6d38; font-weight: bold;">Register for Spanish session</a>]]></description>
<category>News</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 3 Jun 2025 18:22:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Farwest launches Career Boulevard, offers students free admission</title>
<link>https://www.oan.org/news/702694/</link>
<guid>https://www.oan.org/news/702694/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[What’s Career Boulevard? This year at the <a href="https://farwestshow.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #3d6d38; font-weight: bold;">Farwest Show</a>, August 20–22 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, OAN is introducing a new area tailored to students, recent graduates and career explorers in the green industry. Students will be introduced to exciting opportunities in horticulture, landscaping, nursery management and related fields. Students can explore career paths in horticulture and landscaping, tap into internship and scholarship resources, browse job boards, and make valuable networking connections. Free 3-day trade show passes are available for students (use comp code: GROWHERE25). A Discounted Education Pass is just $49 ($69 after July 31) and includes access to all three days of expert-led seminars and pesticide classes. OAN members can help publicize this unique opportunity to students. If you’d like printed flyers, digital graphics, or a short blurb for your website or newsletters, we’d be happy to provide those. Email <a href="mailto:Farwest@OAN.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #3d6d38; font-weight: bold;">Farwest@OAN.org</a>.]]></description>
<category>News</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 3 Jun 2025 18:21:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Ag workforce standards bill becomes a study instead</title>
<link>https://www.oan.org/news/702691/</link>
<guid>https://www.oan.org/news/702691/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Backers in the Oregon Legislature have abandoned an effort to set up an Agricultural Workforce Standards Bill this session, hoping to instead fund a study through Portland State University. The bill: The original version of House Bill 2548 would have created an Agricultural Workforce Labor Standards Board to adopt new wages and set new regulations at least every two years. Opponents of the bill compared it to de facto unionization of farmworkers being imposed by the state. The more recent <a href="https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/ProposedAmendment/29321" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #3d6d38; font-weight: bold;">— 7 amendments</a> (PDF) would simply create a study to look at issues the board would have addressed. These include wages, worker safety and risks, worker benefits, gender dynamics, worker financial security, grievance procedures, access to training, access to legal protections, and overall labor conditions.  The problem: “We already have agricultural workforce standards that are higher than all of our competing states,” OAN contract lobbyist Bill Perry told OAN leaders on Wednesday.  What’s next: The House Rules Committee will hold a hearing on those amendments tomorrow (Thursday, May 29) at 3 p.m. OAN past president Jim Simnitt of Simnitt Nursery will testify against the bill on behalf of the nursery industry and OAN.]]></description>
<category>News</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 3 Jun 2025 18:20:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Analysis finds strong consumer garden purchases despite economic concerns</title>
<link>https://www.oan.org/news/702692/</link>
<guid>https://www.oan.org/news/702692/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The headline: Even though nurseries are concerned about tariffs and their potential economic impact, garden center customers don’t seem to be, at least when it comes to their gardening, reports Ball Publishing. Garden Media Group’s Garden Pulse: Spring 2025 Analysis is out and reveals some strong numbers. Highlights: <ul style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #fbfbfb;"><li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Frontline sales at independent garden centers are nearly identical to those of 2024 and are up 27% from 2020, with strong demand for edibles and ornamentals.</li><li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">As of March 2025, garden centers using Square have seen an 8.6% increase in processing gross profit and a 9.3% increase in transaction volume compared to 2024.</li><li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">2025 early spring garden sales are just 3.9% behind 2024 sales, despite the dismal weather in many parts of the country so far this spring.</li></ul> <a href="https://gardenmediagroup.com/the-beet-goes-on-garden-pulse-spring-2025-analysis/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #3d6d38; font-weight: bold;">Download the complete analysis</a>]]></description>
<category>News</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 3 Jun 2025 18:20:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Water transfer bill remains alive in Legislature</title>
<link>https://www.oan.org/news/702690/</link>
<guid>https://www.oan.org/news/702690/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Still alive: As the 2025 Oregon Legislature winds towards a close, Democrats and the environmental community are continuing efforts to pass a bill requiring proposed water transfers in Oregon to undergo a public interest review for impacts on the environment and fish health. This would further inhibit the ability of farmers to obtain a needed water supply. Transfers of existing rights are one of the few avenues left, and even those are usually beset by long bureaucratic delays. OAN opposes: The agricultural community has succeeded in exempting groundwater transfers from the review in many cases, but not all. Meanwhile, surface water transfers still would require it. The costs and specifics of the bill remain clouded, and the good news is, these are obstacles to getting it passed. “The most recent version of the legislation has incorporated very few of the changes ag has requested,” OAN Executive Director Jeff Stone said. “Exempting groundwater transfers benefits ag, but the bill is still fundamentally wrong. It’s based on untrue assumptions that transfers are harmful.”  The process: Three agricultural groups — Oregon Association of Nurseries, Oregon Farm Bureau and Oregon Water Resources Congress — have been included in a workgroup reviewing the proposed legislation. Also included? Key legislators, members of Gov. Tina Kotek’s natural resources staff, and representatives of municipalities, indigenous tribes and the environmental community. MVP: OAN’s legal counsel, Steve Shropshire of Jordan Ramis P.C., has represented OAN in this process. “Steve has articulated very well the negative impacts of this legislation on agriculture,” Stone said. Shropshire, for his part, noted that the bill imposes vague tests on transfer applicants and assumes that water transfers harm the environment and fish runs. That hasn’t been proven. “If they can’t prove it on the front end, we won’t be able to disprove it on the back end,” he said. Up next: The Legislature has entered a late-session phase where hearings can be held on short notice. The OAN stands ready to act when needed and will enlist the help of member growers to illustrate the negative impacts of the bill. “The process has been very disingenuous, and now it’s time to fight,” Stone said.]]></description>
<category>News</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 3 Jun 2025 18:19:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Farwest Show expands tour offerings for 2025 edition</title>
<link>https://www.oan.org/news/698761/</link>
<guid>https://www.oan.org/news/698761/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[See Oregon Nursery Country: This year’s Farwest Show, the biggest and greenest show in the West, will be showcasing growing excellence like never before with three daylong multi-stop tours of Oregon Nursery Country. The tours include a Wholesale Grower Tour, a Garden Center Retail Tour, and — new this year — an Automation Tour. Each will be held Tuesday, August 19, the day before the show opens. The Farwest Show is August 20–22 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. Don’t wait: “Our grower and retail tours have been selling out quickly the last several years, so it made all the sense in the world to add a third one,” said Jamie Moore, events and education coordinator for the Oregon Association of Nurseries, which produces the show. “The result is our all-new Automation Tour, which will provide an inside look at a machine-driven nursery innovation, and three growers making great use of the technology.” The tours include luxury motor coach transportation, lunch, beverages and snacks. <ul style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #fbfbfb;"><li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Wholesale Grower Tour — The tour will provide a deep dive into some of Oregon’s best tree and shrub growers in the Cascade Range foothills, under the backdrop of majestic Mt. Hood. They include <a href="https://jfschmidt.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #753756; font-weight: bold;">J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.</a>, <a href="https://www.jhnsy.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #753756; font-weight: bold;">John Holmlund Nursery LLC</a>, <a href="https://hansnelson.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #753756; font-weight: bold;">Hans Nelson & Sons Nursery Inc</a>., and <a href="https://www.donmarjamanursery.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #753756; font-weight: bold;">Don Marjama Nursery Co.</a> It’s a chance to learn about propagation, grafting and bare-root vs. potted plant production.</li></ul> <ul style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #fbfbfb;"><li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Retail Garden Center Tour — The tour will take you from the heart of Oregon Wine Country to some of the most innovative retailers in the Portland area. The day will begin at <a href="https://durantoregon.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #753756; font-weight: bold;">Durant at Red Ridge Farms</a>, which is Oregon’s premier olive tree nursery and olive mill. It offers olive oil tasting and a great selection of herbs, edible landscape trees and shrubs. The farm is also home to a vineyard and winery. Next up is The <a href="https://www.thegardencorner.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #753756; font-weight: bold;">Garden Corner</a>, home of the Garden Rebels, which features the world’s largest hanging basket. The last stop? <a href="https://www.portlandnursery.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #753756; font-weight: bold;">Portland Nursery</a>, a landmark known for broad selection and amazing houseplants.</li></ul> <ul style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #fbfbfb;"><li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Automation Tour — This one’s all about equipment as well as application. Participants will see cutting-edge nursery automation equipment being built at <a href="https://gkmachine.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI49eRhaXLjAMV2BCtBh0lczaVEAAYASAAEgLQjfD_BwE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #753756; font-weight: bold;">GK Machine Inc.’s</a> state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, and tour a prototype of a fully-automated smart-greenhouse. Stops to follow will include three innovative nurseries that are redefining the future of the nursery industry through automation — <a href="https://www.bountifulfarms.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #753756; font-weight: bold;">Bountiful Farms Nursery Inc.</a>, <a href="https://woodburnnursery.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #753756; font-weight: bold;">Woodburn Nursery & Azaleas Inc.</a>, and <a href="https://www.brentanos-treefarm.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #753756; font-weight: bold;">Brentano’s Tree Farm LLC</a>.</li></ul> Register now: Tour and expo registration is now open at <a href="https://farwestshow.com/Register/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #753756; font-weight: bold;">FarwestShow.com/Register</a>. The cost for each tour is $124 per person if purchased by July 31, or $139 if purchased later. Participants are encouraged to register early, as tour space is limited! <a href="https://farwestshow.com/hotel/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #753756; font-weight: bold;">Official Farwest hotels</a> are also available for booking, and make for a nice headquarters for the weeklong trade show experience. Complete details are available at <a href="https://farwestshow.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #753756; font-weight: bold;">FarwestShow.com</a>.]]></description>
<category>News</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 15 Apr 2025 21:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Free pesticide collection event planned in Clackamas</title>
<link>https://www.oan.org/news/698762/</link>
<guid>https://www.oan.org/news/698762/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Details: A free agricultural pesticide collection event is being held Saturday, May 17, at Clean Harbors, 16540 SE 130th Ave. in Clackamas. The event is being sponsored by the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District and the Clackamas River Water Providers. Why participate? This is a great chance for producers, forest landowners, and other commercial and industrial pesticide users to get rid of old, restricted, or no longer used pesticides, surfactants, and adjuvants at no cost. So, go through outbuildings, barns, and sheds to remove these chemicals. No fertilizers, solvents, or other non-pesticide materials will be accepted. Limited spots: The event is free and anonymous, but you must sign up in advance by May 5 to receive an appointment. <a href="https://conservationdistrict.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #753756; font-weight: bold;">Download registration forms and instructions</a> Questions? Contact Michael Mason of Clean Harbor Environmental Services at 971-401-0367 or by email at <a href="mailto:Mason.MichaelR@CleanHarbors.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #753756; font-weight: bold;">Mason.MichaelR@CleanHarbors.com</a>.  If you miss the May 5 deadline, call Clean Harbors to see if there’s still room for you to participate.]]></description>
<category>News</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 15 Apr 2025 21:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Three water transfer bills move forward as expected</title>
<link>https://www.oan.org/news/698760/</link>
<guid>https://www.oan.org/news/698760/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<a href="https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB2548" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #753756; font-weight: bold;">House Bill 2548</a>, the agricultural workforce standards bill, is expected to advance on Wednesday — the last day to move bills out of committee. The House Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards will take up the bill this afternoon (April 9) and is expected to move it along to the Rules Committee. The bill is strongly opposed by agricultural organizations. The Oregon Association of Nurseries has made it a top priority to defeat the bill. The substance: The bill would create an unelected governing body and give it the authority to set increased workplace regulations for Oregon farms at least every two years. It would be empowered to set new hourly and piece-rate wages; establish requirements for rest breaks, work schedules and working hours; provide uniform training on worker rights; and establish new workplace health and safety requirements in addition to those already adopted by Oregon OSHA. It would also eliminate at-will employment for ag and put the burden of proof on employers to justify terminations. Objections: Farmers have compared the bill to forced unionization of the entire agricultural workforce. They have said the bill threatens the ability of family farms to operate, while allowing officials to set wages and safety rules that go far beyond current protections. They have questioned why ag is the only sector losing the right to terminate employees at will, and said this provision will drastically increase litigation costs for employers. What’s next: If passed Wednesday, the bill can remain in play through the end of the session in June. <a href="https://www.oan.org/page/legagenda25" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #753756; font-weight: bold;">View OAN’s 2025 state and federal legislative agenda</a>]]></description>
<category>News</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 9 Apr 2025 20:59:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title>OAN ACTION ALERT: Protect Nursery Jobs — Oppose HB 2548</title>
<link>https://www.oan.org/news/695801/</link>
<guid>https://www.oan.org/news/695801/</guid>
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OAN ALERT
Agricultural Workforce Labor Standards Board
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<a href="https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/HB2548" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #628e58; font-weight: bold;">Oregon House Bill 2548</a>
<span
style="font-weight: bold;"> would create a new Agricultural Workforce Standards Board. The bill was crafted by unions and trial attorneys who evidently do not want to spend the time or money to unionize farm by farm, so they
are proposing a “workforce standards board” to bargain for our workforce at the sector level. This legislation would make it so expensive and risky to employ people, that many farms would have no choice but to reduce
their footprint in Oregon, lay off employees, or sell to the highest bidder.
 
Urgent action is needed. The bill is the subject of a short-notice hearing taking place this Wednesday, March 12, at 3 p.m.
<span
style="font-weight: bold;"> in the Oregon House Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards. We need all hands on deck submitting written testimony against this bill.
<p
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> 
What it does: HB 2548 includes two provisions that effectively “unionize” farm work at the industry level:
 
<ul style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px;">
<li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">It creates an unelected governing body with the authority to set increased regulations for Oregon farms at least EVERY TWO YEARS, including:</li>
<li class="indent-1"
style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3em;">Set higher minimum wage (estimated over $20);</li>
<li class="indent-1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3em;">Set piece-rate wages;</li>
<li class="indent-1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3em;">Establish requirements for rest breaks, work schedules and working hours;</li>
<li class="indent-1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3em;">Provide uniform training on worker rights by state-certified worker organizations (i.e. unions and trial attorneys); and</li>
<li class="indent-1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3em;">Establish new workplace health and safety requirements in addition to those already adopted by Oregon OSHA.</li>
<li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">It eliminates at-will employment for agriculture, dictating how farm employers can discipline or terminate workers. Further, it creates a private right of action against
employers who make termination or disciplinary decisions that an employee or trial attorney disagrees with.</li>
</ul>
 
The bill also contains an emergency clause making it effective immediately upon passage.
 
OAN’s stance: Oppose House Bill 2548.
 
What you can do:
 
<ol style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px;">
<li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Submit written testimony through the legislative website. <a href="https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Testimony/HLWS/HB/2548/0000-00-00-00-00?area=Measures"
rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #628e58; font-weight: bold;">Click here to start</a><a href="https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Testimony/HLWS/HB/2548/0000-00-00-00-00?area=Measures"
rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #628e58; font-weight: bold;">.</a></li>
<li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Testify in person or remotely at 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 12. Note: Only a limited number of people will be able to do this. If you are interested, contact Jeff Stone at 
<a
href="mailto:jstone@oan.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; font-style: italic; color: #628e58; font-weight: bold;">JStone@OAN.org</a> or text 971-235-3868.</li>
<li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Write to your state senator and/or representative. (<a href="https://geo.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/lookup/index.html?appid=fd070b56c975456ea2a25f7e3f4289d1" rel="noopener noreferrer"
target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #628e58; font-weight: bold;">Find your legislator</a>.)</li>
</ol>
The following legislators are on the committee:
<ul style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px;">
<li class="indent-1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3em;">Chair Rep. Dacia Grayber (D-Portland)</li>
<li class="indent-1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3em;">Rep. Lucetta Elmer (R-McMinnville)</li>
<li class="indent-1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3em;">Rep. Lesly Muñoz (D-Woodburn)</li>
<li class="indent-1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3em;">Rep. Shelly Boshart-Davis (R-Albany)</li>
<li class="indent-1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3em;">Rep. Lisa Fragala (D-Eugene)</li>
<li class="indent-1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3em;">Rep. Travis Nelson (D-Portland)</li>
<li class="indent-1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3em;">Rep. Anna Scharf (R-Dallas)</li>
</ul>
 
What to say:
 
<ul style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px;">
<li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">HB 2548 threatens my ability to keep farming. Oregon already has some of the highest labor costs in the country, and after several tough years, I can’t afford more regulations
and wage increases.</li>
<li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">HB 2548 would give unelected officials the power to set wages and safety rules that go far beyond current protections. This would add more regulatory burden to small
farms like mine. Farmers know how devastating this regulatory model is. Oregon’s state agencies have adopted very harmful regulations in the last five years with little to no accountability for their actions.
This board would be no different; its members aren’t even elected.</li>
<li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">HB 2548 unfairly targets agriculture by taking away at-will employment. This means I wouldn’t be able to make necessary staffing decisions without the risk of costly
lawsuits. One claim can cost tens of thousands of dollars or more.</li>
<li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Farms should not be forced keep employees who may not meet performance expectations or adapt to the demands of the job. All other sectors in Oregon would be at-will,
but farms—whose employment needs are impacted by weather, yields, trade, market conditions, pests, diseases, etc.—would not. Not only is that unfair, but it would likely result in job loss, not job security.</li>
<li
style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">HB 2548 doesn’t help workers or consumers; it just makes farming harder and more expensive. I have already had to reduce hours for workers to comply with agricultural
overtime, and this bill would have even more severe consequences.</li>
<li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">HB 2548 shifts the burden of proof. The proposal would require employers to prove the reasonableness of a termination, shifting the burden to them. Family farms and
ranches would be vulnerable to costly litigation, as they would need to defend against employment claims, even in situations involving market conditions, poor yields, or weather events.</li>
<li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">HB 2548 would increase litigation costs. Family farms already face enormous financial strain. It costs around $75,000 just to settle a claim before it reaches court.
Adding legal risks will only increase financial pressure, especially for small, family-run operations.</li>
<li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">HB 2548 would increase economic hardships. Many Oregon farms are already struggling with poor yields and low commodity prices. Most will spend the next several years
recovering from cash losses incurred in 2023 and 2024. This proposal adds another layer of uncertainty that could force family farms into financial ruin.</li>
<li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">HB 2548 would take away staffing flexibility: The proposals limit necessary flexibility for staffing and termination decisions, making it harder for employers to navigate
the unpredictability of farming. These restrictions could lead to difficulty in hiring and maintaining a workforce.</li>
<li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">HB 2548 would threaten the livelihood of family farms and ranches by imposing unnecessary legal burdens. It increases costs and limits the flexibility needed to manage
agricultural businesses. At a time when family farms are struggling to stay afloat, the Legislature should reject this punitive concept.</li>
</ul>
 
How to submit testimony
<ul style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px;">
<li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Follow the letter of support template below</li>
<li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Once complete, email your letter to the committee and CC your legislators. Please ensure that your letter is in PDF format.</li>
</ul>
 
*All submitted materials will be viewable by the public, including names, addresses, phone numbers and any other personal information that is included in the materials.
 
If you have any questions, please contact Jeff Stone at <a href="mailto:jstone@oan.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: #628e58; font-weight: bold;">JStone@OAN.org</a> or
503-682-5089.
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Sample Letter:
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(your logo here)
 
Month Day, Year
 
To: (who?)
From: [Name of Individual/Organization Submitting]
RE: (Bill in question)
 
(Salutation, naming legislator or relevant committee chairs)
 
My name is (or name of organization is) _______, I live in (we are based in) _______, and I/we urge you to support/oppose (what?).
 
[Body of Testimony; beginning with the bill and what it does; followed by a personal story that reinforces why the committee should approve/oppose the bill; stats and other useful talking
points —this could be a few paragraphs, but shouldn’t be longer than a page single spaced.]
 
Some helpful talking points: (see above)
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<category>Action Alert</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 11 Mar 2025 13:03:00 GMT</pubDate>
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