Spring 2001
In This Issue
Governor Kitzhaber Talks Agriculture
Director's Corner
ODA Names New Assistant Director
Industry Development Manager
Agriculture Plays Big Role in Oregon's 36 Counties
Commodity Commission Spotlight
Big Agricultural Operators Step Up to the SB 1010 Plate
Keeping Ag Viable Project
ODA & Governor Look to South of the Border
Then & Now:
The Egg Industry
"Right-to-farm" law in Oregon
Thirsty Oregon Agriculture Braces for Dry Year
Invasive Species Catch ODA's Attention
Agriculture Plays Big Role in Oregon's 36 Counties
With the value of Oregon agricultural production bouncing back after a slight drop the previous year, all but six of the state's 36 counties enjoyed increased farm and ranch sales in 2000. In some cases, certain commodities had strong years in production and price. But it is fair to say that the increase probably has more to do with the fact that 1999 was such a down year for most counties. It didn't take much to improve on those numbers.
Based on the latest available gross farm and ranch sales for the year 2000, Oregon's top ten agricultural producing counties are:
- Marion County $465 million
- Clackamas County $309 million
- Umatilla County $245 million
- Washington County $204 million
- Yamhill County $203 million
- Linn County $195 million
- Malheur County $194 million
- Morrow County $138 million
- Klamath County $132 million
- Polk County $107 million
Of those in the top ten, only two—Linn and Polk—actually dropped from 1999. Morrow and Malheur both reported healthy sales increases of 36.6% and 25.1% respectively. Umatilla and Clackamas saw increases of 12.4% and 5.8% respectively. Agricultural leader Marion County inched closer to the half billion dollar mark in sales by increasing a modest 0.4% last year.
Several other counties, not in the top ten, enjoyed strong increases in agricultural sales in 2000. Hood River at $75 million (34% increase), Lake at $54 million (22% increase), Harney at $50 million (22% increase) and Jackson at $59 million (20% increase) all saw sizable improvements in the bottom line this past year.
The only counties showing a decrease in sales from 1999 to 2000 are Linn at $195 million (3.5% decrease), Polk at $107 million (1.0% decrease), Tillamook at $86 million (1.1% decrease), Wasco at $54 million (7.4% decrease), Coos at $35 million (2.8% decrease), and Clatsop at $10 million (60% decrease).
Oregon's value of agricultural sales in 2000 is $3.32 billion, according to preliminary figures released by Oregon State University.
Oregon's agricultural diversity always seems to mask a lot of drastic changes that can occur in counties from year to year. If one commodity does poorly, such as onions in Malheur County, another one, like cattle, helps offset the drop.
County sales data also shoots down the myth that agriculture is strictly a rural endeavor. Five of the top six ag producing counties are located within an hour's drive of Portland or Eugene—Oregon's two largest cities. Marion, Clackamas, and Washington counties—ranked first, second, and fourth respectively—are considered metropolitan counties, yet agriculture is a major player in the local economy.
And once again, Marion County stands firmly as Oregon's leading agricultural county, more than $150 million more than second-place Clackamas, and slowly but surely approaching a half billion dollars in sales.
If there is one county poised to make a strong upward move, it is Morrow County in North Central Oregon. The construction of a satellite Tillamook Cheese factory and the resulting emergence of the dairy industry has made Morrow a county to keep an eye on.
Improving prices for some commodities and marginally better export conditions for Oregon agricultural products should translate into somewhat better sales figures for counties once 2001 is completed (pending drought impacts). Whatever the statistics show, it is clear that agriculture will continue to be important to all of Oregon's 36 counties.
Commodity
Commission Spotlight
Starting with this issue, the Ag Quarterly will feature information on one of Oregon's 29 commodity commissions—who they are, what they do, and how to get more information.
- Oregon Wheat Commission (Established 1947)
- Address: 1200 NW Front Avenue, Suite #520
Portland, Oregon 97209-2800
Telephone: (503) 229-6665
FAX: (503) 229-6584
Web Address: www.owgl.org/aboutowc.htm - Administrator: Mark Hodges
- Chair: Bob Buchanan (Milton-Freewater)
- 2000-01 Budget: $1,480,788.29
- Assessment: $.03/bu.
Highlights:
- The wheat industry created the first of Oregon's commodity commissions as well as the first wheat commission in the U.S., allowing growers to pool their resources through assessments for the purpose of education, promotion, and research. This resulted in opening an export market in Japan for Pacific NW wheat shortly after World War II.
- Commission funded research programs at Oregon State University lead to development of new wheat varieties such as Stephens—the largest variety grown in the Northwest in terms of acreage planted.
- Commission dollars were leveraged through congressional funding to create the Wheat Marketing Center at Albers Mill in Portland, which contains a laboratory that tests and develops wheat products for the Asian market.
- Current Wheat Commission efforts are focused on a regional marketing approach to create a variety/functionality/customer matrix. The resulting information can then be used to ensure customers receive the quality, consistency, and reliability they demand.