Ag News Roundup

In today’s Ag News Roundup, worker visa program not fully supported, optimal rainfall mapped, Northwest wheat exports on the rise, agriculture censes mailing soon, and wolves attack a llama in Union County.

H-2C Plan Not Fully Supported

A House bill proposing a new visa guest-worker program isn’t fully supported by agricultural employers who feel the bill unfairly caps the number of foreign workers. Additionally, employers do not like the mandatory electronic verification statute found in the bill.

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OSU Researchers Model Optimal Rainfall

A team with Oregon State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences has determined the optimal rainfall for plants in a productive ecosystem. During the process, the team discovered that wet landscapes are getting progressively wetter while dry areas are getting drier.

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Pacific Northwest Wheat Exports Continue to Grow

Even amid declining U.S. wheat exports overall, producers in the Pacific Northwest, including growers in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Montana, and North Dakota, have seen a steady increase in exports. The U.S. Wheat Association states that the types of wheat grown in those areas have very little international competition.

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2017 Ag Census Arriving Soon

The National Agricultural Statistics Services has begun mailing the 2017 Census of Agriculture. If you’re a farmer or rancher, you should get yours starting late December, states the USDA. The agency is requiring all questionnaires be returned by February 5, 2017. If you do not receive one, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov or call 800-727-9540.

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Wolves Attack Llama in Union County

The Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife says it is very likely that a 250-pound adult llama was killed by wolves. The llama was killed on private forested pasture in Union County 10 miles from where the Meacham pack has been known to hunt.

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