News Roundup for December 18, 2016
In todays Ag News Roundup, web-based vegetable growing advice from OSU, lawsuit against the EPA hopes to change rules, Oregon 4-H adds hall of fame inductees, sage grouse regulations get challenged, and wheat prices drop for Northwest growers.OSU Builds Web-Based Tool for Vegetable Growers
Willamette Valley vegetable farmers now have a new web-based predictive tool available to help schedule planting and harvest times. Croptime, found at smallfarms.oregonstate.edu/croptime, was developed by a team at Oregon State University College of Agricultural Sciences. The program is designed to make vegetable farming more profitable and sustainable.Read More
Lawsuit Alleges EPA Violated Clean Water Act
The group Northwest Environmental Advocates has sued the Environmental Protection Agency, citing the government entity violated the Clean Water Act. A spokesperson for the group stated that they are not hoping to dictate farming practices, but does want to improve water quality in the region.Read More
Oregon 4-H Inducts Honorees
The Oregon State University Extension Office has added five leaders into the 4-H Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame was established in 2004 to recognize those who make important contributions to Oregon 4-H. Those inducted include: Lillian Larwood, Beverly Hobbs, Edythe Necochea, Barbara Griffin-Webb, and Arlene Boileau.Read More
Lawsuit Hopes to Ease Sage Grouse Regulations
A lawsuit filed by Harney Soil and Water Conservation District in Easter Oregon hopes to force the BLM to reconsider rules that ranchers in the area find oppressive. The current plan to protect the grouse could cause issues for grazing allotments and limit access.Read More
Umatilla County Wheat Farmers Anticipating Lower Prices
While Oregon winter wheat yields are up 27 percent over 2015, the crop is selling for much less than anticipated. Umatilla County wheat farmers are hoping to at lease break even as prices continue to drop, driven by a surge in worldwide production and overseas competition, specifically farmers in Australia who are seeing their biggest crop ever.Read More