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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (March 3, 2022)
Business AgLife B Thursday, March 3, 2022 The Observer & Baker City Herald Alex Wittwer/EO Media Group J.J. Horst, a manager at La Grande Auto Repair, works on a customer’s vehicle at the shop on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. Sierra Dawn McClain/Capital Press, File Grants for improving meat processing facilities in Oregon from the state’s Department of Agriculture aim to jump-start investments in the industry. PILING UP ODA begins taking grant requests Auto repair shops are faced with increased demand, supply chain woes Applications to expand, improve meat processing due March 23 L By GEORGE PLAVEN Capital Press MORE INFORMATION SALEM — The For additional questions or to Oregon Department of receive a paper application, contact ODA Trade Agriculture is accepting Development Manager applications for $2 million Gary Neuschwander at 503- in grants to upgrade and 551-1706 or gary.neu- expand meat processing schwander@oda.oregon.gov. facilities. Funding was provided by the 2021 Legislature to jump-start investments while ODA revives the state’s dormant meat inspection program. The six-week application period opened Feb. 9, and closes March 23. Grants are capped at $500,000, and ODA expects requests will exceed available funds. ODA Director Alexis Taylor said the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for more options in meat processing for livestock raised in Oregon. “These critical resources will expand Oregon’s regional meat processing capacity and strengthen our food supply chain from disruptions we saw early on in the pandemic,” Taylor said. “I am excited to see the proposals we receive which will support our rural economies, open new markets for Oregon products and connect local consumers with local producers.” The Oregon Meat Processing Infrastructure and Capacity Building Grant is open to all Oregon meat processors, including slaughter facilities that fall into one of three categories: • Those planning to expand capacity to include animals raised in Oregon and operate under the State Meat Inspection Program. • Those planning to build new plants and facilities to process animals raised in Oregon and will operate under the State Meat Inspection Program. By ALEX WITTWER EO Media Group A GRANDE — Vehicles are piling up, but not on the freeway. The number of cars and trucks going through auto body and repair shops has been increasing steadily, according to shop owners. They’ve reported waiting lists of several months and significant delays in getting vehicles back on the road. The delay is in part due to supply chain issues, they said, along with more locally based economic problems. See, Repair/Page B6 Alex Wittwer/EO Media Group Mechanic Carl Severtsen works on the next car in line at La Grande Auto Repair on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. Alex Wittwer/EO Media Group Cars sit in the lot behind La Grande Auto Repair on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. Owner Joe Horst says that many of the dozen or so cars are waiting for parts, some of which are increasingly difficult to procure. See, Meat/Page B6 Oregon exports to Ukraine – but not very much, state says By LES ZAITZ Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Oregon’s main export to Ukraine is fish but the country rep- resents a small share of foreign trade for the state, according to Business Oregon, the state’s eco- nomic development agency. Total exports to Ukraine in 2021 were $7,332,225, a fraction of Oregon’s $29.6 billion in total exports. Business Oregon said the state exported $2.5 million worth of fish to Ukraine in 2021, making it the fifth largest market for Oregon. The majority was of that was Pacific whiting, also known as hake. Total fish exports were $54.4 million and the top markets for Oregon were Canada, Japan, Nigeria and China. By the numbers, here are the top 10 exports to Ukraine from Oregon last year, as reported by Busi- ness Oregon: • Fish – $2,501,650 • Machinery, except electrical – $1,548,849 • Items donated for relief – $1,278,750 • Fabricated metal products – $684,191 • Computer and elec- tronic products – $315,948 • Agricultural products – $243,150 • Used or secondhand merchandise – $150,923 • Food and kindred products – $149,886 • Chemicals – $124,262 • Electrical equipment, appliances – $112,220 “Machinery appears to be a mix of things in terms of exports to Ukraine: machinery for screening minerals, tele- scopic sights and peri- scopes, sorting and scan- ning equipment,” said Nathan Buehler, of Busi- ness Oregon. He said the agency’s work on helping Oregon companies develop export markets is focused on Japan, Europe, Canada and Southeast Asia. “We aren’t focused on growth in Ukraine,” Buehler said. Oregon Trawl Commission/Contributed Photo Pacific whiting is the main export to Ukraine from Oregon, but it is a small portion of the state’s total export trade.