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4 CapitalPress.com February 3, 2017 Legislature shuffles some ag-related committee assignments as session opens Proposed changes to Oregon’s ‘Right to Farm’ law would remove protections for pesticides By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI Capital Press SALEM — Lawmakers with strong track records of supporting pesticide restric- tions are chairing two Senate committees that are posi- tioned to affect Oregon agri- cultural policies in 2017. Senate Bill 499 — a proposal to strip pesticide protections from Oregon’s “Right to Farm” law — was introduced at the behest of the Senate Judiciary Com- mittee, whose chairman is Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene. The “Right to Farm” law prohibits local ordinances re- stricting common farm prac- tices as well as nuisance and trespass lawsuits against such farm and forest management practices. People who lose such law- suits are required to pay the opposing party’s attorney fees, which has discouraged such cases against farm prac- tices from being filed in Or- egon. Under SB 499, however, complaints alleging nuisance or trespass from pesticides are exempted from the “Right to Farm” law. The bill’s introduction at the request of the Senate Judiciary Committee bodes well for its chances for a vote before the full Senate, particularly since Prozanski LEGAL SECRETARY OF STATE NOTICE OF TEMPORARY ADMINISTRATIVE RULE Oregon Department of Agriculture, Market Access & Certification Program, Administrative Rules Chapter #603, Sue Hooch, Rules Coordinator (503) 986-4583. Amend: OAR 603-048-0700. RULE SUMMARY: The industrial hemp program (program) is financially insolvent. Current registration fees to do not generate funds sufficient to cover the cost to pay for administration of the program. The only mechanism available for financing the program under the current statute (ORS 571.300 to 571.315, as modified by Oregon Laws 2016, Chapter 71) is annual registration fees. The proposed fee change increases annual registration fees for industrial hemp as follows: Industrial hemp grower registration increases from $500 to $1300; Industrial hemp handler registration increases from $500 to $1300; Agricultural hemp see producer registration increases from $25 to $120. A delay in adopting these rules to increase fees would cause the program to go further in debt, impair the program’s ability to register and regulate registrants, and ultimately seriously prejudice this new industry. It is therefore necessary to immediately adopt temporary rules. 5-1/#4 EO Media Group Oregon legislators who back more restrictions on pesticide use have taken over as chairmen of key committees that could change the state’s “Right to Farm” law. has supported a harder line against pesticide usage. In 2015, for example, Prozanski sponsored bills that would ban neonicotinoid insecticides and increase no- tification and reporting re- quirements for spraying pes- ticides. All of those bills died in the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, which was then chaired by Sen. Chris Ed- wards, D-Eugene. Edwards left the Legis- lature last year to take a job at the University of Oregon, so Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland, will replace him as chairman. Dembrow was a chief sponsor of legislation in 2015 — Senate Bill 613 — that would have increased notification requirements for aerial pesticide spraying of forestland, which died in committee. The Oregon League of Conservation Voters gives Dembrow a 94 percent “life- time score” based on his sup- port of environmental bills. Scott Dahlman, policy di- rector of the Oregonians for Food and Shelter agribusi- ness group, said his organiza- tion hasn’t always seen “eye to eye” with Dembrow. Even so, Dembrow is known for having an “open door” policy and will hope- fully keep an open mind on issues affecting agriculture, LEGAL PURSUANT TO ORS CHAPTER 87 Notice is hereby given that the following vehicle will be sold, for cash to the highest bidder, on 2/17/2017. The sale will be held at 10:00am by RANDY’S TOWING 925 WILCO RD., STAYTON, OR 2014 MAZDA 6 4DR VIN-JM1GJ1W51E1113459 Amount due on lien $2877.00 Reputed owner(s) PATRICK LUTHER SMITH SANTANDER CONSUMER USA INC. Legal-5-2-1/#4 Dahlman said. Beyond Toxics, an envi- ronmental nonprofit, believes Dembrow is the right choice to chair the Senate Commit- tee on the Environment and Natural Resources, though it’s too early to say how he might influence legislation, said Lisa Arkin, the group’s executive director. Arkin said Oregon’s ap- proach to pesticides in farm- ing and forestry is “outdated and unscientific” and the state’s pesticide laws are overdue for reform. In the House, the elimina- tion of the Committee on Ru- ral Communities, Land Use and Water has created some uncertainty for legislation that affects agriculture, said Dahlman. Bills that would have pre- viously been steered to that committee will now likely wind up before the House Agriculture and Natural Re- sources Committee and the House Energy and Environ- ment Committee, he said. The Agriculture Commit- tee is chaired by Rep. Brian Clem, D-Salem, who is a part-owner of a farm and is familiar with agricultural is- sues, Dahlman said. The Energy panel chair- man, Rep. Ken Helm, D-Bea- verton, isn’t as familiar with natural resource issues but there’s no reason to think he won’t be receptive to indus- try concerns, he said. Don Jenkins/Capital Press Mediator Francine Madden leads a meeting of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Wolf Advisory Group March 14, 2016, in Tumwater. WDFW is looking to fill three vacancies on the panel. State seeks nominations to fill three Wash. wolf advisory panel openings By DON JENKINS Capital Press Washington state’s Wolf Advisory Group, a panel with no legal authority but a high profile, has three vacancies, including two spots once held by representatives of cattle producers. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife will take applications and nominations for the positions until 5 p.m. Feb. 17. WDFW has staked time and money in hopes the 18-member group can soothe tensions and reconcile wolf recovery with livestock pro- duction. After presiding over several years of contentious meetings between ranch- ers and environmentalists, WDFW hired a mediator, Francine Madden, to lead the group’s two-day conferences, awarding her a two-year, $850,010 contract in 2015. The group has found com- mon ground, but has also been criticized by ranchers and environmentalists. Panel members representing conser- vation groups were criticized last summer for agreeing to a policy that led WDFW to shoot seven wolves to stop at- tacks on cattle in the Colville National Forest. Outgoing Washington Cat- tlemen’s Association Execu- tive Vice President Jack Field recently resigned, creating a third vacancy. Previously, Stevens County sheep ranch- er Dave Dashiell of the Cattle Producers of Washington and Colville teacher Janey Howe, a part-time range rider, left the group. The Cattle Producers pulled out in 2015, saying it was a cover for WDFW pol- icies that allowed depreda- tions to escalate into heavy losses for ranchers. The Cattle Producers’ president, Scott Nielsen, said Monday that he still would like to see the advisory group dissolved. But he didn’t rule out entirely having a repre- sentative on the panel. “I don’t want to say ‘ab- solutely not,’” Nielsen said. “Someone has to convince us it’s productive. It’s really difficult for me to say I want to join something if it isn’t going to help us fix our prob- lems.” Field has represented the Cattlemen’s Association since the advisory group’s in- ception. He said Monday that he resigned because he will soon become director of the Washington Cattle Feeders Association. He said he expects several cattle producers to be interest- ed in filling his position. “I believe in the process,” he said. “I honestly don’t see any alternative to being there and battling our way through this.” WDFW says it will accept applications and nominations from Washington residents and organizations. Submissions can be sent by email or mail to WDFW wolf policy leader Don- ny Martorello at Donny. martorello@dfw.wa.gov or Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 600 Cap- itol Way N., Olympia, WA 98501-1091. Submissions must include the candidate’s name, address, telephone number, email, rele- vant experience, organization affiliations and reasons for wanting to be on the advisory group. Candidates also should describe their familiarity with the state’s wolf recovery plan and experience collaborating with people who have differ- ent views. The group has at least four, two-day meetings each year around the state. The depart- ment’s policy is that meetings are open to the public. Mem- bers are reimbursed for travel expenses. Senate, House resolutions would overturn BLM Planning 2.0 By CAROL RYAN DUMAS Capital Press Concurrent resolutions in the U.S. Senate and House were introduced on Monday to disapprove of sweeping chang- es in how BLM develops re- source management plans that opponents say shift planning away from states and other stakeholders to bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. The resolutions, introduced by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., ad- dress BLM’s Planning 2.0 rule, which was finalized in Decem- ber. Western governors, local governments and numerous agricultural groups oppose the rule, including the Public Lands Council and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association — which contend the rule rep- resents a wholesale shift from BLM’s mandate to manage for multiple use and eliminates stakeholder and local input. BLM’s stated purpose in the proposed rule, published in February 2016, was to stream- line the planning process, allow more public input and better respond to social and environ- mental change. But PLC Executive Director Ethan Lane said the propos- al failed on public comment, reducing it to as little as 30 days and not even mentioning stakeholders — including the 22,000 ranchers who hold graz- ing permits on federal lands. As for managing for social and en- vironmental change, “that’s not their mandate. Their mandate is to manage for multiple use and sustained yield,” he said. State and local governments also raised strong concerns the rule diminishes their roles and the input of BLM state direc- tors and field office managers and eliminated requirements for economic analysis. Lane said the rule was in- credibly problematic, received a lot of backlash and was the target of congressional hear- ings. Nonetheless, a final rule was rolled out quickly with several other “midnight regu- lations” under a directive from the outgoing administration, Lane said. The final rule illustrates that BLM “heard our input and ig- nored it,” he said. While the final rule does at least mention stakeholders, it still fails to recognize the role of permittees — people who have contractual agreements with federal agencies and are directly impacted by land-man- agement decisions, he said. WE SPECIALIZE IN BULK BAGS! 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