CapitalPress.com
Friday, July 30, 2021
Legislature ends with wins for ag
S E E O F B ’ S F U L L R E V I E W O F T H E 2 0 2 1 O R E G O N L E G I S L AT I V E
S E S S I O N AT O R E G O N F B . O R G / 2 0 2 1 S E S S I O N R E V I E W
T
he 2021 Oregon
Legislative Session
was a session like
no other. With progressive
supermajorities in both
chambers and the Capitol
closed to the public due
to the Governor’s COVID-
19 executive orders, this
session presented unique
challenges for agriculture.
legislators in the building
to share first-hand the
impacts of proposed pol-
icy, OFB would not have
been nearly as success-
ful at stopping bad bills,
securing budget sup-
port, and passing com-
mon-sense legislation.
support and tireless
work to help stop bad
proposals, move forward
good bills, and fight for
farmers and ranchers in
their districts this legisla-
tive session.
We want to thank Rep.
Brian Clem (D-Salem),
As always, longtime OFB Rep. Janeen Sollman
champion Senator Betsy (D-Hillsboro), Rep. Anna
Johnson (D-Scappoose) Williams (D-Hood River),
However, after six months
was a stalwart advocate
and Senator Lee Beyer
of engagement by your
for natural resources,
(D-Springfield) for their
OFB team, Farm Bureau
helping
stop
a
myriad
of
support of the farmers
members, and our part-
bad
natural
resource
bills,
and ranchers in their
OFB was very blessed to have significant support from the state’s
ners, we are proud to
supporting critical natural districts, their work to
report that Oregon farmers farmer legislators, all of whom are also Farm Bureau members.
From
left
are
Rep.
Jami
Cate,
Rep.
Vikki
Breese-Iverson,
Rep.
Mark
resource budget priorities, help address policies that
and ranchers fared well in
Owens, Rep. Bobby Levy, and Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis. Not
and being a strong voice
were concerning to OFB,
the 2021 virtual legis lative shown is Senator Chuck Thomsen.
for
Oregon’s
farmers,
and their advocacy with
session. We secured
ranchers,
foresters,
and
their colleagues.
will be back in Septem-
major legislative victories dozens of bills to lessen
small business owners in Finally, while we did not
or remove impacts to
ber for a special session
and improved funding
all discussions in Salem.
agriculture, including
focused on redistricting,
for critical natural
always agree on policy,
Senator
Johnson
is
a
true
proposals
to
create
new
and we will keep you
resource programs.
we thank Rep. Ken Helm
supporter of our industry, (D-Hillsboro) and Rep.
wildfire-
related
land
use
posted
as
that
process
With the backdrop of the
and we are thankful to
shapes up!
Pam Marsh (D-Ashland)
COVID-19 pandemic, the regulations, expedite the
have
her
in
Salem.
for always taking the time
historic 2020 wildfires, the siting of broadband, and
OFB’s Legislative
make
changes
to
agency
to meet with us, under-
OFB
also
appreciates
February ice storms, the
Champions
authority.
stand our concerns, and
the
strong
leadership
statewide drought, and
work with us on key policy
and support of Senate
With your lobbyists and
Farm Bureau also had
recent heat losses, this
proposals. While we saw
Minority
Leader
Senator
the public shut out of the
last year has been incred- a significant proactive
Fred Girod (R-Stayton), some issues differently,
Capitol, OFB relied on
ibly difficult for Oregon’s
agenda, passing bills to
we appreciate their com-
our legislative champions who always takes the
agricultural community.
allow croplands to join
mitment to listening with
time
to
meet
with
OFB
more than ever. Thank-
These challenges were
rangeland protection
an open mind, running a
fully, we have some great staff, help address our
compounded by the con-
associations, creating
fair process, and consid-
concerns,
promote
our
advocates
for
agriculture
sideration of policies with workable regulations
ering new ideas.
priorities, and use his
in Salem. These individ-
a deep impact on agricul- to allow rebuilding after
strong relationships to
uals worked with their
ture in a session where
We also appreciate our
wildfire loss and allow
champion agriculture.
the public was unable
voting and supporting
farmers to better utilize ag colleagues to help us
negotiate
bills
and
ensure
to engage directly in the
Farm Bureau members
buildings, and improving
Despite being one of the
legislative process, with
for their support and belief
our state’s water data and that agriculture was pro-
busiest legislators in the
tected this session.
farmers and ranchers rel- water planning.
in the value of our organi-
building, House Minority
egated to their computers
zation. This year showed
OFB was very blessed to Leader Rep. Christine
Despite the struggle
and phones.
us more than ever the
Drazan
(R-Canby)
always
have significant support
businesses have faced
fragile nature of our agri-
prioritized OFB’s con-
from the state’s farmer
Despite these difficulties, this year, the legislative
cerns, big and small, and cultural economy. Thank
our members showed up session ended with record legislators, all of whom
you for farming through
managed an incredibly
are also Farm Bureau
virtually, contacted their
state revenues and an
the pandemic, natural
effective strategy that
members. We thank
legislators, and engaged in influx of federal dollars
disasters, and political
helped secure big leg-
Rep. Shelly Boshart
their communities to stop into the state’s coffers.
unrest to ensure that our
islative victories for her
Davis (R-Albany) for
harmful proposals, seek
With this budget growth,
nation has a reliable food,
her leadership on labor,
caucus this session.
critical funding, and advo- OFB secured invest-
foliage, and fiber supply.
transportation,
and
redis-
cate for changes to state
ments in Oregon’s natural
Rep. Susan McLain
tricting issues; Rep. Mark (D-Forest Grove) contin-
policy. We are grateful and resources, increasing
To learn what happened
Owens
(R-Burns)
for
his
proud that our members
in the Capitol with the big
funding for key water
ued her track record of
leadership
on
water
and
participated in the virtual
issues of wildfire, agri-
infrastructure, water
being a strong advocate
fire;
Rep.
Vikki
Breese
session so effectively.
masters, predator control,
on agricultural bills, help- cultural overtime, water,
Iverson
(R-Prineville)
for
wolf compensation, water
ing OFB on critical issues and climate change —
Thanks to member
her
leadership
on
water
and also how specific
quality, funding for OSU
and working with her
engagement, OFB was
and
predator
issues;
ag- related bills fared this
Statewides, and a natural
Democrat colleagues to
able to defeat proposals
Rep.
Jami
Cate
(R-Leb-
session — visit OregonFB.
disaster relief fund.
help ensure agriculture’s
around agricultural over-
anon) for her leadership
org/2021sessionreview.
needs were considered
time, water measurement Finally, the once-a- decade
on agriculture and crop
on key proposals.
and reporting, bans on
redistricting process that
production issues; Rep.
Not a Farm Bureau
predator management
was set to occur this
OFB also thanks Rep.
Bobby Levy (R-Herm-
member? Join today
tools, bans on dairies and session was delayed as
David Brock Smith
iston) for her leadership
and support OFB’s work
mink farms, harmful tax
a result of the U.S. Cen-
on revenue and predator (R-Port Orford), Rep.
proposals, and private
on your behalf in Salem
sus Bureau being unable issues; and Sen. Chuck
Daniel Bonham (R-The
rights of action for enforc- to deliver the necessary
and Washington, D.C.
Thomsen (R-Hood River) Dalles), Senator Bill
ing state law.
Visit OregonFB.org or
data prior to the end of the for his leadership on labor Hansell (R-Athena), and
call 503.399.1701.
Senator
Lynn
Findley
2021
legislative
session.
OFB also negotiated
and business issues.
(R-Ontario) for their strong
The Oregon Legislature
positive changes to
Without these farmer
Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis
Upcoming Events
OFB working for drought relief
Visit OregonFB.org/
events to learn more.
Without a doubt, 2021 will end up being one of the
driest — if not the driest — years in Oregon’s history.
Sept. 15: OFB Trap Shoot
at the Albany Gun Club.
“OFB is working on solutions for our members on both
the federal and state levels,” said OFB VP of Public
Policy Mary Anne Cooper.
Sept. 15: Deadline for
submitting images for
the 2022 Oregon’s
Bounty Calendar Con-
test. Info at OregonFB.
org/calendar.
Sept. 21: Bayer OFB Golf
Tourney at OGA Golf
Club in Woodburn.
Dec. 7: Virtual pesticide
applicator’s training for
four CORE credit hours
provided by the OFB
Health & Safety Com-
mittee and OR-OSHA.
8 a.m. to noon.
Dec. 7-9: OFB Annual
Convention, Eagle Crest
Resort in Redmond.
On the federal side, OFB is gathering stories about
gaps within the existing natural disaster relief pro-
grams and the needs of Oregon farmers and ranchers
on the ground. The goal is to address those service
holes in federal programs that the drought and other
recent natural disasters, like the heat dome, ice
OFB is working on the state and federal levels to get support for
storm, and wildfires, have exposed.
farm and ranch families impacted by the drought and heat.
OFB is working with other Western states and the
To address the needs of farmers and ranchers on
American Farm Bureau to begin to lobby for improve-
a statewide basis, OFB brought together other ag
ments to the federal conservation and assistance
groups to develop a comprehensive natural disaster
programs. Additionally, OFB is scheduling a series of
package, covering drought, heat, smoke, and ice
meetings with Oregon’s Congressional delegation this storm damage statewide and across all commodities.
summer to bring lawmaker and media attention to the
“We are each collecting data and identifying needs
needs of Oregon’s ag community.
within our memberships with the goal of making one
joint agricultural natural disaster ask of the Oregon
“On the state side, the big budget reconciliation bill
State Legislature,” said Cooper.
that passed at the end of the legislative session had
If you have experienced crop loss or damage due
$150 million for natural disaster relief,” said Cooper.
to the drought and/or extreme heat, please docu-
“While a portion of that will likely go to the Klamath
ment it with photos and/or videos. This will help
Basin — and we’ve been helping craft that package — OFB determine what agriculture’s needs are when
we are also advocating for a strong statewide program we ask the state for support. Contact OFB’s Victoria
Flowers at victoria@oregonfb.org and share your story.
to address some of those gaps in federal funding.”
Jason, Victoria Flowers
8
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