Capital Press
EMPOWERING PRODUCERS OF FOOD & FIBER
Friday, April 22, 2022
Volume 95, Number 16
CapitalPress.com
$2.00
ON THE FARM
GOV. KATE BROWN
Occupation: Governor of
Oregon
Age: 61
Born: Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain,
on a U.S. Air Force base where
her father served.
Hometown: Arden Hills, Minn.
Education: Degree in envi-
ronmental conservation and
certio cate in women9s studies,
University of Colorado at Boul-
der; law degree and certio cate
of environmental law, North-
western School of Law at Lewis
& Clark College in Portland.
Public service: Oregon House
of Representatives, 1991-1997;
Oregon Senate 1997-2009;
Oregon Secretary of State
2009-2015. Became Oregon
governor in 2015 and was
elected to a second term that
ends in 2023.
Sierra Dawn McClain/Capital Press
Stephen Hagen, owner of Antiquum Farm, explains to Oregon Gov. Kate Brown how he grazes his sheep in the rows between winegrape
vines. He uses electric wires similar to electric fencing to keep the sheep from damaging the vines.
Family: Husband Dan Little
(married Brown in 1997),
retired in 2015 after a de-
cades-long career in the U.S.
Forest Service. Brown has
two stepchildren (Dan9s adult
children), Dylan and Jessie.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown talks about rural and farming issues
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By SIERRA DAWN McCLAIN
Capital Press
UNCTION CITY, Ore. 4 Oregon Gov. Kate Brown
last week visited Antiquum Farm, a Willamette Val-
ley vineyard and livestock operation owned by Ste-
phen Hagen and his wife, Niki.
The governor was there at Hagen9s invi-
tation to learn more about Antiquum9s ver-
tically integrated business, sustainability goals and
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The farm, nestled in Junction City9s rolling hills
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per sheep, Kunekune pigs, poultry and waterfowl
among rows of Pinot noir and Pinot gris grapes to control
weeds and boost soil health.
Sierra Dawn McClain/Capital Press
In addition to wine, the Hagens sell pasture-raised meats,
Brown with a livestock guardian dog at eggs and honey, and their latest venture involves expanding
Antiquum Farm in Junction City, Ore.
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she asked questions, trekked through pastures and forestland
and petted a menagerie of farm animals.
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governor, Brown9s policies 4 especially relating
to climate change and business regulation 4 have
been controversial, and her approaches have often
generated criticism from many in the state9s farm-
ing and rural communities.
After the tour, Brown sat down with Capital
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sive interview on issues of importance to farmers
and ranchers.
The text of the conversation has been edited for brevity
and clarity.
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&
See Q&A, Page 9
Brown signs farmworker overtime pay bill
By SIERRA DAWN McCLAIN
Capital Press
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Brown has signed into law House
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state9s agricultural overtime pay
exemption.
The new law establishes over-
time pay requirements for agricul-
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hours per week, with the require-
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<I view this bill as an import-
ant step in the right direction, to
correct a historic wrong,= Brown
wrote in a letter Friday to legis-
lative leaders. <This policy will
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steep increase in labor expenses.
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the Oregon Association of Nurser-
ies, said he expects the biggest los-
ers will be small farms, dairy farms
and highly seasonal operations 4
including nurseries and orchards
4 where workers put in long days
Sierra Dawn McClain/Capital Press File during peak season.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has signed a bill that will phase out the
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overtime exemption for farmworkers.
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gon Farm Bureau, said she believes
the lives of farmworkers and their
Advocates welcomed the gover- farm employees will also lose out
families.=
nor9s signature, saying it enhances ZKHQ HPSOR\HUV FDQ¶W D൵RUG WR
Under the law, farmwork- farmworkers9 basic rights.
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ers will be owed time-and-a-half
Critics, however, said they are workers fewer hours.
ZDJHV DIWHU ZHHNO\ KRXUV RI <deeply disappointed= in the deci-
<We think this legislation will
ZRUN QH[W \HDU DIWHU KRXUV RI sion, which they predict will hurt have devastating consequences for
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cantly reduced farm employment
in Oregon and is really going to
change the landscape of Oregon
agriculture,= said Cooper.
In contrast, Pineros y Camp-
esinos Unidos del Noroeste, or
PCUN, a Latino union, welcomed
the governor9s signature and is
gearing up for implementation.
<PCUN will be working on
educating farm laborers about the
phased implementation and about
how their employers can access the
fully refundable tax credit,= said
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of PCUN.
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to is included in the new law.
See Overtime, Page 9
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dean for College of Agricultural Sciences
departments and branch experiment
stations across the state.
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CORVALLIS, Ore. 4 Staci when she was promoted to dean,
Simonich began her career at Ore- making history a second time as the
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assistant professor in the College of top job. She replaced Alan Sams,
Agricultural Sciences, and has never ZKROHIW268WRUHMRLQ7H[DV$ 0
looked back.
University.
Over the years, she rose to a full
<It means a great deal,= Simon-
professor in the college9s chemistry ich said of breaking barriers within
and toxicology departments, where the college. <It9s the recognition 4
her lab research focused on human and you see this across our state 4
and environmental exposure to pesti- how women are becoming the busi-
cides and other semi-volatile organic ness owners, the leaders on farms
compounds.
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,Q 6LPRQLFK PDGH KLVWRU\ ent parts of the agricultural commu-
ZKHQVKHEHFDPHWKH¿UVWZRPDQWR nity and commodities.=
serve the college as executive asso-
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ciate dean, overseeing all academic $JULFXOWXUDO 6FLHQFHV KDV
By GEORGE PLAVEN
Capital Press
Karl Maasdam/OSU
Staci Simonich is the o rst
woman to serve as dean of the
College of Agricultural Scienc-
es at Oregon State University.
enrolled students. That includes
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courses.
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the college are women. According to
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ture, the number of female-operated
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tied for the fourth-highest percentage
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ing now in agriculture,= Simonich
said. <Women are starting to be more
evident.=
See Dean, Page 9
