Friday, April 22, 2022
CapitalPress.com 9
Q&A: I think farming is truly a labor of love
Q: And what shift
has happened or is
happening in your
mindset?
hours a week. At least this
legislation was a phase-in.
Q: How would you
I think the economic bene-
¿WVDUHZHOOLQWHQGHG,WKLQN
characterize your
relationship with Oregon
I think it9s really important the question is, do they meet
farmers?
to hear other people9s per- the needs of our small family
spectives and be able to lis- farms? And I don9t know the
Well, I see our farmers
and ranchers, what they pro-
ten and look at things from a answer to that. But I think the
duce and create and make,
broader lens. Conversations time is now.
I would encourage folks
as very integrated into Ore-
that I9ve had over the years
gon9s economy. Our agricul-
with Bobby and others pro- to sit down at the table now
tural industry is very much a
YLGHGDGL൵HUHQWOHQVIRUPH and if folks want to talk with
part of who we are. It9s also
I will tell you that my me about it, I9m more than
culturally incredibly import-
votes on cougars in the Leg- happy to have that conver-
ant. This family (she gestured
LVODWXUH DUH GL൵HUHQW WKDQ sation about how we could
to the farmers at Antiquum
probably most of my coun- improve it.
terparts in Portland. When
Farm) is taking farm-to-table
Q: Was there ever
Dan and I started dating,
to the nth degree, right? They
Sierra Dawn McClain/Capital Press he was living in Enterprise,
a point during the
are vertically integrated here
and I think it is happening in Stephen Hagen, owner of Antiquum Farm, tells Oregon Gov. Kate Brown about his Wallowa County. (Dan Little legislative session when
Oregon because of the cre- farm9s targeted grazing operation 4 grazing goats in his forestland to reduce fuels is Brown9s husband.) I had you considered vetoing
ativity and innovation Orego- and ore danger.
the overtime bill?
friends living in Wallowa
nians have. This is so a part of
I try to keep an open
County who were afraid to
who we are.
Dalles), it was clear to me that (2009 to 2015), I had listen- ¿QHVRIWKHODZ,ZRXOGKDYH have their kids walk up Los- mind. I met with the Farm
we needed to rethink how we ing sessions with folks like preferred to do it through the tine Canyon because of cou- Bureau and folks. I talked to
Q: But how would
ZHUH ¿JKWLQJ ¿UHV ZLWK WKH the Iversons (who run Iver- legislative process; there9s no gars. I don9t know that people the people that I know. I9ll
you characterize your
strategies, techniques, equip- son Family Farms and the question about that. That was have changed my mind, but just say that. And my con-
ment and systems. So, we cre- Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm) impossible because people , WKLQN IRONV KDYH GH¿QLWHO\ clusion is this was better
relationship with
than what would have hap-
broadened my perspective.
farmers? For example: DWHG WKH ZLOG¿UH FRXQFLO LQ and others to hear what was left the building.
pened if I had vetoed the bill.
2019.
happening on the ground.
positive?
Ah! Haha. I9m not sure
Q: Farmers have a
Q: In Oregon9s 2022
It9s honestly more challeng-
I would characterize it that
Q: How would you
Q: Some longtime
spectrum of opinions
legislative session, many
ing to do as governor 4 time
way. I think I have a strong
rate the performance
Oregon farmers have
about climate change,
farmers asked you to
constraints, and, you know,
of the Oregon Water
recently moved their
passion and concern for our
veto the farmworker
unfortunately, Oregon9s been but even among farmers
operations to states they
Resources Department in crisis after crisis.
farming and ranching com-
who agree with you
overtime pay rule,
munities. I don9t know; you
view as more <business-
in managing the state9s
I think one of the biggest
that the agricultural
saying it could hurt
friendly,= citing the
would have to ask them how water, especially during DUHDV RI FRQÀLFW IUDQNO\ LV
sector should play a
their businesses. Have
GL൶FXOW\RIUXQQLQJ
they feel about me.
drought? Is there
role in slowing climate
you decided yet if you9ll
around climate change. I think
a farm business here
anything you9d change? that9s where we most strongly
change, many criticize
sign the bill?
Q: Where do you see
I think this is incredibly butted heads.
Yes. This was a really dif-
under increasing
your methods, saying
common ground that
challenging when you don9t
regulations related to
We worked hard after they9d rather see positive ¿FXOWLVVXHEXWZHKDYHWZR
competing values here, right?
you share with the
have enough (water). No RXU ¿UVW YHUVLRQ RI ³FDS DQG
climate, COVID, etc.
incentives for private
We have the value that (peo-
farming community?
decision is going to feel right; invest= to really listen to both
What9s your response
enterprise rather than
One is our work around it9s much like during the pan- rural and agricultural com- more policies that punish SOHZKRZRUNKDUGLQGL൶-
to those farmers who
ZLOG¿UHDQGRXUZRUNWRFUH- demic, right?
munity members, to forestry businesses. Do you favor cult and backbreaking con-
say that your policies
ditions should be paid fairly,
ate healthier primarily forest
I think my goal for the members, to make changes
drove them away?
the <carrot= or <stick=
Well, I think our poli-
right?
landscapes through thinning, department and frankly for to the bill that would more
approach to achieving
And at the same time, cies, our goal of our policies
prescriptive burning and the the entire Western region is, FORVHO\ UHÀHFW WKH QHHG DQG
your climate goals?
I always prefer carrot we want to make sure that is to make sure that we pre-
work we9re doing through the we have to be working more be more responsive. I think
ZLOG¿UHFRXQFLO
collaboratively, more cre- we did that. We obviously ran approaches. And what we Oregon9s family farms and serve the future of Oregon,
I think the second piece atively. We have to be trying into other issues 4 I9ll just liked about our legislation is ranches are able to make that we keep people safe and
I would say is drought. I9ve new techniques. I think we9ve say politics.
that by creating incentives, it ends meet, to be able to put healthy, and I would hope
been really proud of the work got to do better about invest-
would have allowed us to cre- their kids through college that for those folks who feel
my administration has done ing in wetland mitigation. Q: When cap and trade ate dollars to put back into our and to be able to retire.
like we aren9t doing the right
to invest 4 we put together a And we9re going to need help bills on emissions didn9t communities that have been
And so, I made a deci- thing or have gone too far to
sion. I will be signing the bill. stay engaged with rule-mak-
underserved.
pass, why did you
$100 million drought package from our federal partners.
sidestep the Legislature
So, it was obviously a (She signed the bill one day ing processes. That9s really
in December of 2021 4 (and)
regulatory approach, but the after the interview, on Friday, important to have your voice
and direct unelected
the work we are doing now Q: What9s your response
resources would have been April 15.) But I have to say, I be heard.
R൶FLDOVWRFUHDWHWKH
WR ¿JXUH RXW KRZ ZH LQYHVW to farmers who say they
targeted into the communities see this as a start. In my con-
<Climate Protection
in both the natural and built don9t feel heard by you?
Q: Anything else you
How do you perceive
that were on the front lines of versations with folks in the
Program,= similar to
environment to create a 100-
ag sector, I encourage them want farmers to know?
that you9ve listened to
cap and trade, without climate change.
year water plan for Oregon.
My sister (Molly Brown)
to continue these conversa-
that community?
consent from legislators
tions. I do not believe this bill was a cattle rancher for 25
Q: When and why did
I mean, I will just tell you
Q: Can you describe
or the public?
is perfect by any way, shape years. And she is back cat-
Well, I would say conser-
you become a proponent that the criticism I get from
a time when a farmer
or form. But I think you have tle ranching (in Montana).
of prescribed burning? the progressive side is that I vatives sidestepped the leg-
changed your mind?
I have been all along.
Changed my mind 4 two to start somewhere. I think It was through her that I also
spend too much time listening islative process when they
One of my most devastat- to people. So, you obviously walked out. I was very clear people have been instrumen- it9s important that it start JDLQHG D GL൵HUHQW SHUVSHF-
ing experiences (was) in John KDYHWR¿QGDEDODQFH
if there continued to be walk- tal on multiple issues: Rep. through the legislative pro- tive. People ask if my job is
'D\DQGVSHFL¿FDOO\WKH&DQ-
In my role as governor, it9s outs and the Legislature Bobby Levy and her husband, cess because you can make stressful. No question. But
yon Creek Fire (in 2015). We KDUGHU ¿UVWKDQG DQG VR ZH refused to tackle this issue, Bob Levy. (The Levys farm in changes, right? This is a step I at least have control over
lost 50 homes. (I realized) we work through organizations, that I would take executive northeastern Oregon. Bobby forward. Changes will need a lot of things. These folks,
were going to have to mod- right? Through the (Oregon action.
you know, have to hope that
Levy has served as a Repub- to be made.
HUQL]H DQG XSGDWH RXU ¿UH- Association of Nurseries), the
But here9s the second it9s going to rain when we
We9re obviously still in lican in the Oregon House of
¿JKWLQJH൵RUWV
Farm Bureau, (and) I work court battles, but I9m very Representatives since 2021.) piece. The alternatives were need it to rain, and not rain
But, you know, we9ve had with members of the (State FRQ¿GHQW WKDW WKH FRXUWV I9ve worked with Bob on going to (Oregon Bureau of and snow when it shouldn9t.
UHDOO\FKDOOHQJLQJ¿UHVHDVRQV Board of Agriculture).
will support my executive water issues. Bobby has been Labor and Industries) and So, I think (farming) is
917, 918 4 I think we got a
Could I have done more? authority. We are in crisis a source of information for me to the courts. I know from incredibly stressful. I know
bye in 919 4 920, and obvi- Absolutely. There9s no ques- and I have authority over state in terms of wolves, frankly, talking to the labor commis- folks work incredibly hard.
ously, 921. After the Substa- tion about it. When I was agencies, and they are taking and in terms of ag and ranch- sioner that would have been I think it is truly a labor of
overtime immediately for 40 love.
tion Fire (in 2018 near The (Oregon) Secretary of State action well within the con- ing policy.
Continued from Page 1
Overtime:
8There9s no way
to tax credit our
way out of this
situation9
Continued from Page 1
Most farmers will be eligible for one of
three tiers of tax credits, depending on
whether they employ 25 or fewer work-
ers, 25 to 50 workers, or more than 50
workers.
The tax credits will decline between
2023 and 2028. After that, credits will
end or be re-evaluated by lawmak-
ers based on economic studies required
under HB 4002.
In her letter to House and Senate
leaders, Brown acknowledged the new
law <has consequences for employers,=
which is why she said it was crucial to
include tax credits.
But both Cooper, of the Farm Bureau,
and Stone, of the nursery association,
said the tax credits are poorly designed,
GRQ¶W ¿W WKH DJULFXOWXUDO VHFWRU DQG DUH
likely impermanent.
<There9s no way to tax credit our way
out of this situation,= said Cooper.
Brown wrote that the law may need to
be changed and improved over time, so
she said it9s important that the conversa-
tion continue.
<I encourage legislators and stake-
holders to continue their engagement
on these issues, so that necessary and
appropriate adjustments to the law can
be made over time, during future legis-
lative sessions,= said Brown.
Both Stone and Cooper said their
organizations plan to continue the con-
versation and hope future legislators and
the next governor are more sympathetic
to farmers9 needs.
Dean: College of Ag Sciences is second-largest college at OSU
Continued from Page 1
First-generation student
$V D ¿UVWJHQHUDWLRQ FROOHJH
student in her family, Simon-
ich said she initially had no idea
what academia was.
Simonich grew up in Green
Bay, Wis., where her father
worked at a paper mill. Though
she was never raised on a farm,
she remembers fondly digging
in the dirt with her grandfa-
ther, who grew berries, aspara-
gus, potatoes and raised rabbits
for meat. Several family friends
also ran dairies in the area,
where she would occasionally
spend weekends.
<I certainly didn9t grow up on
a farm, but had enough of that
experience to enjoy it and see
the importance of it,= Simon-
ich said.
In high school, Simonich said
she was a good student with an
aptitude for science and math.
Going to college, she said, was
a natural progression and way to
better her life.
Simonich earned her bache-
lor9s degree in chemistry with a
minor in environmental science
from the University of Wiscon-
sin-Green Bay. She got a job
working at the same mill as her
father to pay her way through
undergraduate school.
From
there,
Simonich
received her doctorate in chem-
istry from Indiana University
and went to work as a senior
scientist for Procter & Gamble,
a multinational consumer goods
company that makes everything
from laundry detergent to snack
foods.
<I did everything from ensur-
Karl Maasdam/OSU
Staci Simonich is the orst woman to serve as dean of the Col-
lege of Agricultural Sciences at Oregon State University. She
joined OSU as an assistant professor in 2001.
ing the safety of their products
WR GHYHORSLQJ DQG ¿QGLQJ QHZ
chemistries,= she said. <I found
that fascinating, but I wondered
if there was more.=
Simonich had never consid-
ered becoming a college profes-
sor 4 at the time, there were no
female chemistry professors at
IU, she recalls.
But when she saw an open-
ing for an assistant professor at
OSU, she asked herself, Why
not?
<It was a bit of an adven-
ture,= she said. <I wanted to
ensure I had a long and enjoy-
able career where I could con-
tribute to the next generation.
I thought I could better do that
here.=
Supporting agriculture
Between her time in private
LQGXVWU\ DQG WKH GL൵HUHQW OHDG-
ership positions she has held at
OSU, every step of her career
has prepared her to be dean, she
said.
<I didn9t even know what
a dean was when I started at
UW-Green Bay,= she said. <It
makes sense now.=
The College of Agricultural
Sciences is the second-largest
college at OSU, behind only the
College of Engineering. Simon-
ich is in charge of nearly 800
VWD൵ DQG IDFXOW\ LQ PRUH WKDQ
40 academic programs, and 13
agricultural experiment stations
from the Oregon coast to the
high desert.
Simonich will retain the
duties she held as executive
associate dean, and continues
to meet with industry partners.
After she was named dean, she
spent several days at the Wheat
Marketing Center in Portland,
meeting with Northwest grow-
ers, supply chain managers
and sales representatives.
Simonich said she plans
to spend a lot of time travel-
ing this summer, attending
¿HOG GD\V DW WKH XQLYHUVLW\¶V
research stations and commu-
nity events like the Pendleton
Round-Up.
<I look forward to getting
out,= she said. <Our goal as a
college is to support all of our
stakeholders and address their
needs.=
On campus, Simonich said
she will build on the college9s
strengths, including strong
student enrollment, research
and extension programs.
The college is also ded-
icated to providing equity
and opportunity for everyone
while growing Oregon9s diver-
sity as a state, she added.
<Now more than ever, we
must be out there working col-
laboratively with Oregon9s
densely diverse agricultural and
natural resource industries and
communities to advance scien-
WL¿FGLVFRYHU\FUHDWHHFRQRPLF
opportunity, develop future
leaders and strive each day to
make tomorrow better for all,=
Simonich said.