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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (April 26, 2019)
T he C olumbia P ress 2 April 26, 2019 Clatsop County lost 8 percent of its agricultural land The Columbia Press & news sources Oregon has lost 10 percent of its farmland in the past five years. New Oregon data from the U.S. Department of Agricul- ture show that 340,000 acres fell out of agricultural produc- tion from 2012 to 2017, more than three times the number of acres lost from 2007-2012. Clatsop County farmers re- ported losing 1,312 acres, or 8 percent of all agricultural land in the county. Meanwhile, the average market value of farmland and buildings increased by 57.5 percent, from $5,548 per acre to $7,153 per acre. It’s worse in neighboring Columbia County, where farmers reported the second highest percentage loss of farmland of any Oregon coun- ty – 13,289 acres or nearly a quarter of all agricultural land. “If we continue to lose Columbia Coun- ty farmland at this rate, it won’t be long before we lose the entire industry,” said Courtesy Rick McEwan Randy Bergman, vice The Oregon Agricultural Heritage Program chair of the Columbia is designed to support farmers and ranch- Soil & Water Conser- ers like Woody Wolfe, a sixth-generation vation District. Wallowa County farmer who’s taking steps Hoping to reverse to conserve his family’s ranch.. or slow the trend, a coalition of agricultural and tire and there’s no succession conservation groups is pro- plan in place. Agricultural moting House Bill 2729 to land makes up 25 percent, or provide $10 million for the 16.3 million acres, of Oregon’s Oregon Agricultural Heritage land. Yet two-thirds of Ore- Program (OAHP). The pro- gon’s agricultural lands will gram was signed into law in change hands in the next 20 years, according to research 2017. “Oregon’s land-use program from Oregon State University. As each large farm is par- has slowed the loss of farm- land, but it is not enough,” said celed out, the next generation Chad Allen, one of 11 OAHP has fewer viable acres upon commissioners and owner/ which to make enough money operator of Victor Dairy in to live as a farmer. Unfortu- Tillamook. “We need the leg- nately, when land sells, it of- islature to invest in efforts to ten garners more from devel- stem the tide before we lose opers than other farmers. Funding OAHP allows Ore- even more land to nonagricul- gon to access federal matching tural uses.” Farms in Oregon and the na- dollars for projects that pre- tion are being lost to a range serve farmland and support of development, often when Oregon farmers and ranchers. one generation is ready to re- If funding passes in the cur- rent legislative session, farm- ers and ranchers can apply for The week ahead state-level grants to protect working lands, enhance natu- Groups & Events ral resource values, and assist t uesDay with succession planning. • Astoria-Warrenton Area “There is a well-funded fed- Chamber of Commerce net- eral program offered by the working breakfast, 7:45 a.m., Natural Resources Conserva- Astoria Brewing Company, 144 tion Service that gives match- 11th St., Astoria. ing grants that help farmers w eDnesDay preserve their land,” said Sar- • Children’s Storytime, “Di- ah Beaubien, a director at the nosaurs,” 10:30 a.m., Warren- Tillamook County Creamery ton Community Library, 160 S. Association. “But Oregon has Main Ave. left millions of federal dollars s aturDay on the table. ... If the state leg- • Children’s Storytime, “Di- islature wants to back up their nosaurs,” 10:30 a.m., Warren- commitment to Oregon farm- ton Community Library, 160 S. ers, it needs to fully fund this Main Ave. program.”
