Senators Secure Funding for Oregon Agriculture

Wyden, Smith fight for funding to support research, conservation, agricultural advances.

Oregon agriculture employee harvesting grapes Photo courtesy: Oregon State University

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith today announced that substantial funding for Oregon agricultural projects was included in the U.S. Senate’s agriculture appropriations legislation, which passed the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee late last week.

“Agriculture is vital to our state’s economy, in both rural and urban regions of Oregon,” Wyden said. “This research funding will help Oregon’s agriculture industry remain a leading producer of high-quality crops.”

“Agriculture is a cornerstone of Oregon’s history and economy,” said Smith. “These projects will improve the industry’s ability to grow and innovate, all the while benefiting the entire state.”

The committee allocated funding for the following projects:

The Northwest Center for Small Fruit Research would receive $300,000 for basic research. Berry and grape production make up a large component of Pacific Northwest agricultural product sales and demand for fresh and processed berries and grapes (including wine) in both domestic and international markets continues to grow at a rapid rate. The Center is a tri-state project, with Oregon State University (OSU) as the lead partner.

OSU would receive $200,000 for research on organic crops as part of a collaborative effort with Washington State University, farmers, processors, certifiers, and other industry representatives. Organic retail sales grow about 20% per year across the country. In Oregon, 360 certified organic farms generate more than $18.5 million in organic products from 28,000 certified acres.

OSU could share in $6.5 million in continued funding for multi-state wood utilization research. In recent years, Oregon-based research for this project has included improving products and processes to enhance the global competitiveness of Oregon’s wood products industry, enhancing engineering applications for wood and wood-based materials, developing improved harvesting, transportation, and manufacturing of timber, and supporting environmentally-responsible wood procurement.

OSU would share in $750,000 through the Northwest Potato Variety Development Program, which develops new types of potatoes that are more pest and disease resistance and require less water and fertilizer. Two-thirds of all U.S. potatoes are grown in the Pacific Northwest.

Oregon, Idaho and Washington would share $150,000 for research to identify improved grass seed crop management and conservation practices.

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee also endorsed several key rural development projects in Oregon, including a Port of Umatilla biodiesel plant, the Klamath-Siskiyou Education and Research Station at Deer Creek Ranch, the Eastern Oregon Regional University Center in Hermiston, and a wastewater system for the City of Coburg.

The funding bill must now be approved by the full U.S. Senate.