Posted on 11/18/2002 10:01:05 PM PST by farmfriend
Oregon Ag Director Predicts Bright Future for Agriculture –
National Grange Still to Play Key Role in Solving Rural Issues
Portland, Ore. – In an address at the National Grange’s 136th Annual Convention’s “Salute to Agriculture” breakfast, Oregon Department of Agriculture Director Phillip C. Ward said that “despite a bumpy ride,” the future of agriculture looks bright.
Ward, a former vocational agriculture teacher and director since 1999, outlined a number of challenges facing the agriculture industry over the next few years and told National Grange members they will continue to play a key role agriculture and rural America.
“We can’t control many of the challenges facing agriculture,” Ward said. “But, we can anticipate new markets and changes in consumer preference.”
Ward noted that cost and expense of producing crops are at an all time high and that net farm income is the lowest since 1983. He also warned that increasing environmental requirements and laws could continue to increase cost to farmers and ranchers and that competition for land and water space will escalate in more populated areas.
He urged farmers to be creative, find new ways to use by-products, find special things to produce and let people know how to differentiate their products from other similar products. ”In Oregon we have a special produce screening program called the ‘Oregon Advantage.’”
“We in the United States are tremendous producers, but we are not good marketers,” Ward concluded. “We need to be alert to new markets for our products both in this country and as exports.”
The National Grange is this nation’s oldest general farm and rural public interest organization. Founded in 1867, today the Grange represents nearly 3,000 local, county and state Grange chapters across the country.
An understatement of the first order and a product of federal intrusion into the market.
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