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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. # # # | 
