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Salem, Oregon - Oregon Department of Agriculture director Katy Coba remains optimistic about the industry heading into 2006 after another year of challenges and accomplishments. The following are excerpts from an interview concluding her third year as ODA director.

How Oregon agriculture was characterize for 2005:

It was a bit of a rough year due to mother nature. The strange wet and mild weather caused some challenges for producers, ranging from different crop diseases to molds to rusts to not being able to get pollination. I don't know if we will be setting a new record for farm income in 2005 like we did in 2004. Hopefully, we won't be too far off.

What were some of the accomplishments for 2005:

One positive is the fact that beef prices remained high in the U.S. Earlier in the year, there was a debate about reopening the Canadian border to product coming into the U.S. Many in the industry were concerned about what that would do to beef prices. Well, they've remained strong. The recent reopening of the Japan market to U.S. beef is certainly good for the industry as a whole. Oregon is not one of the top beef producers nationally. However, Japan is Oregon agriculture's number one international customer. We have a very good relationship with Japan and want to maintain that relationship. I was concerned that a continued delay in reopening Japan to U.S. beef might spill over into some of Oregon's other agricultural products.

There have also been some good things happening with renewable energy in Oregon. We are one of the top wind producing states in the U.S. We continue to look for opportunities for our agricultural producers with methane digesters and with the potential for biodiesel production.

Overall, our producers this past year have done a great job in continuing to be creative and innovative in order to compete in a global economy.

Focusing more on marketing, what can be expected in 2006:

Locally, we will continue to work with the Brand Oregon effort to identify opportunities to highlight Oregon products within our own state. We've had some success with the Oregon Bounty Campaign, which expanded in November. More restaurants and retail operations participated this year. Continuing growth in farmers markets is very exciting. The ability for rural and urban Oregon to connect around food is a good thing for agriculture.

The domestic market was another plus in 2005. ODA participated with annual ryegrass folks in leading a trade mission to the Midwest exploring the use of annual ryegrass as a cover crop for corn and soybeans. That looks like it has some great potential and we're seeing increased sales there. I'm really hopeful that can take off and provide a new market for Oregon grass seed growers.

We are very active in the international marketplace and still have a strong presence in Japan, butæwe continue to work in China as well. With the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing approaching and the Chinese focus on beautification, we've taken advantage by supplying Oregon grass seed. Now we're exploring opportunities for nursery products. There is great potential there. We are seeing opportunities in China for Oregon wine and other foods. That market is big and challenging, but I think Oregon will do well there.

2006 Horizon for Oregon agriculture and the natural resource base:

I sum this up into three simple, uncomplicated words: land, water, and air. There are definitely issues in all three categories. Land use- what happens in the aftermath of Measure 37's passage, what happens with the task force that is being assembled to review Oregon's land use system and figure out where it needs to move in the coming years- is going to be very important for our industry. There is no question that those in agriculture have different opinions when it comes to land use. But regardless of individual opinions, we need to be active in that discussion.

ODA is the lead working with the agriculture industry on water quality issues. We've made some great strides in that area. The industry has really stepped up to the plate in its contribution to protecting Oregon's environment with regard to water quality. Whether it's establishing riparian areas along streams or fencing streams to keep animals out to improve water quality, the industry deserves kudos. We're paying a lot of attention now to water quantity issues. There is no doubt that we're going to see more and more pressure in the future on having enough water to meet all Oregonians needs, whether that is for agriculture, other industries, recreation, or municipalities. We've got to be creative in looking at ways to store water that we get in the winter for use in the summer. ODA and the agriculture industry will continue to be involved in that discussion.

Then the latest natural resources front is air quality. There is a lot of focus on some of our larger dairies in the state and their contribution to air quality problems, if any. Frankly, the challenge throughout the United States is that we don't have good data, we don't have good information on the impact that agriculture has on air quality. So ODA will be working with the industry to better understand that and look at creative ways to minimize the impact while continuing to allow Oregon's agriculture industry to operate and be successful.

Hopes for 2006 Oregon agriculture:

I hope for a good weather year- plenty of rain and a strong snowpack, so we are not looking at drought conditions as well as strange weather patterns that challenge our industry. I hope that our markets continue to remain open to us and that we work with the industry to look for new market opportunities. Oregon has such incredible products in terms of diversity and quality. That really is our marketing niche. Overall, I want to see agriculture continue to have a high profile in the state in terms of its importance. I spend a lot of time delivering that message to our urban cousins. It's incumbent on all of the industry to deliver the message that agriculture contributes to Oregon's economy, it contributes to Oregon's environment, and it contributes to Oregonians' ideal about this state and the quality of life that we enjoy. Producers and processors- keep up the good work. Consumers- buy Oregon products.

Source: “Oregon Department Of Agriculture Director Looks Back At 2005 And Ahead To 2006,” Medford News, December 29, 2005