OPINION: Oregon needs a bipartisan federal Farm Bill

A farm bill is not just any piece of legislation. It represents a commitment and a promise to protect the interests of countless farmers, ranchers, and producers of green goods across the United States. From coast to coast, the farm community is the backbone of our nation, fostering resilience and unity. 

That’s why I have been proud to work together with Congresswoman Andrea Salinas as we advocate for a strong, bipartisan Farm Bill that sustains our farming heritage and advances policies and investments that make Oregon — and our country — so exceptional.

Recently, I concluded my tenure as president of the Oregon Association of Nurseries. Oregon’s nursery and greenhouse industry is not only the largest agricultural sector in the state, but Oregon also ranks as the third-largest nursery and greenhouse state in the nation. Approximately 80% of our production is exported beyond state borders, generating $1.2 billion in revenue for the state. We are an “industry without walls” that supports hundreds of jobs across our state, and yet, the nursery and greenhouse industry has historically been left out of the Farm Bill process.

Each time I have lobbied for Oregon’s green industry, I have always returned to Oregon impressed with Congresswoman Salinas and her desire to serve on the House Agriculture Committee and seek bipartisan solutions in the yet-to-be-passed Farm Bill. Our conversations have always been fruitful, and it is clear we both agree that specialty crop growers and other small, family-run operations deserve to have a louder voice in the Farm Bill. 

But in order to accomplish that goal, we must leave partisan politics at the door.

The last Farm Bill was passed in 2018 – nearly seven years ago – and since then, much in agriculture has changed. For example, the cost of inputs today far outmaches agriculture’s ability to compete on a national and international level. Oregon also needs more research funding to tackle water, labor, and environmental challenges that are specific to our state.

Congresswoman Salinas and I agree that a bipartisan Farm Bill must provide a strong roadmap to success for specialty crop production, including funding for university research, which is vital to getting and staying ahead of the game on disease and pest issues. We also need funding to advance research and development on innovative machinery used within our industry. When it comes to carbon sequestration, reducing carbon emissions and advancing sustainable agriculture, other countries have taken the lead, and America must act swiftly to catch up if it aims to be at the forefront of these issues. 

Finally, we need to work together with our state and federal partners to develop an effective crop disaster relief policy. This policy must address the increasing climate-related weather events that impact specialty crop producers year after year.

The Farm Bill represents more than just legislation — it’s a lifeline for the agricultural community and a vision for the future of our food systems and natural resources. By investing in research, innovation, and disaster resilience, we can empower farmers and producers to thrive despite unprecedented challenges.

Oregon’s specialty crops and nursery industry are prime examples of the diversity and strength of American agriculture. Congresswoman Salinas and I agree that with bipartisan collaboration, we can ensure that these industries — and the communities they sustain — will continue to flourish. Together, let’s seize this moment to craft a Farm Bill that builds resilience, fosters innovation, and secures America’s place as a global leader in sustainable agriculture. The stakes are high, but the opportunities are abundant.

This editorial was written by former Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN) President Amanda Staehely, in consultation with Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06), for Pamplin Media Group. It published on Thursday, December 12, 2024.