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Oregon
Land Use Update
April 11, 2006
In
this issue:
1000
FRIENDS OF OREGON
OREGON
NEWS
- Oregon
agriculture breaks record: over $4 billion in sales in 2005
- HOPES
Eco-Design Conference at University of Oregon April 12-16
- Statewide
Land Use Task Force Meeting April 18
- Sustaining
Change on the American Farm: an Artist-Farmer Exchange through July
30
NATIONAL
NEWS
- USDA Announces
$70 million available to protect farm and ranch lands
- New American
Farmland Trust Study: The Future is Now: Central Valley Farmland at
the Tipping Point?
- San Joaquin
Valley Agency Links Smog and Development Patterns
- Plum Creek
Development Proposal and Conservation Easement in Maine
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1000
FRIENDS OF OREGON
Share Your
Vision for Oregon’s Future!
Join other
Oregonians in Corvallis on Saturday, April 29 in a town hall discussion
of values and visions for Oregon, and how to plug in to make it happen.
Featuring presentations by Jack McGowan, Jefferson Smith, and Bob Stacey,
the forum is co-sponsored by 1000 Friends of Oregon, SOLV, Bus Project,
Oregon Business Association, League of Women Voters of Oregon, and Coalition
for a Livable Future. The event is free, but space is limited, so sign
up online soon.
If you can’t make it to Corvallis, visit the new Envision
Oregon website at www.EnvisionOregon.org!
There you can share your Oregon Story, read guest columns about ideas
to make Oregon a better place, or contact the state’s “Big
Look” task force.
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OREGON
NEWS
Oregon agriculture
breaks record: over $4 billion in sales in 2005
It's the
highest annual agricultural sales in Oregon's history. Oregon farmers
and ranchers broke the record last year by generating more than $4 billion
in sales, a 5% increase over 2004 levels. For the second year, cattle
and calves were the top commodity in gross sales ($619 million), with
nursery crops second ($618 million). Learn
more.
HOPES Eco-Design Arts Conference at University of Oregon April 13-16
The 2006
HOPES (Holistic Options for Planet Earth Sustainability) Conference
will be held in Eugene from April 13 to 16. The theme this year is permanence/impermanence
and sustainability. Read details.
Statewide Land Use Task Force Meeting April 18
The
statewide "Big Look" task force on land use planning will hold
its third meeting in Salem on April 18 in the Capitol building. The meeting
is open to the public. To learn more about the task force and to download
the agenda once it becomes available, visit Envision
Oregon.
Sustaining Change on the American Farm: an Artist-Farmer Exchange through
July 30
The Maryhill
Museum of Art in Goldendale, Washington has a special exhibition of
works by 12 contemporary Northwest artists looking at agriculture in
modern life. This is a joint venture with the American Farmland Trust.
The exhibition runs through July 30. Read
details.
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NATIONAL
NEWS
USDA Announces
$70 million available to protect farm and ranch lands
Yesterday,
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced availability for more than
$70 million through the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP)
in fiscal year 2006. Under the FRPP allocation, Oregon will receive
$622,813 to purchase agricultural easements on land from willing sellers.
These easements keep the lands in agricultural use. USDA provides up
to 50% of the funding for the easement. Learn
details from the USDA.
New American Farmland Trust Study: The Future is Now: Central Valley Farmland
at the Tipping Point?
The American
Farmland Trust recently completed a study of farmland loss in California's
Central Valley and concluded that almost a million acres of farmland
could be lost in the next generation. Learn
more about trends and impacts. Read a Capital
Press editorial on the study.
San Joaquin Valley Agency Links Smog and Development Patterns
Controlling
emissions from industry still leaves California's Central Valley with
an air pollution problem. Now the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control
District has looked at improving development patterns as a path to healthier
air. The District is using smog fees to encourage development that is
designed with air pollution impacts in mind. Read
more.
Plum Creek Development Proposal and Conservation Easement in Maine
Plum Creek
Timber Company is planning to develop an area around Moosehead Lake
in Maine with 975-lots and two resorts. The company also agreed to conservation
easements on 400,000 acres of forest land last month. Read
the news report.
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Credits/Subscription
Info
If you know
of people who should be on the Land Use Update email list, they
can subscribe at http://www.friends.org/update.
You can unsubscribe at http://www.friends.org/unsubscribe.
Land Use
Update is edited by Kate Kimball and brought to you by 1000 Friends
of Oregon, a statewide organization dedicated to protecting Oregon's quality
of life.
To help support
this work, including the distribution of Land Use Update, please
consider making a tax-deductible donation online at http://www.friends.org/support
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