Since its humble beginnings during the Great Depression, Oregon Farm Bureau has grown into a federation of 31 county Farm Bureaus across the state.

“Being the largest agricultural organization also makes us the most diverse, representing all 200-plus of our commodities across our 6,000 members,” OFB communications director Austin McClister said. “Our work is entirely grassroots, and our ultimate aim is the survival, success and sustainability of farming and ranching in Oregon.”

Oregon Farm Bureau must stay on its toes. Some policymakers are unable to grasp the full impact their well-meaning proposals will have on the ag industry.

“We’ve had significant issues crop up recently across the state in terms of our advocacy efforts,” McClister said. “Ag overtime is continuing to reduce the maximum number of hours worked before farmers must pay overtime.”

Jan. 1 it decreased from 55 to 48 hours, and in 2027 will go down to 40 hours a week.

“This has caused a significant burden on farming and ranching in Oregon, where labor costs are 70% above the national average,” McClister said. “Farmers are price takers, not price makers, so it’s a little different than McDonald’s, where you just raise the price of a Big Mac.

“In our case, the extra cost comes out of our bottom line – much of the time it is impossible to pass it on to the consumer, but who wants that anyway?

“We have instances of some farmers that have let go of up to 30% of their H-2A workforce because they just can’t afford to pay overtime,” McClister said. “Many times, these workers have become like family.”

The implementation of a new Oregon OSHA farmworker housing rule is also on the horizon.

If the rule goes through, “it’s going to cause a labor housing shortage affecting much of the state,” McClister said. “Oregon Farm Bureau is often the front line to stop things like this from happening, and it is a constant onslaught.

“I personally cannot add up the millions of dollars OFB has saved or protected our members from in terms of government overregulation,” he said.

Between new legislative proposals and agency rulemakings, there is always something to defend, and OFB continues to build its strength and influence through thoughtfully designed programming.

Young Farmers & Ranchers, often attended by former FFA members and young farmers, equips members to make an impact by developing the leadership skills that will make them effective advocates for agriculture.

REAL Oregon (Resource Education and Agricultural Leadership) is a comprehensive 4-month leadership program for natural resources professionals. Since its inaugural class in 2017, the program has graduated more than 130 alumni.

“It’s an amazing program where folks in the agricultural community develop their leadership skills, knowledge of the issues facing agriculture, and how to be effective in their advocacy with, for instance, the legislature,” McClister said. “Once you know how to write testimony, you can write it on anything you want, not just farming.”

The Farm Bureau also produces “Oregon Bounty,” a complete guide to the 250-plus farm stands operated by Farm Bureau members, followed by a calendar resulting from a photo contest.