| | Lost Valley Mega-Dairy Update: Contact Governor Kate Brown Since it opened in early 2017, the Lost Valley mega-dairy near Boardman, Oregon has regularly violated its permits and put groundwater at risk. It is time for Governor Brown and her state agencies to take action to shut this facility down. Click here to take action! Background: Within a few months of receiving a confined animal feeding operation (CAFO) permit for up to 30,000 cows from the Oregon Department of Agriculture last year, the lagoons at Lost Valley began overflowing with manure and untreated wastewater, threatening to contaminate drinking water supplies for local families. Trailers have overflowed with dead cows, and the facility has exceeded limits for bacteria in its milk at least 60 times. The facility also used an antiquated loophole to tap into restricted groundwater reserves, putting senior water uses and groundwater supplies at risk. Friends of Family Farmers, along with thousands of Oregonians, opposed the controversial Lost Valley operation from the start. A mega-dairy of this scale never should have been allowed in our state. Lost Valley is just one of a growing number of Oregon mega-dairies that not only pollute our air and water, but make it much harder for smaller family-owned dairy farms to stay in business. Now, Lost Valley's out-of-state owner has declared bankruptcy in order to keep the operation open longer and sell the facility to someone else. Send a message to Governor Brown and the Oregon Department of Agriculture TODAY to revoke Lost Valley's CAFO permit and to prevent this poorly planned factory farm from simply being transferred to another owner. | |  | Oregon Farm Link - Land Access for the Next Generation The majority of current farmers are nearing retirement and it is estimated that more than two-thirds of Oregon's farmland could change hands within in the next 10-20 years. Beginning farmers are eager to take up the reigns, but often lack access to farming’s most precious resources: land and water. As a farmer advocacy organization, Friends of Family Farmers has traveled the state hearing from hundreds of farmers and ranchers over the past decade and the issue of access to land rises to the top time and time again. Those with land struggle to find suitable successors while beginning farmers, many of whom are not inheriting land, are in need of land to farm. Oregon Farm Link was created to help connect beginning farmers and ranchers with landholders to help grow the next generation of family farmers in Oregon. In addition to connecting landowners with landseekers, Oregon Farm Link features a farm jobs page, and a wide range of resources for starting a farm. To learn more about Oregon Farm Link and how it can help you, check out our recent blog post. | |  | InFARMation Returns to Portland! Friends of Family Farmers is excited to announce the return of InFARMation events in the Portland area this year, all celebrating pasture raised meat and dairy. Do you ever find yourself confused about the definitions and distinctions between pasture raised, free range, organic, grass fed, etc? Come hear directly from farmers and ranchers from the Oregon Pasture Network as they tell their farm stories and give you all the information you'll need to be a more educated consumer of pastured meat and dairy products. Other panelists include chefs, processors, butchers, doctors, and policymakers. Our kickoff location this year will focus on pastured beef at Our Table Farm in Sherwood on August 11th, including a farm tour, wood fired pizzas and beer for sale. The next three InFARMations will be hosted at Lagunitas Community Room in Portland: September 25th on Poultry, October 9th on Pork, and November 13th on Dairy. More information about panelists and events to come - stay tuned! If you can volunteer to help the events run smoothly and/or get the word out to folks about InFARMation, please email Michele@friendsoffamilyfarmers.org. | | Business Spotlight: Energy Solutions Since 2016, Energy Solutions has supported FoFF through a solar energy partnership that offers our members and supporters free solar evaluations and financial analyses for their homes and farms. Energy Solutions makes a donation for every project that is ultimately installed. On-farm or home-scale solar is a great way to save money on your electric bills and a variety of incentives exist that help bring the costs down. To learn more about how you can 'Go Solar with Friends of Family Farmers' with the help of Energy Solutions, read more here or sign up now for your free solar evaluation. Our Business Circle is made up of companies that actively support socially and environmentally responsible family farms and ranches in Oregon. They are committed to letting their customers, the public, and decision makers know that supporting family-scale agriculture is good for our communities. Show that your business is committed to promoting and protecting sustainable and socially responsible agriculture in Oregon by becoming a member of our Business Circle. Contact Shari today! | | | | | | | | | | | Dine Out for FoFF at Farm Spirit on July 21 Mark your calendars and make your reservations - on Saturday, July 21 Farm Spirit restaurant in Portland will be donating 20% the day's sales to Friends of Family Farmers! Farm Spirit is a truly farm-to-table restaurant that "celebrates the intersection of craft: foragers, farmers, cooks, potters, winemakers, and brewers with our guests at the fourteen seat Chef’s Counter in our kitchen...Guests are able to witness the creation of each dish and learn the inspiration behind each plate, as each course is prepared right before the diner at our Chef’s counter. With each plate there is a story. We’ve developed strong relationships with our farmers and forager friends. The soil, climate, and location of each individual farm or forest deliver a surprising amount of diversity. We celebrate Cascadia by carefully sourcing all produce – including nuts, grains, and oils – from less than 105 miles away of Farm Spirit." Space is limited so make your reservation today! | |  | | | | | Contact Us Friends of Family Farmers
249 Liberty St NE, Suite 212
Salem, 97301
503-581-7124
info@friendsoffamilyfarmers.org
www.friendsoffamilyfarmers.org | | | | We bring together farmers and citizens to shape and support socially and environmentally responsible family-scale agriculture in Oregon. | | | | | | | |
