The Oregon Wheat Growers League, since its inception in 1926, has been led by and empowered by the growers in our state. The story of how the League was formed, as the first association of its kind, is detailed in “How They Broke The Trail”. An excerpt from that book states:

Goals of the new organization are to:

(1) Promote the interests of wheat growers
(2) Provide a means for unified action
(3) Deal with emergencies from time to time
(4) Work with OAC (now OSU) and county Extension Agents on various issues

Eighty six years later, these goals have not changed. The Oregon Wheat Growers League has since formed the Oregon Wheat Commission, and was instrumental in forming the National Association of Wheat Growers.

To read more about How they Broke the Trail click here

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2012 Committee Priorities of the Oregon Wheat Growers League

Environment and Regulations Committee

Committee Chair – Tanner Hawkins

1.   Pesticide Legislation & Regulatory Enforcement

2.   Pesticide & Water Quality Management –

• Proactive Grower Education Campaign
• Begin to develop a database of standard agricultural practices related to air/water quality
• Develop Watershed Monitoring System
• Cultivate a relationship with DEQ – Core group of producers

3.   Clean Air Act – Air Emission Standards (Dust, Particulate Matter)

4.   Clean Water Act – Navigability

5.   Invasive species –  equal enforcement

 Research & Technology Committee

Committee Chair – Suzi Frederickson

 1.   Develop clear and measurable 2, 5, and 10 year research and Extension Structure Vision

2.    Structure of Wheat Breeding Programs

• Research Priorities and Appropriate Funding – Public Awareness Campaigns
• Education, Research and Extension Funding – OSU Structural Changes
• Carbon Footprint and Climate Change Research Priorities
• Bio-products research – Bio Fuels Introduction; Gluten Project Proposal

 Farm Policy Committee

Committee Chair – Paul Bracher

Farm Policy

1. 2012 Farm Program Development
2. Crop Insurance  Uninsured Loss (Administrative Rules); Combo Plan Implementation; Support NAWG Effort to identify appropriate quality adjustment protocols.
3. Available Legal Workforce
4. Educate growers, county commissioners, FSA county committees on SURE program and process of county disaster determination.

Marketing

1. Educate Producers on existing Marketing Opportunities utilizing the statewide community college based satellite system
2. Encourage Customer (Domestic/Foreign) Acceptance to introduction of Bio-Tech Wheat
3. The OWGL supports the agreement between the US, Australia and Canada for the simultaneous release of Biotech wheat into the commercial marketplace.

Transportation

1. Transportation Issues Specific to Movement of Wheat/Barley by Growers
2. Jetty Repair – Federal Funding Request
3. Dam Breaching – Educate Policymakers & Public about benefits of Navigable Waterways

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OSU 2011 Statewide Variety Trials:

http://cropandsoil.oregonstate.edu/wheat/state_performance_data.htm