|
News
|
|
|
|
Agriculture at the county level rebounds a bit in Oregon
|
|
|
2/9/2011
|
|
Article Content A majority of counties show an increase in ag sales for 2010
Oregon farmers, ranchers, and fishers are showing signs of an economic rebound based on newly released statistics that show 23 of the state's 36 counties increasing agricultural sales in 2010. The economic downturn that swept across Oregon in a big way in 2009 is still holding back some sectors from recovery, but the state's total agricultural sales modestly increased last year.
"It appears Oregon agriculture hit the bottom and is on its way back up," says Oregon Department of Agriculture Director Katy Coba. "Obviously, there are many sectors still having problems turning things around, but overall, I'm happy to see a majority of our counties recording increases in ag sales."
According to statistics released last week by Oregon State University, the state's total agricultural sales for 2010 increased 3.8 percent to about $4.3 billion following 2009's disastrous 14.8 percent decrease. As agriculture improves, so do most county economies, reflecting the importance of farming, ranching, and fishing at the local level.
The top ten list contains the same names as before, but there have been some changes in the rank order of counties when it comes to 2010 gross farm and ranch sales:
| 1. | Marion County
| $511 million
|
2.
| Umatilla County
| $396 million
|
3.
| Morrow County
| $395 million
|
4.
| Clackamas County
| $294 million
|
5.
| Malheur County
| $273 million
|
6.
| Linn County
| $240 million
|
7.
| Klamath County
| $227 million
|
8.
| Washington County
| $227 million
|
9.
| Yamhill County
| $216 million
|
10.
| Polk County
| $140 million
|
Four of the top seven counties are east of the Cascades. Compared to the rest of the state, Umatilla and Morrow counties solidified their hold on second and third place respectively. Umatilla saw an increase in agricultural sales of 7 percent while Morrow jumped 14 percent. Improved wheat prices helped both counties in 2010. Better dairy prices boosted Morrow, which gained $50 million in sales last year- the biggest increase dollar-wise of all Oregon counties. Malheur County jumped from #8 in the rankings to #5 with a 19 percent improvement in sales. Malheur- with onions, row crops, and specialty seed crops in addition to wheat and cattle- is perhaps Eastern Oregon's most diverse agricultural county.
The top four agricultural counties in Oregon remain the same, with Marion County still way above the rest. Marion increased 3 percent in sales to $511 million. Clackamas County, which again ranks #4 behind Marion, Umatilla, and Morrow, saw a decrease of 2 percent in 2010. With Malheur moving up to #5, Klamath County dropped last year to #7 with a 5 percent decrease in sales. Linn County moved up to #6 with a small 1 percent increase while Washington County slipped to # 8, its lowest rank in many years. Washington's 4 percent ag sales decrease- combined with Clackamas County's drop and Multnomah County's 9 percent decrease- indicate agriculture is slow to turn around in the Portland metro area. With the nursery industry still struggling because of the slump in housing and construction, it continues to pull down overall ag sales numbers in the northern Willamette Valley, still a hub of nursery activity. Rounding out the top ten are Yamhill and Polk counties, which remain ninth and tenth respectively despite both dropping once again in ag sales.
After the top ten, the news is a mixed bag for all other counties. Tillamook County, with its many dairy operations, climbed to #11 with a large increase in sales last year of nearly 32 percent as milk prices improved. Wasco County had the biggest jump in county rankings, going from #18 to #13 on the strength of sweet cherry sales, wheat, and cattle. At about $90 million, Wasco increased sales nearly 36 percent. Among the smaller counties, Sherman enjoyed a 26 percent increase because of wheat prices and production, Crook jumped 23 percent primarily due to cattle, and Gilliam increased 19 percent- again, thanks to wheat.
Last year, once again, was not kind to Curry County agriculture. The coastal county had its second straight year of depressed cranberry prices, which led to a 25 percent decrease in agricultural sales. Jackson County had the only other double digit percentage decrease at nearly 11 percent. Tree fruit production and prices, specifically pears, declined in 2010.
While prices and yield remain key factors in the annual ag sales report, acres in production sometimes plays a role too, according to ODA land use specialist Jim Johnson.
"Morrow County is growing not only in terms of production yield, but in production acreage," says Johnson. "There is more land in production in Morrow County as economic development efforts have focused on expanding agriculture. On the other end of the spectrum is Washington County, where ag sales have dropped largely because of the loss in value of nursery and grass seed. But a loss in land base has also contributed."
Last year's sales numbers once again underscore the importance of agriculture to all 36 Oregon counties.
"In rural Oregon where there aren't as many competing industries, agriculture is at the heart of long term sustainable economic development," says Johnson. "But even in urban counties, agriculture is still key- especially when you see Marion County producing more than a half billion dollars in agriculture."
OSU database containing county agricultural sales (Select "OAIN Databases")
For more information, contact Bruce Pokarney at (503) 986-4559.
Story of the Week pdf version
http://oregon.gov/ODA/docs/pdf/news/110209county.pdf
Audio Story of the Week
http://oregon.gov/ODA/news/110209county_audio.shtml
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|