Mediation is a useful tool to address difficult situations that may otherwise lead to legal action. A professional mediator brings all the parties together, facilitates the discussions, and helps meaningful dialogue to occur. If the mediation is successful, the parties negotiate a settlement agreement. The mediator can assist in drafting the document that represents the concepts agreed to by the parties. The mediator acts as a neutral third party with no decisionmaking authority.

Mediation can be a lower-cost and less stressful alternative to the court system. In court, one party wins, the other loses, and the judge or jury decide. In mediation, the mediator works with the parties to develop an agreement that each can live with. It means the parties are generally more satisfied with the settlement and more inclined to make it work.

Mediation can be a good fit for many types of disputes involving farms. The following are just a few examples of issues that could be resolved through mediation.

• Employer-employee conflicts
• Odor/nuisance problems
• Trespass and property boundary issues
  
• Landlord-tenant farmer conflicts
• Farm product sales contracts
• Irrigation water disputes
• Family business and transition concerns
  

The Oregon Farm Mediation Program provides professional mediators for agricultural and rural disputes at $30 per hour per party. At least one party to the dispute must be a farmer. To participate in the program, download the application form and email it to the program coordinator. You may also contact the program coordinator at 503-986-4558 or 1-800-347-7028. Once we receive completed applications from all parties, we will assign the case to a professional mediator.

After participating in the program, over 95% of participants said they would recommend mediation to someone else. More than 85% of participants indicated they were satisfied with the outcome of the mediation.

ODA, along with numerous agencies, local governments, and organizations, created the Central Oregon Water Dispute Program to address emerging conflicts among water users. Irrigation districts in Central Oregon historically delivered water to farmers who irrigated large acreages. Today, many of those farmers are now divided into smaller acreages where irrigation districts deliver to a single head gate. Multiple water users, now on the same ditch, can find working together to be complicated. The Central Oregon Water Dispute Program provides professional mediators at $35 per hour per party.

Download the general application form as a Word document or pdf for all agriculture disputes except labor cases.

Download the labor application form for all labor-related disputes (wage claims, employee housing, etc) as a Word document or pdf.

Email your completed forms to the program coordinator or mail or fax them to the contact information listed on the form.