What is mediation?
Mediation is a useful tool to address difficult conflicts:
- Brings all the parties together
- Facilitates the discussions
- Helps meaningful dialogue to occur
- Acts as a neutral third party with no decision making
authority
If the mediation is successful, the parties negotiate a
settlement agreement. Mediation can be a lower-cost and less stressful
alternative to the court system.
Mediation can be a good fit for many types of disputes
involving farms:
- 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
ODA Farm Mediation Program
This program provides professional mediation for agricultural and rural disputes. This is a fee-for-service program, however mediation for labor disputes maybe available at no cost.
To participate in the program, download the application form and email it to the program coordinator, or call the program coordinator for assistance. Once ODA receives completed applications from all parties, the case will be assigned a professional mediator.
Oregon's USDA Certified Agricultural Mediation Program
The USDA Oregon Certified Agricultural Mediation Program (OCAMP) is the official United States Department of Agriculture certified agricultural mediation program for Oregon. OCAMP’s services are free to the agricultural community on many issues ranging from farm debt and credit disputes, grazing permit reductions or suspension, USDA program issues, and more.
To learn more about OCAMP and its services, please contact them directly.
After participating in a program:
- More than 95% of participants said they would recommend
mediation
- More than 85% of participants indicated they were satisfied
with the outcome
Resources