Oregon Department of Agriculture: Oregon Commodity Commissions

ODA Recruiting for 71 Commodity Commissioners

Apply to serve on an Oregon Commodity Commission  by March 16, 2020

Nearly 200 farmers, ranchers, food processors and packers, commercial fish harvesters, and public members volunteer to serve on Oregon’s commodity commissions. As commissioners, they determine the programs that each commission funds with assessments paid by farmers, ranchers, and fish harvesters.

As public officials, the commissioners may direct funds to non-branded promotion, research, and education projects. State statute makes paying assessments mandatory for growers and harvesters.

How to apply

All 71 openings are listed in the table below by commodity commission.
Applications are due by March 16, 2020.

For producer and handler positions, be sure to list a position number on your application and mark the appropriate button for producer or handler.
New terms begin July 1, 2020. The length of term varies from commission to commission and position to position. Each term is listed next to the position number in the table below.
Complete the form on your computer, then print it out to sign it. You can scan your signed application and email it to commissions@oda.state.or.us or mail it to the address on the form.

Qualifications

Commissioner applicants must meet specific criteria to qualify for consideration. Four general qualifications that apply to most commodity commissions are:

US citizenship,
Oregon residency,
Paid or collected the assessment for the preceding three years, and
Have an active interest in the positive development and economic growth of the commodity industry in Oregon.

Some commissions have additional requirements. For example:

Applicants for Oregon Beef Council positions must have demonstrated their active interest through membership in a producer’s organization or public service.
Wheat Commission producer applicants must have been “actually engaged in growing wheat” in Oregon for a five-year period immediately prior to appointment. Handler member applicants must be an owner or employee of a business that handles or processes Oregon-grown wheat.
Some commissions require applicants from a specific geographic region.

The appointment process

The Oregon Department of Agriculture Director is responsible for appointing commissioners. The director’s decision to appoint is based on a number of factors such as: applicant experience, commitment to service, and industry counsel.

Along with your application, you may submit letters of support from individuals, associations, or others who can attest to your service to the positive development of Oregon agriculture and commercial fisheries.

By mid-to-late May, ODA mails letters to all applicants to inform them of the director’s decision. Those who are appointed also receive an oath of office which must be signed in the presence of a notary before a commissioner can act in their official capacity.

More information

Oregon's 22 grower and harvester-supported commodity commissions provide important links to production agriculture and commercial fisheries, as well as direct access to key Oregon agricultural opinion leaders and decision makers.

Commissioners are voluntary public officials who agree to act within Oregon laws including commodity commission statutes ORS 576, 577, and 578; Oregon Public Records and Opening Meetings, ORS 192; and Government Ethics, ORS 244. Commissioners are required to successfully complete training on some state policies. The training is offered on-line; ODA can provide an alternate method if needed.

For additional information, contact the ODA Commodity Commission Oversight Program office at 503-872-6600. For specific information related to number of commission meetings, meeting locations, or similar questions, contact the commodity commission directly. For contact information, check out the Commodity Commission contact list.

Albacore

Position	Term Begins Term Ends	Additional Qualifications
Handler 2	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large
Producer 4	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large
Producer 5	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large

Alfalfa Seed

Position	Term Begins Term Ends	Additional Qualifications
Producer 3	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large
Producer 2 (partial term)	07/01/2020 06/30/2022	State at Large
Producer 5 (partial term)	07/01/2020 06/30/2022	State at Large

Beef Council

Position	Term Begins Term Ends	Additional Qualifications
Producer 2	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	Dairy Producer
Producer 5	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	Beef Producer

Blueberry

Position	Term Begins Term Ends	Additional Qualifications
Handler 2	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large
Producer 6	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large
Producer 7	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large

Clover Seed

Position	Term Begins Term Ends	Additional Qualifications
Producer 5	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large
Producer 6	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large
Producer 7	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large

Dairy Products

Position	Term Begins Term Ends	Additional Qualifications
Handler 1	07/01/2020 06/30/2024	State at Large
Producer 5	07/01/2020 06/30/2024	Willamette/Southern Oregon (Clackamas, Columbia, Multnomah, Washington, Lane, Linn, Benton, Marion, Polk, Yamhill, Douglas, Josephine, Jackson, Klamath, Coos, and Curry counties)
Producer 6	07/01/2020 06/30/2024	Tillamook/North Coast (Clatsop, Tillamook, and Lincoln counties)

Dungeness Crab

Position	Term Begins Term Ends	Additional Requirements
Producer 4	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	Port of Charleston
Producer 5	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	Port of Newport
Producer 3 (partial term)	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	Port of Astoria

Fine Fescue

Position	Term Begins Term Ends	Additional Requirements
Handler 1	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large
Producer 5	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	Union County
Producer 7	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	Highland Bentgrass seed producer, State at Large
Producer 6	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large

Hazelnut

Position	Term Begins Term Ends	Additional Requirements
Public Member	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large
Producer 5	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large
Producer 6	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large

Hop

Position	Term Begins Term Ends	Additional Requirements
Producer 6	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large
Producer 7	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large
Producer 3 (partial term)	07/01/2020 06/30/2021	State at Large

Mint

Position	Term Begins Term Ends	Additional Requirements
Public Member	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large
Producer 4	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large

Potato

Position	Term Begins Term Ends	Additional Requirements
Handler 1	07/01/2020 06/30/2024	Blue Mountain (Baker, Union, Wallowa, Grant, Morrow, and Umatilla counties)
Producer 1	07/01/2020 06/30/2024	Blue Mountain (Baker, Union, Wallowa, Grant, Morrow, and Umatilla counties)
Producer 5	07/01/2020 06/30/2024	Klamath, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, and Lake counties
Producer 8	07/01/2020 06/30/2024	State at Large

Processed Vegetable

Position	Term Begins Term Ends	Additional Qualifications
Handler 3	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large
Producer 3	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large
Producer 5	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large
Producer 7	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large
Handler 1 (partial term)	07/01/2020 06/30/2021	State at Large

Raspberry Blackberry

Position	Term Begins Term Ends	Additional Qualifications
Producer 6	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large
Producer 7	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large
Handler 1	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large

Ryegrass Growers Seed

Position	Term Begins Term Ends	Additional Qualifications
Producer 3	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large
Producer 5	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	Linn County
Producer 6	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	Marion or Polk counties

Salmon

Position	Term Begins Term Ends	Additional Qualifications
Handler 2	07/01/2020 06/30/2024	State at Large
Public Member	07/01/2020 06/30/2024	State at Large
Producer 1	07/01/2020 06/30/2024	Northern Oregon border to North of Cascade Head
Producer 2	07/01/2020 06/30/2024	Cascade Head to south of Florence
Producer 6	07/01/2020 06/30/2024	State at Large

Sheep

Position	Term Begins Term Ends	Additional Qualifications
Handler 2	07/01/2020 06/30/2024	State at Large
Producer 3	07/01/2020 06/30/2024	State at Large
Producer 4	07/01/2020 06/30/2024	State at Large

Strawberry

Position	Term Begins Term Ends	Additional Qualifications
Handler 1	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large
Producer 5	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large
Producer 2 (partial term)	07/01/2020 06/30/2022	State at Large
Producer 3 (partial term)	07/01/2020 06/30/2022	State at Large

Sweet Cherry

Position	Term Begins Term Ends	Additional Qualifications
Handler 2	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	Brine handler, State at Large
Producer 7	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large
Producer 8	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large

Tall Fescue

Position	Term Begins Term Ends	Additional Qualifications
Handler 1	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large
Producer 6	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	State at Large
Producer 7	07/01/2020 06/30/2023	Orchardgrass seed producer, State at Large

Trawl

Position	Term Begins Term Ends	Additional Qualifications
Public Member	07/01/2020 06/30/2024	State at Large
Producer 4	07/01/2020 06/30/2024	State at Large
Producer 5	07/01/2020 06/30/2024	State at Large

Wheat

Position	Term Begins Term Ends	Additional Qualifications
Handler 1	07/01/2020 06/30/2022	State at Large
Public Member	07/01/2020 06/30/2024	State at Large
Producer 1	07/01/2020 06/30/2024	Umatilla, Morrow, Gilliam, Sherman, Wasco, or Jefferson counties

Commodity Commission Oversight Program Advisory Committee

Term Begins Term Ends	Additional Qualifications
07/01/2020 06/30/2023	Must be a current commodity commissioner, commission administrator, or commission-approved designee

Contact

Kris Anderson

Commodity Commission Oversight Program Manager

Agricultural Development & Marketing

kanderson@oda.state.or.us

1207 NW Naito Pkwy, Suite 104

Portland, OR 97209

Phone: 503-872-6604

Alt Phone: 503-872-6600

Fax: 503-872-6601

Market Access

Oregon Commodity Commissions