Recruiting for Hemp Commissioner positions through
November 23
The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) is recruiting volunteers for temporary commissioners for the new Oregon Hemp Commissioners.
The deadline for applications is Tuesday, November 23. Fill out the Hemp Commission application and feel free to add more pages to describe your involvement in growing or processing hemp and to talk about your goals for the new commission. The ODA director will also consider letters of recommendation from other commodity commissions, producers, and producer associations in making her selections. Attach any recommendation letters to your application.
The seven temporary Oregon Hemp Commissioners will consist of:
- 5 growers/producers
- 1 processor/first purchaser, and
- 1 public member.
The temporary commissioners, who will be appointed by the ODA director in December, will hold their first meeting after the first of the year. Their decisions will create the framework for the new Hemp Commission. The commissioners will determine the methods for assessing hemp grown and processed in Oregon, and set the assessment rate. The temporary commissioners may make many other decisions related to establishing and administering the commission, including an operating budget and priorities for research, promotion and education.
To qualify to be considered:
- All applicants must be U.S. citizens and Oregon residents;
- Growers must have grown hemp under an ODA license or registration for at least three years preceding appointment (since 2019);
- Processors must have processed hemp under an ODA license or registration for at least three years preceding appointment;
- Public member cannot be associated with growing or processing hemp.
Deadline for partial-term commissioner positions
Apply to be considered for a partial term appointment on a commission. Applications received by November 14 will be considered first. For partial term positions with terms ending in 2023 and 2024, applications received by December 10 will be considered first. Applications for the Wheat Commission will be considered after January 7, 2022. Applications for any remaining 2023 or 2024 partial term positions will be accepted until January 7, 2022.
If you’re interested in shaping the research, education, and marketing programs for a commodity commission, the Oregon Department of Agriculture is recruiting for several commissioner positions.
The commissions and open positions are:
- Albacore, Handler 1, through June 30, 2024
- Alfalfa Seed, Producer 2 and Producer 5, through June 30, 2022
- Blueberry, Producer 7, through June 30, 2023
- Hop, Producer 3, through June 30, 2024
- Processed Vegetable, Producer 6, through June 30, 2024
- Salmon, Producer 4, through June 30, 2022
- Sweet Cherry, Handler 1, through June 30, 2022
- Wheat, Public Member, through June 30, 2024
- Blueberry, Handler 1, through June 30, 2022
Qualifications
- Oregon resident
- U.S. citizen
- Paid the commodity assessment for at least the three preceding years
- Have an active interest in the positive development and economic growth of the commodity industry in Oregon
Interested in applying to serve as a commissioner?
- Use the General Commodity Commission Application form.
- Producer and handler applicants need to list a position number on your application and mark the appropriate button for producer or handler.
- Fill out the form using a computer.
- Print, sign, and date the form before submitting it.
- Scan your completed form and email the completed form to commissions@oda.oregon.gov
- If unable to email your form, you may mail it to:
1207 NW Naito Parkway, Suite 204
Portland, OR 97209-2832
We cannot accept previous year's forms, applications that are not readable, that do not have a producer or handler position number, or that do not have a signature. Please do not send photos of an application.
Attach any letters of recommendation to your application.
Appointment process
The director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture appoints commodity commissioners. The director’s decision to appoint is based on a number of factors including:
- Applicant experience
- Commitment to service
- Industry counsel
Those appointed will receive an Oath of Office that they must have a Notary Public witness. ODA must receive your Oath of Office before commissioners can take any official action.
About Oregon's commodity commissions
Oregon has 22 commodity commissions that operate with oversight from the Oregon Department of Agriculture. Hemp will become Oregon’s 23rd commodity commission beginning January 1, 2022.
Commodity commissions are public bodies funded through assessments paid primarily by the growers and harvesters of that commodity. As public bodies, the commissions follow Oregon laws including, but not limited to ethics, public meetings, and public records.
Oregon commodity commissioners are public officials who volunteer their time for the economic betterment of the commodity. Commissioners represent producers (farmers, ranchers, commercial fish harvesters), handlers (the first to purchase the commodity), and the public. Commissioners have a fiduciary responsibility to make decisions that are in the best interests of the commodity as a whole.
Commodity commissioners carry out important decision-making for their specific commodity. Each year, commissioners develop and approve a budget using their commodity’s assessments for non-branded promotion, research, and education programs. Commissioners determine the projects and programs to fund with assessments that growers and harvesters pay.
In addition to appointing commissioners, the Oregon Department of Agriculture oversees commission budgets, contracts, and messaging to ensure it is truthful and within the commissions’ statutory authority as set forth in ORS 576, ORS 577, ORS 578, and HB 2284 (2021) and related administrative rules.
Looking for more information? Contact any one of the commissions using the commodity commission contact list.
Resources
Oregon Commodity Commissioner brochure (2021)
Love Oregon’s farms, ranches and commercial fishing? Support their success and apply to serve as a commodity commissioner. Commodity Commissioner brochure