ODA Recruiting for Hemp Commissioners
Interested in shaping the future of the Oregon Hemp Commission?
The Oregon Department of Agriculture is recruiting volunteers to apply to serve as the first class of Oregon Hemp Commissioners.
The deadline for applications is Monday, August 22. Attach any letters of support to the PDF of your application.
ODA will appoint nine (9) Oregon Hemp Commissioners. The commission will include one public member, two handlers/processors, and six producers/growers. Four producer positions represent specific regions. Two producer positions and all other positions represent the state at large.
The commissioners will begin their terms no later than September 25. They will make decisions to establish the Oregon Hemp Commission and continue the work of the temporary commissioners who adopted administrative rules setting the commission assessment and other procedures.
To qualify to be considered
- All applicants must be U.S. citizens and Oregon residents.
- Producers/Growers must have grown hemp under an ODA license or registration for at least three years preceding appointment (since 2019).
- Four (4) growers will represent specific regions of Oregon and two (2) growers will represent the state at large.
- Two Handlers/Processors, from anywhere in Oregon, must have processed hemp under an ODA license or registration for at least three years preceding appointment.
- The one public member, representing the state at large, cannot be associated with growing or processing hemp.
Recruiting for other commissioners
ODA is also recruiting volunteers to serve as Albacore, Alfalfa Seed, and Sweet Cherry commissioners. These commissions have partial terms created through resignation or previously unfilled positions.
The Albacore Commission has two openings.
- The producer 3 position will serve through June 30, 2025.
- The handler 1 position will serve through June 30, 2024.
Albacore processor/handler applicants may be involved in marketing or dealing in albacore as an owner, agent, employee, or broker and must have collected the assessment for the last three consecutive years on albacore. The commission has a total of nine members: two are processors, five are fish harvesters, one is a public member.
The Alfalfa Seed Commission has two openings, both will serve until June 30, 2025.
- The producer 2 position and
- The producer 5 position will both serve until June 30, 2025.
The commission, funded by growers, sets policy and direction, and makes decisions about commodity-specific marketing, research, and educational projects.
The Oregon Sweet Cherry Commission has one producer position open.
The commission determines how to use its assessment revenue and historically decides which research projects to fund to improve agricultural practices. The commission also funds projects to increase cherry sales domestically and internationally.
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?
Complete and submit the General Commodity Commission Application form.
Producer and handler applicants need to list a position number on your application and check the appropriate box for producer or handler.
Fill out the form using a computer.
Print, sign, and date the form. Do not lock the form if using an electronic signature.
We prefer that you email your completed application. Scan your completed form and email the completed form to commissions@oda.oregon.gov
If available, attach a letter(s) of support to your application.
You may also mail your completed form to:
Oregon Department of Agriculture
AgDev | Commodity Commission Oversight Program
635 Capitol Street NE
Salem, OR 97301-2532
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.
About commodity commissions
Commodity commissioners are Oregon public officials who volunteer their time for the economic betterment of the commodity. Oregon has 23 commodity commissions that operate with oversight from the Oregon Department of Agriculture.
Commodity commissioners carry out important decision-making for their particular 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.
Looking for more information? Contact any one of the commissions using the commodity commission contact list.