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Filley
Several agricultural and forestry associations are available for producers to join.
I think it's extremely important for producers to get connected with at least one association so they do not get left out of anything crucial to the business or pleasure of farming and ranching. Too many times someone gets left out of the loop. Don't let it be you.
The benefits of belonging to an association depend on the group, so you might want to join more than one. Also, the groups have many members in common and that helps with communication in the industries. Some family farms have one person belonging to one group, while another family member belongs to a different group. That way information can be shared at family business meetings and the whole unit can reap the benefits of several associations.
Benefits that are common among the groups include business networking and marketing, cooperative working relationships, advocacy for special interests and problems, educational programs and more. Many groups have mailing lists and monthly meetings, as well as social gatherings, such as summer picnics and fall banquets.
One group that covers many different commodities is the Farm Bureau. Its meetings always have excellent discussions on farming issues, including governmental policy and leadership and production management. I find this group to be the most legislatively informed association out of all the ones with which I am familiar. In addition, the bureau has specific programs, such as Young Farmers and Ranchers, that give people many opportunities to get involved. They usually have guest speakers that further enrich the experience.
Other groups are more specific in the commodity type they serve. For example, the Douglas County Livestock Association deals with issues surrounding production and management of several species of livestock including cattle, sheep, goats and others. That group is also very involved in youth livestock projects and has several specialized sub-committees.
The Umpqua Valley Livestock Producers group has a cooperative feed pool, while other groups, such as the Oregon Meat Goat Association or Umpqua Valley Alpaca Association, focus on a single species.
There is a Douglas Small Woodlands Association that is made up of producers of small forested acreage that operates much like the livestock groups, except it focuses on wood production. And, there are other commodity groups such as the Umpqua Winegrowers Association, which has done an excellent job with marketing its product and serves as a model for others, and a Southern Oregon Wine Association. Douglas County Soil and Water Conservation District, as well as other government agencies and several Watershed Councils, are out there to also serve you.
Of course the Oregon State University Extension Service can keep you informed and connected to all these groups. And we have other programs for you to join if the commodity groups don't fit your situation. Please contact the OSU Extension Service or visit our Web site at http://extension/oregonstate.edu/douglas.
Lastly, I apologize in advance if I left your group out of these examples. Please let me know how I can share your information with others.
Shelby Filley is the Regional Livestock and Forage Specialist for OSU Extension Service of Douglas County. She can be reached by e-mail at shelby.filley@oregonstate.edu or phone at 541-672-4461.
I think it's extremely important for producers to get connected with at least one association so they do not get left out of anything crucial to the business or pleasure of farming and ranching. Too many times someone gets left out of the loop. Don't let it be you.
The benefits of belonging to an association depend on the group, so you might want to join more than one. Also, the groups have many members in common and that helps with communication in the industries. Some family farms have one person belonging to one group, while another family member belongs to a different group. That way information can be shared at family business meetings and the whole unit can reap the benefits of several associations.
Benefits that are common among the groups include business networking and marketing, cooperative working relationships, advocacy for special interests and problems, educational programs and more. Many groups have mailing lists and monthly meetings, as well as social gatherings, such as summer picnics and fall banquets.
One group that covers many different commodities is the Farm Bureau. Its meetings always have excellent discussions on farming issues, including governmental policy and leadership and production management. I find this group to be the most legislatively informed association out of all the ones with which I am familiar. In addition, the bureau has specific programs, such as Young Farmers and Ranchers, that give people many opportunities to get involved. They usually have guest speakers that further enrich the experience.
Other groups are more specific in the commodity type they serve. For example, the Douglas County Livestock Association deals with issues surrounding production and management of several species of livestock including cattle, sheep, goats and others. That group is also very involved in youth livestock projects and has several specialized sub-committees.
The Umpqua Valley Livestock Producers group has a cooperative feed pool, while other groups, such as the Oregon Meat Goat Association or Umpqua Valley Alpaca Association, focus on a single species.
There is a Douglas Small Woodlands Association that is made up of producers of small forested acreage that operates much like the livestock groups, except it focuses on wood production. And, there are other commodity groups such as the Umpqua Winegrowers Association, which has done an excellent job with marketing its product and serves as a model for others, and a Southern Oregon Wine Association. Douglas County Soil and Water Conservation District, as well as other government agencies and several Watershed Councils, are out there to also serve you.
Of course the Oregon State University Extension Service can keep you informed and connected to all these groups. And we have other programs for you to join if the commodity groups don't fit your situation. Please contact the OSU Extension Service or visit our Web site at http://extension/oregonstate.edu/douglas.
Lastly, I apologize in advance if I left your group out of these examples. Please let me know how I can share your information with others.
Shelby Filley is the Regional Livestock and Forage Specialist for OSU Extension Service of Douglas County. She can be reached by e-mail at shelby.filley@oregonstate.edu or phone at 541-672-4461.
