Commodity Commissions looking for applicants

March 28, 2007... The Oregon Department of Agriculture is seeking applicants to serve on the state’s 28 agricultural commodity commissions. The deadline for applying is May 11, 2007. Those appointed as commissioners administer producer assessments spent on the commodity commission goals of promotion, education, and research. This year, 63 commissioner positions are open. Most appointments are for a three-year term beginning July 1, 2007. The Oregon Fryer, Orchardgrass, Potato, Salmon, Sheep, Trawl, Wheat, and Western Oregon Onion commissions have four-year terms.

In order to qualify for an appointment, interested individuals must complete an Application and Qualification form, be a citizen of the United States, and an Oregon resident. Additional qualifications may apply. All qualified candidates will be considered for appointment.

Of the 63 open positions this year, nine are for public members. A public member must be a U.S. citizen, an Oregon resident, and have an active interest in improving economic conditions for that particular commodity. A public member cannot be directly associated with the production or handling of the particular commodity served by the commission they seek to serve. Public members, who are appointed by the ODA Director, were first added to most of Oregon's agricultural and commercial fisheries commodity commissions by the 2003 Oregon Legislature.

No commissioner, whether producer, handler or public member, may serve on more than one state board or commission.  

The following Oregon Commodity Commissions are seeking applicants for appointment:

Oregon Albacore Commission - 2 producers, 1 handler, 1 public member

Oregon Alfalfa Commission - 1 producer

Oregon Beef Council - 1 beef producer, 1 feeder/feedlot operator

Oregon Blueberry Commission - 2 producers, 1 handler

Oregon Clover Commission - 1 producer, 2 handlers

Oregon Dairy Products Commission – 1 North Willamette Valley producer, 1 Clatsop, Tillamook or Lincoln counties producer, 1 public member

Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission - 1 Astoria producer, 1 Brookings producer, 1 state-at-large handler

Oregon Fine Fescue Commission – 2 state-at-large producers

Oregon Fryer Commission – 1 Linn, Lane, and Douglas counties producer, 1 public member

Oregon Grains Commission - 1 Crook, Deschutes, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake or Malheur counties producer, 1 Baker, Umatilla, Union or Wallowa counties producer

Oregon Hazelnut Commission - 2 producers

Oregon Highland Bentgrass Commission – 2 producers

Oregon Hop Commission - 3 producers, 1 handler, 1 public member

Oregon Mint Commission – 3 producers

Oregon Orchardgrass Commission - 1 public member

Oregon Potato Commission – 1 Baker, Union, Wallowa, and Grant counties producer, 1 public member

Oregon Processed Vegetable Commission - 1 handler, 1 public member

Oregon Raspberry & Blackberry Commission - 3 producers, 1 handler

Oregon Ryegrass Commission – 1 Linn County producer, 1 state-at-large producer, 1 public member

Oregon Sheep Commission – 1 public member

Oregon Strawberry Commission - 3 producers, 1 handler

Oregon Sweet Cherry Commission – 1 Wasco and Hood River counties producer, 2 West of the Cascades producers, 1 handler

Oregon Tall Fescue Commission – 3 producers

Oregon Wheat Commission - 1 East of the Cascades producer, 1 West of the Cascades producer

Those interested in being a Commissioner should contact Kris Anderson at 503-872-6600 or visit www.oregon.gov/ODA/ADMD/cc_oversight.shtml

 Individual commissions or producer organizations can also be of assistance.

Sandra K. Schukar
OFS Office Manager
3415 Commercial ST SE, Suite 100
Salem, OR 97302
Phone: 503-370-8092
Fax: 503-370-8565
Email: sandi@ofsonline.org
OFS Website: www.ofsonline.org

 Mark your calendar for the OFS "All-Star" Evening
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Salem Conference Center