Policy
The COFPC is working to develop pertinent information about food and farming bills and their impact on Central Oregon farming and ranching.County and City codes frame the type of activities that can be achieved on farm and ranchlands. We are an advocate for public policies that increase local, sustainable food production utilizing community partners and engaging policy makers.
Our Goals
- To provide assessments that analyze city and county codes in relation to agricultural production
- Complete “white papers” that provide simplified guidance to owners of farm land in the tri-county area
- Outreach to at least one city in the tri-county area to do a plan and code audit to ensure that small scale urban agriculture is being supported.
Contact Karen Swirsky
Projects
Land Use information by County
2012 :Endorsed the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act
The COFPC signed on to endorse the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act (S. 1773, H.R. 3286) that was introduced on Tuesday, November 1 by Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine, along with 35 original co-sponsors.The legislation helps farmers and ranchers by addressing production, aggregation, processing, marketing, and distribution needs to access growing local and regional food markets. The bill also assists consumers by improving access to healthy food. The measure provides secure farm bill funding for critically important programs that support family farms, expand new farming opportunities, create rural jobs, and invest in the local food and agriculture economy. We urge you to support this comprehensive bill that will improve upon existing farm programs to effectively foster local and regional food system development.
2011: Friends of Family Farmer’s Farmer and Rancher Day
Friends of Family Farmers and Central Oregon based, Commute Options pooled their resources and donated the cost of fuel and a bus to make it possible for a strong contingent from Central Oregon to join the 100+ local food advocates from all over the state for this day of action.
The seven Central Oregonians who made the journey to Salem were very well received. When speaking with their Senators and State Representatives, this diverse group – which included farmers and local food advocates from Crook, Jefferson, and Deschutes counties – shared personal accounts about their years of experience growing and selling healthy local food in the High Desert.
These conversations proved to be very enlightening for Senators Telfer and Whitsett, and Reps. Conger and McClane who were all under the impression that the only thing Central Oregon growers could produce is lava.
