RC&D Funding Uncertain

Representatives from Oregon Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils (OARCD) meet with Congressman DeFazio.  Left to right: Bob Jones, President of Pacific Rim Regional Association of RC&D Councils; Karl Morgenstern, President of Oregon Association of RC&D Councils; Congressman DeFazio; and Bill Eagle, member of NW Oregon RC&D Council.

In late February, shortly after RC&Ds were asked to assist in national economic stimulus efforts, the Obama administration announced a "zero" funding request for the RC&D program in fiscal year 2010.

As RC&Ds across the Country begin to react to the President’s “Zero” budget request, National RC&D Council President Joan Smith Freeman responded.  “I am very disappointed in this FY10 budget request.  At our recent Leadership Forum, we heard very strong messages of support from Obama Administration officials for the RC&D program.”

At the Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C., RC&D officials requested an increased federal budget of $64.2 million to create 18 new applicant areas and fund 90% of the NRCS RC&D budget (currently funded at 70%).  Funding has remained at $50 million since 2003.

"We also heard from these same officials that the FY11 budget would be the first year we could see increased funding for the Resource Conservation and Development Program,” said Smith Freeman.  

In response to the budget request, she issued a call to all councils, all council members, and applicant areas nationwide to write letters to their Members of Congress today to fund the RC&D Program. CPRCD will update information as it is available on the News and Events page. Information is also available at National Association of RC&D Councils (http://www.rcdnet.org/).

Energy Program expands to include renewables

In 2008, CPRCD started an Energy Audit Program to help agricultural producers improve on-farm energy efficiency. Called energy efficiency improvements (EEI), these changes typically require upgrading older materials and systems: for example, replacing single-wall fiberglass greenhouse panels with double-walled panels, or older incandescent lighting fixtures with high-efficiency fixtures.

In January, CPRCD's newly-renamed Energy Program expanded to include renewable energy systems (RES). These systems include installation of solar electric panels and anaerobic digesters to create methane, a bio-fuel.

The program is growing under the guidance of Terry Johnson, energy program manager for CPRCD.

EEI and RES programs are available to both agricultural producers and rural small businesses. Current projects include installation of a 14kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system for Tyee Wine Cellars, and rebuilding pivot irrigation systems and establishing a farm-wide solar electric system for a 2500-acre multicrop farm.

Plans are also underway to assist with HVAC and insulation upgrades, and add a solar electric system, to a commercial building in Brownsville.

CPRCD's Energy Program helps agricultural producers and rural small businesses assess their energy needs; obtain energy audits to analyze energy use and recommend cost-saving changes; determine feasibility of renewable energy projects, and locate funding and incentives to help pay for the improvements.

"We're fortunate that Oregon has so many incentive programs, unlike most states," said Terry Johnson, Energy Program Manager for CPRCD. "This is the perfect time for producers and small businesses to take advantage of them."

For more information, contact Terry Johnson at (514) 760-6444 or terry@casco.net.

Oregon Truffle Festival

Oregon truffles are emerging as one of the world's great delicacies, taking their richly-deserved place next to their legendary European cousins. The Fourth Annual Oregon Truffle Festival, held in Eugene on January 30-February 1, 2009, brought together harvesters, chefs, growers and gastronomic aficionados in celebration of Oregon's most incredible culinary treasures.

The three-day event featured seminars and a field trip highlighting methods of truffle farming, covering climates, soils, orchard establishment, orchard management, dog training and harvest.  It was intended for anyone working to establish or manage a truffle farm, people contemplating truffle farming, and writers/researchers studying the science of truffle farming.

Karen Strohmeyer, RC&D Coordinator, serves on the Oregon Truffle Festival Board of Directors.  She worked with Charlie LeFevre and Leslie Scott of New World Truffiers to obtain an $8,000 RBEG to develop a Truffle Feasibility Study.

CPRCD  is interested in partnering on future projcts related to truffles. Contact Karen Strohmeyer with ideas.

Local Food Connection

Cascade Pacific RC&D hosted the third annual Local Food Connection on February 2.  This event brings together local food producers and buyers to make business connections and to talk about the advantages of producing and selling food locally. Now, more than ever, such connections are critical to the health of our local economy, and especially the people and institutions that feed us.  Building and maintaining successful relationships is a strong thread running throughout the day.  The Local Food Connection attracted 187 participants this year, and it has grown by 78% since it began in 2007.  As always, a delicious local lunch is an important and popular part of the day.  Lane Community College chefs prepare the feast with generous donations provided by local farmers, ranchers and fishers. 

David Lively, Marketing Director at Organically Grown Company, gave an engaging keynote speech.  He described the origins of Organically Grown Company and dissected a few of the common arguments used by members of the Local Food Movement.  In addition, the Local Food Connection featured ten workshops.  Topics included Finding Effective Solutions in Oregon for Infrastructure Issues: Transportation, Delivery and Storage; Butchering a Pig; Effective Marketing; Starting a Commercial Kitchen; Effective PR; Meat Inspection Logistics, and Institutional Purchasing. 

The steering committee is already working on organizing an even better event for next year.  Mark your calendars for February 1, 2010.

This year's successes include:

• 35 participants expect one or two new business relationships to develop as a result of the Local Food Connection. 11 participants expect more than three new business relationships will develop.
• 40 participants anticipate that the new relationships will be worth up to $2,500 in new business.  Seven participants anticipate that the new relationships will be worth up to $5,000.  Five participants anticipate that the new relationships will be worth over $5,000.

Welcome new Board Members 

Paul Harcombe received his PhD from Yale University and taught ecology, botany and environmental studies for 35 years at Rice University. His research specialty is long-term forest dynamics; currrently, he is studying spruce-hemlock forests on the Oregon Coast in collaboration with colleagues at OSU. He lives on a small farm near Albany and has a strong interest in rural land use, resource protection, and small-scale production of corn and cereal grains.