Organic farming acreage doubles, generating increasing revenues
Despite recent supply chain disruptions and other challenges, Oregon’s organic farming sector continues to expand, according to several new studies. Oregon more than doubled its organic acreage between 2008 and 2021, from 105,600 acres to 228,000 acres, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service. A new market assessment conducted by Highland Economics and commissioned by Business Oregon shows that, for the past 15 years, Oregon has also been among the top five states for total farmgate value of organic products. In 2021, that value was $386 million. Manufactured organic products that year generated an additional $582 million in revenue. Oregon’s success mirrors a national trend. On May 10, the Organic Trade Association reported organic food sales in the U.S. in 2022 hit $60 billion for the first time. Total organic sales, including non-food products such as cosmetics, hit a record $67.6 billion. (Sierra Dawn McClain/Capital Press)
Legacy’s Gresham maternity unit closure endangered patients, regulators say
As Legacy Health closed the maternity unit at Mount Hood Medical Center in Gresham, administrators assured a leery community that they would ensure the safety of pregnant patients. But a federal document The Lund Report obtained shows that a surprise inspection launched the day after the March 19 closure concluded hospital officials were ill-prepared for the change and “failed to ensure that hospital services and the physical environment were safe and appropriate” when the maternity unit closed. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services detailed the findings in a blistering April 5 letter to administrators of the Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center. The federal letter states that hospital administrators’ failure to ensure the facility’s emergency department was prepared for pregnant patients in labor after the maternity unit’s closure “created a potential for patient harm.” (Jake Thomas/The Lund Report)
Judge signs pact to get more civil commitment patients through state hospital
A federal judge has signed off on an agreement intended to get more patients through the Oregon State Hospital and give mental health providers more advance notice of when patients will return to the county from where they were referred. The agreement amends U.S. Judge Michael Mosman’s September order and allows for an expedited and expanded process for admitting civil commitment patients, those with no criminal charges but who pose a danger to themselves or others. Civil commitments, often initiated by a doctor or mental health professional, were restricted by Mosman’s initial order in September. (Sydney Wyatt/Salem Statesman Journal)
Morrow County officials approve big tax break for Amazon data centers
Port, county and city officials in Morrow County have approved a deal to have Amazon pay almost $40 million in fees over 15 years on five new data centers. In return, Amazon won’t pay property taxes of more than $1 billion on the new centers. Amazon will add those to its existing four centers, as part of a $12 billion project to potentially create hundreds of jobs in the area. Port officials approved the deal Wednesday with two commissioners, Jerry Healy and Marv Padberg, recusing themselves from the vote. The two along with Don Russell, former Morrow County commissioner, and Gary Neal, former Port of Morrow general manager, are owners of WindWave, which provides fiber-optic services to Amazon data centers in Morrow County. The four of them are being investigated by the Oregon Government Ethics Commission to determine if they used their positions to benefit themselves as owners of WindWave. (Phil Wright/East Oregonian)
It’s still a ‘winter wonderland’ at Crater Lake National Park
Rising temperatures are warming Southern Oregon, but it’s still snowy at Crater Lake National Park. As of earlier this week, the park had received 624 inches of snow since Oct. 1, 2022. In recent years the park’s average snowfall has dropped from 523 inches about 20 years ago to 487 inches in recent years. The persistent snow, including 4 inches that fell Monday, means the opening of park roads and trails will likely be later than usual. “It’s still a winter wonderland up here,” said Marsha McCabe, Crater Lake’s chief of interpretation. “Sometimes we have to travel on snowshoes or skis. We will eventually be dug out.” (Lee Juillerat/Rogue Valley Times)
Related: Circling Crater Lake in winter is no summer picnic ⛷