Livestock

Oregon lawmakers will again consider a moratorium on big livestock farms. This is at least the third time environmental groups have backed such a bill.

On Thursday, Linn County commissioners voted two-to-one to clarify where large-scale animal farms can be built. That's after they had required a one mile buffer between new livestock farms and neighboring properties last year.

Late last year, Linn County commissioners voted to limit where large-scale animal farms could be built, as community members raised concerns about poultry operations. But some livestock farmers say the rules are too strict. Officials will now revisit their decision.

Researchers at Washington State University will track respiratory viruses that could spread between livestock animals and humans. That includes the avian flu strain that has recently jumped from birds to dairy cattle, and from cattle to at least two people.

Some Oregon farmers say they need less regulation, not more. But Governor Tina Kotek recently signed new laws on water rules for big farms. It’s called Senate Bill 85.

A July 2022 Portland Police canine attack is at least the second time in two years a Portland police dog has escaped its handler’s home and attacked a person or animal. The two attacks come as the use of police dogs nationwide is coming under closer scrutiny and a growing number of unintentional bites call into question how much control officers have over their dogs.

Wolf researcher says university forbade him from speaking to press, cut his research funding and attempted to discredit his work.