Agriculture's Ups and Downs

Agriculture’s Ups and Downs. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Line On Agriculture.

We have have what we would call good years and bad years. Sometimes they like to group together. The ag industry is no stranger to these ups and downs. Bruce Pokarney, director of communications for the Oregon Department of Agriculture, says last year set another record for agricultural production value.

POKARNEY: There were a lot of winners last year and a few losers, but the bottom line is that Oregon agriculture’s value of production hit another record high of 5.4 billion dollars, topping the previous year’s high mark of 5.3 billion.

Pokarney lists the top 10 Oregon agricultural commodities by value of production.

POKARNEY: Greenhouse and nursery continues to top the list, followed by cattle and calves, hay, milk, and wheat cracking the top five. Filling out the top ten are grass seed, potatoes, pears, corn for grain and silage, and onions.

Pokarney says Oregon agriculture is somewhat protected from big highs and lows because of its diversity.

POKARNEY: Oregon ag produces more than 220 different commodities. That usually means there are several winners and some losers from year to year, but that tends to balance things out. Last year, there were many more commodities that enjoyed increased production value, which helped us set a new overall record.

He says it’s hard to predict 2013 production values, but a five-year history suggests the general trend will be up.

That’s today’s Line On Agriculture. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.