Presentations provided by Oregon State University experts, ranging from small farms and hemp to pollinators and food safety, highlight the quarterly meeting of the State Board of Agriculture in Corvallis March 30-31. On day one of the two-day meeting, Dan Arp, Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences, will provide an overview of Oregon State University. Dr. Michael Morrissey, Director of the Food Innovation Center, will update the 10-member board on outreach and education efforts related to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Updates on two crops of high interest– hemp and canola– will be presented by Dr. Jay Noller and Dr. Carol Mallory-Smith of OSU’s Department of Crop and Soil Science. Also on the first day’s agenda are updates on the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s budget and key legislative issues, and ODA’s work on developing a strategic plan for the agency. On day two, Dr. Ramesh Sagili of OSU’s Department of Horticulture will discuss pollinator health issues. Also, Garry Stephenson and Lauren Gwinn of OSU’s Center for Small Farms and Community Food Systems will speak to the board. A public comment period is scheduled for 10:45 a.m. on day one of the meeting. The meeting will conclude with reports by board subcommittees on land use, natural resources, government relations, and marketing/food safety. The full board meeting will be preceded on March 29 by subcommittee meetings. The board meeting begins 8:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 30 at the LaSells Stewart Center at OSU, 875 SW 26th St, in Corvallis, and will resume 8:30 a.m., Thursday, March 31. The meeting is open to the public. For more information about the Board of Agriculture and a copy of the meeting agenda, go to <http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/AboutUs/Pages/BoardAgriculture.aspx>.
