Despite some unique challenges cropping up the past 12 months, Oregon agriculture generally remains in great shape and is poised to do well again in 2014, according to Katy Coba, director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture. ODA’s Coba, approaching her 12th year as director, remains optimistic about the opportunities facing the state’s farmers, ranchers, and others connected to one of Oregon’s leading industry sectors. Director Coba’s comments are part of an interview assessing Oregon agriculture and ODA. In part one of the interview, she focuses on issues related to the agriculture industry as a whole: “I would say 2013 was an interesting year. We had a number of events that pressed the industry and the department, and we worked together to address those issues. I’m hopeful 2014 is a little more normal. Looking from the production side of Oregon agriculture in 2013, it was another record year with about $5.4 billion in production value. We have just been blessed, in general, with good weather. We saw market prices that are holding firm. We continue to see that steady growth coming out of the economic downturn in 2008. Most of the sectors of agriculture are really doing well. That’s what we like to see. We hope that trend continues in 2014.”
