Oregon’s top ag commodities enjoy a strong decade, Aug. 11

While Oregon agriculture’s overall growth curve has slowed down in recent years, certain crops and livestock commodities have enjoyed a very healthy increase in production value over the past decade. In fact, only one commodity in the top 20 has recorded a decrease over the 10 year period and that drop is very small. Newly released statistics from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) provides a preliminary picture of 2015’s crop and livestock value of production. The numbers indicate that Oregon agriculture continues to be a major contributor to the state’s economy with an overall production value expected to be in the neighborhood of $5.4 billion– similar to the preceding two years. The value of agricultural production in Oregon last year includes a top ten list with familiar names. Onions returned to the list while hazelnuts dropped out: (1) Cattle and calves, $914 million; (2) Greenhouse and nursery products, $894 million; (3) Hay, $604 million; (4) Milk, $474 million; (5) Grass seed, $383 million; (6) Wheat, $217 million; (7) Potatoes, $176 million; (8) Pears, $152 million; (9) Wine grapes, $147 million; (10) Onions, $125 million. Oregon produces more than 220 agricultural commodities, so there are always winners and losers any given year. Several top ten commodities dropped in production value in 2015, but still show strong gains over a 10 year period. For the second year in a row, cattle and calves tops the list with a production value of $914 million, which is slightly down from 2014. However, over a 10-year period beginning in 2005, the value has increased 71 percent. The cattle industry tends to be cyclical and the strong prices enjoyed the past couple of years are weakening in 2016. Nonetheless, cattle and calves is expected to be a mainstay at or near the top of all commodities in the foreseeable future.