Joe Beach

Portland

Publisher and Editor at Capital Press

Featured in: Favicon

capitalpress.com Favicon

eastoregonian.com Favicon

hermistonherald.com

Articles

Reclamation confirms adequate water for Klamath Basin

1 day ago | capitalpress.com | Joe Beach

Published 4:51 pm Wednesday, April 23, 2025 The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has confirmed that water supplies will be sufficient to meet the anticipated irrigation demand for the Klamath Basin this year. The April 21 announcement came as no surprise but drew a mixed reaction from Klamath Water Users Association officials, who said the agency was using unrealistic rules that are devastating in all but very wet years.
Idaho insurance dept. issues wildfire data call

1 day ago | capitalpress.com | Joe Beach

Published 2:11 pm Wednesday, April 23, 2025 The Idaho Department of Insurance issued a data call to providers of wildfire coverage for homes and other dwellings. Through the mandatory call, detailed in the department’s Bulletin No. 25-02, the department is “collecting detailed policy and claims information to conduct an analysis of the property insurance market within Idaho, specifically as it relates to wildfire,” the bulletin reads, in part.
Trade rep scales back entry fees on Chinese ships

6 days ago | capitalpress.com | Joe Beach

Published 5:06 pm Friday, April 18, 2025 The U.S. Trade Representative has scaled back proposed port entry fees on Chinese-built ships, but said it will consider tariffs on Chinese-made cargo handling equipment, adding shipping costs that U.S. farm groups argued against. The seven-figure fees will be replaced by levies on each ton of cargo unloaded from ships with capacities larger than 80,000 tons — effectively exempting most ships carrying agricultural commodities.
Idaho Power seeks rate reduction for irrigators

1 week ago | capitalpress.com | Joe Beach

Published 11:19 am Thursday, April 17, 2025 Idaho Power calls for a rate decrease in its annual power-cost adjustment filing with state regulators. The filing with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission calls for a 5.89% decrease for customers in the state. The requested decrease for irrigation customers is 5.87%. The power-cost adjustment is a cost-recovery tool that passes to customers both the benefits and costs of supplying energy to customers.
Veteran, computer programmer shifts to small orchard farming

1 week ago | capitalpress.com | Heather Thomas |Joe Beach

Published 10:56 am Monday, April 14, 2025 Joe Culbreth was born and raised on a farm in North Carolina. Farming has always been in his heart, but he spent some time in military service and ended up working with computers. He worked for several companies that needed his expertise. After he retired, he started helping anyone who needed help with computer programming, which has been one of his passions.
Organic leader named to Oregon ag board

1 week ago | capitalpress.com | Joe Beach

Published 9:46 am Monday, April 14, 2025 Mike Dill, director of advocacy and sustainability for Organically Grown Company, has been appointed to the Oregon State Board of Agriculture. The appointment was announced April 9. He will immediately begin serving a four-year term on the government body and will have an option to reapply for a second term. Dill brings more than 15 years of experience to his new role.
Ag innovation a la mode: $73M renovation spotlights OSU’s experiential learning

2 weeks ago | capitalpress.com | Joe Beach

Published 2:23 pm Thursday, April 10, 2025 CORVALLIS, Ore. – A $73 million renovation of Withycombe Hall at Oregon State University aims to energize and expand hands-on learning with new labs for dairy and wine, as well as other upgrades. The project also revives the facility’s creamery, which closed 55 years ago to make room for a theater. The Beaver Classic Creamery storefront will sell student-made ice cream, cheese and honey, and the university plans to offer meat products and produce.
Amid shortages, California rice gains traction in Japan

2 weeks ago | capitalpress.com | Richard Smith |Joe Beach

Published 10:12 am Thursday, April 10, 2025 Last fall, shelves in the rice section of supermarkets were almost bare. Any available rice’s prices had shot up. Venues like bars and coffee shops showcased rice at their front windows at a premium. Rice is now back on store shelves, but prices have skyrocketed. This reporter buys brown rice for home. Last summer, I was still paying the usual 1500 yen (about $10) for five kilos of the grain at a local rice store.
Oregon wildfire map may be swapped for voluntary incentives

2 weeks ago | capitalpress.com | Mateusz Perkowski |Joe Beach

Published 4:13 pm Wednesday, April 9, 2025 A contentious Oregon wildfire map that imposed new regulations on high-risk landowners may be swapped for incentives meant to promote home hardening and defensible space. The Senate Natural Resources Committee has unanimously voted to scrap the state’s wildfire hazard map, originally approved in 2021, as well as the enhanced building code standards and other requirements it entailed.
New organic research hub launched to help farmers

2 weeks ago | capitalpress.com | Joe Beach

Published 11:16 am Wednesday, April 9, 2025 A new online collection of organic research and other resources will enable farmers to search by topic, crop type and region to solve agricultural problems. The Organic Farming Research Foundation announced its Organic Research Hub April 7. The platform, available at organicresearchhub.org, was created to serve the needs of U.S. organic farmers and those transitioning to growing organically.