This is a big month for our industry. The OAN will be active on both coasts in a major effort to help shape our future.

The battleground includes two capitals — Salem, Oregon and Washington, D.C.

The Oregon Legislature will meet this month for a short session. Over 35 days, elected officials will decide issues that will not only shape the November election, but the industries that reside in our state. Oregon has Democratic supermajorities in both the state house and senate. Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek is up for re-election in November, so the stakes are high.

Meanwhile, Washington, D.C. is immersed in the game of political chicken with the budget, tariffs, labor and control of both houses. This is a recipe for short-sighted decisions and pure party politics.

At stake in Oregon this year

Core issues confront the nursery and greenhouse industry. Here are a few.

Agricultural overtime — The current overtime threshold is 48 hours per work week, but it’s set to move to 40 in another year. The association is working to create a pathway for legislation that would support both the worker and the operator by keeping the threshold at 48, but allowing a 12-week, 55-hour exemption during peak season.

State funding for Japanese beetle program — The office of the governor defunded the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Japanese Beetle Program. The OAN is seeking funding to treat infested areas and authorize the ODA to hire critical staff to get the program back on track. This program impacts every grower that ships out of state. This part of the funding is but one of several efforts being made by OAN.

Water — Our first goal is to protect the nursery industry’s ability to transfer water rights. There will be a bill that places large restrictions on agriculture’s ability to use this tool. Our second goal is to restore accountability and functionality to the Oregon Water Resources Department.

State-appraised property fix — The Oregon Department of Revenue is on the verge of defining property valued at over $1 million as industrial property, requiring assessment by the state Department of Revenue, rather than county assessors. This would impact many in the association. OAN will support a bill to defeat this definition.

At stake nationally this year

Federal policy is a slow-moving freighter, but its impact can be felt immediately. Certainly that was true with tariffs and immigration enforcement around the country in 2025. However, the federal game is still a long game. With our allies at AmericanHort, I feel that the industry can take a step forward this year.

Research and data — We would like funding for the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to support research, protect market access, and prevent pest and disease threats. We’d like greater research funds for green industry sectors, including nursery, greenhouse and Christmas tree growers, and more collaboration between industry, state and federal funding sources. Finally, we’d like funding to restore detailed annual National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) statistics for Oregon’s nursery and greenhouse industry.

Ag workforce legislation — The OAN had asked one of our U.S. Senators to introduce our concept to resolve agriculture’s labor issue. However, the bill began to look much like the failed partisan efforts we have seen over the past decade. The association has created a Five-Point Plan, providing clear direction for getting the ball rolling on workforce reform. It includes: 1. Adjustment of status for those in the U.S.; 2. Keep and update the current H-2A and H-2B visas. 3. Create a new visa system. 4. Create a sensible “touch back provision.” 5. Once 1-4 are enacted, then E-Verify.

Carbon sequestration — The OAN will build upon the Climate Summit from the Farwest Show to pursue climate policies that reflect the climate benefits of the nursery industry while protecting operations from adverse regulations and higher prices.

Farm Bill — The Congress continues to kick the main agriculture funding bill down the road and 2026 could see an opportunity to achieve some gains for specialty crops. OAN will work to shore up the Horticulture title to adequately fund pest and disease prevention and push hard for research dollars to confront the many challenges ahead. In terms of disaster relief eligibility, the current farm bill does not work well with specialty crop growers, and the funds are substandard in reach and funding. Whole farm insurance has worked for monocrops but not the diverse multi-year crops such as the nursery and greenhouse industry. Fixing this problem is critical, and the OAN will work on this issue as a stand-alone effort.

Are we ready?

I have a high level of confidence in our ability to meet the challenges ahead. Bill Perry, our state lobbyist, is one of the best and someone you can have faith in. 

The OAN’s advocacy training just graduated another class last month — continuing our strategy of putting the best assets the industry has in play. That’s YOU, the grower. We will have a day at the Capitol on Oregon’s birthday (February 14) and will put our considerable presence in the halls of the legislature to make a difference.

Is this a tough month? Without question. Are we up for it? Absolutely. Will we succeed? Time and effort will tell us. But count on this — this is a fight for the industry, its growers, retailers, greenhouse operators and supply chain. We shall meet every challenge ahead of us.