Although grain crops bring in less revenue than vegetables or fruit, they can become an important part of a farming enterprise. Grains are less labor-intensive and can be grown when fields need a rest.
Excessive summer irrigation of oak and madrone trees may promote fungal diseases such as the oak root fungus (aka armillaria root disease) and crown rot.
Farm loops are an excellent means to draw customers to a farm and educate an urban audience that is often three and four generations removed from agriculture.
Farmscaping describes a broad range of activities that improve the diversity of a small farm and enhance the ecosystem it inhabits. Creating riparian buffer zones is one such enhancement.
Changing weather patterns show that drought will continue to be a challenge for farmers and ranchers on the central and north coast of Oregon and throughout the state. That's why a drought management plan is essential.