Weather, geography, and farm equipment used in Oregon.

Oregon nestles itself in the Pacific Northwest region of United States. It is covered with the typical lush, green landscape and forests found in the Northwest. This article consists of an overview of information on the weather, geography, and commonly used farm equipment in Oregon.

An overview

The federal land policy is something every farmer, in every state, should be familiar with. It involves land owned by the federal government and can be extremely detrimental or helpful to local farmers, depending on the quality and location of that land.

In 2012, the federal government owns about 635 million acres of land in Oregon. Consequently, this number has increased but equates to roughly 28 percent of the 2.27 billion acres of land across the United States. Federal land goes towards everything from recreation and conservation efforts to the procurement of natural resources. In Oregon, the federal government owns about 53 percent of the land or about 32 million acres. Most of that land avoids the vast forests. In other words, depending on what kind of farm operation you’re running, this may help or harm your overall profitability and scalability in the long run.

Weather in Oregon

The State of Oregon is known for it’s mild, yet varied climate. The climate is law when it comes to Oregon farm life.

There are regions that experience hailstorms, tornadoes, and cloudbursts.

The annual average rainfall in the state is within the range of about 8 inches in dry Plateau regions to almost 200 inches in the upper western slopes. Thus, vegetation can be found across the heavily wooded Coast Range, as well as the western slopes of the Cascades. As a whole, Oregon has a very definite winter rainfall climate – which makes for more predictable, consistent seasonal yields.

The Pacific Ocean, where the coastline meets the western border, happens to be the most crucial geographical feature of the entire state. It experiences the usual movement of air masses from the Northwest, toward the east. Further, these air masses moving west to east, tend to change extensively as they travel over the Pacific. As a result, extreme temperature highs and lows occur in the west, while the eastern portion of the state experiences a more moderate climate.

Consequently, the occurrence of extremely high or low temperature is the cause of the occasional invasion of these continental air masses.

Further, the unlimited supply of moisture via those traveling air masses provides ideal rainfall for farmers in western Oregon and the higher elevations of eastern Oregon. Above all, you should research the climate of the region you’re considering before starting a farm in Oregon.

Geography of Oregon

The state of Oregon is popular for seven unique agricultural regions which you can learn about below:

• Southern Oregon – Here livestock, potatoes, and tree fruits dominate the agricultural industry of the region.
• Willamette Valley – This area is the most diverse region for specialty crops. Few of the popular crops grow in this region, however, we find hazelnuts, berries, rare vegetables, hops, and a wide assortment of nursery products.
• Oregon Coast – The coastal region of Oregon produces dairy farms and fisheries.
• Wasco counties and the Hood River – These are popular agricultural regions which have earned a reputation for pears, apples, and cherries. The surrounding counties, in northeastern Oregon, are known to produce irrigated field crops, along with livestock and wheat.
• The Columbia Basin – This agricultural region is worth mentioning for the extensive production of dryland wheat. The Oregonian Dryland winter wheat, a product grown without irrigation, has been a consistent crop near the Columbia River basin since 1878.
• Central Oregon and Jefferson County areas – These areas witness a plethora of crops growing in abundance. These include several grains, mint, and vegetable seeds. Additionally, hay and livestock are also predominant commodities available here.
• Eastern Oregon – The agricultural region of Eastern Oregon is famous for producing sugar beets, potatoes, onions, and seed crops, along with an abundance of specialty crops. Cooperative efforts, along with “out of the ordinary” growing conditions raise the production value of this area. Combined with the local farming operation innovation, Eastern Oregon farming is great for efficient processing and dependable yields.

Equipment used for farming in Oregon

Tractors are the most popular piece of equipment used on farms in Oregon.

These play a vital role in accomplishing the agricultural needs of farmers throughout the state. This is due to the fact that the average farm size in Oregon is 474 acres. That is far too much land to navigate or cultivate without machinery.

Furthermore, there’s also a wide array of farm equipment manufacturers headquartered in the state, which produce top-quality farming equipment. This equipment has earned a favorable reputation across the United States for merging practicality with utility and durability.

In conclusion, the economy of Oregon depends on the weather and climate, relevant to the agricultural industry. Agriculture in Oregon is unique, just like the climate and weather, sustaining it.