Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) led her Oregon colleagues – including U.S. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05), along with U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley – in a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins, expressing concern about the Administration’s decision to terminate USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) workers based in several locations across Oregon, including Corvallis, Newport, Burns, Pendleton, and Hood River.
“The United States is already falling behind other countries in research and agricultural development, and the loss of these researchers will significantly stunt our competitive capabilities in agricultural science and technology,” wrote the members.
The lawmakers go on to explain how terminations are undermining important cooperative agreements between research institutions, USDA-ARS, and stakeholders representing some of Oregon’s most vital crop industries, including greenhouse and nursery crops, grass seed, wine grapes, and hazelnuts.
“Because of unexpected and unpredictable staff terminations, these crop industries cannot holistically benefit from such cooperative agreements and are at risk of losing valuable research progress, which otherwise would have helped stakeholders be more productive and financially successful,” they continued.
The letter highlights how ongoing projects are being destabilized and progress is being lost on valuable research to improve crop yields and storage methods, manage pests, mitigate and prevent disease, and develop resilient farming practices – partly because these fired workers were, in some cases, the only or one of just a handful of people in the country with those research specialties. For example, the Corvallis-based Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit (FSCRU), whose research improves the resiliency of cereals and hops, lost its only hops horticulturalist and technician in the first round of staff cuts.
The lawmakers concluded: “As Members whose constituents are greatly impacted by these research cuts and personnel firings, we urge you to reconsider these staff terminations and permanently reinstate those who have been let go. Permanent reinstatement will ensure that agricultural operations in Oregon are competitive, data-based, competitive with foreign markets, and stable for generations to come.”
Read the full letter here.
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