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Frequently Asked Questions

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Administration

Contact the Director's Office at: 503-986-4552

Follow the guidelines for requesting records and submit your request to the Director's Office.

The grants, loans, and technical Assistance webpage identifies grants and loans available through a variety of sources.

You may want to consider mediation, which can be a good fit for many types of disputes involving farms.

Contact the director of communications, 503-986-4559.

Contact the appropriate program area to file a complaint or visit our complaints page.

Agricultural statistics for the state of Oregon can be found in the ODA Agripedia and through the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

Oregon.gov job opportunities page. You'll find a link to jobs in the footer of ODA web pages.

You'll find a link to the Staff Directory in the footer of every ODA web page.

You can find upcoming board meeting information on our website or through the data.oregon.gov public meetings calendar.

Try our program directory or call the Information Office, 503-986-4550.

Look at the resources on ODA's New and Small Farms page to get started.

To obtain a copy of your tractor training certification documentation, please contact your tractor training instructor.

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Food Safety

Only service animals are allowed in stores.

A service animal is limited to a dog trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability.

Pull dates (expiration dates) are used for perishable foods and should ensure the consumer has adequate time to allow for normal consumption at home.

You should suspect contamination if the can is leaking, bulging or swollen, looks damaged or cracked, or seems abnormal. Do not use if it spurts liquid or foam, or if the food is discolored, moldy, or smells bad.

Color changes might not mean the meat is spoiled, but if it has an off-odor, or is sticky, tacky, or slimy to the touch, it could be spoiled.

Oregon law does not require workers to wear gloves, but does require that ready-to-eat foods be prepared and served without bare hand contact. Wearing gloves is one acceptable method to prevent bare hand contact.

Food workers at ODA licensed establishments are not required to have food handler cards; however, it is recommended.

Eggs are required to have “use by” or “sell by” dates, which usually are found on the bottom of the carton. The "sell by" date is 30 days and the "use by" date is 45 days after production.

Many foods can be eaten past their expiration dates as long as they have been properly stored.

Frozen food storage life is about food quality rather than food safety. Keep your freezer at 0°F to slow deterioration. Freezing does not kill bacteria.

If you keep the refrigerator or freezer doors closed, the refrigerator will keep food cold about four hours, and the freezer will keep food cold 24 to 48 hours depending on how full it is.

Yes, you must maintain clear and understandable records. The records must include who raised the poultry; the year-to-date cumulative total of each species, and total quantity of all species, slaughtered; dates of slaughter; species, quantity and dates of sale; business address; sanitation logs for cleaning and chemical use; etc. Records must be made available for ODA inspection on request.

No, poultry must be sold directly to the end consumer.

No, the person performing the slaughter must raise the poultry from two weeks of age or younger.

Organic-labeled food means the food has been produced without certain kinds of fertilizers and pesticides; certain synthetic additives; or artificial sweeteners, colors, and flavors.

Gov. John Kitzhaber signed the Poultry Bill in May 2011.

No more than 1,000 per year of all species combined.

Gluten is a protein found in some grains such as wheat, triticale, barley, rye and oats. To avoid it, read the ingredients on the labels of foods you buy and make sure servers at restaurants know you want a gluten-free meal.

Two hours is the maximum time perishable food should be at room temperature, including the time spent on the dinner table.

No, poultry must be sold as a whole carcass.

No, poultry processed under the Poultry Bill may not enter interstate commerce. This includes selling poultry to out-of-state residents who intend to return to their state with the poultry.

Yes.

Yes, as much as 20 tons of slaughter and processing waste can be composted on-site annually, as long as it does not adversely affect surface or ground water, without a Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) permit. Or, you can dispose of waste at permitted landfills or into sanitary sewer systems without a DEQ permit.

If you sell poultry away from the farm, then you must provide a poultry processing building. If you have on-farm sales only (the customer comes to your farm to purchase), then you do not need a poultry processing building, but can use other means to 'reasonably protect the poultry.'

The Poultry Bill creates an exemption from ODA food establishment licensing requirements for a person who raises and slaughters no more than 1,000 poultry per year, and meets other conditions.

Firms operating under the Poultry Bill are not routinely inspected by ODA. However, at the Department's discretion, ODA can conduct unscheduled inspections of the facility and its records. Failure to conduct activities in accordance with the Poultry Bill will make a person or poultry business subject to the licensing requirements of ORS 603.025 and 616.706, including all applicable regulations and penalties.

Yes, any poultry processed under the Poultry Bill must meet standard labeling requirements outlined in ORS 616.325, plus a statement "This product may not leave the state of Oregon."

Domesticated species including chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, or guinea fowl. Poultry does not include ratites, endangered or protected species, wild game birds or pet birds.

Each time before you harvest mussels or clams, call the 24-hour shellfish safety information hotline at (800) 448-2474 or check our website.

ODA monitors mussels, clams and oysters for paralytic shellfish toxin and domoic acid, two marine toxins that can affect shellfish. ODA might close or open recreational beaches based on these test results. ODA cannot test for all the other substances that could be harmful if eaten, so use your best judgment and only harvest from beaches that are sanitary.

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Animal Health, Feeds, and Livestock ID

It happens everyday. A cow or horse dies unexpectedly. Owners of these animals need to know that there are sound and appropriate ways to dispose of the carcasses. Improper disposal of animal carcasses can pollute ground and surface water, and jeopardize the health of livestock, wildlife and pets. Carcass disposal must comply with Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) Chapter 601. Some counties also have their own disposal-related ordinances. A Large Animal Mortality brochure is available from the ODA publications page.

Possessory chattel liens are liens where the creditor has the right to hold possession of the specific property until satisfaction of the debt or performance of an obligation. Claimants have the right to take possession of the chattel, notify the debtor of the charges due, and eventually foreclose to obtain satisfaction. Oregon Revised Statute Chapter 87 provides the authority for all liens, including the possessory and non-possessory chattel liens. The procedure for filing liens is outlined in the statute. ORS 87 is under the Secretary of State’s jurisdiction.

Importing exotic animals on the following list is not allowed: non-human primates, bears, non-indigenous canines (except domestic dogs), non-indigenous felines (except domestic cats), and crocodilians.

Call local law enforcement or Oregon Humane Society at 503-285-7722, Ext. 214.

The State Veterinarian’s office does not examine pets. Licensed private veterinarians provide this service. A very handy “Find a Vet” online tool is available from the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association’s website.

For international travel contact the USDA International Pet Travel line at 360-753-9430.

Contact the Animal Health Department of the state of destination for import requirements.

Oregon’s import requirements for healthy dogs or cats entering Oregon from outside the US are: Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) issued no more than 30 days before entry and vaccination status must be current for rabies. No formal quarantine period is required in most instances. For information, call 503-986-4680.

Please visit the Internal Services and Consumer Protection page on wolf depredation.

Please visit the Internal Services and Consumer Protection page on egg-laying hens.

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Hemp


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Insect Pest Prevention and Management

Brown recluse spiders are not known to occur in Oregon. They live in the south central Midwest from Nebraska to Ohio and south through Texas to Georgia.

The best solution is to prevent their entry into your home in the first place by sealing gaps and openings to the outside with weather-stripping, caulking, or other methods. ODA is rearing and distributing parasites of BMSB eggs (samurai wasps). Over time, this should result in lower populations of BMSB.

Collect it (put it in a closed container) and have it identified. You may take a photo and email it to one of the entomological staff, submit a photo using our online report and identification form, or bring it to our Salem office.

Collect it (put it in a closed container) and have it identified. You may take a photo and email it to one of the entomological staff, submit a photo using our online report and identification form, or bring it to our Salem office.

In most cases it is difficult to identify an insect over the phone. It is best to collect it (put it in a closed container) and send an image. You may take a photo and email it to one of the entomological staff, or submit a photo using our online report and identification form, take the specimen to your county OSU extension office, or may bring it to our Salem office.

The IPPM program places a variety of insect detection traps in Oregon each year. You can call us to identify the insect trap or see our photos online. Most of the traps placed in residential trees are for the spongy moth.

Catch some of the insects emerging from your firewood. You can submit a photo using our online report and identification form. If the insect or beetle is thought to be an exotic, invasive pest, we may ask you to bring it in for identification.

There are restrictions on the movement of firewood to prevent the transport of invasive species. Section 3 states that no person shall transport, by any means, untreated firewood into the State of Oregon, for sale or use within the State from any location outside of the Pacific Northwest. We recommend that firewood is moved no further than 50 miles within the state.

Boxelder bugs are a native species that over-winter as adults in protected areas such as garages and cracks and crevices in homes. They can be a nuisance from fall through early spring. There aren’t many effective options for control. Solutions include sealing gaps in any building crevices or openings, call a pest control company, or use a vacuum inside the house. Although they can be a nuisance, they won’t damage your house (they are not structural pests). Their populations vary in number year to year. Boxelder bugs don’t bite or sting and won't get into your food.

There are not many arthropods that live on or feed on humans. Many insects you see on your body probably are there by accident, especially if you have been outdoors brushing up against plants. After you brush away the insects, you won't be bothered anymore. If you continue to be bothered by insects crawling on you, the pest will need to be identified before we can determine what would help. If an arthropod is not identified as the source of the problem, it may be caused by several medical conditions. In general, ODA identifies insects associated with plants and not humans. For more information, contact your physician or the dermatology department at OHSU, (503) 418-3376.

Small beetles or small moths in your kitchen may be stored products pests. These are pests that feed on foods that are stored in containers or boxes such as whole grains, flour, pasta, cereal, dried fruit, chocolate, wild bird seed, or pet food. The best way to eliminate the insects is to find the source of the infestation in your stored foods. Check the containers for webbing, powder, or small insects or larvae. Anything that is contaminated should be disposed of outside of the home. If possible, place the contaminated food in the freezer for several days before disposing. To prevent future infestation, keep all foods in tightly-sealed containers. Keep pantries, kitchen cabinets, and other food storage areas free of food debris.

You do not need a permit to purchase live insects that are on the Oregon Approved Insect List or are native to Oregon.

These webs are created by the fall webworm, a native insect that is widespread in Western Oregon. The adults are moths about three-quarters of an inch long and mostly white. They come out of their cocoons in June, mate, and then lay eggs on a variety of trees, including alder, apple, ash, cherry, cottonwood, poplar, walnut, and madrone. Three key differences between spongy moth (formerly referred to as gypsy moth) and fall webworm are: spongy moth caterpillars don’t make webs, the two species are found during different times of the year, and spongy moths are not native to Oregon.

There are many invasive insects we want to keep out of Oregon. See the link for the 100 worst invasive species.

The National Invasive Species Council provides information about invasive species and what is being done at the national level. Links within this site provide detailed information about invasive pests, as well as government programs working on this problem.

Insects that are on the Oregon Approved Insect List may be imported, sold, bred, and kept in the state. Species native to Oregon are not restricted, except as per the Endangered Species Act.

First you should identify whether you have a swarm of honeybees or wasps. Honeybees that are swarming are generally not aggressive. They have just gorged on honey and do not have a home to defend. In Oregon, it is unlikely that the bees are Africanized. They are known to occur near Sacramento, California and parts of Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma. Africanized bees can only be distinguished from European honeybees by laboratory analysis. You should stay at least 20 to 30 feet away from the swarm. Call a pest control company for bee removal, call a local beekeeper, or wait until the swarm leaves on their own. A swarm may continue for several days.

If the insects you are selling are on the Oregon Approved Insect List or native to Oregon, you do not need a permit to sell them.

If you are stung or bitten by an insect or other arthropod, ODA can identify it if you catch it and properly preserve it. Collect it (put it in a closed container) and have it identified. You may take a photo and email it to one of the entomological staff, submit a photo using our online report and identification form, or bring it to our Salem office. Identification cannot be made based on the bite alone.

You can keep your eyes open for any new, or unfamiliar insects in your area and report any sightings of concern. If you travel out-of-state, do not bring any fruits, vegetables, or plants back into Oregon unless they have been inspected. Do not bring untreated firewood into Oregon. If you are traveling in a car, RV, or with a boat, make sure you, or a border inspector checks thoroughly for egg masses, pupal cases, or mussels before re-entering the state.

Some insects may land on your house to warm in the sun or to seek refuge in cracks and crevices for the winter. The most noticeable insects that aggregate on houses in Oregon are the multicolored Asian ladybird beetle, cluster fly, grass bug, boxelder bug, and brown marmorated stink bug.

The ODA entomology laboratory can positively identify insect pests, including bedbugs. We do not engage in renter/landlord disputes or control measures, as these are not under our jurisdiction. You will need to find legal or other sources of help in resolving this problem.

Every person who owns five or more colonies of bees in Oregon is required to register the colonies with the Oregon Department of Agriculture. Annual apiary registration is $10 plus $0.50 per colony.

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Market Access

Go to USDA APHIS Application Access website. Select "New to this site?"

Please send the lab report number, lot number, and your requested update to seedservices@oda.state.or.us.

No, you must wait until your certification process is completed and you have proof of your certification from your certifier.

ODA offers official verification of seed processes. Please send written request using forms posted on our website.

Retail and wholesale licenses are required. Please call 503-983-4620 or email rblack@oda.state.or.us for more information.

See OAR 603-56-145 table 1 online. Please call 503-983-4620 for more information.

Everything! Many farm to school efforts start with schools purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables directly from neighboring farmers. Schools want fresh and minimally processed fruits and vegetables, as well as multi-ingredient menu items. Increasingly, schools are interested in locally produced grains, beef, and seafood.

It is at the discretion of each school to define local. In Oregon, some schools define local as within 20 miles, others within in the county, and some larger districts use "the Pacific Northwest" to include Oregon, and parts of Washington and Northern California.

Features over 30 fruit and vegetable categories as well as beef, poultry, pork, seafood, eggs, beans, grains, and dairy. When you search the Oregon Harvest for Schools Portal the only producers you’ll see in the directory are ones that have said they want to sell to schools. There is no login or profile needed.

Not all farms have to follow the requirements of the Produce Safety Rule. Very small farms and farms that sell to specific types of buyers may qualify for an exclusion or an exemption. Certain crops are also not covered by the Produce Safety Rule. You can visit ODA’s decision tool to check your farm’s status or contact the Produce Safety Team at produce.safety@oda.oregon.gov or 503-986-4620. 

The Produce Safety Rule is part of the Food Safety Modernization Act. It focuses on agricultural water, domestic and wild animals, biological soil amendments of animal origin, cleaning and sanitization of equipment, tools, and buildings, and worker health and hygiene. The goal of the Produce Safety Rule is to reduce foodborne outbreaks from consuming fresh produce.

All of the requirements under the rule are in effect, with the exception of the Agricultural Water portion (Subpart E). Thus, all farms subject to the Produce Safety Rule now must be following the requirements. FDA will be updating the water portion of the rule (Subpart E) in 2021, so this section is currently on hold. This means farms do not have to take water samples according to the rule until this section is finalized by FDA.

The Produce Safety Rule is a federal regulatory program. This means, if your facility is subject to the rule, there is no opting out. If a farm does a USDA Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) audit and is also subject to the Produce Safety Rule, the farm must follow the requirements of both. There are many third-party food safety audits beyond the USDA GAP audit. Even if your farm is participating in another audit like a PRIMUS, GlobalGAP, USDA Harmonized GAP, etc. you are required to follow the Produce Safety Rule and the other audit standards.

The rule requires employee training, record keeping, equipment cleaning and sanitizing, risk assessment, and monitoring activities. Farms that are subject to the rule will also have a routine FDA-led inspection. Covered farms are required to have at least one responsible party complete training on the rule. The best first step is to attend a Produce Safety Alliance Training.

ODA works with growers on a confidential basis to assist them with understanding how the Produce Safety rule applies on their farm. Technical assistance is voluntary, free and can be in-person, over the phone, or online. Contact the Produce Safety Team at produce.safety@oda.oregon.gov or at 503-986-4620 to find out more.

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Natural Resources

A Livestock Water Quality Specialist can help you determine whether your farm needs a CAFO permit. Check the Livestock Water Quality Specialist map to find the specialist for your area.

In Oregon, every dairy is required to have a Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) permit. The CAFO program regulates the manure and process wastewater generated on the farm.

Please contact the Oregon Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Division immediately at (503) 986-4700.

Sign up to receive email notification of all CAFO program public noticing opportunities.

Each circumstance is unique so it is best to contact your Livestock Water Quality Specialist to know what will happen with your farm. If the facility is in compliance and the operation and maintenance of the farm is the same, the new owner can apply to receive the same number of permitted animals.

Please contact your Livestock Water Quality Specialist immediately so he or she can set up a final facility inspection and complete the required documentation to cancel permit coverage.

Composting may require your Agricultural Water Management Plan (AWMP) to be updated. Please contact your Livestock Water Quality Specialist to determine steps needed to maintain permit compliance.

Any owner or operator of a CAFO operating without the permit is subject to a $500 civil penalty.

The CAFO annual report is due to ODA by March 15.

The annual CAFO permit fee is due June 30.

The annual report is available online.

"The concentrated feeding or holding of animals or poultry, including but not limited to horse, cattle, sheep, or swine feeding areas, dairy confinement areas, slaughterhouse or shipping terminal holding pens, poultry and egg production facilities and fur farms; (A) in buildings or in pens or lots where the surface has been prepared with concrete, rock or fibrous material to support animals in wet weather; (B) that have wastewater treatment works; or(C) that discharge any wastes into the waters of the state. "

Construction of manure storage facilities requires department approval in advance. Contact your Livestock Water Quality Specialist to determine what needs to be done before construction begins.

Local Fire Departments regulate backyard burning; interested parties should call them for information.

Call the Smoke Management Program, 503-986-4701.

Call the grower's line for the Smoke Management Program, 503-986-4755.

The smoke management complaint line is 503-986-4709.

Call the Smoke Management Program, 503-986-4701.

Oregon Department of Forestry regulates slash burning.

According to the Department of Environmental Quality, you can't burn tires (including tires to start a fire), plastics, decomposable garbage (organic material, paper), petroleum and petroleum treated materials, asphalt and asphalt treated materials, chemical (pesticides, cleaners, detergents) or any material that produces black or dense smoke.

A special control area is a place within three miles of a city boundary with a population greater than 1,000, but less than 45,000 people. It also is any area within six miles of a city with a population greater than 45,000 people.

Inside a special control area, you may burn: yard debris, such as wood, needles, or leaves from plants grown on the property. Outside of a special control area, construction waste (lumber, creates, etc.), demolition waste (includes land-clearing debris), and domestic waste (includes yard debris).

Your local Soil and Water Conservation District can help with agricultural water quality issues. Find your local Soil and Water Conservation District using the interactive map.

Agricultural water quality rules vary by management area. You can find the rules in your area by using the interactive map.

It is ODA's intent to work with producers to correct problems. Education and technical assistance is the focus of efforts by ODA and local SWCDs. There may be situations that require corrective action by operators. In cases when a farmer refuses to take action, the law allows ODA to use civil penalties, if necessary, to resolve the issue.

As an example, farmers with soil erosion problems are responsible for finding and implementing erosion prevention and sediment control methods to fit the farming operation. Methods might include planting cover crops on sloping lands, using conservation tillage, or providing a buffer of streamside vegetation. The choices are up to the operator as long as the goals set out in the overall Agricultural Water Quality Management rules are met. Most area plans include a list of best management practices appropriate for the region.

Each set of area plans and area rules are reviewed and open for public comment every two years.

It provides a mechanism for agriculture to address water issues in watersheds identified as water quality limited; it maintains flexibility for landowners to address site specific issues to meet overall water quality goals; it promotes coordinated planning and avoids "one size fits all" approaches; it helps landowners and others understand the cumulative effects and benefits of individual actions; it provides a forum to summarize and present the actions being taken by agriculture to overcome water quality problems resulting from agricultural activities.

Sediment from eroding croplands, pastures, and stream banks can cause silt in fish habitat and clog irrigation pipes. Erosion runoff from roads can degrade water quality. Pesticides and fertilizers from agricultural operations can enter waters used for drinking water, recreation, and fish and wildlife habitat. Bacteria and nutrient runoff from manure can pollute water used for drinking and recreation. Reducing streamside vegetation can increase bank erosion, destroy wildlife habitat, and contribute to increased water temperature that harms cold-water fish, as well as the insects they eat. Uncontrolled livestock access to streams can reduce streamside vegetation, erode streambanks and pollute water with manure.

Soil and Water Conservation Districts are local government agencies charged with directing programs to protect local renewable natural resources.

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Nursery and Christmas Tree

The Nursery and Christmas Tree Program issues four types of licenses: retail nursery license, greenhouse/herbaceous plant nursery license, wholesale nursery, and Christmas tree license. The retail nursery license is used by retail dealers, florists, and landscapers who do not grow or propagate plant material but instead sell plant material grown by other nurseries. Individuals growing or propagating plants in only a hothouse or greenhouse should select a greenhouse nursery license. A wholesale nursery is one that propagates or grows plants in the field or in pots and typically sells to other nurseries or landscapers. The wholesale nursery also might have greenhouses and one sales location. Growers of conifers intended for use as cut Christmas-trees must obtain a Christmas tree license.

A plant import permit is an official document listing requirements and restrictions from the receiving country. Please check with your area horticulturist for requirements. For detailed information, review our import permit information.

If you have a truck being held at an international border (e.g. Canada) and need assistance, a “Held Export” form must be filled out and faxed to 503-986-4786 or emailed to the ODA at Nursery@oda.state.or.us. For shipments being held at a state border contact the Nursery and Christmas Tree Program at 503-986-4644.

The brown garden snail (BGS), Cantareus aspersus (formerly Helix aspersa), is an exotic pest that feeds on a wide variety of plants, including cereals, vegetables, and ornamentals. Native to western Europe and the Mediterranean, BGS has spread throughout the world because of its use as a food source and the movement of infested nursery stock.

Licensees of nurseries and Christmas tree businesses should contact their nursery inspector for assistance in the identification of plant pests or pathogens. The ODA entomology staff do accept identification requests from the general public and their laboratory is located at our Salem office. We encourage the general public to contact the Oregon State University Plant Clinic for disease identification (https://bpp.oregonstate.edu/plant-clinic). The Oregon Department of Forestry (Urban Forestry & Forest Health) specialize in diagnosing tree diseases of common urban and forest species, respectively. Oregon State University Extension publishes The Pacific Northwest Management Handbooks, which are excellent resources on common pest & pathogens in our region (https://pnwhandbooks.org/). Please note that your local OSU Extension agent or Master Gardener are also excellent resources for pest & disease identification.

An Oregon shipping permit is a certificate issued by ODA that certifies the plant material is regularly inspected and found free of dangerous pests and diseases. Plant material shipped out of state must be accompanied by a shipping permit.

Phytosanitary Certification Issuance and Tracking, PCIT, is a web-based certification program administered by the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS). All exporters of nursery and Christmas tree stock are required to use the PCIT system to submit requests for state and federal phytosanitary certificates and other export certificates. For detailed information, review exporting plant material.

Recipients of nursery and Christmas tree stock imported into Oregon from any out-of-state source are required to notify the Oregon Department of Agriculture. Notifications can be made via: Mail: Oregon Department of Agriculture, 635 Capitol Street NE, Suite 100, Salem, Oregon 97301 Fax: 503-986-4786 Email: Quarantine@oda.state.or.us The notification must be received by the ODA no earlier than two business days before the arrival of the shipment and no later than two days after its arrival. Notification shall include: - Source of plants (Shipper’s contact information) - Recipient’s contact information - Species - Quantity

A phytosanitary certificate is a document issued by a certified state or federal official that verifies that plants have been inspected and are free from pests, pathogens, and invasive weeds of concern to the importing state or country. All applications for certificates must be done online through the PCIT system.

Ginseng is an endangered plant and it is regulated by an international treaty (CITES) to prevent over-harvest. Commercial sales and interstate movement of ginseng require certificates of origin. You can grow ginseng for personal use or direct-to-consumer sales, within the state, without a license. If, however, you want to grow and sell it wholesale, you need a license from the Oregon Department of Agriculture that costs $25 per year. Certificates of origin are supplied to licensees upon request and licensees must report harvest and sales figures, annually. Oregon’s ginseng management program rules are available under OAR 603-060.

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Pesticides and PARC

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has a Clean Water Act permit requirement for certain pesticide applications, in, over, or near waters of the state. A National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) pesticide general permit is required by a federal court order and is implemented in Oregon by the DEQ under an agreement with the EPA.

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Plant Conservation

You need to survey for listed plant species if your project is located on non-federal public land, and there is potential listed species habitat within the project impact area.

Depends on who you are, what you want to do, and where you want to do it. In general, if you are planning an activity that involves a listed plant or takes place on non-federal public land, check first with ODA.

Submit a complete petition with supporting documentation to the ODA Director's office.

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Plant Health

Licensees of nurseries and Christmas tree businesses should contact their nursery inspector for assistance in the identification of plant pests or pathogens. The ODA entomology staff do accept identification requests from the general public and their laboratory is located at our Salem office. We encourage the general public to contact the Oregon State University Plant Clinic for disease identification (https://bpp.oregonstate.edu/plant-clinic). The Oregon Department of Forestry (Urban Forestry & Forest Health) specialize in diagnosing tree diseases of common urban and forest species, respectively. Oregon State University Extension publishes The Pacific Northwest Management Handbooks, which are excellent resources on common pest & pathogens in our region (https://pnwhandbooks.org/). Please note that your local OSU Extension agent or Master Gardener are also excellent resources for pest & disease identification.

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Weeds

Review the Noxious Weed Control Program’s state noxious weed list and program site. Noxious weed lists for other states can be found on the National Plant Board Laws and Regulations website.

A plant designated by a governmental agency to be injurious to public health, agriculture, recreation, wildlife, or property, or specifically in Oregon: “a terrestrial, aquatic or marine plant designated by the State Weed Board…as among those representing the greatest public menace and as a top priority for action by weed control programs. (ORS 569.175)” Most noxious weeds are non-native plants that are serious pests causing economic loss and harm to the environment. Noxious weeds choke out crops, destroy range and pasture lands, clog waterways, affect human and animal health, and threaten native plant communities. ODA staff complete risk assessments on plants that are potential threats, then present the findings to the Oregon State Weed Board, which votes whether or not to add them to the noxious weed list.

For the most part, no. These plants have existed for centuries in their host county, but their populations have been kept to manageable levels naturally by other plant competition, insects, pathogens and a host of other predators. When plant populations in these countries of origin increase, insects and other predators increase accordingly to help keep them in check.

Most of Oregon’s least desirable weeds are of Mediterranean, European, and Asian origin. The introduction of non-native invasive plants has increased dramatically in the past decade because of the increased ease and speed of world travel and the expansion of global commerce. Local spread of noxious weeds can be natural by wind, water, and animals; but human activities such as, recreation, vehicle travel, and the movement of contaminated equipment, products, and livestock often greatly increase the distance and rate of dispersal.

Tansy does best when a winter drought was followed by a warm wet spring, which creates the conditions for seed germination. Tansy in Western Oregon is targeted for biocontrol and eradication in Eastern Oregon. Tansy has made a big comeback in some parts of the Willamette Valley. Tansy thrives where grazing, logging, or fire disproportionately restrict native plants. Tansy is often a symptom of overgrazing or rodent tillage opening room for seed bank germination.Seeds can still form if treatment is conducted during full bloom, wasting time and money. Treatments before bolting are best.

Yes, except for specific approved varieties listed on ODA’s Nursery Program page. If you planted your butterfly bush before it was listed (2004), you do not have remove it, but it is advisable to deadhead the plants after blooming to prevent the seeds from spreading whenever possible. Better yet, replace your butterfly bush with some native or non-invasive plants. Your local nurseries can help you choose a range of shrubs to replace your butterfly bush.

Try talking to your neighbors first to explain the importance of controlling weeds and share information from our noxious weed profiles with them to help explain the problem. If that is not helpful, you can check with your local government entities about codes or regulations that mandate weed control. Homeowner associations may also require members to control noxious weeds. Local Soil and Water Conservation Districts and Watershed Councils can be great resources to help educate neighbors and can sometimes provide control assistance as well. Property owners are required by law to report any Oregon “A”-listed noxious weed within 48 hours. ODA will work closely with them on developing a plan that they are comfortable with to control the “A” listed weeds, and can offer assistance at no cost.

Competitive grant funding is available for on-the-ground weed control projects through the Oregon State Weed Board, and must be for state listed noxious weeds. Each year online applications open in October, are due in December, and are awarded the following February.

Local ODA Noxious Weed Control specilists are experts in integrated weed management and are familiar to the counties and areas in which they serve. Additionally, there are other agencies or groups in Oregon that can help with your weed control questions. Be an active participant in preserving Oregon's natural resources by knowing the invasive plant fighters in your area.

ODA's Weedmapper is a tool that allows you to access mapped noxious weed distribution in the state. Follow the simple user guide see weed profiles and locations.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has a Clean Water Act permit requirement for certain pesticide applications, in, over, or near waters of the state. A National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) pesticide general permit is required by a federal court order and is implemented in Oregon by the DEQ under an agreement with the EPA.

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Weights and Measures

Complete the application, pay the fee, and complete the placed in service report.

If you are going to use your scale or meter commercially then you may need to license your device.

Fees are listed with the individual license type or Call the Weights & Measures Office, 503-986-4670.

Contact the Weights & Measures inspector in your area directly to schedule a test. Find a staff directory on our website or call Weights & Measures Office, 503-986-4670.

You may license a device that is legal for trade and has a valid NTEP certificate of conformance. It also must be suitable for the intended use.

Placed in Service means to install any weighing or measuring device used commercially or intended to be used commercially.

Call the Weights & Measures Office, 503-986-4670 for a list of service companies in your area.

All licenses with the Weights & Measures Program are issued July 1 and expire June 30 of the following year. License fees are not prorated.

We can email, fax, or mail one to you. Or, you can download a Placed in Service Report from our website.

The National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP) is an evaluation program administered by the National Conference on Weights & Measures. Type evaluation is the process whereby weighting and measuring devices are examined to determine whether the performance, operating characteristic, features, and options of a particular device complies with the NIST Handbook 44.

Weights & Measures Program licenses are transferable. Please send written notification of change of ownership to ODA Licensing.

Firewood complaints fall under the jurisdiction of Department of Justice.

Complete the required repair, fill out, and return the rejection tag. Your scale is approved for use. A re-inspection may occur to verify the repair.

Yes. Call and we can send you our brochure on recommended methods of sale. Or, you can download the brochure from our website.

Yes, if it is licensed and approved.

Yes, office staff can extend your tag for two weeks. If you need additional time, contact your inspector.