Oregon is home to a vast and diverse agriculture industry, producing over 220 different commodities each year. Oregon consistently ranks as one of the country’s top producers of hazelnuts, grass seed, Christmas trees, pears, onions, and berries, among other commodities.
History
Long before surveyed boundaries existed to create what has come to be known as Oregon, thousands of indigenous peoples, speaking scores of different languages, lived in harmony with nature here.
All the elements of modern-day Oregon's agriculture — from its diversity and abundance to its trade value and processing — were present in one form or another some 200 years ago when Meriwether Lewis and William Clark took their bold journey into the unknown west as part of an expedition that shaped the future of the United States.
For Oregon's Centennial of Statehood in 1959, the Oregon Historical Society created a program to honor families who have maintained a working farm continuously for 100 years or more.
Known as the
Century Farm Program, more than 1,100 farms in Oregon have now been enrolled.
Read more about the
history of Oregon agriculture.
Statistics & Facts
Oregon leads the nation in hazelnut and grass seed production, earning the nickname of “Grass Seed Capital of the World.” The state consistently ranks as a top producer of Christmas trees, berries, onions, sweet cherries, hops, and potatoes within the United States. Greenhouse and nursery stock is Oregon’s highest earning commodity, with a value of production of over $1.2 billion in 2022.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, produces several reports and publications detailing the latest statistics and trends in Oregon agriculture.
For more information on agricultural statistics, contact Dave Losh (dave.losh@usda.gov) at
Oregon NASS.
Teacher Resources & School Programs
It has never been more important for students and teachers to understand agriculture and all that it does for our communities around the state. Farmers, ranchers, and fishermen produce the food that’s served on our tables and the fibers that form the clothes we wear.
Explore the following publications, programs, and resources aimed at increasing students’ knowledge and understanding of Oregon’s agriculture industry.
Resources
About ODA
About Oregon agriculture