Oregon's top ten list has contained the same commodities for several years. However, the order of the top ten fluctuates from year to year. In 1997, hay and cattle and calves jumped a slot or two while grass seed and wheat dropped down. But that is deceiving. The value of grass seed actually increased even though the commodity dropped two spots.
Hazelnuts are alternate year bearing crops and they seem to have a big crop every other year.
It was a record high production for hazelnuts in 1997. The final 1997 statistics also show which counties depend on agriculture for a major share of its economy. The top ten list contains the same counties as before this year, but the rankings have changed a bit. Five of Oregon's top six agricultural producing counties are within an hour's drive of the Portland metropolitan area. Final numbers for 1998 won't be tabulated until next year at this time.