Daily challenges of production management and the vagaries of weather are only part of their charge. Producers face a narrow financial margin. As stewards of much of Oregon's water and land resources, Oregon producers shoulder a large burden of maintaining these resources for present and future generations of farmers and ranchers. Presently, growers are learning more about state and federal clean water mandates and developing basin plans and farm plans for water quality improvement. ODA has seven regional planners working with growers and local citizens and organizations all over Oregon in this effort.
Most farmers have a high school level education or less.
Most producers also participate in continuous educational seminars and classes to learn about the latest technologies, equipment, research, and best management practices. Most farmers receive federal subsidies. Milk prices historically were supported through government purchases of surplus product. These price support programs have played an important role in price stability of otherwise volatile international market prices. However, by 2002, all federal support programs will be phased out across the nation.