Final 1999 production numbers have been issued by the Oregon Agricultural Statistics Service. While the total number for Oregon agriculture and fisheries edged up, a closer look at the top ten commodities shows a mixed bag of results. The top ten list had contained the same commodities for 13 years. Only the rank order had changed. The industry overtook cattle and calves in 1994 and has never looked back.
Marketing is certainly the key as well as quality.
The continued success will depend a great deal on innovative marketing and quality. Once again, cattle and calves claimed the number two spot with an increase over 1998 production value numbers. Inventory numbers were high in the mid-90s with the supply of beef greater than the demand. Since then, producers have reduced herds and have had a pretty good rebound. While they aren't out of the woods, they are certainly doing better than five years ago.