Measure 49: Addressing the Threat of Measure 37 Development to Oregon Farms 10/18/2007

Oregon is a state deeply connected to its farmland. Oregon has 40,000 farm businesses, primarily family-owned. And urban Oregonians are increasingly connected to local agriculture as they express ever-stronger interest in locally-grown foods. Unfortunately, Measure 37 claims propose to develop housing on more than 500,000 acres of farm land, nearly 40% more than the largest amount of farm land lost in any 5-year period since 1982. On average, Oregon lost about 165,000 acres of farm land in each five-year period between 1982 and 2002—Measure 37 claims thus total more than three times the average amount of land lost in a five-year period.

Measure 49: Protecting Oregon's Wine Country 9/26/2007

More than 100,000 acres of Oregon's best potential vineyard lands are currently under claims for development of subdivisions, gravel pits, and other projects because of Measure 37. These developments constitute a serious threat to Oregon's $1.6 billion wine industry. Measure 49, a ballot measure before Oregon voters on November 6, would protect these high-value vineyard lands, as well as other farm and forest lands, from damaging development.