Capital Press: Farmers insist subdividing threatens ag industries

February 16, 2007

SALEM - Oregon voters never saw this coming. And Oregon farmers are paying the price for this lack of foresight.

That was the message from a handful of farmers at a Measure 37 press conference held by 1000 Friends of Oregon on Feb. 13.

Susie Kunzman, an alpaca farmer from Molalla, Ore., said Measure 37 threatens to run her out of business. Kunzman is surrounded by Measure 37 claims, including two for housing subdivisions and one for a gravel quarry.

"I can't believe the people who voted for Measure 37 voted for subdivisions and gravel quarries," she said. "I certainly hope the Legislature will listen and put a time-out on this until we can decide what's fair."

The farmers said they believe Measure 37 proponents deceived Oregonians into believing the measure was about letting landowners build a house or two on farmland.

Instead, they said, the measure today is being used to develop subdivisions in farm country and to boost land prices.

All said they support Senate Bill 505, which places a hold on large Measure 37 claims and creates an express lane for single-dwelling claims.

"I feel we need to step back and take a look at Measure 37's effects on the agricultural community," said Richard Holcomb, a farmer-rancher from Douglas County.

Holcomb, who in recent years added acreage to his farm, doubts he could have expanded in the Measure 37 era, given that rural land prices have shot up. "I feel like Measure 37 is just like dangling a big carrot out there that people can't resist," he said.

Parkdale orchardist Mike McCarthy said Measure 37 threatens to undermine a valuable fruit industry in Hood River County - a county under heavy development pressure.

"It's not a dead industry," he said, countering claims it's hard to make a living growing pears. "It's a growing and very viable fruit industry. But if Measure 37 stands as it is, Oregon will lose this very valuable fruit industry."

Sydney Blaine, a Hood River County orchardist who is surrounded by Measure 37 claims, said the effects of Measure 37 extend well beyond land proposed for development.

Blaine said she's worried about farming around houses. "I don't know that the people of Oregon when they voted for Measure 37 understood how difficult it is to farm when you're surrounded by houses," she said. "Frankly, it's impossible."

Peter Kenagy, a processed vegetable and grass seed farmer from Albany, said Measure 37 ultimately threatens Oregon agriculture. "Compromising our land base for the sake of a windfall profit for a few is a very shortsighted thing to do," he said.

Mitch Lies is based in Salem. His e-mail address is mlies@capitalpress.com.

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