Salem, OR – Today, Governor Tina Kotek directed the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) to pause farm stand rulemaking and reassess next steps.

Governor Kotek released the following statement with this announcement:

“I want to reassure farmers who have been anxious and frustrated about how proposed changes to existing rules regarding farm stand operations may affect their businesses that I hear you and am paying attention. Visiting the diverse agricultural communities across our state during my county visits on the One Oregon Listening Tour reinforced my understanding of what it means to be a farmer. We are one state, and while at times we may disagree, we are all connected by the same goals.

“We can support local farm businesses while also preserving Oregon’s historic land use system. This is not an either/or conversation. We need to acknowledge that some of our small and midsize farms need to maintain or consider different business models to continue to deliver the agricultural products and working farms we all value in Oregon. New models for financial sustainability do not have to be at odds with our values.

“Dialogue is critical to coming together and building understanding across sectors, and across regions. I have directed DLCD to pause the rulemaking process to allow for more conversations with all interested parties and the public on this really important agri-tourism issue.”

The announcement from DLCD can be found here.

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