Bill > HB2228

This bill establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for brassica seed crop production in the Willamette Valley Protected District, a specific geographic area in Oregon. The bill defines key terms such as "brassica seed crop" (which includes several types of brassica plants like canola) and "isolation distance" (three miles between field edges). The State Department of Agriculture is authorized to create a registration system for brassica seed producers, requiring them to register before growing crops and maintain specific isolation distances between fields. Producers must either own both fields, manage both fields, or enter into a written "isolation distance exception agreement" with other producers to grow brassica seed crops closer together. The bill establishes civil penalties for violations, ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 depending on the severity of the infraction, and allows the department to prohibit producers from growing brassica seed crops in the protected district for up to five years. The bill also includes provisions for resolving disputes between producers when isolation distances cannot be maintained, such as using a random selection method to determine which producer can grow crops in a particular field. The legislation declares an emergency, meaning it takes effect immediately upon passage, and aims to provide clear guidelines for brassica seed crop production while protecting agricultural interests in the Willamette Valley.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB2228