Dairy Prices Churn $133 Million in North Central Oregon

Dairy prices helped to push the value of production in North Central Oregon (Gilliam, Hood River, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Wasco, and Wheeler counties) to a record $133.3 million in 2008. The $36-million gain in 2008 came on the heels of a record $37.4-million increase in 2007.

The North Central Region's contribution to Oregon dairy production and sales continues to grow. The region contributed less than 1 percent of the state's dairy production in 2000, but by 2008, the fondue pot runneth over! The area contributed 27 percent of the state's production - and that's whey more. Or put yet another whey, the North Central Region churned out 66.4 percent of Oregon's overall gain since 2006.

Thank the cows - all 27,800 in 2008. Actually the herd is much larger - some are unemployed, on maternity leave or not yet ready for the workforce, and some have retired.

Read the full article, written by Dallas Fridley, to learn more about the dairy industry in North Central Oregon. Dallas is the Regional Economist for the Columbia Gorge area.