Blackberries are one of Oregon's specialty crops, which will be part of a forum on the new farm bill today co-hosted by Congresswoman Darlene Hooley.

Don Currie, Statesman-Journal

Congresswoman Darlene Hooley, D-West Linn, will co-host a forum on the upcoming federal farm bill today from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Northwest Viticulture Center, Pinot Noir Room, 215 Doaks Ferry Road NW. Hooley's co-host for the event is Dennis Cardoza, D-California, the chairman of the House of Representatives Agriculture Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture.

"This farm bill represents a significant opportunity to keep Oregon specialty crops competitive, and I want to ensure it's crafted with Oregon's best interests in mind," Hooley said.

Oregon produces much of the United States' blackberries, hazelnuts, and black raspberries and over half of the nation's seeds for ryegrass, orchard grass, sugar beets and crimson clover. Oregon produces one-third of the nation's Christmas trees and peppermint. Oregon's top agricultural commodity is nursery crops, worth more than $860 million annually. The most recent data values Oregon agricultural production at more than $4 billion a year.