EDITOR’S NOTE: The way the rules are currently written in HB 4153, could impact many of the farm stands in Tillamook County and is counter-productive for encouraging locally produced farm products sold directly to the consumer. Brickyard Farms, one of our favorite farm stands, produces thousands of pounds of produce on ONE ACRE. Please contact your state representative and follow the prompts below to submit testimony as soon as possible.

Although many folks in the FoFF community are excited at the prospect of having more freedom to host events at their farmstands, FoFF cannot support a bill that would take away opportunities from small and beginning farmers.

This bill contains a provision that states that a parcel zoned EFU of for Farm and Forest use cannot have a farmstand unless:

• The parcel is 80 acres or more and has at least 45 acres in production
• The parcel is 40-79.99 acres and has at least 25 acres in production
• The parcel is 20-39.99 acres and has at least 15 acres in production
• Is less than 20 acres and either

• Has at least 10 acres in production, or
• Has cumulative gross sales of at least

• $40,000 (in the current text) or
• $10,000 (in the proposed amendments -1, and -2) from farm products in the last 2 years.

This would close existing farm stands who are following the law right now but are too small to meet these requirements. This bill replaces all current language around farm stands implying that folks with an honesty system stand at the end of their driveway with garden overflow (zucchinis in august, a couple pints of berries, or a sign saying eggs $6!) would be outlawed by this approach. Why are we giving more privileges to large land owners and telling small operations that they are not allowed to have a farm stand?

There is so much more going into this, you can read our whole position here. We want to find solutions for farmers to diversify their income, but limiting who is allowed to participate in farm stands/stores because of their size is counter to the community food system. Why are we penalizing small farmers for not being able to afford more land, being early on in their farm business journey, or telling folks that they aren’t allowed to gather the community at their farm because they are small?

 

Join us to oppose HB 4153 and demand a more inclusive solution. Oregon communities love their small, home grown farm stands and we don’t want to sacrifice them for the ability of a few larger land owners to host more events. A solution for Oregon’s farm stands should uplift us all.

Testimony Instructions – DEADLINE 2/6/26 @ 1PM

You have the chance to raise your voice and demand a more fair solution. There is a hearing for this proposal on 2/4/26 in the Oregon State House Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water. You can submit written testimony up to 48 hours after the hearing. We want to make sure that the members of this committee hear from small farms and community members who would lose access to beloved farm stands or be excluded by this bill.

Here is how you submit written testimony:

1. Go to this link
2. Select HB 4153
3. Enter your information
4. Select OPPOSE on the position on this measure
5. Use this template to write up your statement. You can either copy and paste it into the text box, or make a copy and download it as a PDF to submit.

PLEASE CUSTOMIZE THIS TEMPLATE IN THE FIELDS MARKED IN YELLOW! Testimony with your personal story is much more effective than a boiler plate statement. Tell these legislators how you feel!

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Co-Chairs Helm and Owens, Vice-Chair Finger McDonald, and members of the House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water:

My Name is NAME and I am a FARMER/RANCHER/COMMUNITY MEMBER/FARM STAND OPERATOR in TOWN. I am writing to you today to express my opposition to HB 4153. Farm stands are a vital part of connecting the public with our food system and building an understanding of what it takes to go from field to fork. But HB 4153 would restrict who is allowed to have a farm stand, replace current definitions with Farm Stores, and give large land owners privileges at the expense of small farm stands in Oregon. We need to find a better solution.

I care about this because

Consider answering some of these questions or using these statements as a jumping off point in your testimony:

• I operate or frequently go to a farm stand that would not meet the acreage requirements in section 2.2 of the bill.
• Small farms need to have the same opportunities to sell their produce as larger farms.
• Why is small farming important to you? What is the value of small operations in your community?
• Why should large acreage farmers gain privileges at the expense of smaller acre farmers?
• Why should a small farm be any less legitimate than a large farm when it comes to defining farm use?
• What do farm stands do for your farm business or community?
• What does it mean for you, your farm and your community if the primary purpose of a farm stand becomes agritourism events, not the sale of farm products?

We are asking you to not have a higher burden on the smallest farms. This bill takes away opportunities from small land holders and farms in order for larger operations to be able to host more events. This is not a good bargain for Oregon and a better deal must be found.

Thank you,

Include your NAME and ADDRESS