Oregon
Oregon has proposed improvements to farmworker housing. Advocates say they aren’t enough
![Oregon has proposed improvements to farmworker housing. Advocates say they aren’t enough Oregon has proposed improvements to farmworker housing. Advocates say they aren’t enough](https://opb-opb-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/62JCDKHBL5B55NGC34NZNMUHEU.jpg?auth=f87bc943c631cf5242b43ce8587b286bf33377f17695c0399b70b73a64ead8d9&width=1200&height=675&smart=true)
After years of negotiations, Oregon’s Occupational Safety and Health Division, or Oregon OSHA, released a set of proposed changes that will tighten health and safety standards in farmworker housing.
Some farmworker advocacy groups say the proposed changes fall short of what they were asking for. At the same time, groups representing farm owners say the rules go too far, and will likely put an undue financial burden on employers and could lead to a reduced workforce during peak harvest seasons.
This undated image supplied by the Oregon Law Center shows a farmworker housing unit next to an orchard at a Wasco County farm. Farmworker advocates say they’ve asked Oregon OSHA to require houses be a certain distance away from fields out of caution from pesticide drift.
Courtesy of Oregon Law Center
Oregon farmworker housing standards are “alarmingly outdated”, according to advocates. The last time Oregon OSHA received input from farmworker groups and growers was in 2008 during a rulemaking process.
The office did make adjustments to housing standards in 2018 and during the COVID pandemic, according to Mark Peterson, the public information and communications director at the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, which houses Oregon OSHA. Farm owners usually recruit seasonal or year-round workers to harvest or do other labor that may not be possible with machine equipment. Martha Sonato, a state legislative and policy advocate for Oregon Law Center, said workers, many of whom are Latino, tend to live in owner-provided housing because it’s more affordable than renting nearby.
As of August, there were 508 registered farmworker housing sites, according to Oregon OSHA. Advocates say those housing units vary in living conditions, but they say a lot of the buildings lack flushable indoor toilets, proper food storage or cooking facilities. Sonato says some of them don’t have laundry machines and some tend to be overcrowded.
“Everybody deserves a place that is healthy and safe and that they can live with dignity,” Sonato said. “And unfortunately our housing market is so unaffordable that it really leaves a lot of people with very limited options.”
‘We are souls in the dark’: Farmworkers share Oregon housing challenges in new state report
Some of the improvements Sonato said they’ve asked for include updates to electrical, septic, water and plumbing systems in employer-provided housing. Sonato also said they’ve asked the agency to require that housing be located a certain distance away from fields and potential pesticide drift.
“In agricultural labor housing, we do have families with children that are playing outside and there is that possibility that they may be exposed to pesticide,” Sonato said.
Improvements aimed at protecting agricultural workers
Oregon OSHA attempted to address shortcomings of farmworker housing earlier this month, when officials released a draft of proposed changes. The draft updated requirements for farmworker housing, such as including private changing rooms near showers. The proposal would require farm owners to test drinking water for arsenic and nitrates and increase the number of sinks and toilets per person.
The office has also suggested creating a seasonal agricultural labor housing surveying program to increase Oregon OSHA’s ability to evaluate housing conditions. But that would hinge on a budget request from lawmakers during the 2025 state legislative session.
Heat wave puts Oregon farmworkers in tough financial position, advocates say
While Sonato said she appreciates some of the changes, she said the proposed updates fall short of what she and other farmworker advocacy groups were asking for.
For instance, she takes issue with the number of toilets provided. The draft rules call for one toilet per 10 occupants, the rules also allow for portable toilets. Farmworker groups also disagree with the requirements around kitchens, which still allow for them to be outdoors, provided they are screened. There’s also no mention of requiring the houses be built away from fields.
This undated image, provided by the Oregon Law Center, was taken by a farmworker outreach worker during a routine visit to a Wasco County farm. Advocates point to the makeshift outdoor kitchen with gas burners as an example of inadequate facilities to prepare food, and something they’re urging Oregon OSHA to address.
Courtesy of Oregon Law Center
“It’s a missed opportunity,” Sonato said. “As a state, we can always be more protective, even if in other states, we don’t see rules that are what we would consider strong.”
On the other hand, Jenny Dresler, a spokesperson with Oregon Farm Bureau, an advocacy group for farmers and ranchers, said farm owners see eye-to-eye with advocates on some of the changes.
“That was our goal throughout this whole process,” she said. “Our other goal was to make sure that this was feasible and could be implemented. And that we weren’t further shuttering family farms.”
However, Dresler said many of the changes are ambiguous. She said the requirements that are clear, like providing 50 square feet of space per bunkbed in a bedroom, up from 40 square feet, will be costly, and likely lead to a reduction in the available housing stock, which would lead to fewer workers.
“With Oregon’s regulatory landscape, it’s not like you can go and rebuild that housing, especially when you’re in an orchard or when you’re surrounded by other farms or when there is no community based housing available in the area,” Dresler said. “So it’s not like you just have an opportunity to go and rebuild that housing.”
A tale of 2 workers: Heat deaths on the job provoke differing responses in Oregon, Idaho
While Oregon OSHA will plan to make $5 million available through the Oregon Department of Agriculture to assist farm owners, Dresler said that’s a drop in the bucket.
“Five million dollars and as we know, in 2024 does not go nearly as far as you would need,” she said. “And so it’s going to be really important that the agency understands the total universe of costs that have been proposed in the draft.’
Oregon OSHA is making plans to hold a public hearing on the proposed changes both in English and Spanish, but the agency hasn’t scheduled it yet. If the proposed changes are approved, they will be phased in through 2027.
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Oregon
Could Quarterback Dante Moore Be Oregon Ducks’ Next Bo Nix?
![Could Quarterback Dante Moore Be Oregon Ducks’ Next Bo Nix? Could Quarterback Dante Moore Be Oregon Ducks’ Next Bo Nix?](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3428,h_1928,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/ducks_digest/01j5rt0vbtnqk5ty490r.jpg)
Losing a starting quarterback is likely a death sentence for any college football team. For example, last season’s Florida State Seminoles’ season quickly imploded after quarterback Jordan Travis suffered a season-ending leg injury. The Seminoles went from National Title hopeful to College Football Playoff rejectee in one play, culminating with a 63-3 loss to Georgia in the Orange Bowl.
While the Oregon Ducks would love to keep the Heisman frontrunner Dillon Gabriel upright all season… Here is a case that Oregon will be in great hands if they have to test the depth of the quarterback room. Out of all the magic Oregon Ducks coach Dan Lanning worked this offseason in the portal and on the recruiting trail, signing transfer quarterback Dante Moore may have been his biggest get.
Moore was a heralded five-star recruit from Detroit, Michigan. The No. 4 overall recruit from 247Sports 2023 recruiting class was committed to Oregon up until the very end. UCLA pried Moore away, presumably with playing time promises that Oregon couldn’t offer to him as a freshman.
Moore wasn’t the full-time starter, but appeared in nine games for the Bruins in 2023. His freshman struggles forced then UCLA coach Chip Kelly to play musical chairs at the quarterback position throughout the season. Moore finished the year with 1,610 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
Following his up-and-down freshman year, Moore decided to enter the transfer portal. Even after sixth-year quarterback Dillon Gabriel joined Oregon, Moore did what he wouldn’t do out of high school: commit to the Ducks despite staring at a backup role.
Did Moore’s struggles in Westwood make him realize he needed a year to learn and develop? Did Oregon offer him enough NIL money to embrace his new role? It’s unclear why the quarterback took his talents to Eugene this time around. What is clear, however, is that the Ducks will be in good hands if he’s needed this season.
Oregon may have its best backup quarterback ever in Moore. Had he committed to the Ducks out of high school, he would have been one of the highest-rated recruits in school history. I don’t think that freshman-year struggles should change the narrative on him. Playing the position as a freshman, in a talented Pac-12 Conference, often with inferior talent surrounding him, is an extreme challenge for anyone.
Now, Moore gets a fresh start in Eugene and can learn from a sixth-year quarterback in Dillon Gabriel and his offensive coordinator / quarterbacks coach, Will Stein. He can do it all without the urgency of starting day one.
“Overall, going through fall camp, I’m way more comfortable,” said Moore, “Checking calls, checking protections — I’m just feeling more comfortable from what Coach Stein has taught us.”
“He’s still learning and growing in our system,” Stein said.”But he’s at a point now where I feel really good about his progress.”
Former Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix began his career in similar fashion as Moore. Like Moore, Nix was a 5-star recruit thrust into action right away against elite competition and faced some struggles at Auburn. Nix blossomed as a Duck to become a Heisman Trophy finalist and NFL first round draft pick. Moore certainly has enough talent to duplicate that level of success.
Oregon may have secured its long-term quarterback of the future and the most talented backup quarterback it has ever had in Moore.
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Oregon
Oregon Ducks Matthew Bedford Injury: Who Will Start At Right Guard?
![Oregon Ducks Matthew Bedford Injury: Who Will Start At Right Guard? Oregon Ducks Matthew Bedford Injury: Who Will Start At Right Guard?](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_2947,h_1657,x_0,y_648/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/ducks_digest/01j5s8vr3rcrzzkg5n35.jpg)
For many athletes, their sports career can take them great lengths. Senior offensive lineman Nishad Strother isn’t a stranger to a journey, whether he’s transferring to the University of Oregon from East Carolina University going into his junior year, or battling an acromioclavicular injury to the shoulder that kept him out from all but five of Oregon’s games during the 2023 season.
Now the lineman, who primarily takes reps at left and right guard, is ready to make the next jump in his journey: starting for Oregon this season.
Nishad’s versatility will be needed as projected right guard Duck starter Matthew Bedford, will be out for a projected significant amount of time this season with a knee injury.
“You hate to see a guy get hurt, especially Matt. He’s been a good guy for our room and all that. Hate to see him go down. It’s next man up mentality, always. So, I hope he comes back soon enough. But you know, next man up for now,” Strother said.
Getting back to the field after such a painful injury can be quite the challenge, as Strother elaborated. He assures that he’s back to one hundred percent as he’s vying for a top roster spot.
“Yeah, I was in a pretty tough spot last year, you know, dealing with the shoulder injury, you know, and kind of regressing a little bit from all the progress that I had made,” Strother said. “I was in a tough spot mentally, honestly, but you know, I had some good guys around me, and, you know, I’m happy to be back and healthy this year. So we’ll see what happens.”
“I do. I feel back to normal,” Strother said. “The rehab was a long process in the beginning. The AC was something I had never dealt with before. Kind of different, you know, grade three, so it was pretty significant. So dealing with that firstly, or like when it first happened, was kind of difficult, but it’s back to normal now for the most part.”
Being out for a long time can especially be taxing for a line position, as keeping a lineman physique can arguably be even more time-consuming and strategic than skill positions. Maintaining that balance of mass and muscle with explosive agility for release from a three point can be almost impossible with an injury. Building back that physicality and preparing to move big bodies can be a daunting task, as Strother explained.
“Honestly, it took me a while to, you know, throw a punch again, because you don’t want to re aggravate it, you know. But you know, you have to put yourself back, back out there at some point. So, you know, just kind of throw yourself back into the fire and help everything. You trust your rehab, trust your trainers, and everything will be alright,” Strother said.
Strother’s transition back to the trenches truly came to fruition during spring training. During his five game appearances last season, Strother saw 55 snaps with 22 coming from Oregon’s contest versus the Arizona State Sun Devils.
“A little bit during spring ball, you know, I was out there throwing my hands around a little bit. Felt like I was getting back to my old self so it was good to feel,” Strother said.
Strother could be a real asset to the big bodies up front. As an all-season starter for ECU, Strother earned a 72.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus and helped clear gaps for the starting quarterback to throw over 3,000 passing yards.
Strother said he’s comfortable with either side of the interior line. A lot of that trust lies within the choice for center, the heartbeat of any trench. To Strother, the versatility in mastering multiple positions in the trenches Duck offensive lineman are known for still stands.
“Charlie Pickard, Iapani “Poncho” Laloulu, Kanen Rossi even. Yeah, I’m comfortable with all those guys [who] are really smart. Know the playbook in and out. So I think we’re solid at center as well,” Strother said.
One of the most tenured groups as far as returning Ducks, the offensive line is set to be fairly strong this year. The biggest departure from last seasons’ 2023 class was center Jackson Powers-Johnson who was drafted second round to the Las Vegas Raiders. According to Strother, that leadership hole has been filled by walk-on Charlie Pickard. The former Sheldon High School lineman walked on to Oregon after being inspired by former Ducks’ center Ryan Walk, who is now an assistant coach with the Ducks.
“I think Charlie’s the leader of our room, honestly,” Strother said. “He’s been here for a long time. He runs a lot of our player-led stuff. I love Charlie to death. I think he’s really the backbone of our room. So Charlie is that guy for me, for sure. He’s a walk on, you know? So, I mean, he deserves everything he’s getting now. the recognition, you know, the rotations, Charlie, deserves it all.”
Focusing more on Oregon’s fall camp, linemen are typically off doing their own thing when it comes to drills. Strother added that the level of talent on the defensive line has added to his own preparation for the season.
“I love going against them. They’re going to make us great,” Strother said. “Yeah, it’s really battles every day, you know, little smack talking here and there. But those are really good players that I think they’re going to be great for us.”
And the addition of two fields for practice, creating two spots, has made far more athletes get much needed reps. Strother claims the line is no exception.
“We got two spot in practice. I think it helps with the conditioning. You know, two groups on each field. So, you know, a lot of the young guys get reps, the older guys get reps. You know, everybody watches each other, you know, conditioning, development, mentally, all that. I think it helps a lot,” Strother said.
Strother said that even the young blood is impressing him in the trenches. But right now, all this group is thinking about is the amount of pancakes they can put up during their introductory season to the Big Ten Conference.
“We’re chomping at the bit,” Strother said. “But, you know, just a few more days, you know, I think it’s 10 now, but yeah, we’ll be out there soon.”
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Oregon
US/Oregon: Wildfires Threaten Pregnancies
![US/Oregon: Wildfires Threaten Pregnancies US/Oregon: Wildfires Threaten Pregnancies](https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/styles/opengraph/public/media_2024/08/202408us_oregon_wildfires_helicopter.jpg?h=191e3811&itok=-CyXmEz0)
- Air pollution and stress from wildfires is on the rise with specific harms for maternal health, but experiences from Oregon indicate that public health officials are not doing enough to reach pregnant people with vital health hazard information.
- It’s crucial for state and federal governments to address the environmental harms to pregnancy that intersect with racism and unfairness in income, quality housing, and safe work.
- Federal, state, and local governments should prioritize disproportionately affected communities and include these groups in planning how to reach the people who can most benefit from the information.
(Washington, DC) – Air pollution from wildfires is on the rise, but experiences from Oregon indicate that public health officials are not doing enough to provide education and resources to pregnant people. Human Rights Watch, an international human rights advocacy organization, and Nurturely, an organization that promotes equity in perinatal wellness, said today. Officials are not listening to the needs and experiences of pregnant people most at risk of exposure and enabling trusted community health workers to provide localized, actionable advice.
The 78-page report, “Reproductive Rights in the US Wildfire Crisis: Insights from Health Workers in Oregon State,” finds that the US government needs to do more to address the growing threat wildfires pose to maternal and newborn health, particularly in marginalized communities. The organizations documented the impacts of recent wildfires on maternal and newborn health in the state of Oregon, drawing on the experiences of community health workers and maternal health providers, among others.
“Pregnancy health and wellbeing is at risk in the US, with deep and painful unjust inequities between communities,” said Aver Yakubu, program director at Nurturely. “We’re living in the climate crisis now and it’s crucial for state and federal governments to address the effects of environmental harms on pregnancy that intersect with systemic racism factors, such as economic inequities that dictate whether someone can temporarily leave a smokey area or not, quality housing, and safe work environments.”
Wildfires, including increasingly common megafires, hazardous smoke, and extreme heat, have been on the rise in part because of drier, hotter conditions due to climate change. The recent trend of increasingly damaging fires in closer proximity to inhabited areas is predicted to continue: Oregon state health officials said in July that, in Oregon, levels of harmful “particulate matter, or PM2.5, from wildfire smoke are expected to double or triple by the end of the century.” PM2.5 is associated with worse maternal and newborn health in many studies.
Human Rights Watch and Nurturely interviewed more than 50 maternal health providers including doctors, doulas, midwives, and community health workers in Oregon – a state greatly affected by wildfires – as well as public health officials and scientists.
Findings showed that trusted community-based health workers, including doulas and midwives, are important but under-supported in providing information and protective strategies. They found that some communities struggle to find and use public health information, like advice on when and how to use air filters on high-risk, low-air-quality wildfire smoke days. Pregnant people and other at-risk groups should be included in planning how to reach the groups who can most benefit from the information.
Wildfire exposure is associated with adverse birth outcomes such as preterm birth, a major cause of infant death in the US, that can also cause lifelong physical and mental health harm. Preterm birth rates have increased in recent years in the US and, like low birth weight and infant mortality rates, are twice as high for Black mothers, for example, than white mothers. Maternal and newborn health are threatened by the climate crisis in other ways too. For example, studies on exposure to extreme heat have found associations not only with preterm birth, but also still birthand maternal health complications. A recent study found wildfire exposure and extreme heat together could have a bigger harmful impact on pregnancy. Toxic chemicals in wildfire smoke have also been found, in other studies, to be associated with maternal health problems such as hypertension.
The groups said state and federal authorities should adopt a reproductive justice approach to providing support services. Pregnant people, including those on public health insurance like Medicaid, should have access to air filters and air conditioning units, and receive assistance leaving areas with low air quality as needed. Additionally, workplace safety rules for periods of high heat and smoke should be improved.
“Online advice about hazardous air pollution is more accessible and actionable to a middle-class person who speaks English or Spanish, is already concerned and knows where to look, and who can afford air filters and to stay at home on the worst days,” said Skye Wheeler, senior researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The situation is very different for a pregnant person whose rental home leaks smoke, or who lives in a tent, or who must work in smoke and heat.”
The groups also found that maternal mental health was at risk in wildfire events, and that healthcare providers were also adversely impacted as they were left to figure out how to protect themselves and family as well as their patients. Wildfires also meant that pregnant people missed out on pre- or postnatal care and were sometimes not able to give birth where they wanted.
Community-based doula care can provide global majority communities with culturally appropriate support and allyship for pregnant people, and is also associated with improved birth outcomes. Research by a group of maternal health organizations found that doulas are concerned about climate impacts, are already providing some information and advice to their clients, and want to be better resourced to be able to do more. US states are increasingly providing Medicaid coverage for doula care to improve the affordability of their services, but most still do not.
The US also needs to do more to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, including by beginning a fair and equitable phase-out of the fossil fuel industry, the groups said. The US is the world’s biggest oil and gas producer and accounts for the greatest share – more than one third – of all planned global oil and gas expansion through 2050.
“There is no way to adapt our way out from the health harm of wildfires without transitioning from the fossil fuel and petrochemical industry,” Yakubu said. “But pregnant people should be able to equitably access information about hazards from wildfire smoke, and what protections are available for them and the next generation.”
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