Advocacy is OMGA’s #1 Goal for 2026

OSU Extension Needs Your Help

Calling All Extension Master Gardener Volunteers!

This is the latest update from Heidi Luquette, Director Extension External Relations for OSU, on Advocacy for OSU Extension Statewide.

Over the past two months OSU Extension has been holding meetings with legislators in their districts across the state. In many of these meetings we have included local Master Gardener program volunteers. Volunteers have done a wonderful job sharing the impact of their work in each district. The Seed to Supper program and partnerships with food banks have been especially well received. We are grateful for their support and participation. We plan to continue to meet with legislators through the session, which will run February 2 through  March 8.

I also want to thank OMGA for signing on to the Coalition letter that was sent to the Co-Chairs. The letter garnered media attention by the Capitol Press who ran the following story, Ag groups seek to stop $7 million in OSU statewide program cuts. 

The Joint Ways and Means Committee Co-Chairs are working now on the budget reductions that will be voted on in February (see background information below). It is important that they hear from a diverse group of supporters from across the state. The February 4, economic forecast will be the determining factor for what the co-chairs recommend for reductions. Between now and February 4 is a critical time.

How the OMGA can help

    1. Email your legislators and encourage everyone you know to do the same. Here is a link
      to a letter template sponsored by the OSU Foundation that you can customize with your
      personal experience. When you enter your address, it will select the appropriate
      legislators for your district. These letters will also all go to the co-chairs.
    2. Attend your legislator’s town halls and community meetings. If you can’t attend, send
      them an email saying, I am sorry I couldn’t be there, here is what I would like you to
      know…
    3. Meet with your legislators. Share with them why Extension is important to you, your
      community, and our state.
    4. Ask your legislators who are supportive to reach out to the Joint Ways and Means
      Committee Co-Chairs and voice their concerns about disproportionate funding
      reductions for Extension and the OSU Statewide Public Service Programs.

Background informationIn response to recent economic forecasts, state agencies — including the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) — have been asked to provide potential budget reductions to the Legislature. In February, during the legislative short session, legislators will be enacting budget reductions based on the proposals.  Unfortunately, the HECC has proposed a disproportionate cut for OSU Statewides compared to other agencies or the university.

 

    • Under a 5% agency budget reduction scenario, HECC has proposed cutting OSU
      Statewides by 7.1%.
    • The OSU Statewides — OSU Extension Service, Oregon Agricultural Experiment
      Station, and Oregon Forest Research Laboratory — are essential parts of Oregon’s
      educational and economic ecosystem and should not and cannot take a
      disproportional cut.
    • Reductions at this level disproportionately harm rural communities, impact public service
      programs in the metro area, weaken Oregon’s natural resource industries and remove
      critical support for farms, forests, fisheries, youth and families.

How You Can Help!

Get Involved TODAY!

To see a list of options for interacting and engaging with your legislators open this document.

Recap of Underfunding in Master Gardener Program

Maintaining Continued Service Level is critical for OSU Extensions’ core mission and services provided to our communities. Each year, it costs just a little more to keep all the OSU Extension programs and services operating and functioning. Without fully- funded CSL, the Master Gardener Program may once again face  staffing and service shortages.

In both the 2017-2019 and 2021-2023 biennium Budgets, CSLs for OSU Extension faced deficits which led to prolonged vacancies in staff and other support  positions within the MG Program.

In the 2023-2025 budget year OSU Statewides, with the help from Master Gardeners, secured the necessary funding to restore $2.2M for CSL, and allowed Extension to hire 12 new Master Gardener program faculty and staff. However, out of the 2023-2025 Budget request of $206M, OSU Statewides only received $183.7M, thus creating a shortfall of $17.5M to further fund necessary Extension services and programs.

See How Our Statewides are Funded for better understanding of OSU Extension funding.

Understanding the Legislative Path of a Budget Bill

  • The Legislative session began in January 2025, and budgets were discussed by our lawmakers.
  • In February, the Office of Economic Analysis usually produces another Economic and Revenue Forecast that gives us an updated picture of the state of the economy and tells us what resources are available for the budget.
  • Sometime after that forecast, likely in late February or March, the Legislature’s Ways & Means Co-Chairs will release their initial budget plan, called the “Co-Chairs Budget.”
  • After that is released, Legislative subcommittees (budget committees) will hold hearings on “Budget Areas” (i.e. Human Services, Higher Education, Public Safety, etc.). During this time, they usually hear from agencies, cities and members of the public.
  • They will also start the “Ways and Means Roadshow,” where legislators travel all over the state to hear from Oregonians about their budget priorities (See Ways & Means Committee Roadshow Schedule) There will be another revenue forecast in May that the Legislature will use to base their final budget.
  • The Legislature is bound by the Oregon Constitution to conclude in June, so the budget will be passed and finalized by that time.

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This Toolkit Makes Advocacy Easy

Resources prepared for you:

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