Oregon Lawmakers Sought USDA Hazelnut Support

A bipartisan group of legislators requested federal assistance to stabilize the state's dominant hazelnut industry.

Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Organic Food

Screen-print poster illustration featuring a cluster of raw hazelnuts on a branch, evoking the agricultural heritage of the Pacific Northwest. — Oregon lawmakers, led by Senator Jeff Merkley, have requested that the USDA stabilize the state's hazelnut industry through federal purchasing programs. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Oregon lawmakers have formally requested that the U.S. Department of Agriculture include the state's hazelnut industry in the Section 32 purchase program. The plea comes as producers navigate significant market disruption and a decline in available commercial outlets for certain kernel sizes.

Why it matters

Federal intervention via the Section 32 program could provide essential economic relief to growers facing volatility in export markets. Securing this support is critical for the long-term stability of an agricultural sector that represents a near-total share of national production.

Oregon accounts for 99 percent of the total United States hazelnut production. The request for federal assistance is driven by ongoing economic uncertainty and reduced demand for specific kernel sizes in international markets.

The players

Jeff Merkley

Jeff Merkley is a U.S. Senator representing Oregon who initiated the appeal for federal agricultural support.

Brooke Rollins

Brooke Rollins serves as the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture.

Ron Wyden

Ron Wyden is a senior U.S. Senator from Oregon who co-signed the request for federal aid.

The details

The bipartisan effort was spearheaded by Senator Jeff Merkley, who led a letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins on behalf of the state's farmers. The signatories hope that federal purchasing power can offset current market failures that have left growers with surplus inventory and declining revenue options.

Lawmakers submitted the formal request for USDA assistance on October 14, 2026.

Culture Shift

The request utilizes the USDA Section 32 purchase program to stabilize agricultural markets during periods of distress. This approach mirrors efforts to insulate domestic growers from global trade volatility and evolving international consumer demand.

The potential inclusion of hazelnuts in federal purchase programs may help maintain price stability for local growers and the regional economy. If successful, these measures could prevent further economic losses for farmers throughout the Willamette Valley.

The takeaway

Oregon's disproportionate share of national hazelnut production makes its agricultural sector highly sensitive to global export market shifts. Growers and local officials rely on federal programs like Section 32 as a primary safety net during periods of severe market contraction.