Dave Nelson, Salem

For well over four decades, Oregon agriculture has benefited from the hard work and passion of Dave Nelson. He has to his credit a long list of accomplishments that have made the industry and the state a better place.

Dave attended Oregon State University, getting involved in the campus ROTC program and attaining his bachelor’s degree in agriculture and animal science. After a stint in the Army, Dave came back to OSU for a business degree.

As he and his wife Leah started their young family, Dave began his long career associated with agriculture when he was hired as a field manager for the Oregon Farm Bureau. It wasn’t long before he became the youngest executive director of the organization ever at age 27.

In 1977, Dave became executive secretary of the Oregon Seed Council and held the post until retiring. In the late 70s, the practice of field burning was under scrutiny at the State Capitol. Dave negotiated legislation that created a smoke management program that was eventually placed at the Oregon Department of Agriculture. He was largely responsible for developing the regulations that allowed it to continue as a useful tool for grass seed growers in the Willamette Valley. Improved meteorology, the use of industry funds for research, and a public relations program for field burning were all part of the effort.

In the late 80s, the field burning controversy erupted in the legislature. While some lawmakers wanted the practice banned, Dave successfully negotiated new legislation phasing down the amount of acreage that could be burned. Once, a quarter-million acres were burned in the Valley each year. Now the mandated limit is 40,000 acres. It’s that kind of compromise and commitment exemplified by Dave that has helped keep an important ag industry alive.

Dave Nelson has also led the way in marketing Oregon grass seed throughout the world. South America has found interest in the commodity as forage for livestock. Golf courses spanning the globe rely on the cool season grasses produced by Oregon seed. Even the superintendent at St. Andrews in Scotland, where the British Open is played, is impressed.

But the highlight has been a breakthrough market for Oregon grass seed in China as the Asian giant attempts to beautify itself with green grass and works to provide erosion control in sensitive environmental locations. Dave has led several missions to China and has been one of the leaders that helped establish a strong trade tie between Oregon and China through the export of grass seed. A lot of the green the world saw during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing was partly the result of the hard work of Dave Nelson and others.

Dave has been an important player on water quality and quantity issues for ag, land use protection for farmland, legislation that provides research funding, and making sure it’s the Department of Agriculture that handles regulatory issues involving farmers and ranchers. Dave completed his 19th legislative session lobbying on behalf of agriculture before retiring.

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These are authentic stories from real farmers.  Any editorial content does not necessarily reflect the beliefs of the Agri-Business Council of Oregon or our members.