The Oregon Farm Bureau, the largest general farm organization in the state, will be backing U.S Senator Gordon Smith (R-Pendleton) in his bid for re-election.

The Smith campaign sent out an announcement Thursday afternoon saying that this massive network of grassroots farm organizations (32 active county farm bureaus that cover all of Oregon's 36 counties), has thrown their support behind Smith, the incumbent senator running against Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley (D-Portland). Oregon Farm Bureau is also the state outlet for the American Farm Bureau Federation, which boasts of 5.5 million members nation-wide, the largest agricultural group in the world.

"Gordon is not only a friend, but an advocate for the thousands of people and jobs in Oregon who everyday depend on the careful stewardship of the land, open-access to world markets and fair regulations. We need to keep his voice on our side in the U.S. Senate," said Barry Bushue, President of the Oregon Farm Bureau

Smith appeared in Salem on Thursday to accept the Bureau's official endorsement in person, where he again asserted that Merkley ignored the needs of rural Oregonians while he was Speaker of the House.

"My opponent has voted against a bipartisan plan to create 4,000 timber jobs, blocked efforts to secure more water for eastern Oregon farmers and even closed the Office or Rural Policy," Smith said of Merkley. "While I've worked to bridge the rural-urban divide, he's made it deeper."

Merkley, who was campaigning today on the Oregon coast, defended his record of supporting rural interests and accused Smith of being unable to come through with critical senate votes when the Beaver State needed him the most. Merkley pointed to the recent cut of timber compensation to Oregon from the federal government as an example of Smith's lack of fighting will for rural Oregonians. The measure passed in the Senate by one vote.

"Smith couldn't get off the golf course and find one more Republican vote to get that passed," he said to a gathering of Yachates residents at the Yachates Common House.