Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Oregon Farm Bureau has issued an endorsement in Oregon's Fifth Congressional District race.

The group is supporting Democrat Kurt Schrader, who's been a state legislator for the past eleven years. Schrader's a veterinarian by trade, but also owns farmland.

Don Shellenberg with the Farm Bureau says Schrader's background and legislative experience were both factors in the endorsement -- as was the possibility that Congress might be in Democratic hands.

Don Shellenberg:   "If he gets to Washington D.C., he'd be in the majority party, he'd be, we think, most effective for agriculture."

Schrader's opponent is Republican Mike Erickson. He got the Farm Bureau endorsement the last time he ran in the 5th, against incumbent Darlene Hooley.