SALEM (AP) - Preliminary numbers indicate that the value of Oregon's agricultural and fishing industries in 2002 may have matched the record high set in 1997.

The early numbers say the labor of farmers, ranchers and fishermen created about $3.6 billion worth of production value, a 3 percent increase from 2001.

"I think it is safe to say that Oregon agriculture is not an industry in decline, as evidenced by these latest statistics," said Katy Coba, director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

Oregon leads the nation in the production of several commodities, including Christmas trees, hazelnuts, grass seed, blackberries, loganberries, boysenberries and youngberries, black raspberries, and potted florist azaleas.

Oregon is second in the production of onions, garlic, hops, peppermint, red raspberries, snap beans for processing, and Dungeness crab.