CORVALLIS, Ore. — Oregon farmers and ranchers posted a record $4.9 billion in sales last year to mark the sixth consecutive year of growth.

A new report by Oregon State University said that 2008 sales improved 1.2 percent over a revised figure of $4.8 billion generated in 2007.

Officials said the slight improvement last year was due to increases in crops and livestock that offset decreases in ornamental crops, forest products and cattle.

Of the 84 individual commodities listed in the report, 57 showed increases in preliminary sales estimates when compared with revised 2007 numbers.