September 2021

This month's Conservation Roundup has several examples of successful farmland protection partnerships and transactions as well as a land access opportunity in the northwestern part of our state.

Conservation Roundup

Habitat and Farmland Protected in Pierce County

With a grant from the Pierce County Flood Control Zone District and in partnership with the Puyallup Tribe Fisheries Department, South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group, Forterra, and Surface Water Management, the Pierce Conservation District recently acquired the 73-acre Soler Farm to continue 20-years of effort to restore South Prairie Creek, one of the most important salmon streams in the area. As restoration efforts move forward, 13-acres of the floodplain will be reconnected, creating vital new salmon habitat and flood storage capacity, while keeping 60-acres in agricultural production.

“This acquisition reflects the kind of multi-agency interest needed to accomplish large scale restoration projects and the tribe is delighted to partner with so many enthusiastic individuals,” said Puyallup Tribe Fisheries Director, Russ Ladley.

Plans for the Soler Farm are to keep roughly 60-acres in farm production and restore 13-acres of side channel habitat and natural floodplain. Pierce Conservation District will continue working closely with project partners and the Haugen Family Farm, the last dairy in Pierce County, which has been leasing the farm for the last 5-years.

“As the last organic dairy farm in Pierce County, it’s good to know that the folks at Pierce Conservation District are willing to work with us and keep us farming in this area,” said BJ Haugen. “Without farmland being conserved like this, we couldn’t afford it and keep our farm growing. Read more about the multi-benefit acquisition on the Pierce Conservation’s district’s blog.

Historic Farm Permanently Protected in Snohomish County

Washington Farmland Trust recently conserved the 94-acre Getchell Ranch in Snohomish County. The ranch is one of the oldest farmsteads in the area and has been in the same family for nearly 150 years. Over the last century and a half, the ranch has been home to a diversity of farming operations including livestock, poultry, tree fruit, berries, corn, potatoes, pasture and hay. Learn more about the project in this press release from Washington Farmland Trust.

Skagit County's Farmland Legacy

Skagit County’s Farmland Legacy program is celebrating its 25^th year of preserving Skagit farmland. The program has permanently protected more than 13,500 acres of high-quality and productive agricultural land. An additional 500 acres are in the pipeline for protection. Read more about the program in this recent article from the Skagit Valley Herald.

Kawamoto Farm Purchase - Request for Proposals

Jefferson LandWorks Collaborative is seeking qualified farmer(s) or cooperative to purchase the historic Kawamoto Farm and house for active agricultural use. Jefferson LandWorks Collaborative is a network of organizations in Jefferson County, WA whose mission is to keep working lands viable. This includes farmland and forestland.

The historic Japanese-American Kawamoto Farm in Quilcene, WA will be for sale at an affordable agricultural price and has been in agricultural production for over 100 years. The 148-acre farm is located next to Lake Leland, alongside Highway 101, with moderately-sloped rolling topography. The property will be permanently protected with a conservation easement by Jefferson Land Trust this year, conserving the property’s agricultural and forestry values. The property is approximately 40 acres of farmland and 108 acres of forestland. 

Jefferson LandWorks Collaborative is working to find a buyer to purchase the farm after the easement is in place to bring the land back into active agriculture and contribute to the local economy. Due to topography, soils and other factors, the most likely agricultural use is presumed to be livestock or orchards. 

The Request for Proposal document is available in English and Spanish.  Interested applicants need to submit a one-page letter of interest by September 30, 2021. Visit the Jefferson LandWorks Collaborative website for more information.

Resources

Defining Local Food

Vermont Law School’s Center for Agriculture and Food Systems (CAFS) recently released a new report analyzing definitions of “local” food across U.S. states. “Local” is frequently used to describe food in both the law and the marketplace—but the term remains largely undefined. And when it comes to local food legislation, that vagueness can make it difficult to meet policy goals and evaluate impacts. "Defining Local Food: An Analysis of State Approaches and Challenges" examines the term “local” from a legal perspective. It also includes a nationwide scan of state policies to compare different state approaches to defining local food. The report is available here. 

Funding Opportunities

Racial Justice and Equity Conservation Cooperative Agreements

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing up to $50 million in cooperative agreements to support historically underserved farmers and ranchers with climate-smart agriculture and forestry. The Racial Justice and Equity Conservation Cooperative Agreements are available to entities and individuals for two year projects that expand the delivery of conservation assistance to farmers who are beginning, limited resource, socially disadvantaged, and veteran farmers.

Entities and individuals who provide outreach assistance to historically underserved groups are eligible, including:

• Native American tribal governments and organizations
• Nonprofit organizations
• Private and public institutions of higher education
• Individuals

Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on October 25, 2021. See the grants.gov announcement for details and application instructions. The USDA News Release provides additional information.

Pandemic Response and Safety Grant

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced it will soon publish Requests for Applications (RFAs) for the Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) Grants program to support agricultural stakeholders who haven’t yet received substantial federal financial assistance in responding to the COVID-19 crisis. This grant program will provide assistance to small businesses in certain commodity areas, including small scale specialty crop producers, food processors, manufacturers, distributors, and farmers markets.

A grant forecast is now available to help potential applicants determine their eligibility and to prepare to apply for funding. Eligible entities should visit the PRS grant portal at usda-prs.grantsolutions.gov for complete information on the program, including how to obtain a free of charge DUNS Number from Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) before applying for this program. On September 23, USDA will issue another announcement indicating that entities may submit their applications through the grant portal; entities will need their DUNS number to submit an application.

Farm and Food Workers Relief

A new program from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide relief to farmworkers, meatpacking workers, and front-line grocery workers for expenses incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This relief is intended to defray costs for reasonable and necessary personal, family, or living expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as costs for personal protective equipment (PPE), dependent care, and expenses associated with quarantines and testing related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This aligns with the Administration’s efforts to revitalize the economy and provide relief to historically underserved communities. The Request for Application (RFA) will be announced in early Fall and will be open for 60 days. Additional information and technical assistance for applying to these grants and program updates will be provided by USDA when the application period opens. More information is available from the USDA press release.

Events

Save the Date: Planning the Future of the Farm

The Conservation Commission and the Washington State Bar Association are partnering to host a continuing legal education (CLE) workshop to dive into issues related to farmland transition, succession, and agricultural conservation easements. The purpose of this CLE program is to assist professional service providers who deal with financial planning, estate planning, transfer, and management of agricultural land and family farm businesses within Washington. More information will be posted on the Washington State Bar Association website shortly. To make sure you receive the announcement, you can contact cle@wsba.org. The CLE will take place on October 14, 2021 and will include the option to attend virtually.

Solar on Farmland - Opportunities and Considerations in NW WA

WSU San Juan County Extension and the San Juan County Agricultural Resources Committee is hosting a webinar on agrivoltaics on Thursday, September 23 from 6:30 PM – 8 PM via zoom. Addie Candib from American Farmland Trust, Chad Higgins from Oregon State University, Biological and Ecological Engineering, and a representative of Rainshadow Solar & Energy Solutions, Inc. will discuss considerations for where and when to site solar on a farm, pros and cons, and the impact of solar on agricultural ecosystem. This presentation is geared toward farmers and agricultural land owners, although all are welcome. Pre-registration is required.

National Farm Viability Conference

Hosted by Oregon Tilth and Oregon State University’s Center for Small Farms and Community Food Systems, the 5^th National Farm Viability Conference will offer virtual workshops throughout October. The National Farm Viability Conference is focused on strengthening farm sustainability, building stronger and more resilient local food systems, and support the long term profitability of farming and agri-entrepreneurs from start-ups to generational businesses. More information is available on the conference website.

Agriculture in the News

Land Ownership

• Who Owns the West? Foreign investors are buying Western U.S. farmland. Who’s investing and why? (Capital Press)
• Here’s why the ultra-wealthy like Bill Gates and Thomas Petterfy are investing in U.S. farmland (CNBC)
• Growing for Healing, Nurturing Roots fosters community where gentrification creates a barrier to owning land (Crosscut)
• Newhouse Hopes Lawmakers Will Address Chinese Government Purchasing American Farmland (Pacific Northwest Ag Network)

Markets

• Drought, markets, demand push most NW farmland rental rates higher (Capital Press)
• Why’s it so hard to find locally grown Asian vegetables? These Seattle-area farmers are trying to change that (The Seattle Times)
• Cattle producers have a beef with 35-year marketing campaign (AP/The Spokesman Review)
• Easterday estate farm equipment sell-off one of the largest in US history (KUOW)
• Despite labor shortage and heatwave, state’s apple crop could beat last year (The Wenatchee World)

Heat Wave and Drought

• Fall wheat planting may be delayed as farmers wait for break in drought (Capital Press)
• Voigt: Impact of Extreme Heat on 2021 Crop Still Unknown (Pacific Northwest Ag Network)
• Drought hit Washington hard and fast. Here’s what it has meant for farmers, wildfires (The Seattle Times)
• Weathering a perfect storm (The Lewiston Tribune)

Solar

• Multi site solar project moving ahead in Kittitas Valley (Daily Record)

Federal Government

• Newhouse Applauds Grant Funding Bound for Central Washington Irrigation Districts (Pacific Northwest Ag Network)

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The Washington State Conservation Commission administers the Office of Farmland Preservation to address the rapid loss of working farm and forest lands in our state. Learn more: www.scc.wa.gov/ofp.