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January 2022
The Washington State Legislature kicked off their 60-day short session this month. In addition to events, news, and resources, this month's newsletter includes a list of policy bills related to farmland conservation and agricultural land.
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Policy Bills We're Tracking
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HB 1631, Supporting Washington’s food production system by providing technical assistance in support of improved voluntary environmental stewardship.
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HB 1683, Concerning involuntary removal of property from current use classification.
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HB 1672, Concerning local property tax levies for conservation futures.
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HB 1856, Adding counties to the voluntary stewardship program.
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HB 1838, Protecting, restoring, and maintaining habitat for salmon recovery.
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HB 1814, Expanding equitable access to the benefits of renewable energy through community solar projects.
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HB 1782, Creating additional middle housing near transit and in areas traditionally dedicated to single-family housing.
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HB 1099, Improving the state’s climate response through updates to the state’s comprehensive planning framework.
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HB 1132, Concerning the protection of water supply for farming and rural economic development.
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SB 5632, Concerning investments in critical water infrastructure projects.
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SB 5060, Concerning the preservation of water rights for farmland and economic development.
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SB 5746, Concerning drought preparedness, response, and funding.
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Resources
Farm-Vendor Day at WA Farmers Market Conference
The 2022 Washington Farmers Market Conference (online) is around the corner on February 23-25. New in 2022 is a “Farm Vendor Track” on Friday, February 25. It is designed for new farm vendors or employees, those already in markets seeking to zoom out for a broader view, and anyone curious about selling at farmers markets. Come hear keynotes from Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Director Derek Sandison and Female Farmers Project founder Audra Mulkern as well as two workshops just for vendors.
Soil Health 101
Join National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) Agriculture Specialists Felicia Bell and Nina Prater for an introduction to soil health. What makes a soil healthy or unhealthy? Why is soil health critical to long term farming success? What are some guiding principles all farmers can follow to build soil health? This virtual workshop on January 25 at 4 PM PST will address those questions, and there will be a Q & A session to answer participants' questions as well.
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Resources
The State of the Washington State Food System during COVID-19: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead
The State of the Washington State Food System During COVID-19: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead, a new report by University of Washington researchers, provides an in-depth assessment of the state of Washington’s food system during the COVID-19 pandemic and identifies strengths, weaknesses, and ongoing risks affecting Washington’s food system, as well as opportunities to facilitate the co-creation of a more equitable, resilient, and economically viable food system.
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Agriculture in the News
Farmland
Forestland
Solar
Markets
Federal
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