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February 2022
This month’s newsletter features information on three types of federal agricultural conservation easements, funding opportunities, resources, legislative updates, and a run down of agriculture in the news.
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Three Types of NRCS Agricultural Land Easements
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offers multiple easement programs that aim to conserve working agricultural lands, wetlands, grasslands, and forestlands. One such program includes the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), which offers an Agricultural Land Easement (ALE) component and a Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) component.
Under ALE, NRCS provides financial assistance to Tribes, state or local governments, and non-governmental organizations to protect working agricultural lands and to limit non-agricultural uses of the land. These easements protect the long-term viability of the nation’s food supply by preventing conversion of productive working lands to non-agricultural uses.
NRCS now offers three types of ALE easements:
1. ALE Classic
2. ALE Grasslands of Special Significance
3. ALE Buy-Protect-Sell
ALE Classic is designed to protect important cropland, rangeland, grassland, pastureland, and non-industrial private forest land. ALE Grasslands of Special Significance (GSS) is designed to protect important grasslands and shrublands under threat of conversion to cropping, urban development, and other non-grazing uses. ALE GSS in Washington prioritizes the protection of grasslands and shrublands that support the Sage Grouse Initiative. ALE Buy-Protect-Sell (BPS) is designed to protect important agricultural lands on a transitional ownership basis.
Washington NRCS has implemented state specific criteria for BPS in accordance with national policy under national instruction 300-308. You can find this information on the NRCS-Washington ACEP-ALE website under “More Information” that is labeled “Buy Protect Sell additional WA criteria”.
NRCS-Washington is accepting ACEP-ALE applications from entities through Feb. 25, 2022. Conservation Districts with established land-protection programs may apply on behalf of a landowner/producer, or they may direct interested landowners/producers to their regional land trust. Conservation Districts may also partner with regional land trusts to offer technical assistance in protecting the agricultural values of established ALE easements in perpetuity. Learn more about ACEP-ALE in Washington State by visiting the NRCS-Washington ACEP-ALE webpage and reading the news release.
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Events
2022 WA Farmers Market Conference
The 2022 Washington Farmers Market Conference (online) is Feb. 23-25. The conference includes three excellent keynote speakers, fun networking activities, and 18 engaging workshops. Whether you are a farmers market organizer, staff member, volunteer, board member, vendor or community partner, WSFMA welcomes you to attend this once a year learning opportunity. Click here for full agenda.
SoilCon Washington Soil Health Week
The virtual event on Feb. 22 and 23 will discuss aspects of soil health relevant to agricultural systems of Washington state. Topics include:
- Global soil degradation & local solutions
- Opportunities to incorporate soil biology
- Regional soil health indicators & management
- Overview of the WA Soil Health Initiative
Attendance is free and open to all. Visit here for more information and to register.
Planning the Future of Your Farm - Thurston Conservation District
Join the Thurston Conservation District for a two-part workshop series that will explore options for the future of your farmland, including: estate planning, leasing your farmland, and long-term conservation options. Hear from legal professionals, resource providers, and regional land trusts about your options and the tools available to you as you navigate an important piece of your farm's future. The series takes place Feb. 23 and Mar. 9 from 6 – 8 p.m. Registration information is available here. If you have questions please contact Nora Carman-White at nwhite@thurstoncd.com or 360-999-3727.
Farmland Succession Planning - Underwood Conservation District
The Underwood Conservation District is hosting a workshop for families who want to plan for the future as land management and ownership is passed from generation to generation. Careful succession planning can avoid common pitfalls and help families create the future they want for their land. The Office of Farmland Preservation will provide an overview of tools, resources, and support for landowners to plan for succession and long-term farmland protection. The virtual presentation is Mar. 24 from 6 – 8 p.m. Registration information is available here.
The Sentinel Landscapes Partnership: Advancing Sustainable Management of Private Lands at the Landscape Scale
The Sentinel Landscapes Partnership is an interagency partnership that coordinates landscape-scale conservation efforts around our Nation’s military installations. Sentinel Landscape Partnerships support efforts at the local level, working collaboratively with partners to create Sentinel Landscape Implementation Plans. The implementation of these plans advance collective goals and objectives that support compatible land use around military bases and advance sustainable management of private lands. Attend the webinar on Thursday, Feb. 17 to learn more.
San Juan Islands Agricultural Summit
The 10th annual San Juan Islands Agricultural Summit is Mar. 4 and 5. This year’s theme is Building Infrastructure for Change. The summit will be a hybrid of in-person and virtual programming. Friday, Mar. 4, will feature virtual offerings including a keynote speaker and multiple shorter sessions. Saturday, Mar. 5th, will offer longer in-person outdoor workshops, and social gathering on Lopez Island. Inspired by community input, sessions topics include on-farm carbon storage, composting, water storage and irrigation management, vet skills, tree fruit care, and more. Keep an eye of the San Juan County WSU Extension website for registration details.
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Resources
Farming on the Urban Edge Docuseries
WSU Food Systems has released the third episode of the Farming on the Urban Edge Docuseries. Peri-urban Farm Evolution and Succession features farmers Washington and Oregon farmers discussing how they have adapted to new markets and diversified their business plans in an urbanizing environment.
Farm Bill Primer: Conservation Title
The Congressional Research Service released a primer on the conservation title in the Farm Bill. The conservation title generally contains reauthorizations, amendments, and new programs that encourage farmers and ranchers to voluntarily implement resource-conserving practices on private land. As Congress begins the process of authorizing the 2023 Farm Bill, areas of possible interest in the conservation title include funding for programs, climate strategies for the agricultural sector, the backlog of unfunded applications, compliance provisions, and program flexibility.
Eat Local First
Farmers, restaurateurs, food businesses and food system stakeholders interested in learning more about Eat Local First's work to support and expand WA State direct producer-to-retail, direct producer-to-restaurant, and direct producer-to-institutional marketing are invited to attend the Farm to Table Trade Meeting, Tue., Feb. 22; 9 a.m.-2 p.m. It's hosted by Sustainable Connections as part of Food Biz Week.
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Funding Opportunities
Pierce Conservation District Farm Financial Assistance
The Pierce Conservation District recently announced a final application deadline of Mar. 18, 2022, for assistance to implement on-farm improvements in the Puyallup and Nisqually watersheds through its Regional Conservation Partnership Program. Financial and technical assistance will be provided to implement practices that benefit soil condition, water quality and quantity, and fish and wildlife habitat. Funding is provided through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
Pierce Conservation District is accepting applications immediately. Interested farmers or landowners should contact the District at (253)845-9770 ext. 106 and review the announcement for more information.
Local Meat Processing Capacity Grants
The Washington State Legislature allocated $3.6 million dollars for grants to assist small and midsize meat and poultry processors in Washington. The grants are to expand their capacity to serve small and midsize farmers and ranchers who sell their farm-raised meat products directly to individual consumers, stores, food hubs, restaurants, schools and other local buyers. This grant is for entities that can offer increased availability of meat or poultry slaughter or processing services needed by direct-marketing farms and ranches. This grant makes investments that expand capacity, or increase efficiency, food safety, waste management, humane livestock handling or workforce capability in small to mid-scale meat processing operations.
There are two categories of grants: small projects and large projects. Small project applications are due Feb. 28. Large project applications are due Mar. 7. Visit the WSDA website for grant guidelines and application information.
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Requests for Comments and Producer Input
Development of New Conservation and Stewardship Tool
The Department of the Interior in coordination with the Departments of Agriculture and Commerce and the Council on Environmental Quality, invite public comment regarding the development of the American Conservation and Stewardship Atlas (Atlas), a new tool that will be used to reflect baseline information on the lands and waters that are conserved or restored.
The Atlas is part of the America the Beautiful initiative, a locally led and voluntary nationwide effort that aims to conserve, connect, and restore 30 percent of America’s lands and waters by 2030. The initiative focuses on addressing the interconnected climate and biodiversity crises, advancing environmental justice and equitable access to nature, and strengthening the economy. Interested parties can submit written comments to Regulations.gov on or before Mar. 4, 2022.
USDA Agroforestry Survey
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is conducting the first-ever National Agroforestry Survey. Data collection began Feb. 1 and concludes Apr. 5, 2022. The survey will be sent to 11,100 farmers and ranchers nationwide to gather information on the five agroforestry practices used for climate, conservation and production benefits, including windbreaks, silvopasture, riparian forest buffers, alley cropping as well as forest farming and multi-story cropping. Producers can respond to the survey securely online at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail. Read the USDA news release for more information.
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Legislation
Things move quickly in the Legislature. The following list was accurate at the time of writing. Visit the Washington State Legislature website or specific bill pages linked below for the most up to date information. Bills must be voted out of their chamber of origin by 5 p.m. on Feb. 15.
Bills Still Moving
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E2SHB 1099, Improving the state’s climate response through updates to the state’s comprehensive planning framework.
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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 1814, Expanding equitable access to the benefits of renewable energy through community solar projects.
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HB 1856, Adding counties to the voluntary stewardship program.
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SHB 2051, Providing short-term disaster recovery financial assistance to agricultural producers
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SB 5042, Concerning the effective date of certain actions taken under the growth management act.
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SB 5505, Reinstating a property tax exemption for property owned by certain nonprofit organizations where a portion of the property is used for the purpose of a farmers market.
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SB 5746, Concerning drought preparedness, response, and funding.
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SSB 5882, Clarifying the existence of riparian stock watering rights
Bills that Failed to Advance Out of Policy Committee or Fiscal Committee
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HB 1132, Concerning the protection of water supply for farming and rural economic development.
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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 1672, Concerning local property tax levies for conservation futures.
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HB 1683, Concerning involuntary removal of property from current use classification.
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HB 1812, Modernizing the energy facility site evaluation council to meet the state’s clean energy goals.
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HB 1838, Protecting, restoring, and maintaining habitat for salmon recovery.
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HB 1871, Establishing a moratorium on the siting of alternative energy facilities through the energy facility site evaluation council process pending a comprehensive performance report on the effects of the energy independence act and the recommendations of a joint legislative committee.
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SB 5060, Concerning the preservation of water rights for farmland and economic development.
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SB 5632, Concerning investments in critical water infrastructure projects.
Agriculture in the News
Succession
COVID-19
Legislature
Opinion
State Government
Wind & Solar
Water & Flooding
Markets
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