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March 2022
This month's newsletter includes a run-down of legislation from the short session, new resources, and several grant opportunities.
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Resources
RCO Needs to Hear From You on Farmland Preservation
The Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) is seeking input to identify areas to improve their farmland preservation program. Please share your thoughts via a short, 10-minute survey. The survey closes on Mar. 20 at 11:55 PM. Please note that some requirements are prescribed in statute, so it may be that RCO is not able to change them quickly. Still, knowing what the barriers are helps them plan for the future.
USDA Announces Inaugural Federal Advisory Committee on Urban Agriculture
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack selected 12 members to serve on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) inaugural Secretary’s Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture to provide input on policy development and to help identify barriers to urban agriculture as USDA works to promote urban farming and the economic opportunities it provides in cities across the country. The new Secretary’s Advisory Committee is part of USDA’s efforts to support urban agriculture, creating a network for feedback. Urban agriculture plays an important role in producing fresh, healthy food in areas where grocery stores are scarce, and also provides jobs and beautifies neighborhoods.
The first meeting of this inaugural committee took place in late February. More details are available in the Federal Register and at farmers.gov/urban and the new Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture website. Read more at the USDA press release.
Farming on the Urban Edge Docuseries
Episode 4: Farming in Tight Quarters in the Farming on the Urban Edge series is now available. This episode explores producing on a limited land base and near residential communities.
New Data Visuals for States on Ag Land Use and Development
American Farmland Trust’s (AFT) Farmland Information Center launched interactive maps and charts displaying data from the National Resources Inventory. The latest data from the National Resources Inventory is an appraisal of natural resource conditions and trends on non-federal land conducted by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
The visualizations present data about:
- agricultural land cover/use
- the conversion of agricultural land to developed uses, and
- agricultural land in the context of total surface area.
Data from the National Resources Inventory can be used to demonstrate the threat to agricultural resources and help make the case for farmland protection efforts. You can scroll through three different stories and filter data by year or time period, land cover/use, and state. It complements the more granular spatial analyses completed as part of AFT’s Farms Under Threat: The State of the States, and provides state level estimates for additional reporting periods, including the 35-year time span from 1982 – 2017.
From the Grass Up
In From the Grass Up farmers and ranchers in Nebraska share why they have chosen to protect their farms in perpetuity. This 15-minute film explains how voluntary agricultural conservation easements are an important tool in protecting working land, open space, and wildlife habitat.
RCPP-Expanding Conservation Opportunities Supported by NRCS
The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), promotes the coordination of conservation activities with partners to address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns. Through value-added contributions, both NRCS and RCPP partners co-invest in projects that demonstrate innovative solutions to conservation challenges. These projects provide an expanded opportunity for NRCS to support working lands conservation – both agricultural and forestland – simultaneous with habitat enhancement.
Under RCPP, partners may utilize a suite of conservation activities to restore, protect, manage, maintain, enhance, and monitor resource concerns tied to project goals. Five primary conservation activities that partners may use to address resource concerns include: 1. land management contracts, 2. land rental contracts, 3. U.S. held conservation easements, 4. entity held conservation easements, and 5. public works agreements. Although distinct with their own policy and procedures, these activities emulate aspects of the other NRCS covered programs (e.g., RCPP Land Management Contracts are similar to the NRCS EQIP and CSP program contracts).
Farmland preservation and working lands conservation opportunities are both supported and expanded under RCPP using the five conservation activities. For example, partners who identify resource concerns tied to agricultural or forestland conservation may utilize land management contracts to restore or improve select lands and then permanently protect those lands using RCPP conservation easements. Lands subject to easement may also be eligible for land rental contracts that assist producers with ongoing needs. Utilizing a combination of activities often incentivizes landowner and producer participation while simultaneously achieving greater long-term conservation outcomes.
Another benefit for working lands conservation under RCPP pertains to the expansion of land eligibility. Lands eligible for participation under RCPP include land types that may be ineligible under other NRCS covered programs. For example, lands eligible for RCPP conservation easements may include, but are not limited to, wetlands, riparian areas, grassland, forestland, cropland, floodplains, or some combination of such lands without acreage limitations. In comparison, lands eligible for ACEP-ALE must be predominantly agricultural, with acreage limitations on associated lands that may be protected under easement. Additionally, lands eligible for ACEP-WRE must be farmed, converted, former, or degraded wetlands or lands that are substantially altered by flooding. Lands eligible for WRE are determined by an assessment of both technical and administrative requirements. Expanding land eligibility and relaxing acreage limitations of specific land types allows partners to address landscape-scale resource concerns or to achieve greater conservation outcomes in a targeted area.
Why consider RCPP? RCPP is designed to expand the conservation opportunities supported by NRCS. For example, land eligibility requirements are expanded, which supports greater conservation at the landscape-scale. In addition, processes and timelines are more flexible and include partner input. Also, Federal funds are targeted to support regional resource concerns, and projects are funded for a duration of five years alleviating the need for entities to compete annually for NRCS funding.
Conservation districts are eligible partners under RCPP and can facilitate RCPP projects in Washington State. To learn more about RCPP and RCPP opportunities tied to working lands conservation, visit the NRCS-Washington RCPP webpage.
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Funding Opportunities
Climate Smart Commodities
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadlines to apply for the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities funding opportunity after requests from many stakeholders. “There has been a high level of interest in the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities funding opportunity, and we want to ensure that a diverse applicant pool is able to apply,” said Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Robert Bonnie. “USDA is extending the deadline for the funding opportunity to provide more time for these applications.”
The new deadlines to apply via Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET:
- First Funding Pool – May 6, 2022
- Proposals from $5 million to $100 million
- Second Funding Pool – June 10, 2022
- Proposals from $250,000 to $4,999,999
The Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities funding opportunity will finance pilot projects that create market opportunities for U.S. agricultural and forestry products that use climate-smart production practices and include innovative, cost-effective ways to measure and verify greenhouse gas benefits. USDA began accepting project applications for fiscal year 2022 on Feb. 7, 2022, and since then, Department officials have heard from many stakeholders that an extension would allow them to prepare more robust applications to further development of climate-smart markets for a diverse range of producers. Read the USDA press release for more information and visit grants.gov for information on how to apply.
Value-Added Producer Grants
The Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and marketing of new products. The goals of this program are to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income. This program provides grants for either planning or working capital projects directly related to processing and/or marketing of value-added products. Electronic applications are due by Apr. 25, 2022; paper applications must be postmarked by May 2, 2022. Visit here for more information.
Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program
The Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) provides grants to help eligible processors expand their capacity. U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development designed the MPPEP to encourage competition and sustainable growth in the U.S. meat processing sector, and to help improve supply chain resiliency. Applications must be submitted by Apr. 11, 2022. Visit here for more information.
American Rescue Plan Technical Assistance Investment to Benefit Underserved Farmers, Ranchers, and Forest Landowners
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is accepting grant applications for the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Technical Assistance Investment Program to provide historically underserved farmers, ranchers and forest landowners technical support in accessing USDA programs and services. USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will provide, at a minimum, a $25 million investment of American Rescue Plan funds, with awards normally ranging from $500,000 to $3.5 million for a five-year cooperative agreement. There is no anticipated overall maximum funding level.
Applications are encouraged from partnerships and collaborations that are led by domestic nonprofit organizations and accredited public and nonprofit institutions of higher education with specialized expertise and a proven track record in working with underserved agricultural producers and/or the specific content for technical assistance. The deadline to submit applications is Jun. 1, 2022. NIFA will hold an informational webinar to explain and answer questions about the application process. The webinar is open to interested potential applicants and will be held Mar. 24 at 4 p.m. EDT. Register for the webinar. Read the NIFA press release for more information.
Landscape Conservation Catalyst Fund
The Network for Landscape Conservation is requesting proposals for the 2022 funding round for the Landscape Conservation Catalyst Fund. The purpose of the Landscape Conservation Catalyst Fund is to accelerate the pace and practice of landscape conservation across the United States. The Fund makes strategic investments in strengthening the collaborative infrastructure and coordination capacity of place-based, community-grounded Landscape Conservation Partnerships.
The Catalyst Fund will distribute approximately $335,000 this year through competitive grants to Landscape Conservation Partnerships. Funded Partnerships will also be invited to participate in a two-year peer learning program. Proposals are due on Friday, April 22. Interested applicants should review the RFP and the Applicant Guidance Document to best understand how to submit a strong proposal. These FAQs may also be helpful in clarifying any questions.
Two informational webinars scheduled for Monday, Mar. 21 and Tuesday, Mar. 29 at 2 pm ET will offer a brief overview of the RFP, but will be dedicated primarily to responding to applicant questions. You are encouraged to submit questions ahead of time via the webinar registration form. Additional information and a link to the application portal can be found on the Catalyst Fund page of the Network's website.
Local Agriculture Market Program
On Mar. 1, USDA opened grant applications under the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP), and with this opening came an exciting announcement; in addition to the standard focus areas of these grants, USDA is seeking to fund Farm to Institution (FTI) projects. Organizations interested in establishing or expanding connections between local food producers and institutions—such as schools, hospitals, elder care facilities, higher education, early childhood education centers, and state agencies—are encouraged to apply. You can read this National Farm to School Network blog post to learn more.
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Job Announcements
Pierce County Agricultural Planner
Pierce County is hiring a new Agricultural Planner position with Pierce County Planning & Public Works. Pierce County’s Agriculture Program helps local agricultural producers and processors navigate permitting procedures and interpret County regulations, works to improve relationships between agricultural operations and County government, and establishes partnerships with other agricultural service providers in the County and region. The current focus of the Agriculture Program includes permitting assistance for landowners, updating County policies affecting agriculture, providing support to rural landowners in solving drainage issues, and facilitating greater market access for local farms. The program also provide information and resources for Pierce County residents and visitors to connect with our local farms.
The Associate Planner – Long Range and Sustainability Positions (Planner 2) will work with existing Program staff to implement new projects focused on agricultural drainage. These projects will require:
- coordination with other local, state, and federal regulatory agencies;
- collaboration with partners in the Floodplains for the Future program under Pierce County Surface Water Management;
- support to landowners seeking permits and in need of long-term management plans; and
- identification and navigation of agricultural issues and their overlap with critical areas regulations.
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Legislation
Mar. 10 marked the end of the short legislative session. Here we provide a rundown of the bills we tracked related to farmland preservation and land-use. Both budget items and bills may still be awaiting signature by the Governor.
Budget Items
This year the Conservation Commission sought funding for two new programs: Farmland Protection and Land Access and Sustainable Farms and Fields. Both programs are funded in the compromise budgets at the $2 million level.
Bills that Passed Legislature
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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 1814, Expanding equitable access to the benefits of renewable energy through community solar projects.
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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.
Bills that Failed
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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 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 1782, Creating additional middle housing near transit and in areas traditionally dedicated to single-family housing.
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HB 1838, Protecting, restoring, and maintaining habitat for salmon recovery.
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HB 1856, Adding counties to the voluntary stewardship program.
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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.
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2SSB 5746, Concerning drought preparedness, response, and funding.
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SSB 5882, Clarifying the existence of riparian stock watering rights
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Agriculture in the News
Water
Markets
Flooding
Conservation
Innovation
Opinion
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