July 2022

Resources

Farms Under Threat

American Farmland Trust (AFT), in partnership with Conservation Science Partners and the Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, undertook an ambitious modeling effort to project how development and climate change will affect agricultural land under several different future scenarios. Using advanced geospatial analysis, AFT mapped three contrasting development scenarios from 2016 to 2040. The differences among them represent broad policy pathways that the country might take. Read the report and accompanying documents here and explore how the different scenarios apply to your community here.

Economic Benefits of Conservation Easements

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Montana Association of Land Trusts (MALT), and the Heart of the Rockies Initiative have analyzed the economic impact of conservation easements in Montana. The report concludes that since it was created in the 2014 Farm Bill, the Agricultural Land Easement (ALE) program has produced a $182 million economic benefit to Montana agricultural producers, rural main streets, rural economies, and the state’s overall economy.

• Working for Montana Report
• Working for Montana Press Release
• Complete Montana Agriculture Conservation Easements Economic Impact Analysis, 2014-2021
• Complete Article by Daniel Bigelow, PhD, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics, Montana State University

Events

Food Policy Forum: Patterns and Drivers of Farmland and Agricultural Infrastructure Loss

The Washington State Food Policy Forum is hosting a listening session focused on the various patterns and drivers of farmland and agricultural infrastructure loss in Washington state. The listening session will be held on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022, from 1-4 p.m. via Zoom. The invitation and agenda are posted on the Food Policy Forum page of the SCC website.

Dirt Talk: Agritourism

Join WSU Extension on July 26 from 6-7 p.m. for their next Dirt Talk Farmer-to-Farmer networking and learning event. Trevor Lane, agritourism specialist, will share his knowledge and expertise working with farmers looking to implement agritourism as part of their farm business. Trevor will give a general overview of the current state of agritourism in Washington, including the economic impacts and common barriers for farmers. Discussion topics will also include risk & liability, biosecurity, and resources for farmers. Registration information available here.

Federal Policy: AFT's Farm Bill Policy Platform

American Farmland Trust’s (AFT’s) “Building Resilience in a Changing World: AFT’s 2023 Farm Bill Platform,” will take place on Tuesday, July 26th from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. (PDT). This event will not only feature AFT’s leadership and policy team, but also perspectives from farmers and other experts on some of the major opportunities – and challenges – in agriculture today. A 30-minute Q&A will follow the main event. Registration information available here.

Tilth Conference with WORC

In partnership with the Washington Organic Recycling Council (WORC), Tilth Alliance’s annual Tilth Conference will be Nov. 10-12 in Kennewick. The annual conference brings together farmers, food system professionals, researchers, and educators for more than 25 lectures, workshops, and panel discussions that highlight Washington’s farmers. Registration information available here.

Job Announcements

Thurston Conservation District is hiring a Natural Resource Specialist. The first application review date is August 1, 2022.

The Conservation Commission is hiring a Communications Specialist.

Agriculture in the News

Conservation

• In ‘emergency acquisition,’ 226 acres of Whidbey Island’s farmland, forest saved (HeraldNet)

Land Use

• Study calls for smarter land use planning to curb farmland loss (Capital Press)

• Fate of King County wineries, breweries and distilleries once again in County Council’s hands (The Seattle Times)

• Thurston County’s habitat conservation plan for gophers gets federal approval (The Olympian)

Water

• Whatcom County water talks stumble out of the gate (Capital Press)

Solar

• Farms in Central Washington boost their yield with solar energy (Crosscut)
• Solar Sheep – an example of multifunctional land use (AgriSolar Clearinghouse)

Innovation

• Cow pie power! Monroe manure-to-energy project expands (The Everett Herald)

Markets

• Farm input costs continue to rise, USDA report shows (Capital Press)
• Up and away: Operating loans grow as production costs soar (Capital Press)

Federal

• Schrier: Farm Bill Listening Session to Be Held in Washington (Pacific Northwest Ag Network)
• Washington lawmaker: Bar Chinese, Russians from buying farmland (Capital Press)

Other States

• A 150-year-old San Luis Valley farm stops growing food to save a shrinking water supply. It might be the first deal of its kind in the country (CPR News)
• Battle for Protecting Preserved Farmland Won (Sort Of, For Now) (Ohio’s County Journal)

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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.