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May 2023
With the legislative session over and with a new biennium ahead it is a great time to review what bills have passed and make plans for an effective few years ahead full of success stories.
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Funding Opportunities
USDA Announces $45 Million Funding Opportunity to Support Underserved and Veteran Farmers, Ranchers, and Foresters | USDA – Grants will be available through the 2501 Program, which exists to help underserved farmers and ranchers who have experienced barriers to service due to racial or ethnic prejudice and veteran farmers and ranchers. 2501 program funding is used for organizations to conduct education, training, farming demonstrations, and conferences on farming in order to increase access to USDA programs.
Professional Development Program | SARE Western – Western SARE has opened their Professional Development Program for applicants seeking to become more proficient in their understanding of sustainable agriculture in order to better educate interested parties. Projects can be executed over a 36-month period and funded up to $100,000. Applications are due in November of 2023.
USDA Announces New Steps to Enhance Organic Markets and Support Producers – USDA is expanding multiple programs to better serve the needs of farmers transitioning to Organic, expanding Organic marketing, and providing cost share programs for Organic certification.
Land and Climate Grant Program | Land Trust Alliance – The 2023 Land and Climate Grant Program is open for applications from land trusts looking to integrate climate change into land protection and management decisions.
Local Meat Capacity Grant | USDA Agricultural Marketing Service – USDA is accepting applications for meat producers looking to get new equipment or provide additional services. Grants range in size from $10,000 to $5,000,000. Applications are due July 19, 2023.
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Updates From NRCS
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Change to ACEP-ALE Appraisal Threshold
- On April 28, 2023, NRCS National Headquarters announced new policy for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) regarding the appraisal threshold requirement for Agricultural Land Easements (ALE). Effective immediately, the threshold for ACEP-ALE national appraiser reviews is raised from $1 million to $3 million. This change will streamline processes and shorten review times. Moving forward, an ACEP-ALE easement valued at $3 million or more requires the NRCS national appraiser to review the appraisal report and the technical appraisal review report. The national appraiser must approve both reports and provide written approval before the ALE may proceed to close. All ACEP-ALE easements remain subject to the state-level review and technical review to ensure the appraisal complies with NRCS appraisal requirements. As a reminder, NRCS appraisal technical reviews are shared with the partner applicant and can be submitted to match funding requirements, such as Washington Recreation & Conservation Office – WWRP Farmland grants. Appraisal requirements are detailed in NRCS Conservation Program Manual, Part 527, Subparts E and F, and in NRCS Conservation Program Manual, Part 258, Subpart F. The new policy is detailed in NRCS National Bulletin 300-23-6. NRCS policy documents are available online through the NRCS eDirectives.
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Annual Easement Monitoring – New Monitoring Template Available
- All NRCS non-stewardship easements require annual monitoring conducted by the easement grantee, its successors, or assigns (e.g., land trusts) per terms stated within the cooperative agreement and/or program agreement. Non-stewardship easements are those enrolled in the Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) program, the Farm and Ranchlands Protection Program (FRPP) and Grasslands Reserve Program (GRP). Annual monitoring reports must be submitted to NRCS on a yearly basis to ensure that the terms and conditions of the easement deed are being met. NRCS-Washington developed an easement monitoring template to ensure that its partners are meeting reporting requirements. Entities responsible for annual monitoring are encouraged to use the template, which is available on the NRCS-WA ACEP-ALE webpage. Failure to submit annual entity held easement monitoring reports may impact future funding workload prioritization. Annual monitoring reports are due to NRCS prior to September 1 each year. Questions and monitoring reports can be submitted to the new Washington NRCS Easement general inbox at WA.Easements@usda.gov
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USDA Unveils Efforts to Streamline Agricultural Conservation Easement Program | Natural Resources Conservation Service - USDA and NRCS are making significant changes to make their Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) more responsive to customer needs. Key changes made will impact appraisals for ALE, land surveys for ALE, and certification of entities for ALE.
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Bills We Have Been Tracking
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HB 1110 –Creating more homes for Washington by increasing middle housing in areas traditionally dedicated to single-family detached housing. Requires certain cities planning under the Growth Management Act to authorize minimum development densities on lots zoned predominately for residential use and include specific provisions related to middle housing in their development regulations. Requires the Department of Commerce to develop model middle housing ordinances, a process for cities to seek approval of alternative local actions, guidance to assist cities on items to include in a parking study and provide technical assistance to cities to implement the requirements. Passed.
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HB 1552 - Directing the state conservation commission to conduct a study of urban agriculture opportunities and barriers in the state. Establishes required elements of the study, including how urban agriculture can provide economic development, food access, and education opportunities in local communities. Requires the Commission to submit the report to the Legislature by June 30, 2024. Passed.
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HB 1216 – Concerning clean energy siting. Establishes an interagency clean energy siting coordinating council to improve siting and permitting of clean energy projects, among other things. Passed.
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SB 5156 – Expanding the farm internship program. The farm internship expands to all counties and does not expire. Passed.
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SB 5341 – Creating a location-based branding and promotion program for Washington food and agricultural products. A committee will determine a voluntary location-based program to promote local food and agricultural products. Passed.
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Job Announcements
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Farmers Market Job Board (new) Looking for a great way to help your local food system, learn new skills, and enjoy peak season produce? WSFMA welcomes you to visit the “Farmers Market Job Board” to find your next adventure. This job board is open to market vendors with open positions too; email your information to info@wafarmersmarkets.org. WSFMA is currently seeking candidates for the Farmers Market Food Access Coordinator position.
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Washington Farmland Trust - Operations Manager - Washington Farmland Trust is looking for an Operations Manager who will fulfill a “cross-functional role that helps sustain organizational operations to deliver on priority initiatives and key goals across the Washington Farmland Trust team, with a focus on supporting employee well-being, program administration, human resources, IT services, and the Board of Directors.”
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American Farmland Trust - Social Science Senior Technical Specialist – American Farmland Trust is accepting applications for a Social Science Senior Technical Specialist who will help build a “social science body of work that is strategic, coordinated, practical, applied, efficiently delivered, well-received, academically defensible, and impactful.”
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USDA - Soil Conservationist – Positions are available for Soil Conservationists who provide "assistance in the development, planning, contracting and application of land conservation practices and programs consistent with NRCS policy and procedures.”
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COLT Operations Manager – The Coalition of Oregon Land Trust is looking for a new Operations Manager who will oversee “all IT and office logistics, interacts with the public by answering phone calls and responding to emails to our general inbox, coordinates financials with our accounting firm, and assists with member support, grant tracking, and staff training.”
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Idaho Coalition of Land Trusts - RFP – The Idaho Coalition of Land Trusts(ICOLT) is looking for an Agricultural Conservation Easement – Agricultural Land Easement Program Coordinator who will serve as a liaison between ICOLT and its members and the NRCS ACEP-ALE Program throughout Idaho.
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Conservation Commission Job Board - From administrators, resource planners, to infrastructure specialists, there might be a position just right for you at your local conservation district.
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