January 2024

Trainings, Events, and Surveys

• The "Green" Gold Rush: Opportunities and Risks of Carbon Markets for Washington Dairies, Digesters and Beyond - Washington State University and University of Idaho will have three opportunities for dairy producers, conservation district staff, or other stakeholders to learn at informational sessions on the opportunities and risks of engaging in carbon markets. Sessions will take place Feb. 6, 7, and 8 in Lynden, Sunnyside, and Othello. 
  
  
• Top 10 Things You Wanted to Know About Agricultural Carbon Markets - American Farmland Trust has produced a document for farmers of all sorts to consider some relevant questions and find valuable information regarding climate smart practices and agricultural carbon markets.
   
• WSDA Climate Resiliency Survey - This is an opportunity for farmers and ranchers to help the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) assess the impacts and expected needs created by climate change and inform their development of the Climate Resilience Plan for Washington agriculture. 
  
  
• Planning for Farm Business Transition - AgWest Farm Credit Services features, Dr. Kohl, an author, professor, and established agricultural business educator, in a fifteen-minute video that dives into developing farm transition plans. These are often difficult discussions and Dr. Kohl demonstrates some useful ways to approach the issue. 
  
  
• Achieving a Smart Solar Buildout with Local and State Policy - American Farmland Trust has developed a useful guidebook to be a resource for state and local governments as they consider strategies for solar infrastructure. They will also be holding a webinar on Wednesday, Feb. 28 from 10-11 a.m. PST, to discuss their recommendations and the principles that guide them. Register for the webinar and find out more here.
  
  
• USDA Seeks Input: How Clean Energy Siting Outcomes Can Benefit Farmers, Rural Americans - The listening sessions happened on Jan. 12, 16, and 17, but there is still time to submit written comments until Jan. 20. 
  
  
• Short Course on Local Planning - Washington State Department of Commerce will be holding several of these free courses on local planning to help anyone interested to better understand land use policies, the growth management act and more. 
  
  
• Boots to Business Reboot for Veteran Beginning Farmers & Ranchers Virtual Training - Join on Monday Jan. 22 to participate in a virtual workshop intended to help Veteran Beginning Farmers and Ranchers navigate the questions that will guide their development of farm businesses. 
  
  

• 2024 Grower’s Conference – Thurston Conservation District - Thurston Conservation District will be holding a Growers Conference to provide a platform for folks to learn about how to adapt growing techniques to increasingly challenging climate conditions. 

Request for Information

Local Food Policy Entity Research

The State of Washington is in the process of developing specifications for an assessment of local food policy entities in Washington State and is requesting input from the vendor community.

The State Conservation Commission (SCC) is seeking a consultant to conduct research to 1) understand local food policy entity activity in Washington, and 2) understand perspectives on needs and opportunities regarding coordination and communication among food policy entities and between these entities and state agencies. Learn more here.

Agriculture in the news

• New agritourism rules are being debated in Washington state's Skagit Valley - NPR
  
  
• Best Practices for the Sustainable Urban Farm - SARE
  
  
• Washington apple harvest second largest ever - Capital Press
  
  
• 100 Million Farmers: Breakthrough Models for Financing a Sustainability Transition - World Economic Forum
  
  
• The State of Gender Equity in U.S. Agriculture - American Farmland Trust
  
  
• WSU Extension resources support ag workers’ mental health - Washington State University
  
  
• Study quantifies how aquifer depletion threatens crop yields - ScienceDaily

Job Announcements

Oregon Agricultural Trust - Farm and Ranch Succession Advisor

Conservation District Opportunities for many disciplines and skill sets

Subscribe to the Farmland Preservation Monthly Newsletter, brought to you by the Office of Farmland Preservation. 

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.