October 2024

Farmland Preservation in the News

• Whatcom County Conservation Easement Program Helps Acme Farm Grow | WhatcomTalk - Whatcom County's Conservation Easement Program has partnered with Whatcom Land Trust to protect and steward another 54 acres of Whatcom County farmland. 
  
  
• Washington court tosses county law on wineries in farm area | Capital Press - The Washington Supreme Court determined that a King County ordinance violates the GMA's requirement to preserve farmland. 
  
  
• Commentary: We do not need to sacrifice ag land for semiconductors | Capital Press - This commentary discusses land-use issues in the greater Hillsboro Oregon area. 

Events and Trainings

• Agricultural Business Succession Planning Workshops | Oregon Agricultural Trust - On November 19 and 20 Dick Wittman of Wittman Consulting will be facilitating succession planning workshops in Salem Oregon.
   
• Family Business Succession Workshop - Family Business Succession Workshop | AgWest - On January 16 AgWest will be holding succession planning workshops in several locations. 
  
  
• Priorities, Challenges, and Opportunities for Climate-Smart Agriculture in Washington | SCC - On October 24 at 9:00 a.m. the SCC, WSU, and KR Creative Strategies will host a webinar to discuss current projects, upcoming priorities, and discuss the future of climate-smart agriculture in Washington. 
  
  
• Blending Farmland Access Models: Creating a Cooperative Community Land Trust | National Farmers Foundation - On October 23 at 11:00 a.m. the National Farmers Foundation and the Canadian Network of Community Land Trusts will discuss the potential role of community-owned farmland to facilitate long-term affordable farmland access. 
  
  
• Farm & Food Symposium | Spokane Conservation District - On November 12 and 13 the Spokane Conservation District will be holding the annual Food & Farm Symposium at the CenterPlace Regional Event Center. 
  
  
• 2024 Tilth Conference | Tilth Alliance - The annual Tilth Conference will take place on November 14-16, in Vancouver WA. 
  
  
• Water Resilience Workshops for Western Ag Advisors | The Dry Farming Institute - On November 7, 14, 21, and December 5 from 10-12 a.m. the Dry Farming Institute will hold webinars to help agricultural advisors in WA, OR, and CA address the challenges of water management and economic resilience. 
  
  
• Shaping Policy for a Shifting Climate: The Role of Food Policy Councils | John Hopkins - On October 24, John Hopkins Center for a Livable Future will host a webinar on the role of food policy councils to plan for challenges posed by climate change. 
  
  
• Food System Planning National Community of Practice: A Review of New Research Findings and Key Steps | Michigan Good Food Charter - On October 29, Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems will host a webinar to allow regional food system planners from across the country to share and develop strategies. 

Job Announcements

• State Conservation Commission Job Board - The SCC job board has postings for opportunities with several conservation districts as well as positions with SCC as the VSP Coordinator and Southeast Area Manager.
  
  
• Washington Association of Land Trusts Job Board - The WALT job board has links to roles with several land trusts, DFW, and WWRC. 

NRCS Updates

• Batching deadline for the ACEP-ALE and Wetland Reserve Program applications is December 20, 2024.

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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.