January 2025

Farmland Preservation in the News

• Skagit farmland preservation efforts buck WA trend of agriculture loss | Cascadia Daily News
  
  
• High-Profile Skagit Farm Property Protected with Farmland Legacy Program | SkagitTalk
  
  
• Preserving Farmland is Vital National Interest | Capital Press
  
  
• Loophole in state rules paves way to ever-larger solar projects on Oregon farmland | Oregon Live

Agriculture in the news

• ‘Perfect storm’ of factors is devastating WA apple farmers | The Seattle Times
  
  
• WSDA: We need help to stop Japanese Beetles | Capital Press
  
  
• WSU team looks to keep soil healthy | The Lewiston Tribune

Job Announcements

• King County | Farmland Conservation and Access Program Manager
  
  
• Washington Farmland Trust | Engagement Coordinator Position
  
  
• SCC Job Board

Events

• Oregon State University Small Farms Conference - The conference will take place on February 15 at Oregon State University campus.
  
  
• Western Washington Food Systems Partnership | Regional Ag Infrastructure Summit - The summit took place February 19 in Edison WA and will explore development of agricultural infrastructure.
  
  
• AgWest | 2025 Next Gen Summit - From February 4-6 in the Davenport Grand Hotel in Spokane for next-generation family businesses to develop their thoughts and plans on succession. 

Resources

• USDA Announces Grants and Technical Assistance Funding for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production | Home
  
  
• Nationwide Farm Link Finder | American Farmland Trust Farmland Information Center
  
  
• Farmers-Guide-to-Business-Structures | Farm Commons | SARE | USDA

Updates from NRCS

• NRCS-WA The next projected ALE batching will be Fall 2025. NRCS-WA Agricultural Land Easement (ALE)
  
  
• Have a potential ALE project? The NRCS-WA easement team is available to meet with eligible entities to discuss their project’s eligibility and answer any questions about the process. Contact NRCS.WA.Easements@usda.gov or Carlee.elliott@usda.gov if interested to schedule.  
  
  
• LTA has teamed up with NRCS to create positions to assist land trusts in application and acquisitions! Josh Holmes (jholmes@lta.org) is Washington’s representative.
  
  
• We’d like to showcase the wonderful easement work that Washington NRCS, landowners, and conservation partners have collaborated on and continue to grow interest in federal easement programs. Our public affairs team has created a mapped story board and we are lacking conservation easement stories. You can find the mapped story board here: Washington's Conservation Stories. There is no deadline to submit outreach success stories. Stories can be submitted to the general easement inbox at: NRCS.WA.Easements@usda.gov or Carlee.elliott@usda.gov
  
  
• To view and confirm existing easements, please visit: Stewardship Lands Easement Locations Public Viewer.
  
  
• Interested in learning more about NRCS easement statistics? Check it out here: Easement Program Data Overview | Farmers.gov
  
  

• Planned Webinars:

  Introduction to RCPP

  January 28, 2025 - 2:00-3:00pm EST

  This webinar will provide an introduction to the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) for potential partners new to RCPP. It includes an overview of how the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) impacts and guides RCPP and an introduction to the parameters of RCPP.

  The intended audience includes potential partners unfamiliar with RCPP or unsure of RCPP eligibility as well as those interested in or planning to submit an RCPP application for the first time.

  Link to register

  Introduction to the RCPP Application Process

  February 25, 2025 - 2:00-3:00pm EST

  This webinar will provide an introduction to the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) application process for potential partners new to RCPP. It includes an overview of each step of the process and highlights the actions to take now to prepare.

  The intended audience includes potential partners unfamiliar with RCPP or unsure of RCPP eligibility as well as those interested in or planning to submit an RCPP application for the first time.

  Link to register 

  Registration for each webinar is required and limited to the first 1,000 registrants.  These webinars will be recorded and posted to the RCPP Website: RCPP - How to Apply.  Participants are encouraged to contact their State RCPP Coordinator for any questions.

  Please refer to the RCPP website for information about the program and additional upcoming webinars: Regional Conservation Partnership Program | Natural Resources Conservation Service (usda.gov)

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.