Pacific County
July 23, 2025
Pacific County’s Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP) is demonstrating strong progress in both conservation outcomes and agricultural viability through collaborative efforts and innovative practices. Highlights include adaptive management discussions, a site visit to a 400-acre cattle operation featuring rotational grazing, no-till, cover crops, and shared conservation equipment, as well as community initiatives like farmers market participation and a local garden project.
The Pacific Conservation District is excelling by engaging the majority of producers—including all known dairies—completing over 10 miles of riparian plantings, securing more than $6.5 million in grant funding, and leading targeted efforts in invasive species control.
Thurston County
July 24, 2025
 Photo Above: Showcases a new manure compost facility to help reduce the risk of nutrient & potential bacterial runoff. Photo by Leslie Michel. Washington State Department of Agriculture (July 2025).
Pend Oreille County
August 5, 2025
Pend Oreille County’s VSP Site Visit showcased strong conservation and sustainable agriculture efforts. Highlights included touring the Kalispel Reservation, where the Tribe is improving pasture health with a newly implemented rotational bison grazing operation. The Kalispel Tribal Nursery and Pend Oreille Conservation District are growing native riparian plants through RPPP for regional restoration projects, with large-scale plantings planned for fall/winter of 2025–2026.
The final stop of the day included touring a 160-acre homestead with the landowners exploring potential opportunities for habitat restoration, expanding their livestock operation, and ways to incorporate the best management practices and plans into their efforts.
 Photo Above: POCD showcases its native plant nursery. Photo by Leslie Michel. Washington State Department of Agriculture (July 2025).
One-on-One County Support Sessions
Reserve a Session Today! What are these session for?
These Support Sessions are designed to provide specific technical assistance to any participating VSP County and Conservation District staff. Reserve a spot today for a one-on-one session with the VSP Technical Panel & VSP Commission Staff!
The objective is to provide tailored guidance to help your county succeed. These sessions are typically 1-2 hours, informal and can be scheduled easily through our online reservation system.
VSP Open Office Hours - Now through April
Join us on the second Tuesday of every month, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
What to expect and how to prepare
NRCS Reporting Data Guidance
Seeking guidance on how to interpret NRCS data for reporting purposes?
Check out the WSCC's Resource for doing so!
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Practices data includes information about conservation practices funded through the agency from 2004 to 2024 at the HUC12 watershed scale. This document is design to help you learn more about this data and how to interpret the information.
Check out the NRCS Conservation Practices Data: Overview & FAQs
5-Year Reporting Template Training
Join us for the final training on the new VSP 5-year reporting template from beginning to end for VSP counties.
Counties/VSP staff working on reporting are only required to attend 1 of the 5 training tutorials offered.One of these training sessions will be recorded and uploaded to the VSP website for ongoing reference.
Additionally, check out our recorded training video online now!
Upcoming 5 Year Report Template Trainings:
- Training Session #5 (Final Session)
- Date & Time: September 15, 2025, 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. PST
Registration Here
WSDA Launches New Online Enrollment for
Saving Tomorrow's Agriculture Resources (STAR)
The STAR (Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources) program is gaining traction in Washington and beyond—providing a free, science-based tool to evaluate the conservation impact of farm management practices.
Developed in response to producer requests for tools that improve both soil health and farm profitability, STAR supports a future where soil health practices are both practical and financially viable.
Enrollment is live!
STAR has recently launched a new online tool that allows producers to assess conservation practices by crop type. Enrollment is currently available for producers of:
In Fall 2025, enrollment will open for producers of:
-
🥕 Vegetable Row Crops
-
🐄 Grazing Systems
These tools are tailored by crop-specific advisory committees, ensuring that STAR remains relevant across diverse farming systems in Washington.
WSDA Local Food System Infrastructure Grant Program is Accepting Applications Aug. 14 - Sept. 25
WSDA has announced they are now accepting applications for the Local Food System Infrastructure Grant Program. These grants help build capacity in local communities by supporting farms and other businesses with the development of facilities and/or purchase of equipment for post-harvest handling (including slaughter), aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, distribution, or sale of Washington grown, caught, and raised food. These grants can make a significant impact on local and regional agricultural viability.
Second 2025-2027 VSP Capital Funding Round Applications Due in CPDS Sept 15!
The second round of VSP capital funding applications will close September 15!
Please be sure to submit your applications on time!
VSP intends to allocate approximately the same amount of funds to this cycle of project applications.
|
