May 11th, 2012
OLYMPIA – Jelly producers across the state applauded last year when the Legislature adopted the Cottage Food Act. The law legalizes the sale of low-risk foods made in the home, allowing potentially hundreds of new small businesses into farmers markets and other direct-sales venues.
Up to this point, all foods intended for sale to the public were produced in licensed commercial kitchens. This requirement was seen as a barrier to some small businesses, especially in rural areas where commercial kitchens were not available for rent.
Draft Rule: http://agr.wa.gov/LawsRules/Rulemaking/FSCS/CottageFood.aspx
Written comments on the draft rule can be submitted to jcarlson@agr.wa.gov. WSDA will conduct a public hearing at 1 p.m. on May 22 in Room 172, Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. SE, Olympia.
Continue Reading »
Tags: Announcement, Meeting Announcement, News, Preservation News and Views, WSDA
May 8th, 2012
May 21, 2012, 1:00 PM
2606 W Pioneer, Puyallup, WA 98371
WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center
No advance registration necessary. For more information on the Field Day, contact Doug Collins, dpcollins@wsu.edu, 253-445-4658.
Flyer: Organic Agriculture Field Day, May 21 (PDF)
Continue Reading »
Tags: Announcement, Preservation News and Views, WSU
May 7th, 2012
Current proposals by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to acquire land for fish and wildlife habitat and public recreation are now on view on the department’s website.
Jennifer Quan, WDFW lands division manager, said the new webpage is designed to give the public an opportunity to learn about land-acquisition proposals before the department seeks funding sources in spring and summer.
Details of 21 proposed land acquisitions, identified by the department as priorities for future funding, are available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/acquisitions/ . Previous acquisitions and those already under way are not included on the website.
“The web page offers an opportunity to take a ‘virtual tour’ of our land-acquisition proposals,” Quan said. “We recently presented these proposals at the state’s annual Land Acquisition Coordinating Forum and now want to share the proposed projects with a broader group of citizens.”
Continue Reading »
Tags: Announcement, Preservation News and Views
May 7th, 2012
Land Leases: Share, Cash, and Flexible Arrangements in Changing Times
May 16, 2012 – 2P EDT (1P CDT /12 Noon MDT/11A PDT)
Specific topics include:
- Alternative types of leases for crop land (crop share, fixed cash, and flexible cash), how rates are determined, and information available for use in education;
- Pasture leases versus crop leases – additional considerations to think about in the negotiation process when considering pasture leases; and
- General trends and issues related to leasing land (e.g., lease types, land tenure, relationship between landowner and tenant, etc.).
We strongly encourage participants to run a computer connectivity test prior to participating in this webinar to help assure a good experience.
Adobe Connectivity test link: http://www.msuextensionconnect.org/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm
Go to http://AgInUncertainTimes.FarmManagement.org for additional details and to log in . . .
Delivered via a partnership between the AAEA Extension Section and the Western Extension Committee – AG In Uncertain Times
Tags: Announcement, Meeting Announcement, Succession Planning, Webinar
May 7th, 2012
NRCS seeks ag producers and non-industrial private forest landowners to apply for financial, technical assistance
On May 2, 2012, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced that it anticipates availability of funding for salmon recovery efforts in the Puget Sound. Producers can receive funding to implement conservation practices that address fish passage, and water quality and habitat improvement within fish-bearing areas in the Puget Sound region. Using funds from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), NRCS will provide financial and technical assistance to producers for implementing conservation practices such as planting woody buffers, replacing culverts to remove fish barriers, and decommissioning or replacing manure storage systems along salmon-bearing streams.
NRCS is seeking applications from eligible producers today through May 25, 2012.
Continue Reading »
Tags: Announcement, NRCS, Preservation News and Views, Profitability, Programs, USDA
The Office of Farmland Preservation functions as an agency under the auspices of the 
