Office of Farmland Preservation Report to the Commission
jgiuntoli January 26th, 2009
The Office of Farmland Preservation is pleased to present the OFP Report to the Commission on activities of not only the Office, but the work and recommendations adopted by the Farmland Preservation Task Force.
OFP Report to the Commission
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
The Office was established within the Washington State Conservation Commission and was assigned a number of tasks, including:
• providing input to the Commission on conservation easements;
• create and support a farmland preservation task force established in statute;
• provide an analysis of the major factors that have led to past declines in the amount and use of agricultural lands in Washington;
• develop model programs and tools, including innovative incentives, for landowners;
• provide technical assistance to localities as the develop and implement programs and tools for the retention of agricultural lands;
• develop a grant process for locals to receive grants for farmland retention programs;
• provide analysis and recommendations on the development of a farm transition program; and,
• serve as a clearinghouse for incentive programs.
In the first year, the OFP has set the course for a strong and firmly established farmland preservation program in the state. First year accomplishments include:
• Distributing $200,000 in farmland preservation grants to eight counties.
• Establishing the Farmland Preservation Task Force that traveled to six regions of the state, meeting with farmers, ranchers and local citizens to get their input on farmland preservation, resulting in key recommendations found in this report.
• Funded a farm transition conference in Skagit County.
• Developed and is distributing a farmland preservation newsletter to over 2000 recipients across the state.
• Created the OFP web site, which includes farmland preservation information on contacts for every county in the state.
More detailed information on the accomplishments over the past year can be found in the report. Also included is a review of what other states are doing in their farmland preservation programs. This information provides some important ideas and new thinking that can be considered for our state.
Key elements of this report are the recommendations presented to the Conservation Commission by the Farmland Preservation Task Force. The issues surrounding each recommendation are described in this report.
For 2009, the OFP will continue to work with the Farmland Preservation Task Force to implement the recommendations and provide input to the Commission. The OFP will also enhance the state clearinghouse on farmland preservation incentives. The transition program will also be developed to provide information to landowners on the various tools available to them for keeping their land in farming.