jgiuntoli November 19th, 2009
Spokane Valley - The state Office of Farmland Preservation Task Force will hold their next meeting in Spokane Valley on Wednesday, December 2, 2009.
December OFP Meeting Notice
December OFP Meeting Agenda
The public is invited to attend the meeting, which will be held at the Mirabeau Park Hotel and Convention Center – North 1100 Sullivan Road. The meeting will start at 9:00 am and conclude at 4pm.
Topics on the Task Force agenda include a presentation by the Northwest Farm Credit Services on issues related to farm credit and farm transition. Other items include discussions on state efforts to enhance and prioritize agriculture in the State of Washington. Continue Reading »
jgiuntoli November 19th, 2009
The Washington State Blue Berry Commission along with WSU Skagit County Extension are pleased to announce the Washington State Blueberry Workshop scheduled for Dec 9th from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at the Cotton Tree Inn in Mount Vernon, WA (brochure attached). The cost is $20 at the door. Please RSVP to welch01@centurytel.net
2009 WA State Blueberry brochure
jgiuntoli October 29th, 2009
The Vancouver Planning Commission Presents
Urban Food Production: A First Tuesday Presentation
November 3, 2009 * 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
City Hall Council Chambers, 210 East 13th Street
Come join local experts in sharing their knowledge, experience, and success stories in an array of urban food production topics. Presenters will discuss urban gardening, harvesting and marketing, access to healthy food, and the need to plan for urban food systems. We’ll share how current programs work and discuss a vision for the future.
Intended only for informational purposes – No policy decisions will be made
Open to the Public
Please RSVP Terry Lenhart @ 360-487-7955 * terry.lenhart@ci.vancouver.wa.us
Agenda and Speakers
- Planning Commission Chair, Derek Chisholm will moderate.
- Tricia Mortell, Clark County Public Health and Ariel Rivers, AmeriCorps Volunteer: Introduction and Overview
- Greta Lavadour, Clark County Food Systems Council; Planning for Urban Food Systems
- Jane Kleiner, City of Vancouver; Community Gardens
- Jodee Nickel, WSU Extension and Amy Sidran, Fort Vancouver School Teacher; School Gardens
- Anne Lawrence, Storytree Farms; Community Supported Agriculture
- Kris Alexander, Clark County Office of Sustainability and Kendra Pearce, Urban Farm School; Home Grown Gardens, Clark County Homegrown/Community Grown Project
jgiuntoli October 20th, 2009
Join WSU Extension and the Northwest Ag Business Center at the Whidbey Island Greenbank Farm on Monday, October 26th, from 10:00 am – 2:30 pm to learn more about improving soils with composted manures. Knowledge of soil structure and fertility is important for any farm, but can be more challenging for small organic farms (certified or using organic practices) located on marginal soils. Information in this workshop will not be restricted to those working within organic standards, but will focus on more sustainable farming practices.
Continue Reading »
jgiuntoli October 12th, 2009
The Northwest Agriculture Business Center in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture will host a half-day grant writing workshop to assist producers in applying for a USDA Value-Added Producer Grant. The class will be taught by Sharon Exley, USDA Business Programs Specialist, and will be held on October 20th from 8:30 am -12:00 pm at the Burlington Public Library located at 820 East Washington Avenue, Burlington.
Continue Reading »
jgiuntoli October 5th, 2009
How Sweet It Is!
Now you can become a Master Beekeeper, help keep local pollinators thriving, and satisfy your sweet tooth at the same time!
Once again, Washington State University Snohomish County Extension and Beez Neez Apiary Supply are teaming up to sponsor three sessions over the next six months of the popular apprentice level course in the Master Beekeeper Program. The five-week course provides a thorough introduction to beekeeping for novice beekeepers as well as a comprehensive refresher course for experienced apiculturists. Continue Reading »
jgiuntoli October 1st, 2009
Marketing Your Crops
Learn the in’s and out’s of marketing methods with Patrice Barrentine, WSDA
Thursday, October 8, 2009; 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Come learn some tips on crop marketing, what works and what doesn’t. Are there state guidelines that you need to take into account? Plan ahead for success.
jgiuntoli October 1st, 2009
Washington State University Extension has recently received a grant from USDA CSREES to hold a two day symposium on no-till farming in organic vegetable systems in Western Washington.
The objectives of this symposium are to:
1. Educate farmers and extension professionals on no/low-till farming methods and how they might be integrated into farming practices.
2. Develop a comprehensive research and extension proposal for a future granting cycle. This proposal will develop and evaluate tools for organic vegetable growers in western Washington to implement no/low-till farming techniques.
For more information, go to: http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/no_till/
jgiuntoli September 30th, 2009
The September edition of the Farmland Preservation Newsletter is now available. Included in this month’s edition is an update on the Attorney General Opinion on the Upper Kittitas Groundwater issue, a request for comments from RCO on their WWRP Farmland Preservation program, a job opportunity with the Northwest Agriculture Business Center, and lots more.
If you have suggestions for newsletter content, please feel free to contact OFP at jgiuntoli@scc.wa.gov
Office of Farmland Preservation September Newsletter
jgiuntoli August 31st, 2009
Operating in the face of uncertain markets – don’t miss this interactive webinar series filled with useful information and advice on getting ahead in today’s commodity, niche, specialty crop, and alternative markets. The September series begins September 9 at 9AM Pacific. (10AM Mountain, 11 AM Central, and 12 noon Eastern).
The Ag in uncertain times webinar series resumes on September 9 with Operating in the face of uncertain markets. The September “markets” series will cover commodity as well as direct, niche, and alternative markets and strategies. On September 9, Matt Roberts from Ohio State University and Jim Robb from the Livestock Marketing Information Center will kick off the series focusing on the outlook for grain and live stock markets. All webinar start times are at 9AM Pacific. (10AM Mountain, 11 AM Central, and 12 noon Eastern)
For meeting times and dates, go to: http://www.farmmanagement.org/aginuncertaintimes/?page_id=12
For additional information email, http://email02.secureserver.net/westrme@wsu.edu or call John Nelson, 509-477-2176.
