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What's New
 A new round of Pioneers in Conservation grants is now available. These are grants for salmon recovery projects on or affecting farm, ranch, or forest lands in the State of Washington. To qualify, the project must improve or restore salmon habitat while, at the same time, helping strengthen the farm business where the work will be done. Funding for the program is provided by the Washington State Conservation Commission and by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and are available to local governments, tribes, nonprofits, and others.
AFT is proud of its role in helping to create and administer this program because it so perfectly illustrates how economically viable agriculture and a healthy environment go hand in hand. The new deadline for applications is Tuesday, March 31, 2009. Get the Request for Proposals.
Project Update
“No Farms No Food” is a message understood by nearly everyone, but farms provide more than just the food that sustains us. They also safeguard our natural resources. A recent feasibility study [PDF] by American Farmland Trust found that Washington farm and forest lands provide carbon sequestration, protect water quality and safeguard other environmental resources. The study suggests that ecosystem markets for agriculture could become a Washington reality in the next few years. These markets would encourage farmers to adopt the best conservation practices—and reward them financially for their stewardship. Given the positive results, Washington legislation charged the Washington State Conservation Commission to develop two conservation market pilot projects by December 2009.
After a year of work, several Washington Counties are one step closer to developing plans for the encouragement of local farms and ranches and the preservation of agricultural lands. Last January, our State’s new Office of Farmland Preservation announced eight grants to counties to help them begin creating farmland preservation programs. Klickitat County, among others, received $25,000 for various projects. Now, the Office of Farmland Preservation is assembling the product of these efforts and is expected to make them public over the coming months – including our new report for the county, Keeping Farmland Available for Klickitat County Agriculture.
Focus on Washington
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| Restored/improved salmon habitat on farm near Monroe, WA |
AFT, in partnership with several local organizations and public agencies, has completed a report—Creating Stronger Incentives for Private Lands Conservation in Washington—that suggests several creative new ways to help the environment on private lands in the Washington. “We’ve taken a big step to help the environment and provide tools to help private farmers and forest landowners stay in business,” says Don Stuart, AFT's Pacific Northwest Director.
Federal Farm Policy and the farm bill: what’s in it for washington?
Energy and environmental policies are a priority for President Obama's Administration. At the heart of these issues lies American farmland. Agriculture can be part of the solution if the correct policies are enacted. Read our 9 for '09 policy recommendations and ask President Obama to engage agriculture in these critical issues.
The Apple as Planet Earth
Do you know how much of the earth is suitable for farming? Watch this short animated presentation and learn why protecting our farmland is so important.
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