Ecosystem Bill Passes in Legislature

Washington state has passed an AFT-supported bill that will result in new ecosystem services markets for farm and forest landowners while also potentially improving the performance of existing environmental mitigation and restoration programs. Read More

help for the environment AND landowners

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.

Grants to Secure the Future of Farming and Salmon

The Pioneers in Conservation program provides grants to help fund projects that restore or protect salmon habitat on agricultural and forest lands while helping the farm or forestry business.  The program is designed to help farmers and small, family foresters provide on-the-ground benefits for salmon in Puget Sound’s watersheds. AFT is pleased to provide support for this critical program.

»More Projects

A New Office of Farmland Preservation for Washington

Washington state legislature-tested and Governor-approved: Washington’s new Office of Farmland Preservation has a two-year budget and will focus on many topics, including the development of programs and incentives to help keep farms viable and retain land in agriculture.

It will be a busy start, but this office is the first and best real opportunity yet to lay the foundation for a substantial farmland protection program in the state of Washington.
»More Success Stories

A new farm bill: what’s in it for washington?

After years of work, we have a new 2008 Farm Bill. What does it mean for you and your community? From the foods we eat, to protecting farms from development, to helping keep our drinking water clean, the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 has many programs that affect all of us everyday.

• What’s in the new farm bill and why is it important?
• Find out what’s next for the farm bill and how we can make sure the promises made in the legislation are turned into programs on the ground.
• Take an in-depth look at Washington's agricultural profile on a state and district level, and learn how much agriculture contributes to the state's economy.

Defeat of I-933 now presents opportunity

Initiative 933, our recent property-rights ballot measure in Washington, has now been defeated.  But many voters remain uncertain about exactly what the measure really meant and about where we stand in agriculture, now that it has failed.  Leadership on I-933 came largely from the Washington Farm Bureau which argued passionately that its adoption was necessary for the survival of agriculture.  Yet there were many well-respected farmers and farm groups that opposed the measure—including AFT. 

So what does the defeat of I-933 mean for the future of agriculture in the State of Washington?
»More Issues

Contact Us
Pacific Northwest Office
Don Stuart, Pacific Northwest States Director
3211 Beacon Ave. S. #26
Seattle, WA  98144
(p) (206) 860-4222
dstuart@farmland.org