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~October 2018~
AG SOUNDER NEWSLETTER
WSU Thurston County Extension

F O L L O W on F A C E B O O K
Do you have a story you would like featured in the Ag Sounder Newsletter? Send your submission and we’ll consider adding it to an upcoming newsletter.

 

In this issue: 

  • Ag Infrastructure Field Trip to Skagit-Whatcom Counties - what we learned!

  • Women in Agriculture Conference - October 27th!!!

  • This ain't no veg medley...can locally grown and processed make frozen veggies hip?

  • Exploring One-Cut Lettuce Production - Upcoming Field Day 

  • Up to $15,000 available for NRCS High Tunnel Cost-Share

  • Sizzle: Report on September 2018 NW drought conditions

  • Rocks: Trade Disputes Impact Washington Ag

  • Brag about yourself, because maybe nobody else will! ... ehem: Ag Sounder Newsletter wins national award!

  • The cultivating Success, 12-week Whole Farm Planning course will run starting January 2019

Ag Infrastructure Field Trip - What We Learned!

A group of farmers, economic development personnel, and public representatives from Thurston, Lewis and Grays Harbor Counties traveled to Skagit and Whatcom Counties to visit grain, fruit, vegetable, and other farm product processing and marketing infrastructure. Let's start building! Read on for a picture-heavy review of what we learned. 

Women in Ag Conference, Olympia, WA  


October 27th, 8am - (the end)
 

If you have been farming for years or a new and aspiring farmer, this conference is for you. Enjoy a day of inspiration, learning and networking with other women farmers.  The theme this year is “strengthening your farm operation with a healthy cash flow” with speakers, a local panel and way to make it possible to do what you love most – farming! Click here for more details.

Can locally grown and processed make frozen veg hip?

  
“How important is it to YOU that locally processed products use local farm products?” This question and six others were answered by over 500 Olympia Farmers' Market shoppers on August 11th, 2018. Results from this work will help determine the feasibility of developing a value-added food processing facility in south Puget Sound. Read here for initial results presented to the South Sound Food System Network. 

Exploring One-Cut Lettuce Production

 

Join WSU Clark County Extension at the 78th St. Heritage Farm to view a trial of one-cut type lettuce varieties, and to discuss considerations for using them as an alternative to standard baby-leaf lettuce production. Program features include variety viewing and discussion of the trial, discussion about variety offerings for one-cut types, overview of lettuce production methods and markets, lettuce tastings with salads created by Clark College Culinary Institute students, refreshments and snacks, and networking. Click here for more.

 

Up to $15,000 for NRCS High Tunnels

 

Expand your growing season with financial assistance for a high tunnel (or hoop house) on your operation. Whether it’s for growing peppers for a CSA, flowers for the farmers market, or peaches for dessert, up to 2,880 square feet of covered growing space (equivalent to a 30ft x 96ft structure) can be funded through this program. Call Tara Donohue at NRCS for a site visit to get the ball rolling! 360-704-7752.
 

 

Sizzling Drought Conditions Report


  • Over the last 90 days, precipitation totals over OR, WA, and ID were below normal, with the lowest they’ve been in at least 40 years in central WA, the southern half of OR, and southwest ID. Accumulated precipitation through September 18 is below 50% of normal for the entire region except for western WA, where precipitation has so far been normal to above-normal. See the full report here

(On the) Rocks: International Trade Disputes Impact Washington Ag

From apples to milk and from almonds to wheat, agricultural exports are suffering losses that will top $4 billion this year and are projected to increase next year. Apples sold in Mexico, India and China: $129 million. Dairy: $115 million this year and $415 million in 2019, as high as $3 billion next year when oversupply to the domestic market and downward pressure on prices are considered. Almonds: $1.6 billion, and pork: $1.14 billion. Read the Capital Press story here.
 

  
 

Honk honk: Ag Sounder Wins Communications Award!

 

The Thurston County Ag Sounder Newsletter was the 2018 state winner of the National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA) ‘Communications Award’, and a regional finalist at the NACAA national awards. Celebrate with us by reading some archived newsletters! Cheers! 

  
 

So you Wanna Farm? 


The WSU Thurston Agriculture program will run the 12-week, Cultivating Success Whole Farm Planning course starting the second week of January. Field trips, farmer guest speakers, and lots of group discussion, farm planning concepts, and team learning. Email us to get more information: bramwell@wsu.edu. 

Farm Videos, Webinars, & Jobs


 
  1. Healthy Soils and Carbon Farming:  Torri Estrada (Executive Director at the Carbon Cycle) will be speaking about California’s recent experience with policies to support agricultural soil health alongside soil carbon sequestration and water conservation. He will also discuss emerging efforts in other states relating to improved soil health. 
  2. Our Farms, Our Futures Podcast: Dry Farming. In this new episode of the Our Farms, Our Future Podcast, Garrett, an assistant professor at Oregon State University, and Rosmann, an Iowa farmer, discuss how water trends and patterns impact agriculture in their regions.
  3. Webinar: An Assessment of Organic Farming on Soil Physical Qualities: Oregon Tilth, University of Nebraska.
  4. Webinar: Weed Management, An Ecological Approach: eXtension (an online nationwide Extension information resource).
  5. Preventing Outbreaks of Avian Influenza: Vidoes developed by Dr. Nathaniel Tablante for avian influenza emergency response for three different audiences: commercial, backyard and technical service providers. Videos are in Spanish and English. 
  6. Organic Farming Research Foundation has developed two new guides to help organic producers navigate the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) offered through the USDA Farm Service Agency.






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WSU Thurston County Extension Office · 5033 Harrison Ave. NW · Olympia, Wa 98502 · USA

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