Do you have a story you would like featured in the Ag Sounder Newsletter? Let's us know!
In this issue:
- The Farmer's Basket: A Virtual Farmer's Market
- Pesticide Applicator Exams & Worker Protection Standards (WPS)
- Transcript, Recording, & Resources from WA Young Farmers Webinar
- Participate in a Cover Crop Survey
- Puget Consumers Co-op (PCC) Community Markets Food Bank Program
- Beware the Asian Giant Hornet
- WSDA Safe-Operating Guidance for Farmer during COVID-19, and other resources
- Events, News, Farms, Funding, Jobs
|
|
The Farmer's Basket: Local Farm Listings
The Olympia Farmer's Market is still open, but for those who can't or prefer not to visit, there is another option. The Thurston Conservation District put together a farm listing site to help consumers connect safely and easily to farmers. Visit the virtual market to connect with your local veggie, meat, and dairy producers. If you are a producer who wishes to be added to the market directory, please email Nora White at nwhite@thurstoncd.com.
Read a Thurston Talk article about this new project here.
|
|
|
Pesticide Applicator Exams & Worker Protection Standards (WPS)
The WSDA is still offering some options for those who need to acquire or recertify their pesticide applicator license during the pandemic. Get more info here.
Whether you are studying for an exam or just want to brush up on best practices, here are some valuable resources to stay in compliance of WPS:
• WSU offers online review courses to help prepare for state applicator exams. Check out the courses here.
• The Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative has a wealth of useful resources, ranging from FAQ pages to bilingual manuals, posters, and handouts. Explore these resources here, as well as resources for training others here.
|
|
|
Puget Consumers
Co-op (PCC) Community Markets Food Bank Program
PCC Community Markets is expanding their food bank program to help support both local farmers and those in need of food during the COVID-19 epidemic. They will be buying produce from local farms and donating it to local food banks. They have already spent $80k on local produce and are continuing to fundraise for the program. Visit here to learn more and donate to the program.
|
|
|
|
Farmer Resources
for Coping with COVID-19
• WSU Extension and U of Idaho Extension are hosting a free webinar on Best Practices for Community Gardens during COVID-19.
• American Farmland Trust fund to Help Farmers Affected by the COVID-19 Crisis
• WSDA is hosting a free webinar on April 8, from 2-3:15pm. It will cover Safe Operating Guidance for Small Farm Businesses During COVID-19. This is the zoom link. Meeting ID: 187 602 877 Password: 357588
• Interim Rules on SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for small businesses. Farmers are eligible to participate, reach out your bankers (know there are apparent bottlenecks).
• Check out this list of free webinars in april, with a range in topics from shipping frozen product to keeping farmer's markets safe during the epidemic.
• EcoFarm is hosting a webinar series designed to help farmers and ranchers adapt, stay informed and keep the local food system going strong. April: April 1, 8, 15 4 - 5:30pm.The webinar is focused on California, but will be a great resource for any farmer. Register for free here.
|
|
|
Participate in a Cover Crop Survey
University of Idaho, Oregon State University, and Boise State University are launching a cover crop survey to help improve outreach and inform cover crop incentive programs to better serve farmers. You are invited to participate whether you currently grow cover crops or never have, and you'll have a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card. Take the survey here.
|
|
|
Transcript, Recording, & Resources from WA Young Farmers Webinar
The WA Young Farmers Coalition hosted a webinar in March to bring together farmers around the state who are creatively coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. If you weren't able to attend, a video of the webinar is available here, as well as a transcript here. A comprehensive resource list covering many of the concerns and ideas brought up during the webinar is on the WYFC website here.
|
|
|
Beware the Asian Giant Hornet
The asian giant hornet is a new invasive species, and is dangerous to humans and honeybees. Beekeepers need to use extra caution, and anyone who sees one of these hornets should report it to pestprogram@agr.wa.gov (or call 1-800-443-6684) so that they can be trapped before populations have a chance to take hold. Read more about the hornets here.
|
|
|
Events, news, farms, funding, jobs
• Capital Press, April 3rd: COVID-19 fallout threatens farmers, ranchers.
• Olympian, April 2nd: Local farmers retooling how they sell, seeking new customers to weather virus shutdown.
• You can safely support local community and food production by volunteering at the FRESH Farm. FRESH at Tumwater high school is normally run by students, but is in need of support since schools are closed. Check out their volunteer sign up here. There is an established safety protocol, and no more than four socially distanced adults will be present at a time.
• The American Farmland Trust has established a farmer relief fund to help support farmers through the pandemic. The fund will award eligible farmers with cash grants of up to $1,000 each. The initial focus will be on farms that sell at farmers markets or to restaurants, caterers, schools, stores, or makers who use farm products. Get more info here, and apply for the grant here.
• Certain small businesses in WA are eligible for low-interest Economic Injury Disaster loans to offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by drought that began June 18, 2019. These are federal loans through the Small Business Administration. Farms are not eligible, but nonfarm businesses that are involved in the agricultural or food supply chain--including plant nurseries-- may be eligible. The deadline to apply is April 29. Apply online here. Find more details here.
• Small businesses, including farms and ranches, can apply for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans from the Small Business Administration. The loans are first come, first served, and may be forgiven if funds are used for payroll expenses, rent, utilities, and certain other expenses. Here is a brief overview of the program, here is a more detailed fact sheet, and here is the application. If you have questions, contact the Lender Relations Specialist at the SBA Seattle District Office. Here is a contact sheet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
