RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM

Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has received funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to support the one-time-only Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI).

The purpose of this program is to build resilience across Washington state’s middle-of-the-food-supply-chain – aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution – for locally and regionally produced foods including specialty crops, dairy, grains for human consumption, aquaculture, and other food products, excluding meat and poultry.

This program intends to offer more and better market opportunities to small and mid-sized agricultural producers. Grants will go towards Washington food and farm businesses and other eligible Washington entities.

RFSI funding priorities

• Projects submitted directly by growers, producers, processors, shippers, etc. that support middle-of-the-supply-chain activities.
• Projects that benefit one or more of the following:
• Historically underserved farmers as defined by USDA;
• Socially disadvantaged farmers as defined by AB 1348, the Farmer Equity Act of 2017;
• Agricultural operations that qualify as small disadvantaged businesses, women-owned businesses, or veteran-owned businesses as defined by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
• Projects that expand capacity for processing, aggregation and distribution of agricultural products to create more and better markets for producers;
• Construction and infrastructure projects that demonstrate feasibility that the projects can reasonably be completed within the grant duration.
• Projects that modernize manufacturing, tracking, storage, and information technology systems;
• Projects that improve the capacity of entities to comply with federal, state, and local food safety requirements;
• Projects that modernize or expand an existing facility (including expansion and modifications to existing buildings and/or construction of new buildings at existing facilities);
• Projects focused on the construction of wastewater management structures and other similar infrastructure;
• Projects that modernize processing and manufacturing equipment; and
• Projects that develop, customize, or install equipment that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, increases efficiency in water use, improves air and/or water quality, and/or aligns with one or more of USDA’s Action Plan for Climate Adaptation and Resilience proposed adaptation actions.

USDA Designated Two Washington Counties as Contiguous for Primary Natural Disaster Areas for Drought

This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, these counties suffered from a drought intensity value during the growing season of 1) D2 Drought-Severe for eight or more consecutive weeks or 2) D3 Drought-Extreme or D4 Drought-Exceptional.

Impacted Area: Washington

Triggering Disaster: Drought

Application Deadline: 02/03/2025

Primary Counties Eligible: Benewah and Kootenai

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

Idaho: Bonner, Latah, Shoshone

Washington: Spokane, Whitman

Minimizing wild bird impacts on dairy cows

While the North American dairy industry grapples with H5N1 bird flu infections of herds across several states, the first line of defense for new cross-contamination from wild bird populations remains: minimize waterfowl and barnyard bird access to cows and feed. Strategies for bird management vary widely depending on location, season, dairy layout, and surrounding habitat. 

Summer is a good time for dairy farmers to plan ahead for fall and winter months, when wild bird use of fields and buildings can peak. Much of the boilerplate advice from wildlife managers is not practical or effective for dairies. For farmers wishing to be proactive in bird management, individualized planning with an ag consultant may be a valuable option. As multi-generation dairy farmers with 20 years of USDA funding and experience on wildlife-agriculture interactions -- including collaborations with Washington State University, Michigan State University, and University of Hawaii researchers -- the Steensma Agricultural Consulting team are available to assist farmers in the Pacific Northwest and beyond on these topics. 

Visit https://steensmacreamery.com/consulting for further information.

Producers and Landowners Can Now Sign Up for USDA's Grassland Conservation Reserve Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that agricultural producers and private landowners can now sign up for the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (Grassland CRP). The signup runs through June 28, 2024. Grassland CRP, offered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), is a voluntary working lands conservation program that enables participants to conserve grasslands and provide important conservation benefits for wildlife, soil health and carbon sequestration, all while continuing most grazing and haying practices. 

More than 2.3 million acres from agricultural producers and private landowners were accepted through the 2023 Grassland CRP signup. That signup reflects the continued success and value of investments in voluntary, producer-led, working lands conservation programs. The current total participation in Grassland CRP is 8.64 million acres, which is part of the 24.8 million acres enrolled in CRP opportunities overall.   

USDA Now Accepting Applications for Available Funds to Help Cover Organic Certification Costs

Through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP), USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will cover up to 75% of organic certification costs at a maximum of $750 per certification category. FSA is now accepting applications, and organic producers and handlers should apply for OCCSP by the Oct. 31, 2024, deadline for eligible expenses incurred from Oct. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2024. FSA will issue payments as applications are received and approved. 

Eligible Applicants, Expenses and Categories 

OCCSP provides cost-share assistance to producers and handlers of organic agricultural commodities for expenses incurred obtaining or maintaining organic certification under USDA’s National Organic Program. Eligible OCCSP applicants include any certified organic producers or handlers who have paid organic certification fees to a USDA-accredited certifying agent.  

Cost share assistance covers expenses including application fees, inspection costs, fees related to equivalency agreement and arrangement requirements, inspector travel expenses, user fees, sales assessments and postage. OCCSP pays a maximum of $750 per certification category for crops, wild crops, livestock, processing/handling, and state organic program fees (California only). 

How to Apply 

To apply, producers and handlers should contact FSA at their local USDA Service Center and be prepared to provide documentation of organic certification and eligible expenses. OCCSP applications can also be submitted through participating state departments of agriculture. For more information, visit the OCCSP webpage.  

Rural Energy For America Program

The program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing.

How may the funds be used?

Funds may be used for the purchase and installation of renewable energy systems, such as:

• Biomass (for example: biodiesel and ethanol, anaerobic digesters, and solid fuels).
• Geothermal for electric generation or direct use.
• Hydropower below 30 megawatts.
• Hydrogen.
• Small and large wind generation.
• Small and large solar generation.
• Ocean (tidal, current, thermal) generation.

Funds may also be used for the purchase, installation and construction of energy efficiency improvements, such as:

• High efficiency heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC).
• Insulation.
• Lighting.
• Cooling or refrigeration units.
• Doors and windows.
• Electric, solar or gravity pumps for sprinkler pivots.
• Switching from a diesel to electric irrigation motor.
• Replacement of energy-inefficient equipment.

Energy Efficiency Improvement applications must contain an Energy Audit, or Energy Assessment (depending on Total Project Costs) that complies with Appendix A to RD Instructions 4280-B

Agricultural producers may also use guaranteed loan funds to install energy efficient equipment and systems for agricultural production or processing.

American Jersey Cattle Association Scholarship

The scholarship program of the American Jersey Cattle Association supports educational opportunities for Jersey youth enrolled in post-secondary institutions and also on-farm internships.

Organized in 1868, the American Jersey Cattle Association has sponsored educational programs and activities for young people interested in the Jersey breed since 1917. Junior members have the same registration privileges as Lifetime Members, and also the incentives of a comprehensive program leading to national recognition for their achievements with Jersey cattle. 

Application forms for the 2024-25 national Jersey scholarships are due on July 1, 2024. 

RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM

Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has received funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to support the one-time-only Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI).

The purpose of this program is to build resilience across Washington state’s middle-of-the-food-supply-chain – aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution – for locally and regionally produced foods including specialty crops, dairy, grains for human consumption, aquaculture, and other food products, excluding meat and poultry.

This program intends to offer more and better market opportunities to small and mid-sized agricultural producers. Grants will go towards Washington food and farm businesses and other eligible Washington entities.

RFSI funding priorities

• Projects submitted directly by growers, producers, processors, shippers, etc. that support middle-of-the-supply-chain activities.
• Projects that benefit one or more of the following:
• Historically underserved farmers as defined by USDA;
• Socially disadvantaged farmers as defined by AB 1348, the Farmer Equity Act of 2017;
• Agricultural operations that qualify as small disadvantaged businesses, women-owned businesses, or veteran-owned businesses as defined by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
• Projects that expand capacity for processing, aggregation and distribution of agricultural products to create more and better markets for producers;
• Construction and infrastructure projects that demonstrate feasibility that the projects can reasonably be completed within the grant duration.
• Projects that modernize manufacturing, tracking, storage, and information technology systems;
• Projects that improve the capacity of entities to comply with federal, state, and local food safety requirements;
• Projects that modernize or expand an existing facility (including expansion and modifications to existing buildings and/or construction of new buildings at existing facilities);
• Projects focused on the construction of wastewater management structures and other similar infrastructure;
• Projects that modernize processing and manufacturing equipment; and
• Projects that develop, customize, or install equipment that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, increases efficiency in water use, improves air and/or water quality, and/or aligns with one or more of USDA’s Action Plan for Climate Adaptation and Resilience proposed adaptation actions.

Farmer/Rancher Research & Education Grant Program

The Western SARE Farmer/Rancher Research & Education Grant Program focuses on advancing on-farm sustainability solutions by funding innovative producer-driven research and outreach. This grant program involves agricultural producers (main applicants) and technical advisor(s) implementing projects to address identified needs in sustainable agriculture.

We recognize that producers are always innovating and improving on-farm/ranch practices. This program aims to honor producer innovation by funding on-farm research that benefits and is led by producers themselves. We encourage you to explore whether this grant program is right for you.

How the Program Works

Projects with 1-2 producers may apply for up to $25,000 and projects with 3 or more producers working together may apply for up to $29,900.

With a Farmer/Rancher Grant, a producer and a technical advisor work together to develop a project (1-3 years in scope) that conducts both research and outreach on a sustainable agriculture topic. With the support and guidance of the technical advisor, producers must integrate research and education to conduct on-site/on-farm experiments to address social, environmental, and economic aspects of agricultural sustainability.

The goal of this program is to achieve results that can be communicated to other producers and professionals; sustain and improve the environmental quality and natural resource base on which agriculture depends; improve the profitability of producers and associated agricultural businesses; and enhance the quality of life for producers in local communities. Outreach activities may include on-farm/ranch demonstrations, farmer-to-farmer educational activities, and other approaches to assist producer adoption of sustainable agricultural practices.