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a map of washington with text.

Sustainable Farms and Fields – Two years In

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Sustainable Farms and Fields, a still relatively new program of the Washington State Conservation Commission…

Irrigation in a potato field.

How the State Climate Resilience Strategy Supports Agricultural Viability

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The Washington State Climate Resilience Strategy has officially been released, replacing the 2012 version with…

a person kneeling in a field.

Soil Health Ambassador: Mallonee Family Farms – Diverse Pasture Plantings

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Just south of the tiny town of Curtis, WA, Maynard Mallonee and his son Jack…

a map of the ltare site network.

Six sites, six unique soils, and sixteen crops

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The WaSHI LTARE site network translates vital, long-term research into soil health practices across Washington’s diverse agricultural regions.

pumpkins in a field.

Locally produced soil amendments: using biochar on the San Juan Islands

Farmers often apply soil amendments like fertilizer or compost to improve their soil fertility and soil health. However, many times the soil amendments must travel many miles to the field.

Producing soil at industrial compost plant. Sifting soil with a machinery to make clean earth ready to be used

WSDA Compost Reimbursement Program’s Second Year

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has launched its second year of the Compost Reimbursement Program to continue to encourage on-farm compost use.

a tractor in a field with a cow.

Climate Commitment Act update

The Climate Commitment Act funds new programs to support composting, methane capture, and biochar, some producers got hit with unexpected fuel surcharges—even though they’re supposed to be exempt. Now, the Agricultural Support Program is offering $28.5 million in payments to those who were wrongly charged.

a hand digging in a pile of biochar.

Beyond the biochar hype—how to decide if it’s right for you

Biochar: is it the silver bullet for soil health, or just another piece of the puzzle? In this wrap-up of our biochar series, we dive into key takeaways from recent research. It’s clear that biochar’s effectiveness varies widely—its success depends on factors like feedstock, soil type, and specific farm needs.

a group of people standing in a vineyard.

Guiding soil health advancement

Washington Soil Health Initiative Advisory Team convened to refine strategies and share insights on advancing soil health in Washington.

a drone with people standing in the background.

New precision agriculture technologies explained through Sustainable Farms and Fields Program

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Tackling soil acidification, nitrogen deficiencies, and precision drone use in dryland regions in a recent field day