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The Veterans Ecological Trades Collective, 501c3, (#VETC) is advocating for the passage of the Sustainable Farms and Fields Program (SB 5947).
This program will strengthen Washington farmers’ leadership and roles in the effort to reduce and sequester carbon emissions.
This grant-based program will directly invest in farmers’ implementation of efficient and effective practices designed to address climate change.
Farms will be able to tailor-design carbon reduction and sequestration practices appropriate to their business, their scale and their priorities. VETC is composed of veterans who are, and who aspire to become, agricultural producers across Washington state.
Seasoned producers in our network will be able to easily adopt to the grant offerings, while beginning producers will benefit from the investments made in their farm enterprises. It will inform all of our cadre’s long-term regeneration and the resiliency of our local communities.
Programs like SB 5947 will help ensure our members operations are viable for decades to come.
The Sustainable Farms and Fields grant program:
• Will invest in farmers whose vision is to operate viable farms for the coming decades
• Will support producers developing carbon sequestering solutions to participate, and take leadership, in Washington’s discussion about climate change
• Will provides resources and resiliency for both farmers and rural communities
• Is an investment in cost efficient and effective practices and approaches to address climate change
• Will provide resources to Washington’s conservation districts to support farmers implementing Sustainable Farms and Fields Practices
In 2019, the Sustainable Farms and Fields bill was first introduced in the Washington State legislature. The bipartisan bill advanced to the House, but did not receive a full vote.
Washington State Conservation District (WSCC) and Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) provided a budget provision to conduct a gap analysis and stakeholder engagement process.
VETC became aware of the bill at this time, and is enthusiastic about several key improvements we expect to be incorporated into SB 5947 during this legislative session. A diverse group of agricultural stakeholders identified these key improvements:
• That funds allocated will not take away from resources for other agricultural conservation programs
• That conservation districts receive funds to support farmers in adopting new practices
• That the needs of marginalized and low-income farmers (such as our disabled veterans and beginning farmers) be especially considered
The WSCC survey conducted in late 2019 found that 90% of farmers surveyed would seek to adopt climate-friendly farming practices via the Sustainable Farms and Fields program.
VETC membership supports this new program, and its potential to support our members’ farm enterprises in pursuing impactful carbon reduction and sequestration strategies.
VETC is currently developing a strategy for carbon sequestration and monitoring on our 120 acre farm and this will become part of the agricultural education we provide our membership.SB 5947 will support our effort to draw more carbon down into our farm than we use for operations, and to monitor it accurately.
For more details about VETC’s approaches to carbon negative farming, please contact us at vetscafeolywa@gmail.com
Deston Denniston
Centralia
