As Washington’s snowpack declines, water worries rise, warmer, drier conditions linger into February

SPOKANE, Wash. (Feb. 9, 2010) – Washington’s declining snowpack is increasingly worrisome to water managers. And given the latest water supply outlook report from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), that anxiety may be justified.

According to the NRCS, snowpack conditions statewide are 74 percent of average, down from 84 percent just a month ago. Snowpack conditions in the Green River basin are only one-third of normal.

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Photo courtesy:
Ann Vandeman

USDA to launch high tunnel pilot study to increase availability of locally grown foods

SPOKANE, Wash., (Dec. 17, 2009) – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently announced a new pilot project under the “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” initiative for farmers to establish high tunnels – also known as hoop houses – to increase the availability of locally grown produce in a conservation-friendly way.

To sign up or learn more about EQIP assistance for high tunnel projects, producers should contact a local NRCS office.

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Producers urged to carefully consider CRP break-out options Financial, technical assistance available to protect land

SPOKANE, Wash., (Dec. 7, 2009) – After years of harvesting environmental and wildlife benefits from their land, many Washington growers will soon face decisions about what to harvest next from their Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres. More than 90,000 contracted acres will expire in 2010, while nearly 175,000 acres will expire in 2011.

“Some CRP land might have been out of crop production for 20 years,” Rides at the Door said. “During that time the soil quality has improved, erosion has been reduced, and water quality has been protected. Without proper conservation, those 10 or 20 years of progress could be undone in as little as one year,” she said.

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