Farmer-led innovation

Sustainable Farms & Fields (SFF) is a voluntary grant program operated by the Washington State Conservation Commission to support farmers as they transition to practices that sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Farmers are empowered to select the practices that best serve their land and business models, from cover crops to no-till to anaerobic digesters…and exciting, new, on-farm solutions and innovations. Carbon Washington was instrumental in developing this nation-leading program and passing the legislation to enact it, and now we are working to ensure it is a success for farmers, communities, and climate.

Need a quick recap on SFF? Check out this webinar we did for ClimateXChange with Mad Agriculture and Hudson Carbon, (SFF starts at 19:37,) and watch the video below from Living Heritage Farms!

Finding the funds

Enacting the program was a major victory for Washingtonians from the peninsula to the palouse. However, SFF has yet to be fully funded, which means WA farmers are still not receiving the economic support they need to transition to low-carbon and carbon-reducing methods. So, we’re working with our partners at the Washington State Conservation Commission, Audubon Washington, and the Meridian Institute to ensure that the Sustainable Farms & Fields Program receives the capital needed to provide meaningful economic support to farmers and to serve as a model for other states and at the national level.

A Model for National Action

Replicability is a core value of Carbon Washington. Thanks to the stakeholder process and collaboration behind SFF, the program is a shining example of popular, bipartisan climate action that can serve as a model for other states as well as for national action.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack has made it clear that agriculture holds enormous potential as a powerful solution to the climate crisis, and we think SFF is the right model. We are working with partners to secure Sec. Vilsack’s support in the form of federal funding for SFF as a national pilot program.

• Washington Conservation Commission sent a letter that was co-signed by WSDA, WSU, and WACD to Sec. Vilsack citing SFF as a prime example for national action and a strong candidate for federal funding as a demo project.

• Carbon Washington and Audubon Washington sent a similar letter from a coalition of 55 WA farmers, businesses, and organizations, including testimonials from Jason Bishop of Living Heritage Farms and Jim Baird of Baird Orchards.

• Congresswoman Kim Schrier sent a letter to Sec. Vilsack recommending that SFF be funded as a demo project. The letter was signed by 6 members of WA’s federal delegation: Reps. Schrier, Strickland, Kilmer, Delbene, and Smith plus Sen. Murray

  —> Click here to read the letters!