Agricultural Entrepreneurship Class-Series Online (begins 1/20/26)
2026-01-20 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online via Zoom
WSU Extension will be offering our Cultivating Success course this winter, and we’d like to share this opportunity offered statewide, online and with Spanish interpretation. (Español abajo)

Agriculture Entrepreneurship and Business Planning Course
This course will walk you through the steps to create a farm business plan through weekly online classes with guest speaker farmers and resource providers and connections in regional groups.
Tuesdays, January 20- March 10, 2026, 6-8pm with in-person intensives on Feb 28 and March 7
Location: Virtual, statewide with Spanish interpretation
Cost: $200 Scholarships available to anyone for whom the class fee is a barrier
https://www.cultivatingsuccesswa.org/courseregistration

WSU Extensión ofrecerá nuestro curso de Cultivando Éxito este invierno y nos gustaría invitarles a usted y a su comunidad. Ofrecido a nivel estatal, en línea y con interpretación en español .

Curso de Emprendimiento y Planificación del Negocio Agricola
Este curso le guiara en los pasos necesarios para crear un plan de negocio agrícola por medio de clases semanales en línea con expertos y agricultores invitados, y conexiones en grupos regionales.
Martes el 20 de enero – al 10 de marzo 6-8pm con intensivos regionales en persona el 28 de feb y el 7 de marzo.
Formato: Virtual por Zoom en todo el estado con interpretación en español
Costo: $200 Becas disponibles para cualquier persona para quien la tarifa de la clase sea una barrera
https://www.cultivatingsuccesswa.org/courseregistration
Extension programs and policies are consistent with federal and state laws and regulations on nondiscrimination regarding race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, and sexual orientation. Evidence of non-compliance may be reported through your local Extension Office. For reasonable accommodation or language access to participate in the event, please contact Kate Smith, WSU Food Systems Program, at kate.smith@wsu.edu or 360-399-6052 no later than two weeks before the event.

Current Use Taxation
2026-02-18 08:00 - 17:00
Do You Qualify For Reduced Property Taxes?
Current Use Taxation
Current Use Vs. “Highest & Best Use”
Current Use taxation designations provide landowners a tax break when their land use meets the criteria for farm/agricultural, timber land, open space, and forest land. Current use lands are taxed according to the value of the current use instead of the market value for development, such as residential, commercial, or industrial use. The development value is often called a land’s “highest and best use” which means its highest economic value if sold. However, these programs only defer taxes while the land remains in the designated current use. For this reason, landowners should plan to maintain these designations for the long-term. As outlined later, penalties make short-term classification costly.
Current use taxation promotes residents’ quality of life by preserving working landscapes that provide aesthetic, economic, and social benefits in the form of farms, forests, and open space. Encouraging these land uses also protects the quality of our water by maintaining vegetation and landscapes that filter and absorb storm water.
Types of Current Use Taxation
Farm and Agricultural Land
Requirements. For the three options below, applications require the signature of all owners of the land, a legal description, a site plan, and copies of IRS Farm Income Schedules for three of the previous five years. In some cases, a Farm Management Plan may be required.
Option One Criteria. Parcels or adjoining parcels must be twenty acres or more: 1) devoted mostly to livestock production or commercial agricultural commodity production; OR 2) registered in a federal conservation reserve program.
Option Two Criteria. Parcels or adjoining parcels must be less than twenty acres, but at least five acres in size generating at least
$200 per acre annually in commercial agricultural products during three of the preceding five years.
Option Three Criteria. Parcels must be less than five acres generating at least $1,500 per acre annually in commercial agricultural products during three of the preceding five years.
Qualifying lands can include up to 20% of the land in compatible incidental uses (such as a woodlot) along with buildings necessary to produce, prepare, or sell the agricultural products (e.g., barns, sheds) although potted nursery stock and greenhouse production may not count in Clark County.
Timber Land and Designated Forest Land
Requirements. Applications require the signature of all owners of the land and a Timber Management Plan.
Timber Land:

A minimum of 5 acres exclusive of the
Actively managed for growing timber for commercial
Must submit a timber management plan prepared by a professional
Must submit two copies of the complete application

Designated Forest Land:

A minimum of 5 contiguous acres in the same ownership, exclusive of
Actively managed for growing timber for commercial
Must meet minimum stocking level
Must submit a timber management plan prepared by a professional

Open Space
Requirements. Applications require the signature of all owners of the land and relevant documentation supporting the classification.

Mineral deposits on parcels exceeding 20 acres – or
Archaeological or historic sites listed on local, state, or national registry – or
Certain streams or springs on parcels exceeding 10 acres – or
Certain soil types on parcels exceeding 10 acres – or
Certain recreational opportunities on parcels exceeding 10
Must submit two copies of the complete application

Application Costs and Determining Land Value

Classification
Current Use Value
Cost to Apply *

Farm and Agricultural Land
Based on earning capacity on similar land determined by soil class and commodity.
$150 application

Timber Land
Based on land grades (composite of soil class and utility) used to determine per acre values supplied by DNR.

$2,032 application

Designated Forest Land
Based on land grades (composite of soil class and utility) used to determine per acre values supplied by DNR.
recording fee

Open Space
Based on soil classification.
$2,032 application

* As of Janurary 2015, subject to change. Fees are non-refundable.

Timeline & Review Process
It takes over a year to process current use applications. Applications before December 31st of a given year will be processed during the following year and will apply to the taxes in the third year (application in 2004, processed in 2005, reduction in 2006 taxes if accepted).
Withdrawal from Current Use Taxation
Removing a property’s current use taxation designation prior to ten years automatically triggers a 20% penalty (mandated by state law) in addition to back taxes. When a property is withdrawn, the landowner must pay the deferred taxes for the previous seven years. The taxes are the difference between what was paid at the current use tax rate and what would have been paid had the property been taxed at the normal highest and best use tax rate. In other words, that is the amount of tax that was deferred while in the current use tax designation. In addition, the landowner will owe interest on the deferred tax amount consistent with the interest rate on delinquent taxes.

Classification
Review Process for Accepted Applications

Farm and Agricultural Land
Application review. Physical inspection. Assessor records tax lien with Auditor.

Timber Land
Application review. Physical inspection. County Planning Commission Public Hearing. County Commissioner Public Hearing. Applicants sign Community Development agreements. Assessor records tax lien with Auditor.

Designated Forest Land
Application review. Physical inspection. Assessor records tax lien with Auditor.

Open Space
Application review. Physical inspection. County Planning Commission Public Hearing. County Commissioner Public Hearing. Applicants sign Community Development agreements. Assessor records tax lien with Auditor.

Selling Land in Current Use Taxation Status. The seller must pay the deferred taxes and any penalties and interest on the land being sold unless the buyer signs a Notice of Continuance on the Real Estate Excise Tax Affidavit and the Intent to Continue Current Use Classification form that demonstrate the buyer’s intent to maintain the property in the current use designation.
Plan for this to take some extra time to be processed. In this case, the buyer assumes the responsibilities required for the current use classification.
Current Use Example
In the following example, the owner of an 11 acre parcel wishes to place her land in the farm and agriculture current use designation. In this case, the homesite is considered one acre and is taxed at market value. The remaining 10 acres will be taxed at its current earning capacity. All parcels are unique and depend on specific conditions of each property. This example is for illustrative purposes only.

Market Value Taxation
Current Use – Agricultural Land

Land Value
$129,500 for 11 acres
$3,790 for 10 acres; One acre (homesite) @ $21,910; Total =
$25,710

Structure Value
$48,500
$48,500

Total Value
$178,000
$74,210

Taxes
$2,670 per year
$1,120 per year

Deferred Tax

$1,550 per year

In this example, the landowner defers $1,550 each year while in the current use classification. When that land is withdrawn, the landowner will owe the last seven years of deferred taxes, plus seven years of interest on the deferred tax amount and any applicable penalties.
Who to Contact and Additional Resources
For further details and applications contact the Clark County Department of Assessment, 360-397-2092, ext. 5847 or current.use@clark.wa.gov. General office telephone 360-397-2391. Information and applications also available at: http://www.clark.wa.gov/assessor/ taxrelief/currentuse.html
WA Department of Revenue

Open Space Taxation Act (fact sheet): http://dor.wa.gov/docs/pubs/prop_tax/openspace.pdf
Designated Forest Land (fact sheet): http://dor.wa.gov/Docs/Pubs/Prop_Tax/DesignatedForestLand.pdf

References
Clark County, Clark County Chapter 3.08 Open Space Taxation, December 1996, 2 pages.
Clark County, Current Use Assessment, RCW Chapter 84.34, Farm and Agriculture, Timber Land and Open Space, Department of Assessment and GIS factsheet, February 13, 2003, 2 pages.
Clark County, Designated Forest Land General Information, Department of Assessment and GIS factsheet, March 3, 2003, 5 pages.
Clark County, Farm and Agricultural Land General Information, Department of Assessment and GIS factsheet, March 3, 2003, 5 pages.
Clark County, Open Space and Designated Forest Land General Information, Department of Assessment and GIS factsheet, March 3, 2003, 2 pages.
Clark County, Open Space Land General Information, Department of Assessment and GIS factsheet, March 3, 2003, 5 pages. Clark County, Timber Land General Information, Department of Assessment and GIS factsheet, March 3, 2003, 5 pages.
Washington State, Open Space Taxation Act, Current Use Assessment Information, Department of Revenue, Property Tax Division factsheet, January 1993, 11 pages.
Updated in 2014 by Eric Lambert.
Written by Doug Stienbarger with research assistance from Penny Ramey (February 2004).
The information in this publication is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for legal advice or obtaining guidance and advice directly from relevant Clark County departments. For specific and current information, contact Clark County.
The Small Acreage Program is sponsored in partnership by WSU Extension Clark County and the Clark County Clean Water Program.
Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.

Well and Septic System Maintenance Workshop (In-Person/Virtual)
2026-03-31 18:00 - 20:30 | 78th St Heritage Farm, 1919 NE 78th St, Vancouver, 98665, United States
Get Septic Certified and Save Money
Well & Septic System Maintenance and Septic Self-Inspection Certification
Tuesday March 31st, 2026
6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
In-Person or virtual options
Advanced registration is required and the cost is $18 per household (up to two). To register and find more details visit https://WS033126.eventbrite.com or email terry.koper@wsu.edu or call 564-397-5729. If you are unable to attend in-person, you may join online, by registering at https://WS033126_Online.eventbrite.com.
Clark County, WA – Do you have a conventional gravity-fed septic system? Did you know Clark County requires you to have your conventional gravity-fed septic system inspected every 3 years? Attending this Well and Septic Workshop will allow you to inspect the system yourself every other time, instead of hiring a professional to do it for you each time. This can save you money. Having your septic system inspected by a professional often costs more than $100. You can save money by getting certified to self-inspect your system in our class which costs $18.00, saving homeowners money. Completing the workshop and a short exam will certify participants to self-inspect their own septic system every other time.
The workshop is taught by Clark County Public Health and will teach participants how to maintain and inspect their septic systems and safely maintain their well water. “Getting self-inspection certified is also a good long-term investment and participants will learn how to spot problems faster so they can have them fixed rather than looking at a costly system replacement”, says Terry Koper, Small Acreage Program Coordinator.
This workshop is hosted by the Small Acreage Program of Washington State University Clark County Extension with support from Clark County Public Works Clean Water. To find out about this and other events offered by the Small Acreage Program, visit http://go.wsu.edu/smallacreage.
Scholarships are available if registration costs are a barrier to attend. WSU Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Persons requiring special accommodations should call WSU Clark County Extension at (564) 397-5729 prior to the event.

19th Annual Small Acreage Expo
2026-05-02 08:30 - 17:00 | 78th St Heritage Farm, 1919 NE 78th St, Vancouver, 98665, United States
What: 19th Annual Small Acreage Expo
When: Saturday, May 2, 2026 | 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (Doors open at 8:30 a.m.)
Where: 78th Street Heritage Farm, 1919 NE 78th Street, Vancouver, WA 98665
Who: Hosted by WSU Clark County Extension – Small Acreage Program
Details: WSU Clark County Extension invites landowners and community members to the 19th Annual Small Acreage Expo, a one-day educational event featuring hands-on workshops, demonstrations, exhibitor resources, and a farm tour. Topics include soil health, livestock and grazing, septic system maintenance, forest stewardship, land-use planning tools, responsible pesticide/herbicide use and weeds management. Register at https://SA2026Expo.eventbrite.com. Early-bird registration is available through April 18. A light lunch is included. Scholarships are available to all who the registration cost is a barrier to attend. Contact terry.koper@wsu.edu for questions.
