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June 2017
Got Beavers? Get Answers!
Beavers are amazing creatures. Instinctual engineers, their dam-building abilities are legendary. When built in natural areas, their dams can enhance and enrich the landscape. But when beavers move into agricultural lands, their efforts may create an impossible situation, often rendering areas unusable for farming in a short amount of time. Over the last few years, the problem has become significant for many of our lowland farms, forcing some to plant later or abandon certain fields altogether. Unfortunately, there is a…
Find out more »July 2017
Cultivating Success Farm Walk – Holmestead Farm
Visit unique farms and learn more about the program that’s helping grow new farms and farmers Interested in farming? Not sure how to begin? Do you dream of beginning or expanding your own small farm? The Cultivating Success™ program combines workshop and farmer-based learning experiences to help foster the success of new and existing farms and agri-ventures. Come learn more about the Cultivating Success program during one (or more!) of three Farm Walks this summer. Stroll the farm, learn how…
Find out more »Cultivating Success Farm Walk – Mosby Farms
Visit unique farms and learn more about the program that’s helping grow new farms and farmers Interested in farming? Not sure how to begin? Do you dream of beginning or expanding your own small farm? The Cultivating Success™ program combines workshop and farmer-based learning experiences to help foster the success of new and existing farms and agri-ventures. Come learn more about the Cultivating Success program during one (or more!) of three Farm Walks this summer. Stroll the farm, learn how…
Find out more »September 2017
Sustainable Small Farming and Ranching
There are now five million fewer farms in the U.S. than there were in the 1930s and of those remaining, almost 40 percent of the farmers are at least 55 years old. Without new farmers to replace them, the future of U.S. farming is not at all certain. While interest in small acreage farming and ranching increases each season, many of these new farmers have few opportunities to gain the skills needed for success. The award-winning Cultivating Success series of courses were…
Find out more »January 2018
Agricultural Entrepreneur
‘Buying local’ seems to be on everyone’s list of resolutions. The popularity of keeping dollars in local circulation is gaining momentum. For farmers, capturing a larger share of this trend is crucial to growth and longevity. New farmers must look at their farm like any new business venture, while existing operations must carefully evaluate how any changes can affect land, labor, capital, resources, and profitability. One of two foundation courses in the Cultivating Success program, Agricultural Entrepreneurship and Farm Business…
Find out more »February 2018
Livestock Guardian Dogs
What is a Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD)? How do they differ from other dog breeds? Do they make good family pets? What do they eat? How do you train them? How effective are they at predator control? Learn the answers to these and many other questions during the upcoming workshop, Livestock Guardian Dogs with Laura Faley of Hidden Meadow Ranch. Workshop takes place Thursday, February 1, 2018 from 7:00pm to 9:30pm at Meridian Grange, 15422 SE 272nd St, Kent, WA During the…
Find out more »March 2018
Agricultural Water Management l: When You Don’t Have Enough!
Got Water? In Western Washington, when the topic of water comes up, it’s often about having too much. But, as we’ve seen in recent summers, the region can be subjected to months-long droughts that can devastate food and forage production. Farms are turning to well and surface water more often to help their crops survive. Recent court and legislative changes have muddied the legal use of these waters even further. As with so many things, the less you know now,…
Find out more »April 2018
Agricultural Water Management ll – When You Have Too Much!
Farming Under Water? Increased flooding, climate change, development, and exploding beaver populations all have a direct impact on farmers' ability to farm in Western Washington. As with so many things, the less you know now, the more it may cost you later. To help address these challenges and more, WSU King County Extension, Snoqualmie Watershed Improvement District, King Conservation District, and King County are sponsoring a workshop focused on different strategies to help manage excess water on area farms. Join…
Find out more »May 2018
Tractor & Farm Machinery Safety Workshop
Agriculture ranks among the most hazardous industries in the country, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The National Coalition for Ag Safety and Health have identified tractor accidents as the leading cause of deaths and disabling injuries on farms. Tractors cause from one-third to one-half of all farm accidents and fatalities. Most of these accidents can be prevented with adequate safety education. In addition, federal law requires those driving tractors for hire to be at least…
Find out more »October 2018
Agricultural Water Management – Developing A Farm Flood Plan
For Western Washington farmers, the never-ending challenge of water: having too much when you don’t want it and/or not having enough when you need it are top of the list issues. From flooding to questionable water rights, anyone trying to make a living from the land can face these water-centric challenges and more. As with so many things, the less you know, the more it will cost you later. To help address these challenges, WSU King County Extension, Snoqualmie Watershed…
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