To help protect working agricultural lands in Washington, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service has announced that $1.7 million will be available to successful applicants this year through the agency’s Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program. 

There is a continuous, year-round sign-up for the program, but January 15, 2010 has been set as the deadline for evaluating applications for this year’s funding.

Hilario Alvarez and his family show off their Tilth Farmer of the Year award. Submitted photo

Mabton-based organic grower Hilario Alvarez, along with his family members who assist him, were awarded the Tilth Producers of Washington 2009 Farmer of the Year award for their dedication to their agricultural enterprise. According to a press release from Tilth, Alvarez made the journey from farm worker to farm manager, and is now caring for his own 75-acre organic farm, selling 300 vegetable varieties at 14 farmers markets in Washington. 

Washington State Department of Agriculture has completed another successful year of providing free waste pesticide disposal.

WSDA staff and contractors disposed of 167,000 pounds of pesticides this year from more than 350 customers, second only to the 171,000 pounds collected from 400 customers in 2002.

By RICHARD BURGER

Producers or owners of biomass who deliver the material to qualified biomass conversion facilities may qualify for matching payments under the recently announced Biomass Crop Assistance Program of the USDA Farm Service Agency.

Watching a herd of wild horses run together across Yakima County’s range lands is a sight to behold. But over the past two years there appear to be more domesticated horses joining their ranks.

In the fall of 2007 Matson Fruit Company requested a rezone of an 8.43-acre parcel north of their current establishment from commercial to industrial. They want the rezone to have the opportunity to expand their business that has been operating in Selah for more than 80 years.