Questions, suggestions welcome Meetings with NRCS state team, growers keeping WAWG conservation coordinator busy

Oct. 15 marked my six-month anniversary with the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) team. Thank you to those growers that have reached out to me recently with recommendations of practices that I pass on to our state Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) team. There have been some fantastic recommendations, and I sincerely appreciate the time and energy that goes into these submissions. 

A couple of months ago, I was fortunate enough to receive an invitation to tag along for a field tour near Hay with Warren Horton. The time and effort that he has put into implementing conservation-friendly practices to help reduce soil erosion on his acreage is incredible. Some of those practices he receives cost share from NRCS for, while others are not yet “approved practices,” but are headed up the NRCS pipeline for consideration. 

In addition, one of our Benton County growers reached out to me with the recommendation for cost share for hand pulling of rye. One of our Spokane County growers has recommended that tiling be considered for cost share. I’m truly encouraged by the responses and support that I’ve received from our growers since my last article in Wheat Life asking for recommendations for practices. If you’ve got ideas, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Our growers are truly some of the most innovative in the country. 

The past couple of months have also involved a lot of traveling for me and introductions to our local and state NRCS staff. In October, I was fortunate enough to attend the Washington state NRCS Quality Leadership Team in Ellensburg. I’m a huge proponent of face-to-face introductions, and this group had a lot of clarifying questions about my role. I continue to attend conservation district meetings as my schedule allows, to stay educated on other conservation-based opportunities for growers. In addition, I’ll be making my way around to our county meetings to continue meeting our growers. 

It’s important to note that batching dates for fiscal year 2025 were announced a few months ago. All applications received by the dates listed below will be evaluated for funding under each program. All applicants will need to complete participant eligibility requirements: Farm Operating Plan for Entity/individual (FSA form 902); FY25 AGI; HEL/Wetland Determination (form 1026); and all farms/tracts current with FSA). Eligibility deadlines for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) are tentatively set for Jan. 17, 2025. Remaining fiscal year 2025 batching dates are: 

• CSP Classic: Jan. 17, 2025
• ACEP-Agricultural Land Easements: First round batching was Oct. 4, 2024, and second round batching is Dec. 20, 2024
• ACEP-Wetland Reserve Easements – First round batching was Oct. 4, 2024, and second round batching is Dec. 20, 2024

All unfunded fiscal year 2024 applications were rolled over to EQIP sign-up 1 for fiscal year 2025. NRCS staff will be meeting with these producers this fall into early winter to refresh their plans and prepare for ranking in February. In addition, NRCS staff will be meeting with growers to complete documentation for practices and certification and reviewing ongoing plans with producers that are interested in pursuing a new EQIP or CSP contract. Please don’t hesitate to reach out and let me know if you have questions.

I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to meet and reconnect with many of our growers within the past six months. I look forward to meeting more faces at our upcoming Tri-State Grain Growers Convention and having more discussions and answering questions that are still floating around about my role. Please don’t hesitate to introduce yourself to me and share any ideas or questions about my role that you may have. You can also reach me at andrea@wawg.org.