Nate’s notes – Ballard Farmers Market helps SNAP recipients, potato farmers get help making crop decisions.
Washington Farmland Trust creates gift guide, Sustainable agriculture research grants available,
Here are event reminders, research items, agriculture news stories that I’ve noticed while covering agriculture in the Puget Sound.
Food pantry opens during SNAP benefit pause
The Ballard Farmers Market and FARMore WA, a nonprofit that supports farmers, are starting a community-driven food pantry during the pause in SNAP benefits that started Nov. 1 when the federal government shut down.
This community driven plan is possible with community support. To make a donation or to learn more visit the FARMore WA nonprofit booth that the Sunday Ballard Farmers Market or click here.
WSU offers decision tool that benefits potato farmers
Washington’s potato growers have a new tool that will aid in decisions about their crops. The tool is helping the industry save $10 million a year.
Washington State University is the lead partner in the Potato Decision Aid System, which was introduced in 2021. It uses weather information from WSU’s AgWeatherNet system and regular monitoring of fields to create computer models and risk maps.
“We tell producers, consultants, suppliers when things are going to happen on a farm,” said David Crowder, a professor in the WSU Department of Entomology and director of the Decision Aid System, in a news release.
Things like when to plant, how long it will take plants to progress through life stages, and when certain insects will be active. The site also has a wealth of information in a searchable format that once might have only been available as paper documents, all accessible via computer or mobile device.
Click here for more information.
Washington Farmland Trust features holiday guide
The Washington Farmland Trust is continuing its annual tradition of offering a holiday gift guide.
The guide offers an opportunity to shop small and make shopping choices that support the food and farming system in Washington. Items featured in the 2025 gift guide include wild foods from Native Candy, Baskets produced by Field and Forest Crafts, and wool rugs from Pink Moon Farm.
Click here to view the gift guide.
Sustainable agriculture grants available
Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education has a Nov. 20 deadline for a series of grants.
Funding is available in four categories – Farmer/Rancher, Professional/Producer, Professional Development and Local Education and Demonstration.
Click here to learn more about specific calls for proposals and review resources that are available for applying.
SARE is a program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture that provides competitive grants and educational materials. Grant programs are conducted cooperatively by farmers, ranchers, researchers, and ag professionals to advance farm and ranch systems that are profitable, environmentally sound, and good for communities, according to the SARE website.
