Nate’s Notes: Donkey loses a leg and gets a prosthetic, Washington Conservation Commission's Disaster Assistance Fund lacks dollars, and more
Tilth Alliance opens applications for sustainable farming grants, voters head to voters for February special election.
Here are several items of note about agriculture in the Puget Sound region:
Donkey loses a leg, and gets a prosthetic
The Snohomish Tribune has a story about Elsa, a nearly 1-year-old miniature donkey, and efforts veterinary surgeons at Washington State University took to amputate a leg and replace it with a prosthetic. Elsa, who lives on a farm near Monroe, was born premature, had her mother die shortly after birth and endured a previous leg infection before her leg was removed. For more information, click here.
Washington State Conservation Commission’s disaster assistance program lacks funding
The Disaster Assistance Program, which helps farms and operated through the Washington State Conservation Commission, didn’t receive funding for the 2025-2027 biennium from the state legislature.
The lack of funding was based on decisions made by the Washington Legislature to address significant shortfalls in the state budget, said Jessica Wilson, spokesperson for the Washington State Conservation Commission, in an email.
The Disaster Assistance Program was established in March 2022 and is designed to be a short-term financial assistance program that helps farms and ranches that have sustained physical damage or incurred expenses because of a natural disaster, she explained.
The program provided around $714,000 of assistance to farmers and ranchers in Whatcom and Snohomish counties from 2021-2023 and almost $150,000 in assistance to farms and ranches that sustained wildfire damage in Klickitat County in 2024.
Wilson added the Disaster Assistance Program has been considered for emergency funding to respond to December’s floods.
“We will find out more at the conclusion of the current legislative session whether the program will receive funding,” Wilson said in an email.
Tilth Alliance’s Washington State Organic and Sustainable Farming Fund seeks applicants
Tilth Alliance is accepting applications for its Washington State Organic and Sustainable Farming Fund that assists farmers who seek financial help for projects that improve the economic viability, social impact, environmental sustainability and overall resiliency of the farm. Deadline is Feb. 9
The goal of the grant program is to support organic and regenerative agricultural practiced to improve soil health, increase biodiversity, conserve water, sequester carbon, and mitigate climate change, according to the Tilth Alliance grant website.
Tilth Alliance awarded more than $550,000 worth of grants in 2024.
Ballots for February’s special election mailed to voters
County elections officials throughout Washington state will mail ballots Jan. 22 for the Feb. 10 special election.
The February special election is filled with school district levy and bond proposals that fund education programs, bus purchases and technology and capital improvements. Bonds fund construction of school buildings and renovation of existing resources.
For more information about what is on the ballot, contact your county elections office. Click here to find contact information to county election offices throughout Washington.
