Farming
T-SUM 200 HAS BEEN REACHED!
Before you spread manure, visit the
Farm Planning
The Skagit Conservation District offers free, voluntary, and confidential help for local farmers who want to take care of their land and make it more productive.
When you work with one of our conservation planners, you’ll create a farm plan—a practical, step-by-step guide that helps you reach your goals while protecting the natural resources on your property. We’ll look at things like your soil type, the slope of your land, nearby streams or water bodies, the kinds of livestock or crops you have, and the equipment and resources available to you.
Together, we’ll come up with actions that make your land easier to manage, more efficient, and more sustainable for the future.
Best Management Practices
Best Management Practices, or BMPs, are proven tools and techniques that help you run your farm more efficiently while protecting soil, water, and air quality. Examples include fencing along streams, planting native vegetation, improving pastures, composting manure, and managing runoff or drainage.
Every farm is different, so we tailor BMPs to fit your operation and goals. Using these practices can help reduce runoff, improve water and air quality, support wildlife, save energy, and make daily management easier.
Your conservation planner can help you decide which practices are the best fit for your property, connect you with possible financial assistance, and set a schedule that works for you.
Cost Share Program
The Skagit Conservation District has cost share funds available to farm landowners to offset the cost of implementing best management practices. Contact a farm planner to see if you're eligible.
Monthly Farm Planner
Check our monthly farm planner to stay up to date and on schedule for this year.
Agroforestry
Agroforestry is a land management system that combines the production of perennial and annual crops with forest plants and/or livestock on the same unit of land to increase yield, ecological benefits, and maximize ecosystem services.
Practices of Agroforestry
The Benefits
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Combination of economic production with environmental protection
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Increased potential to increase production and profitability
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Providing diversity and flexibility into a production system
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Increases in wildlife and beneficial insect habitat
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Creates a more sustainable system
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Carbon sequestration
PNW Farmers Tackle Wet Fields with Agroforestry
For more information on agroforestry, contact Ryan Gelwicks at 360-899-8107 or ryan@skagitcd.org
Learn more about agroforestry:
Cover Crop Program
Skagit County VSP and Skagit Conservation District are teaming up to provide grants to help farmers offset the cost of cover crop seed. Cover crops are a great way to recycle nitrogen, improve soil organic matter and carbon sequestration, reduce erosion, improve water quality, and maintain living roots and the soil biotic community. If you are thinking about trying cover crops in your fields, consider applying for a grant with us. To get started, fill out the application below or for more information contact an SCD Farm Planner.
Overview and Eligibility
Grants will be awarded for this limited funding on a first-come, first served basis following review of applications. There are no acreage minimum or maximum requirements. All planted acres must be in Skagit County. Seed costs will be reimbursed for approved applications. Producers supply the labor and the equipment or hire the work out. SCD farm planners will work with producers to develop an approved termination plan. All seed must be consistent with local and state ordinances and regulations (i.e. restrictions on brassicas in commercial brassica seed growing areas). Purchased seed must be free of prohibited noxious weed seeds and have a germination rate of 80% or better.
Next Steps
Once you complete your application a SCD Planner will review your information and get in contact. Planners will work to identify fields on a map and calculate acreage. Once all this information is collected and approved, the planner and producer will sign the contract and approve ordering seed. *Cover crops may be grazed or chopped for on-farm livestock forage after becoming well established. Manure may be applied in the fall at agronomic rates.
To receive payment, producers must certify cover crop germination/establishment with the Skagit Conservation District farm planner.
For more information on this program contact: Jeff Frazier or Ryan Gelwicks
Dairy Nutrient Management Program
The purpose of the Skagit Conservation District’s Dairy Nutrient Management Program is to assist licensed dairy operations in complying with the 1998 Washington State Dairy Nutrient Management Act. The Act requires that all licensed dairy operations obtain a conservation district approved and certified nutrient management plan and that all structural and management practices that are prescribed in the plan are implemented.
Nutrient management is the practice of utilizing dairy nutrients (manure) to maximize forage and crop growth without degradation of soil and water resources. A Dairy Nutrient Management Plan is a tool used by dairy operators to properly collect, store, transfer and utilize the wastewater and manure that is produced on dairy facilities. The Plan calculates the amount of wastewater and manure that is or will be produced at each individual facility and documents the collection, storage, and transfer systems. The Plan also specifies dates and conditions when manure should not be applied to crop fields and specifies a manure and soil testing schedule.
Each Plan is specific to the individual dairy operation and is written according to USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service standards and specifications. All structural and management practices that are prescribed in the Plan must also meet or exceed these standards and specifications.
The Washington State Department of Agriculture’s Livestock Nutrient Management Program is the agency that oversees the implementation and continued management of Dairy Nutrient Management Plans. Each dairy operation is inspected at least once every two years by one of the livestock inspectors. If changes or updates are needed, then the inspector refers the dairy operator to the local conservation district for assistance.
Information in the map is live and updated 1-2 times a week.
Water Quality Monitoring Results Map
WSDA has developed an interactive water quality monitoring results map to address the high demand from residents for the current water quality readings in their area. This map contains storm event sampling done by WSDA. It does not contain ambient, or enforcement data. Click on the map below to access live results.
Assess whether your field conditions are appropriate for manure application and much, much more!