Snohomish County focuses on farming

FOR the past six years, Snohomish County has brought together producers, vendors, regulators and nonprofit groups to promote strong farms, good food and a healthy environment.

The 500 people who packed the Tulalip Resort and Conference Center on Thursday came to network and build business connections. They also shared an optimism about the future of farming near a growing population.

More consumers seek out farm-fresh products for their family tables, and in restaurants, schools and institutional settings. Developing brand and marketing connections was a major theme of the conference.

Between 2000 and 2007, county farmland grew to almost 77,000 acres, and average farm size expanded to 46 acres. Those positive expectations are revealed in other ways. There is renewed interest in the details of farm succession, passing agricultural land to the next generation. Land trusts can offer ways to reduce tax burdens through the transfer of development rights and creation of easements.

Organizations such as Washington FarmLink help people interested in farming learn about available acreage. The efforts of Puget Sound Fresh point city folks — families and chefs — toward consumer-friendly farms to buy produce, meat and other fresh products close to home.

The conference also brought together the players sorting through fractious environmental topics such as surface-water management. A highway expansion might require covering a wetland. Environmental mitigation could require the purchase of farmland to flood and create a new wetland. One result is more land out of agricultural production.

The conference also showcased the elemental links between the agricultural infrastructure of Washington State University's research and extension programs and the farming community.

WSU's scientists at Mount Vernon and Puyallup solve problems and explore new crops, as the extension service helps farmers apply new techniques and nurture business opportunities.

Agriculture can thrive and create jobs. The conference helped show how it can be done.