Washington participating in "high tunnel" project
Washington Ag Today December 21, 2009 USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service has announced a new pilot project under the “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” initiative for farmers to establish high tunnels – also known as hoop houses – to increase the availability of locally grown produce in a conservation-friendly way. Dave Brown, assistant Washington State conservationist, says this will be part of the Environmental Quality Incentives, or EQIP Program. Brown: “We are offering a sign up right now for our Organic Initiative. This is something we offered last year as well for people that are either transitioning to organic or are already certified organic, and they can come in and include the use of these high tunnels or hoop houses as part of the conservation practices that they are using on their farm.” The 3-year, 38-state study will verify if high tunnels are effective in reducing pesticide use, keeping vital nutrients in the soil, extending the growing season, increasing yields, and providing other benefits to growers. The cutoff date for getting funding under EQIP for 2010 is December 31st but producers can apply at anytime. The Times-News of Twin Falls, Idaho reports that a soon to be released Government Accountability Office study will show ethanol production more than doubled feed costs for livestock producers in the U.S. between 2006 and 2008. The GAO study is also expected to say that livestock producers face reductions in land available for grazing. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Northwest Ag Information Network.
