Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
The Department of Ecology announced last week that the Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Association has partnered with Ecology to develop the Farmed Smart certification, where “dryland crops are grown and managed in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way,” wrote Brook Beeler, Ecology communications manager.
The Farmed Smart certification was developed in 2013, and is just now getting off the ground, Beeler said.
“The development of the program started in 2013, so farms have just now started going through the certification project,” she said.
On July 13, a “land mark milestone” was announced, Beeler said, providing Farmed Smart farms a safe harbor from water quality regulations.
“Certified farms are applying voluntary practices that we know protect water quality,” said Ecology Director Maia Bellon. “We're excited to stand beside the program and support an approach that shows clean water on working lands doesn't require a one-size-fits-all solution.”
According to an Ecology press release, the Farmed Smart certification has six aspects of environmental protection, including improving water quality, air quality, soil quality, wildlife habitat and economic viability and sustainability, as well as conserving energy and reducing carbon footprints.
“It's more than just direct seeding,” Beeler said. “It's a combination of meeting all these criteria.”
Agriculture practices on certified farms include direct seeding, buffers and grass filter strips on streams, reduction of chemical and fertilizer use through the use of precision agriculture technology and elimination of crop burning.
“We're really excited about this program,” Beeler said. “It shows that there are voluntary actions that growers can take that are good for their farm and the environment.”
Whitman County farms have already been certified in the Colfax, Colton, Endicott, LaCrosse, St. John, Uniontown and Pullman areas.
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