Access to farmland is a growing challenge for farmers! Learn why it is a problem, and what we are doing to address this need in the new Farm Access section on our website. The section also includes two examples of recent farm access projects and a variety of resources you may find useful.
It’s never too early (or too late!) to begin securing your farm’s future. A farm transition plan is essential to protecting your interests and minimizing attorney fees, taxes, and family stress. This free virtual workshop series will help you understand your options and navigate the planning process.
In partnership with the Clackamas Small Business Development Center at Clackamas Community College, Clackamas SWCD and Tualatin SWCD, EMSWCD will host four virtual workshops covering the following topics, each from 1 to 4 PM:
Pre-register for the workshops here! You can also find out more about the importance of farm transition planning here.
To EMSWCD grantees, partners, and supporters: We know how deeply all of you have been affected this past year by the upheaval and uncertainty that surrounds us. Here at EMSWCD, we have continued to do our work the best we can and to look for ways to support our communities. Ironically, it is in these extraordinary times that we are presented with a rare opportunity to consider how we may want to do things differently, to move in a direction that responds to the weight of this historic moment.
In this vein, EMSWCD has decided to take a “strategic pause” for the 2021 Partners in Conservation (PIC) Grant cycle – suspending the competitive grant opportunity for one year. While we will forgo the normal application process for PIC 2021, EMSWCD is committed to supporting our grantees and partners through this challenging time, and we intend to do this by extending some current grants and offering non-competitive new grants for our regular grantees for the fiscal year 2021/22. We have developed our initial criteria for this continued funding (please see below). The SPACE grant program will continue to operate as usual.
During this time, our staff will have the opportunity to address many aspects of our grant funding program with an eye toward greater equity and more strategic funding. We plan to conduct an evaluation of EMSWCD’s grants program in light of changes in the context of our regional funding, to implement new DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) and other strategic initiatives, and to more fully engage with partners, grantees and other stakeholders about the future of our grants program. Read more
We are now accepting applications for the Headwaters Farm Incubator Program 2021 growing season! The Incubator Program leases farmland and equipment, provides trainings, and offers other supports to experienced growers seeking to establish a farm business. We encourage all interested individuals to apply!
Visit the Incubator Application page for information about the program and instructions on how to apply! You can also contact Rowan Steele, our Headwaters Farm Program Manager, at rowan@emswcd.org or (503) 935-5355. All application materials are due by 5 PM on Saturday, October 31st, 2020.
Watch these two videos to learn how the Headwaters Farm Incubator Program helps farmers as they launch their farm businesses.
Are you planning for the future of your farm? We have added a brand new Farm Succession page to the Working Farmland Protection section with information on our farm succession planning workshops, as well as a great list of farm planning resources and other available workshops!
EMSWCD’s Headwaters Farm and Mainstem Farm were both featured in the Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts (COLT) “State of the Lands” 2020 report! The feature covers our Headwaters Incubator Program, which leases land and equipment to farmers launching their new farm businesses, and details how a graduate of the program is now farming on the adjacent Mainstem Farm, which was acquired by EMSWCD through its Working Farmland Protection Program.
There are also ten other features in the report detailing the work and successes of land trusts and other organizations working to protect vital natural lands in Oregon.
EMSWCD will hold a telephonic public hearing on June 23rd, 2020 at 1:00 PM in connection with the acquisition of a working farmland easement to encumber property located at SE 322nd Avenue, Gresham, OR 97080 and identified as Tax Parcel numbers 1S4E16B-00300 and 1S4E16B-00400. This easement will ensure the agricultural resource values of the property are protected in perpetuity.
Interested persons may submit written testimony prior to the hearing to Matt Shipkey at matt@emswcd.org, or may attend the hearing in person by calling 1 (877) 568-4106 and using the access code 505-109-629.
Additional information on the working farmland easement may be obtained by contacting Matt Shipkey, Land Legacy Program Manager at (503) 935 5374 or matt@emswcd.org.
EMSWCD will hold a telephonic public hearing on April 21st, 2020 at 1:00 PM in connection with the acquisition of a conservation easement to encumber property located at 29139 SE Stone Road, Boring, OR 97080. This easement will ensure the natural and agricultural resource values of the property are protected in perpetuity.
Interested persons may submit written testimony prior to the hearing to Matt Shipkey at matt@emswcd.org, or may appear in person by calling 1 (877) 309-2073 and using the access code 715-251-493.
Additional information on the conservation easement may be obtained by contacting Matt Shipkey, Land Legacy Program Manager at (503) 935 5374 or matt@emswcd.org.