Sustainable Farms & Fields

What is Sustainable Farms and Fields?

Sustainable Farms and Fields (SFF) is a grant program that makes it easier and more affordable for farmers and ranchers to implement climate-smart practices and projects that increase carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  

Through SFF, farmers and ranchers may receive free services — such as on-farm consultations, climate-smart farm plans, and other technical expertise — and financial assistance to help cover the cost of eligible projects, equipment, seeds for cover crops, and other expenses.

The Washington State Legislature created SFF in 2020 and provided seed funding for the Conservation Commission to design the program framework in partnership with the Washington State Department of Agriculture, Washington State University, and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Download program fact sheets in English and Spanish.

SFF is part of the Washington Soil Health Initiative (WaSHI)

The Washington Soil Health Initiative (WaSHI) is a partnership between the Washington State Conservation Commission, the Washington State Department of Agriculture, and Washington State University.

WaSHI establishes a coordinated approach to promoting healthy soils in Washington through research, outreach and education, and funding opportunities throughout Washington’s diverse regions and cropping systems.

Learn more about WaSHI:

• WaSHI initiative projects
• WaSHI flyer‍
• WSU Soil Health Initiative website

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‍Examples of potential grant-eligible activities include:

• Providing personalized and on-site technical expertise, such as developing climate-smart farm plans.
• Sharing the cost of climate-smart practices/projects, such as planting trees/shrubs, implementing no-till/direct seed, managing manure storage and application, planting cover crops, composting/mulching, and purchasing precision agriculture equipment/technology.
• Purchasing seed, spores, animal feed, and soil amendments.
• Purchasing shared-use equipment (e.g., no-till planter) that will be made available through local entities, such as conservation districts or farm co-ops.
• Demonstration projects showcasing a practice eligible through SFF that is not commonly used in an area and must include a substantial outreach component OR demonstration projects used to gather more information about the feasibility and impact of a practice that is not yet eligible but shows promise as a climate-smart practice.

Who can apply?

Please note that applications are currently closed SFF funding is open to conservation districts and other public entities that possess the expertise to provide technical assistance and the capacity to implement climate-smart practices. These entities include:
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•       Conservation districts

•       State agencies

•       Colleges, universities, and extension offices

•       Federally recognized tribes

•       Counties

•       Cities, towns, and other municipalities

•       Special purpose districts
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SFF funding is open to conservation districts and other public entities only. Interested producers should reach out to their CD, WSU Extension Office, or local climate-smart government program.

Learn more about SFF guidelines:

Check out the latest SFF Q&A webinar on May 24, 2023 and download slides here.

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Resources

• Soil Carbon Science 101 | Oct. 6

More information

Questions about the Sustainable Farms and Fields Program? Please contact the SFF Team at sff@scc.wa.gov.

SFF in the news

• COMET Quarterly, COMET-Farm Newsletter, June 2023 | COMET-Tools in Action: Sustainable Farms and Fields (SFF)
• The Chronicle, June 2023 | No-Till Drill Seeding Machines Now Available to Rent at Farm Store Thanks to Lewis Conservation District Program
• Washington State University, Soil Health, March 2023 | We Have Liftoff! Sustainable Farms and Fields Program Has Launched‍
• SCC Media Release, Nov 2022 | Sustainable Farms and Fields Program Funding Open for Voluntary Climate-Smart Projects
• WaSHI blog by Karen Hills, Sept. 2023 | Where the Magic Happens: Climate-Smart Practices Funded through Sustainable Farms and Fields Program