Skagit Ag Summit explores issues, resources and stories for farmers

At the eighth annual Skagit Ag Summit, on Friday, Feb. 9, about 75 people working or interested in agriculture spent the day learning and sharing critical developments in local agriculture topics at the event hosted by WSU Skagit County Extension.

During a panel discussion about economic viability, farmer Jason VanderKooy, co-owner of Harmony Dairy, answered a question about succession planning. It is one of the most difficult things in family farming, said VanderKooy. He recommended hiring experts to help the process. Finally, he said it was essential that everyone understands the plan.

Make VanderKooy's specific advice more general and it captures much of the day's conversations: farming and planning for the future is hard, resources are available to help farmers and making sure the public knows what farmers do is necessary.

The agriculture sector faces many challenges. For example, VanderKooy explained how he does not know the price paid for his farm's milk until 45 days after it is hauled away. In a world market, there is no way to control the prices. Others also noted high costs of labor and living in Western Washington along with concerns about regulatory pressures from Olympia.

Threats to future farming include the pressure to develop farmland. Sarah Stoner, coordinator of the county's Farmland Legacy Program, outlined those concerns. She spoke about how the program has protected almost 15,000 acres of farmland using conservation easements.

Economic and development pressures are challenging enough, but two panels tackled the ongoing uncertainty about weather and water.

The panel dealing with weather variability shared an unclear outlook. Future climate scenarios anticipate Skagit Valley having many more warm summer nights with an unclear water outlook. There are programs and efforts to develop resiliency, improve irrigation efficiency and build soil health to strengthen farmers' ability to withstand this uncertainty.

Nathan Sakuma of Sakuma Brothers Farms described several challenges the weather presents, including having to protect workers from smoke during the increasingly common bad wildfire seasons. The berries Sakuma Brothers grow struggle with winter weather temperatures that rise too high and then drop, affecting the berries' dormancy. While planning to experiment with new cultivars, they are now managing short-term "triage," said Sakuma.

Water availability and rights hung over many of the discussions, not just the panel devoted to it. Farmers need to know if they will have sufficient water, but those who have junior water rights face great uncertainty when they are planning what to plant during years like 2024 with its low snowpack.

But farmers are not alone in facing the challenges that come with farming.

Programs discussed during Friday included everything from leadership development and suicide prevention to noxious weed removal to voluntary stewardship. Representatives from county, state and federal offices described opportunities for grant funding or other assistance. Faculty from WSU Extension also shared results of research designed to build more agricultural success.

If farmers do not take advantage of some of these programs, they may close. Using these voluntary, non­regulatory programs is a way to gain benefits on farms and forestall possible increased regulations, according to several speakers.

Creating opportunities for this sharing of information was a key component of the meeting.

We live in a "transformative time," said Owen Peth, a fifth-generation farmer who operates a ranch near Bow. Skagit County is a "desirable place to live and farm," said Peth. It is also a good place to develop commercially. Farmers keenly feel that pressure. There also is a large gap in understanding between producers and consumers.

"Our story must be told," said Peth. Farmers can share that they work with "foresight and care." That will help keep Skagit a place where neighbors can work together to solve problems.

"This county is truly special," said Danny Haggen, Skagit County Assessor, almost certainly capturing the sentiments of most of the audience.

Although uncertainty looms, the group that gathered demonstrated their commitment to a thriving agricultural future. The sizable number of younger people in attendance indicates a readiness to forge ahead.

The Summit was again at the Sakuma Auditorium at the Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center on Memorial Highway.