Farm Services
Farm Planning
Whatcom CD offers free, confidential, and non-regulatory farm planning services with certified farm planners.
What is Farm Planning?
Farm planning is unique to each property and each farmer. Whatcom CD Farm Planners all have lived experience as farmers and agricultural professionals in this region. They are able to walk your land with you and discuss opportunities to improve farm productivity and reduce impacts on natural resources. Farm planning is not business planning; conservation planning helps farmers understand their land as an ecosystem as part of the larger landscape, balancing farm productivy with stewardship. Farm planners can walk through year round livestock management from heavy use areas to grazing planning and fencing, as well as irrigation efficiencies, weed management, and soil health for crop farms of all scales. We are your land and water partner, and understand the balance of running a farm and stewarding your land for generations to come.
We Can Answer Questions Related To CPAL Farm Plans
A CPAL Farm Plan is a Whatcom County requirement for farming in Critical Areas. Our farm planners can help confidentially answer questions about Whatcom County regulations and programs; Whatcom CD is non regulatory and not a Whatcom County Agency. We are a trusted partner in navigating the CPAL program.
Assistance with Best Management Practices
Soil Testing for Pastures, Haylands, & Crops
Whatcom CD offers free soil testing to farmers. Soil testing is a great way to understand pasture or crop productivity, yield potential, and to make nutrient management decisions. Soil testing is best done at the same time of year every year. Spring and Fall are both appropriate windows in Whatcom County. Farm planners will take the tests, but also walk through the results and implications for your land.
Tarps to Cover Manure Piles
Whatcom CD offers a free tarp to farmers generating manure. Covering your manure pile can increase the internal temperature speeding up the break down process of the material, killing parasites and retain your nutrients in the pile instead of the rains transporting them away. If you are interested in a free tarp to cover your manure pile, please contact us: 360-815-5358 or farmteam@whatcomcd.org.
Cover Crop and Pasture Seed
Seed availability depends on funding from year to year, but often Whatcom CD has seed available for seasonal cover cropping, filter strip planting, and/or overseeding under performing pastures. Reach out to a farm planner for more information: 360-815-5358 or farmteam@whatcomcd.org.
