In light of the upcoming meeting with WSU several dairy farmers have questioned if the model of an Extension Agent who delivers relevant information to farmers is a relic of the past.  There are so many resources where farmers can access information today.  Do we need to apply dwindling public funds to this position?  Wouldn't more funds in research be more welcomed?

Two points cause me to believe that dairy farmers should not just accept the current state of affairs and give up on WSU.  First is my experience with the berry industry and WSU.  It is less than a perfect relationship but it is very strong.  We receive substantial support in plant breeding, entomology, weed science, pathology, and more.  The berry commissions pony up some funds (over $200,000 annually) to support the programs but the vast bulk of the support flows from WSU (a mixture of state and federal funds).  The pesticides we use, the varieties developed, and the improved practices we adopt can all be traced to WSU research or one of the other research institutions.  

WSU, as a land grant institution, has a responsibility to use the funds provided to them to address community (farm) priorities.  Does dairy really want to give up on a relationship with an institution with this charge?  There are already numerous ways that dairy farmers benefit from objective university research, most notably in veterinary science and animal nutrition.  The service providers that serve the industry so well usually are selling products and services that have their fundamental roots in a university project. 

I hope dairy thinks about what would really help fill some holes rather than seeing this position through the lenses of the past.  I see some possibilities in addressing how we can maximize local forage production, explore energy production and conservation on farms, provide solid science to inform the drainage and flood debates, etc. 

Farm Friends believes this opportunity should be honestly explored.  The opportunity to build a new and productive relationship is in front of you.  These opportunities come around every 20-30 years.  Do you want to pass on it without some thought and effort?  

Henry Bierlink

The Port of Bellingham, City of Lynden and Public Utility District No. 1 of Whatcom County, along with other stakeholders and parties of interest working collectively as the North County Bio Gas Team, are prepared to commission a feasibility study to determine:

1. The benefits of constructing a "community" digester system that will utilize different organic wastes to feed an anaerobic digester to generate methane gas.
2. The best and highest use of the methane produced in the digestion process. Some alternative uses could be to burn and generate electricity, refine and use as a vehicle fuel or replacement for natural gas and sold as such or used as a heat source for central heating systems or all the above.
3. The best mix of organic wastes to utilize in the digestion process.  Some of the wastes to consider are: animal waste, solid waste from residential, institutional and commercial collection, solid waste from municipal wastewater treatment plants, waste from milk drying process, and crop residue.
4. The benefits of constructing a larger, centralized digester and delivery of waste to that central location or the construction of several smaller, on the farm digesters with the delivery of waste to those farms and the delivery of gas to a central processing and refining location.
5. What biogas conversion technologies are available, proven and or in design/testing stage that should be considered for this project/location/waste supply and matched to the chosen use for the methane.
6. The economic value of the chosen technology, waste stream(s) utilized, use of methane and the use of other by products produced in the digestion process.
7. The environmental attributes of the project considering at a minimum GHG reduction, water quality improvements and other air quality and soil quality improvements.

Farm Friends hosts the meetings of the Team and will ensure that the project accurately weighs the potential contributions and benefits that farms can make to the project.  We are hoping the feasibility study will be completed by the end of the year. 

Farm Friends is hosting an Open House Review and Discussion for property owners in the lower Fishtrap Creek area. The Open House is on Monday, April 25th , from 2-5:00pm at the Farm Friends office. 

The Open House is designed to allow property owners to review, comment and help determine the wisdom of redesigning the levee system on Fishtrap Creek with three purposes in mind:

1.    Alleviate the impact on property during flood events
2.    Enhance fish habitat
3.    Facilitate ag drainage during the growing season 

James Lee of Whatcom County's River and Flood Division and Steve Seymour of the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife will be at our office with maps and tentative ideas for review.  They welcome and need producer input and cooperation for any plans to move forward.  We believe there is the potential for a net gain for both farmers, fish, and flood management if this plan is constructed with farmer input.  

A March 19th Forum on Immigration and Border Policy sponsored by the Bellingham chapter of the League of Women Voters provided Farm Friends an opportunity to make a clear and impassioned argument for addressing our current labor concerns in a much more humane and respectful manner.   Marty Maberry and Henry Bierlink participated on the panel along with Rosalinda Guillen, representing Community to Community, Ken Oplinger of the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce, and Tim Yeomans, Meridian School District Superintendent. 

Henry reflected on a few pertinent facts about ag, labor and immigration in Whatcom County:

• Farms produce $350 million of raw products each year in Whatcom County
• Processing and support services magnify this number leading local economists to estimate 15-20% of Whatcom's economy is ag based
• Like all businesses there are areas of vulnerability where farmers have critical concerns about their future
• Labor is one of these top concerns
• NW berry industry needs 4,000+ seasonal workers
• Dairy needs an additional 700 year round
• The nature of farm work is immediate. When the berries are ready to harvest or the cows ready to be milked you can't put it off until workers are ready. 

Marty followed by citing his personal experiences with seasonal labor.  He grew up with migrant workers, worked along with them for many years, and now has a business that depends on them.  Most understand that a new system of Electronic Verification (E-Verify) of documents presented by worker applicants will be in place in the next two years.  This will change the decades old practice of hiring workers with questionable documentation because there are no grounds to question their papers.  It will also create a need for a workable and fair (to both workers and employers) system to legally contract with foreign workers to provide a significant part of our seasonal farmworker needs.

Farm Friends advocates for a reasoned and law-respecting set of policies regarding labor and immigration.    

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