LYNNWOOD – Snohomish County is expanding the effort to revive local agriculture beyond traditional boundaries.
The county’s third annual Focus on Farming Conference will take place Nov. 30 at the Lynnwood Convention Center. The goal of the daylong conference is to give farmers ideas and strategies to boost their business.
National and regional experts plan to discuss new farming opportunities, such as raising alternative crops and creating tourism activities at farms.
The conference began in Monroe in 2004, drawing more than 300 people. This year, the event is in Lynnwood in order to handle a larger anticipated turnout, county officials said.
“It’s growing into a regional conference,” Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon said.
The county expects to pay up to $15,000 for the conference. For the first time, the county is collecting fees to offset the costs.
Many local farmers used to view county officials as regulators and obstacles, said Dale Reiner, a Monroe cattle rancher. The conference has helped to create dialogue, partnership and respect between farmers and county officials, he said.
“We’ve been meeting on issues that are important to agriculture,” Reiner said.
County officials, especially elected ones, don’t have much experience or knowledge in agriculture, Snohomish County Councilman Dave Somers said. They need to listen to and learn from farmers, he said.
The county needs to protect its fertile farmland from development in order to increase local food supply, Somers said.
“Farmland is unique,” he said. “It’s a resource. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.”
Farmers have gone through “a dark period,” and a lot of farmland in the county isn’t being farmed, Somers said.
But farmers and the county have been exploring new ways to change the tide, he said. In late spring, local farmers planted crops of mustard and canola as part of a county-sponsored pilot project to generate biodiesel and profit.
“I’m very hopeful that we are going to see a turnaround,” Somers said.
Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com.
Snohomish Countys third annual Focus on Farming Conference is 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 30 at the Lynnwood Convention Center, 3711 196th St. SW, Lynnwood.
The conference fee is $20 before Friday and $30 after and at the door. The fee is only $5 for those younger than 18 with an interest in farming.
For more information or to register, go to www.focusonfarming.org or contact John Roney, the countys agriculture coordinator, at 425-388-7112 or at john.roney@co.snohomish.wa.us.
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