140322WSU001269S
AS CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, FOREST PRODUCERS IN WESTERN WASHINGTON ARE INCREASINGLY VULNERABLE TO PRODUCTION RISKS LINKED TO HOTTER, DRIER SUMMERS AND HIGHER CHANCES OF SEVERE WILDFIRE. THROUGH THIS PROJECT, NNRG AND PARTNERS WILL ENGAGE OVER 200 FOREST PRODUCERS IN AREAS AROUND THE PUGET SOUND TO REDUCE CLIMATE RISK AND INCREASE RESILIENCE IN THEIR FORESTS. WE WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS VIA 4 WORKSHOPS, 4 FIRESIDE CHATS, AND 60 SITE VISITS Â PERSONALIZED ONSITE CONSULTATIONS WITH INTERESTED PRODUCERS. WE WILL ALSO CREATE AN OVERVIEW GUIDE TO EXISTING LOCAL CLIMATE PROJECTS THAT PRODUCERS CAN LEARN FROM AND REPLICATE, AND WE WILL TEST THE USE OF AFFINITY GROUPS TO DETERMINE IF FACILITATED PEER-TO-PEER PRODUCER SUPPORT INCREASES FOLLOW-THROUGH WITH FOREST TREATMENTS THAT INCREASE CLIMATE RESILIENCE. PRODUCERS WILL LEARN ABOUT AND EXPERIENCE TANGIBLE LOCAL EXAMPLES OF CLIMATE RESILIENT FORESTRY, AND BE SUPPORTED IN COMPLETING THEIR OWN PROJECTS THROUGH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND PEER NETWORKS. AS A RESULT, THESE WESTERN WASHINGTON FOREST PRODUCERS WILL REDUCE THE FUTURE RISK OF DAMAGE TO THEIR FORESTS FROM CLIMATE CHANGE, AND EXPERIENCE INCREASED RESILIENCY AND DIMINISHED TIMBER CROP LOSSES.
Northwest Natural Resource Group
Project Grant 20237002740445
$75.0k 4/30/24 140332WSU001300S
"AS A RESULT OF THIS PROJECT, 329 FARMERS WILL HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO PROVIDE SOCIAL BENEFITS TO THEIR COMMUNITY WHILE BUILDING RISK MANAGEMENT ACUMEN AND WITHOUT COMPROMISING RESILIENCE. THIS PROJECT EXPLAINS HOW TO FORM A SOCIAL BENEFIT ENTITY (NONPROFIT WITH/WITHOUT CHARITABLE STATUS, BENEFIT CORPORATION, AND LOW PROFIT LLC) ALONGSIDE THE LEGAL, INSURANCE, AND TAX/RECORDKEEPING ASPECTS OF EACH OPTION. IT ALSO EXPLORES RECORDKEEPING PRACTICES THAT MAKE THE MOST OF DONATIONS, MUTUAL AID. OUR PROCESS TO DEVELOP EXCELLENT MATERIALS CENTERS ON AN EXPERIENCE TEAM- A CURATED LEARNING EXPERIENCE THAT BEGINS WITH FARMERS ASKING THEIR OWN QUESTIONS AND OUR TEAM RESPONDING WITH GUIDED LEARNING. THE EXPERIENCE TEAM SERVES 3 PURPOSES: 1) REVIEW OF DRAFT RESOURCES, 2) DEVELOPING CASE STUDIES, AND 3) DEVELOPING FARMER-LEADERS. THE COMBINATION OF EXPERT RESEARCHERS AND TEACHERS WITH AN EXPERIENCE TEAM WILL RESULT IN 3 EXCELLENT LEARNING RESOURCES IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH (REACHING 288 FARMERS) PLUS 1 CONFERENCE PRESENTATION (REACHING 33 FARMERS), AND 8 FARMER LEADERS (FOR A TOTAL OF 329 FARMERS REACHED). OUR COLLABORATORS ENSURE WE ARE ABLE TO REACH THE TARGET AUDIENCE (OREGON, WASHINGTON, AND IDAHO PRODUCERS) WHILE INFORMING PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND MEETING A CENTER PRIORITY FOR COLLABORATION IN UNDERSERVED PROJECTS."
Farm Commons, Inc.
Project Grant 20237002740445
$97.7k 6/21/24 140322WSU001290S
"THIS INITIATIVE IS DEDICATED TO EQUIPPING GROWERS IN THE WESTERN REGION WITH ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE FOR NAVIGATING THE EMERGING HEMP GRAIN AND FIBER MARKET. BY EMPHASIZING KEY AREAS SUCH AS REGULATORY ADVANCEMENT, CULTIVATION AND HARVESTING REFINEMENT, CLIMATE ADAPTABILITY, MARKETING AND FINANCIAL DECISION MAKING, AND ROBUST NETWORKING, THE PROJECT OFFERS A BLEND OF PRACTICAL WORKSHOPS, WEBINARS, HANDS-ON FIELD EXPERIENCES AND WRITTEN RESOURCES. ITÂ S DESIGNED WITH INPUT FROM LOCAL GROWERS AND LEVERAGES COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH INDUSTRY EXPERTS AND UNIVERSITY STAFF. THE PROJECT NOT ONLY AIMS TO ENHANCE WESTERN GROWERS' CAPABILITIES IN EFFICIENT HEMP PRODUCTION BUT ALSO STRENGTHENS THEIR POSITION IN A COMPETITIVE MARKET, ENSURING SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND IMPROVED ECONOMIC OUTCOMES IN THE GLOBAL HEMP INDUSTRY"
Northwest Center For Alternatives To Pesticides
Project Grant 20237002740445
$44.3k 6/20/24 140322WSU001267S
THE BUILDING EMPOWERED SUPERVISORS TOGETHER (BEST) PROGRAM IS A COMPREHENSIVE INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO EMPOWER SUPERVISORS BY REINFORCING ESSENTIAL LEADERSHIP ULTIMATELY MITIGATING OPERATIONAL HUMAN RISK. THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO BE A CONTINUATION OF AGSAFEÂ S SUPERVISOR DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY (SDA) AND BUILD UPON THE FOUNDATIONAL TOPICS COVERED IN THAT 20-HOUR SERIES. THESE TOPICS INCLUDE TEAM BUILDING, UNDERSTANDING LEADERSHIP STRENGTHS, COACHING AS A SUPERVISOR, EMPATHY, HANDLING DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS, MOTIVATION, DISCIPLINE, AND UNDERSTANDING THE DIVERSE WORKFORCE. THE PROGRAM TOPICS ARE DESIGNED TO MITIGATE HUMAN RISK IN TERMS OF LABOR MANAGEMENT THROUGH A FOCUS ON BUILDING PRACTICES TO PROMOTE GOOD HEALTH, STRESS REDUCTION AND POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP BUILDING. THIS WILL INCLUDE DISCUSSIONS ON SUPPORTING EMPLOYEE MENTAL HEALTH, KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER, EFFECTIVE TOP-DOWN COMMUNICATION, SETTING AND FULFILLING EXPECTATIONS, AND ESTABLISHING BOUNDARIES. THE TARGET AUDIENCE OF THE PROGRAM ARE SUPERVISORS/FOREMEN FROM SPECIALITY CROP, TRADITIONAL COMMERICIAL AND ORGANIC PRODUCERS. IT WILL CONSIST OF SIX COHORTS, EACH COHORT COMPRISING OF 15 PARTICIPANTS, FOR A PROJECTED PARTICIPATION GOAL OF 90 SUPERVISORS/FOREMAN. THERE WILL BE 6 INPERSON WORKSHOPS, 3 IN ENGLISH AND 3 IN SPANISH, AND EACH WORKSHOP WILL HAVE 2 SESSIONS A WEEK APART. THE COMMUNITY-ORIENTED APPROACH ENSURES DIVERSE ORGANIZATIONAL REPRESENTATION, PROMOTING PEER-TO-PEER ENGAGEMENT AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING ACROSS OPERATIONS.
Agsafe
Project Grant 20237002740445
$75.0k 5/3/24 140322WSU001308S
"UNDERSERVED PRODUCERS HAVE HAD LIMITED ACCESS TO CROP INSURANCE. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO PROVIDE CROP INSURANCE EDUCATION AND RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING RESOURCES TO NATIVE, VETERAN AND OTHER UNDERSERVED PRODUCERS IN THE FORM OF VIRTUAL WEBINARS AND IN-PERSON GATHERINGS. THE EDUCATIONAL WEBINARS WILL BE MODIFIED FOR THE WESTERN REGION AND INCLUDE CROPS AND LIVESTOCK PREDOMINANTLY GROWN IN THE REGION WHILE KEEPING A FOCUS ON THE SPECIFIC PRIORITY AREAS LISTED FOR THE WESTERN ERME CENTER. EACH WEBINAR AND IN-PERSON EVENT WILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT LEGAL RISK DISCUSSION WHICH WILL RANGE FROM GENERAL LEGAL LIABILITY, TO SPECIFIC FOOD SAFETY LIABILITY PRINCIPLES, TO THE LEGAL ASPECTS AND PRINCIPLES BEHIND BUSINESS ENTITY CHOICE TO BE DELIVERED BY J. HIPP. SUCCESSION PLANNING, BASIC PRINCIPLES OF WILLS AND ESTATES, AS WELL AS THE LEGAL PRINCIPLES RELATED TO LENDING AND BORROWER RESPONSIBILITIES, WILL ALSO BE DISCUSSED. NAFS WILL PARTNER WITH THE FARMER VETERAN COALITION AND ROB HOLCOMB WITH UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROJECT. OUR TEAM IS PROPOSING FUNDING IN EACH OF THE FOUR REGIONS OF ERME. A NATIONAL REACH COVERING ALL FOUR REGIONS WILL ENSURE EQUALITY IN ACCESSIBILITY BY TARGETED UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. PRODUCERS WILL DEVELOP THE SKILLS NEEDED TO MANAGE RISK AND NAVIGATE CROP INSURANCE OPTIONS."
Native Agriculture Financial Services
Project Grant 20237002740445
$99.6k 7/3/24