Applications are open for a conservation district to lead the second phase of the Carbon Farm Plan template development for the Sustainable Farms and Fields (SFF) Program. Only conservation districts are eligible to apply.
In fiscal year 2023, Snohomish and San Juan Islands CDs worked together to create a template for carbon farm planning for the Sustainable Farms and Fields (SFF) grant program. The goal of this template is to facilitate site-specific climate-smart farm plans (which are less comprehensive than conservation farm plans) that recommend climate-smart practices to increase carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The next step for the template is to have it evaluated by interested district staff. SCC is seeking a lead conservation district that will:
• Share the template with all districts and provide training through Center for Technical Development (CTD) on how to use the template.
• Seek feedback from district staff reviewers.
• Incorporate feedback into the template.
• Field test the template with producers.
The phases of this project are envisioned as follows:
• Phase 1: Offer a webinar to other districts (via CTD) to walk through the template.
• Phase 2: Gather feedback from districts and revise the template based on that feedback.
• Phase 3: Field test the template with producers and evaluate whether further revisions are needed. For this phase, it might be helpful for a district to partner with other districts to increase the types of agricultural systems in which the template is tested.
The maximum request amount is $40,000. A district may collaborate with other districts (e.g., for the field-testing phase), so long as the lead district is clearly identified.
Applicants to lead this process should describe the expertise of staff who will be involved in each phase of this project, the total number of anticipated hours to perform each phase, and how the work will be completed.
Applications will be evaluated based on the demonstrated ability to complete the project, the diversity of agricultural systems represented within the collaboration (for field testing involving multiple CDs), and proposed deliverables. The successful applicant for this funding pool will propose a process for working with relevant organizations (e.g., CTD, NRCS) as well as other districts.
Work will be done in collaboration with Sustainable Farms and Fields Program Manager, Karen Hills.
Project must be completed by June 30, 2024. Application cutoff: Oct 16, 2023, at 5 pm.