Recruiting farmers for lasting ecosystem benefits
Presentation Abstract
It is widely recognized that well-stewarded agricultural lands present one of the greatest opportunities to enhance, protect and sustain the Puget Sound Ecosystem into the future. Unfortunately, how to realize this promise is apparently not well understood by many who are working hard to recover Puget Sound and who's success depends upon farmer participation or cooperation. This is evidenced by the rather cursory treatment given the subject in the situational analysis for the various "Initiatives" and frustrated cries for more regulations. There the keys to recruiting farmers into needed behaviors are typically limited to a few steps: building trust, raising awareness and providing financial assistance. Though integral to the solution, they are insufficient in themselves to achieve the desired results. Until such time as the complexity of topic is recognized and resources comprehensively applied to the many factors, success in establishing a well stewarded agricultural land base will escape us. The speaker will offer insights based on his and the experiences of others so that your prospects for success in working with farmers will improve.
Session Title
Understanding What Matters to Agricultural Poducers
Conference Track
SSE2: Collaboration and Engagement
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2018 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE2-115
Start Date
5-4-2018 2:15 PM
End Date
5-4-2018 2:30 PM
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Farm management--Washington (State)--Whatcom County; Agricultural ecology--Washington (State)--Whatcom County; Agricultural wastes--Environmental aspects--Washington (State)--Whatcom County; Watershed management--Washington (State)--Whatcom County; Environmental responsibility--Washington (State)--Whatcom County; Sustainable agriculture--Washington (State)--Whatcom County
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Whatcom County (Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Recruiting farmers for lasting ecosystem benefits
It is widely recognized that well-stewarded agricultural lands present one of the greatest opportunities to enhance, protect and sustain the Puget Sound Ecosystem into the future. Unfortunately, how to realize this promise is apparently not well understood by many who are working hard to recover Puget Sound and who's success depends upon farmer participation or cooperation. This is evidenced by the rather cursory treatment given the subject in the situational analysis for the various "Initiatives" and frustrated cries for more regulations. There the keys to recruiting farmers into needed behaviors are typically limited to a few steps: building trust, raising awareness and providing financial assistance. Though integral to the solution, they are insufficient in themselves to achieve the desired results. Until such time as the complexity of topic is recognized and resources comprehensively applied to the many factors, success in establishing a well stewarded agricultural land base will escape us. The speaker will offer insights based on his and the experiences of others so that your prospects for success in working with farmers will improve.
