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Two farms may be preserved for future

[2008-5-15]

Tag: Preserved Pear

The preservation of two farms in the Chimacum Valley - a dairy farm and a blueberry farm - is being proposed through the State Farmland Preservation Program.

Jefferson County commissioners gave the Jefferson Land Trust the go-ahead April 21 to pursue grants to help buy the 50-acre Brown Dairy at the Chimacum intersection and purchase easements for the Finnriver U-pick blueberry farm in Center Valley.

While commissioners seemed in favor of the proposal to work with the Land Trust to sponsor the projects, two longtime farmers from Chimacum questioned the intent of the proposal, while a cheesemaker voiced support for the project.

Roger Short, a beef farmer who started out as a dairy farmer, said he found it troubling that efforts aren't being made to support the infrastructure of agriculture. He said a man he knows who had been baling his hay can't do it anymore. Short said he can't afford to buy the equipment to bale his own hay.

Short also suggested that small farmers need a mobile meat-processing facility and refrigeration unit to keep meat, because it's not financially worth it to haul beef long distances to market.

Denver Shoop of Chimacum wanted to know whether taxpayers would ever get the money back if it was used to buy farms and easements.

Matt Day of the Mt. Townsend Creamery spoke in favor of buying the Brown property, saying his company is committed to buying local milk products and he's excited about the possibility of the farm being preserved as a dairy farm.

Sarah L. Spaeth, conservation director for the Land Trust, explained that the idea is to save farmland from being developed. Property owners who can afford to donate easements can do so, and those who can't afford to donate development rights can partner with the Land Trust and sell the rights to the trust.

However, because the money from the program is tax money from the State Farmland Preservation Program, by law, the land trust must partner with either a municipal or county government.

The money being sought is only available for buying property or development rights, Jefferson County Commissioner David Sullivan noted. There are other monies for infrastructure such as Short was suggesting, and Land Trust officials said the mobile meat-processing facility is something being discussed to help farmers.

In the meantime, Spaeth and Land Trust Executive Director Heidi Eisenhour thanked commissioners for supporting efforts to purchase the two farms for preservation.

Owners of the Brown Dairy have expressed an interest in selling that historic 50-acre property to the Land Trust. If the sale proceeds, the trust will provide a "bridge" between the current owner and a potential conservation buyer who would resume dairy operations on the property, according to the proposal.

In an analysis of the proposal - prepared for commissioners by Neil Harrington, Water Quality program manager, and Tami Pokorny of the Water Quality Division - the value of an easement is estimated at $700,000.

If the state awards funding to the project, the trust would seek federal funding and possible community support to provide required matching funds.

The total project cost is estimated at $800,000. The trust already has a two-year option agreement to buy the property, which includes a historic farmhouse, barns and a milking facility; nearly 45 acres of pastureland; and 2,000 feet of the main stem of the Chimacum Creek running through the property.

"Protection of this historically significant farm will add to the economic viability of Chimacum Crossroads as a hub of our local agriculture community," the Land Trust said in a press release.

Owners of Finnriver Farm have indicated that they are willing to sell a conservation easement to reduce the development potential on four parcels totaling 33 acres.

The farm owners recently planted more than 900 apple and pear trees and are in the process of establishing an artisan-scale winery and cider production.

Conservation values of the project are being ranked by the Conservation Futures Citizen Oversight Committee for potential conservation futures funding.

The trust notes that the farm has prime agricultural soils, more than 1,300 feet of Chimacum Creek, scenic vistas, and habitat for salmon, beavers, trumpeter swans, bears, eagles, hawks and other species.

The application to the state agency is for $207,000, and the total anticipated cost would be $419,000 based on a February 2008 appraisal. Matching monies would be provided by the conservation futures fund and or community support.

The Jefferson Land Trust is a founding member of Jefferson LandWorks Collaborative, which works with nine community organizations to keep farms and forests in Jefferson County "working, productive and profitable."

For more information on services, contact Kate Dean at 379-5610 ext. 306, or Sarah Spaeth at 379-9501.