New wildfire strategy targets ‘firesheds’ near towns | Successful Farming
WACD Reading List
The Underestimated Pain of Isolation | Psychology Today
Being the highly adaptable creatures we are, somehow we have managed to find ways to cope with this awful plague — at least, those of us who have not died or been impaired for life.
Convincing Your Company Leaders to Invest in New Technology
Vaccination protects against Covid-19 hospitalization significantly more than prior infection, according to CDC study - CNN
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Highlights Key Work in 2021 to Combat Climate Change | USDA
Secretary Vilsack Announces New 10 Year Strategy to Confront the Wildfire Crisis | USDA
Priority Habitats And Species: Riparian Ecosystems and the Online SPTH Map Tool
WDFW Priority Habitats And Species: Riparian Ecosystems and the Online SPTH Map Tool
Is There Really Such a Thing as Low-Carbon Beef? | WIRED
In November, the US Department of Agriculture approved a program that will open a path for beef producers to market their meat as low-carbon. Producers who can prove that their cattle are raised in a way that emits 10 percent less greenhouse gases than an industry baseline can qualify for the certification scheme, which is run by a private company called Low Carbon Beef.
Washington one of few states to fund new suicide hotline | KOMO
“When you call 988, you’re talking to a clinician, they do a suicide assessment, they triage what services you need,” said Washington Democratic Rep. Tina Orwall.
Flexday Friday Brings Balance Back to the Workweek - Bloomberg
A permanent culture of remote or hybrid work has its pros and cons when it comes to this new concept of "office hours." We probably won't ever go back to a world where workers are truly free from Friday evening until Monday morning.
Clark County emergency rooms report drastic increase in patients - The Columbian
Don’t visit the emergency room if you have mild COVID-19 symptoms or if you need a walk-in COVID-19 test.
NW AG SHOW REPORT: Advice for farmers making succession plans | Oregon | capitalpress.com
"There are so many different things involved in succession planning. It's not just a will and trust," said Nellie McAdams, executive director of Oregon Agricultural Trust. "It can sort of seem like unraveling a ball of yarn and not knowing where the end is."
Job site comparison: LinkedIn vs. ZipRecruiter vs. Craigslist - Komando.com
Cliff Mass Weather Blog: Super King Tide: Water Levels Approach or Achieve Record Levels in the Northwest
King Tides represent unusually high water levels, which occur when the geometry of the sun and moon are just right. But this year, the predicted tide got a major boost in Seattle, thanks to the atmosphere.
There's Good Reason To Think the Omicron Wave Will Peak Soon
Recent COVID-19 trends suggest that the U.S. omicron wave may have peaked in several of the jurisdictions where it was first evident.
USDA Announces Additional Farm Service Agency and Rural Development State Directors | USDA
Helen Price Johnson, RD State Director for Washington -
A third-generation small business owner, Helen Price Johnson concluded three terms on the Island County Commission in 2021. She is a past president of the Washington State Association of Counties, a two-term member of the South Whidbey School Board and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Whidbey Community Foundation. In these roles, she worked statewide advocating for small towns, small businesses and rural lands.
Department of Agriculture releases new data on Asian giant hornet spread | 790 KGMI
The state Department of Agriculture has released new data on murder hornets found in Whatcom County last summer.
USDA to Invest up to $225 Million in Partner-Driven Conservation on Agricultural and Forest Land | NRCS
“RCPP is public-private partnership at its best,” said Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Terry Cosby. “We’re harnessing the power of partnership to create lasting solutions to global challenges, like climate change, and support producers and communities who have been underserved in the past.”
Available Funding: 2022 Urban & Community Forestry Grants – Urban and community Forestry in Washington State
we’ve opened applications for the Largest Urban and Community Forestry Grant Funding Cycle in DNR Agency History
COVID-19 cases triple in Spokane County as omicron takes hold | The Spokesman-Review
Spokane County’s coronavirus case rate has tripled in the last few weeks, according to data from the Spokane Regional Health District.
Omicron variant will 'find just about everybody,' Fauci says, but vaccinated people will still fare better - CNN
As the Omicron variant spreads like wildfire across the United States, it's likely just about everybody will be exposed to the strain, but vaccinated people will still fare better, the nation's leading infectious disease expert said Tuesday.
NRCS Conservation Practice Standards for Agroforestry | USDA National Agroforestry Center
A variety of NRCS Conservation Practice Standards can be used to implement agroforestry practices.
California's Drought Reckoning Could Offer Lessons for the West | The Pew Charitable Trusts
But state officials and water policy experts are still urging caution even in these wet conditions, pushing for water-saving measures as the drought is expected to continue throughout much of the West.
WA legislators prepare for long list of climate change bills | Crosscut
Climate change degrading Oregon coastal ecosystems, study suggests - OPB
Climate change is weakening communities of colorful creatures in the rocky intertidal zone on the Oregon Coast.
Vilsack vows 'voluntary and incentive-based' climate strategy for farms | Agriculture | capitalpress.com
The USDA is using the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, or EQIP, and the Conservation Stewardship Program, or CSP, to help farmers use methods such as cover crops to sequester carbon.
Getting Better at Talking About Mental Health at Work | Bridgespan
A recent study suggests that while more employees are comfortable discussing mental health in the workplace, the conversations they’re having aren’t always fruitful.
When Being Indispensable Backfires
Because I had said yes to every assignment, in hopes that would help me move on to my next opportunity, I had become indispensable, and my manager wouldn’t let me go. Being indispensable had temporarily killed my career.
USDA, Federation of Southern Cooperatives Renew Partnership Supporting Underserved Landowners | USDA
“Through partnerships like this one, we are ensuring that historically underserved landowners and producers have the tools they need to successfully integrate conservation practices on their forest and agricultural lands,” said NRCS Chief Terry Cosby. “Equity in our programs and services is essential for addressing the unique natural resource needs and challenges across the country.”
USDA Offers Expanded Conservation Program Opportunities to Support Climate Smart Agriculture in 2022 | NRCS
NRCS accepts applications for conservation programs – including EQIP and CSP – year-round, however producers and landowners should apply by state-specific, signup dates to be considered for each year’s funding. To apply, producers should contact their local USDA Service Center