Exciting news!!! We recently worked with Washington State University (WSU) to help fund two new AgWeatherNet stations using Irrigation Efficiencies funding from the Washington State Conservation Commission. The new stations are installed in Sequim and Carlsborg, and log weather variables including air temperature, relative humidity, dew point temperature, soil temperature and moisture, rainfall, wind speed, wind direction, and solar radiation.

The AgWeatherNet program is managed by WSU, and provides access to current and historical weather data from automated weather stations across the state. Access the AgWeatherNet stations in Clallam County using their mapping feature at: https://weather.wsu.edu (we apologize for not providing this as an active link, their system wasn’t allowing us to do so.)

AgWeatherNet data may be accessed and retrieved free of charge at the above link without registering for an account, but access to data for Guest Users is limited to the publicly available tools on the web page. Registered Users who login have the privilege of accessing the entire AgWeatherNet data set through the web based tools that are provided upon login. Users can sign up for advisories and customized weather alerts to help improve production, optimize resource use and reduce environmental impacts.

Registered users also have access to Irrigation Scheduler Mobile, an amazing tool that will help advise when to irrigate based on local weather station data and your irrigation data. And not to worry, while there might not be an AgWeatherNet station in your area yet, we are working with WSU to help them locate a few sites to install weather stations on the western side of Clallam County. We’ll keep you posted as new sites are installed.

Soil Moisture Monitoring
Equipment Available

We have soil moisture sensors and meters available for loan, free of charge, during the irrigation season. Monitoring soil moisture can help you adjust irrigation water management to better suit actual crop needs and soil conditions. Planners are available to help you install the moisture sensors and provide guidance on how to use the meter to track soil moisture data. Please utilize our Farm Assistance Request form and click Soil Moisture Monitoring Equipment in the “What can we help you with” list to get started.

Soil Testing Has Resumed!!!

Just a reminder, we are accepting soil on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month from 9:00am to 4:00pm. For more information and instructions on taking a soil test visit our Soil-testing page.

WA Department of Natural Resources has excellent tips to follow to help prevent wildfires from starting while doing maintenance around your yard, pastures and woodlots.

• Work in the mornings or late evenings to avoid the hottest parts of the day, and postpone your work when the weather calls for low humidity or high wind.

• Keep a water hose or bucket or fire extinguisher on hand.

• Use a nylon or plastic weed whacker line instead of metal.

• Be careful not to set a hot tool down on dry grass or leaves.

• Allow power engines to cool before refueling, and make sure the hot exhaust is kept away from dry grasses, weeds, and shrubs - only use such equipment that’s in good repair and has spark arresters installed when applicable.

• Stay home for an hour after finishing your work - this way you’ll be around to notice if anything begins to smolder and smoke.

See the WA Department of Natural Resources website for more information on prevention of wildfires.

Keep your eyes out for yellow archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon), an incredibly invasive, fast growing perennial quick to OUT-COMPETE native understory plants and SPREAD through forestlands. It can be found growing in either a trailing or upright fashion depending on the conditions.

This plant has yellow, tubular flowers that grow in clusters close to the stems, and oval shaped leaves with striking silvery-grey markings. Yellow archangel also has a square stem, which is a common characteristic of plants in the mint family. It has been a long popular garden ornamental, especially in hanging baskets, which has led to its unintended spread.

Yellow archangel is extremely INVASIVE, and able to spread by several means, including stem fragments, rooting at the nodes and by seed, which leads to its aggressive invasion of natural areas. It can also grow in a wide range of conditions from full sun to full shade, and is not deterred by most other plants. Too often floral baskets or yard waste get dumped in woodlands, off ravines or close to parks and small stem and root fragments give rise to new plants that can quickly lead to an infestation. It unfortunately offers little to no food or habitat for native wildlife and can choke out important native plants.

To help eliminate the spread of yellow archangel, and other potentially invasive ornamentals, NEVER DUMP CLIPPINGS of FLORAL BASKETS in parks or natural areas, or even in compost piles.

Refer to Clallam County Noxious Weed Control’s fact sheet: Yellow Archangel for more information.

REGISTRATION is OPEN:
August Farm Tours

We are so excited to offer three in-person farm tours this August to help you meet your on-farm goals. All tours are held on private property, so prior registration is required.

The combination of wet, poorly drained soils and heavy animals, like horses, means many farms deal with significant mud challenges during the winter. Horses kept in muddy paddocks have a greater risk of developing hoof problems like thrush and abscesses. Plus, standing in mud lowers body temperature, making equines more susceptible to weight loss and disease. Because it’s impossible to clean manure from muddy winter pens, runoff from these areas can pollute nearby streams, ditches, and wetlands.

Now, during the dry season, is your window of opportunity to tackle these mud-prone areas! Check out our website for a detailed technical guide that provides step by step instructions for building a mud-free paddock. We are also available, free of charge, to meet with you at your property to provide site-specific recommendations.

Washington Farmlink

Connecting farmers and landowners in Washington State

Are you a landowner that wants to sell or lease your land for farming? Or, are you a farmer searching for available land for lease or purchase? If so, then check out Washington FarmLink, which connects land seekers with landowners!

Washington FarmLink, a program of the Tilth Alliance, has a goal of connecting farmers to landowners and ensuring that land remains in agricultural production. The program, which is available free of charge, features an online land seeker and landowner matching service.

Getting started is easy! Whether you’re a farmer in search of land or you’re a landowner seeking a steward for your land, you can create a listing that will outline exactly what you’re looking for. Be sure to check out the website, which offers resource directories and referrals to like-minded organization and resource providers, after creating your listing.

CONSERVATION SPONSORS