Voluntary Stewardship Program
The Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP) is and does exactly what it’s name denotes – Voluntary Stewardship. There are no mandated actions, everything is willing and grants fund the projects. The landowner is involved with the planning, kept apprised of the work and is credited by being cooperative.
Ranchers and Farmers lives are intertwined with the environment. We can not exist without being in a balance with our natural environment. As landowners are invited to participate, their inclination is to cooperate with projects that improve critical areas, particularly when greater regulation and possible penalties are avoided.
The North Yakima and South Yakima Conservation Districts have been a tremendous asset in moving VSP to implementation and beyond in Yakima County. The Conservation Districts are noted for sensible approaches to technical problems which also adds to land owner “buy-in”.
The Yakima-Klickitat Farm Association has been involved in advancing VSP from day one! The panel that directs the program often has three YKFA board members attending the quarterly meetings. Your Farm Association is deeply invested for the long haul in this program.
VSP Resources:
Yakima County – Voluntary Stewardship Program
Washington State Conservation Commission – Voluntary Stewardship Program
VSP Program Information Fact Sheet
Washington State Department of Commerce – Critical Areas Protection
Rural Crime
We are in conversation with the Yakima Sheriffs Office (YSO) and Klickitat Sheriffs Office (KSO) to provide the information we seek to post here.
While there are no silver bullets to stopping crime, being better informed about how to protect your family, yourself and your property does make a difference!
If this information ultimately helps you, our members, in pushing back on crime because you have made your property less inviting to criminals, then the Yakima-Klickitat Farm Association considers that a success.
Here is a sample of what the YKFA is seeking from our Rural law agencies:
Yakima Police Department’s Open Data Portal for Police Transparency
Wildfire Resources
In Yakima and Klickitat Counties wildfires have become all too common.
It is obvious to the Yakima-Klickitat Farm Association that the catastrophic build up of fuels is largely responsible for the large number of wild fires and how dangerous they have become.
This page is designed to give members and anyone else in areas with wildfire potential useful information and links to other available resources.
The knowledge base with to respect to reducing losses to fire has significantly improved due to expanded research directed at this issue.
There are two categories this website deals with at this time:
1) Fuel reduction in wild areas, particularly private land forested areas
2) Protecting homes and other structures in fire prone areas, whether they are in forested or any other open area.
DNR’s Forest Resilience’s Cost Share Program – Financial Assistance for Wildfire Resilience and Forest Health
DNR’s Improving Structure Survivability From a Wildfire – Defensible Space – Prepare Your Home
Apex Predators
Note that the activity on the map when you open it only represents the Year-to-date reports.
Use the “Time/Locations” selector in the right upper corner of the map to fine tune your search parameters.
The Association has noted losses of livestock that were not included in spite of WDFW being duly informed!
Noxious Weed Control
Noxious weeds are weeds that are considered to be new invaders which pose a threat to agriculture and other property owners.
Numerous counties in Washington State have formed County Weed Control programs. They are administered by a board consisting of farmers and ranchers. The program has been in existence since the mid-seventies.
For more information, visit Washington State’s Noxious Weed Control Board website.
