6 C a p fi t a flP r e s s . c om Ed fi to r fi a fl s a r e w r fi t t en b y o r app ro v ed b y m emb e r s o f th e C ap fi t a fl P r e s s Ed fi to r fi a fl Bo a rd . A fl fl o th e r comm en t a r y p fi e c e s a r e th e op fin fion s o f th e au tho r s bu t no t n e c e s s a r fi fl y th fi s n ew sp ap e r . S e p t em b e r 1 8 , 2 0 1 5 Op fin fion Ed fi to r fi a fl Bo a rd Pub fl fi sh e r Ed fi to r M an ag fing Ed fi to r M fi k e O ’B r fi en Jo e B e a ch C a r fl S amp son op fin fion s@ c ap fi t a flp r e s s . com On fl fin e : www . c a p fi t a fl p r e s s . c om / o p fi n fi o n fiew O ur V Jo fi n t w o fl f e xp e r fim e n t s t ep fi n r fi g h t d fi r e c t fio n I f anyon e know s th e fimp a c t o f wo flv e s on th e fl fiv e s to ck findu s t ry fi t ’ s D av e D a sh fi e fl fl . L a s t y e a r th e r an ch e r flo s t 300 sh e ep to th e Hu ck fl eb e r ry P a ck fin No r th e a s t W a sh fing ton ’ s S t ev en s Coun ty . A fl though o th e r W a sh fing ton r an ch e r s h av e flo s t fl fiv e s to ck to wo flv e s , no r an ch e r h a s r epo r t ed mo r e flo s s e s o r r e c e fiv ed mo r e a t t en t fion th an D a sh fi e fl fl . Th e W a sh fing ton D ep a r tm en t o f F fi sh and W fi fld fl fi f e app rov ed shoo t fing up to fou r wo flv e s fin th e p a ck fl a s t y e a r . Th e ag en cy sho t on e , bu t s topp ed hun t fing wh en th e sh e ep mov ed ou t o f th e p a ck ’ s t e r r fi to ry . R an ch e r s w e r e ou t r ag ed . Env fi ronm en t a fl fi s t s w e r e ou t r ag ed th a t ev en on e wo fl f w a s k fi fl fl ed . Bu t D a sh fi e fl fl p r e s s ed on . H e en t e r ed fin to an ag r e em en t w fi th WDFW th a t fin c flud ed a who fl e fl fi s t o f p r ev en t fiv e m e a su r e s h e wou fld t ak e to p ro t e c t h fi s flo ck . E a r fl fi e r th fi s y e a r D a sh fi e fl fl flo s t 26 sh e ep fin an a t t a ck th a t a fl so fl e f t wound ed a 92 -pound sh e ep dog , on e o f fiv e gu a rd fing th e flo ck . Ju s t fin H ed r fi ck , p r e s fid en t o f th e S t ev en s Coun ty C a t t fl em en ’ s A s so c fi a t fion , s a fid a t th e t fim e th a t th e a t t a ck on th e dog fi fl flu s t r a t e s wh a t h app en s wh en you don ’ t k fi fl fl th e o f f end fing p a ck th a t n e ed s to b e k fi fl fl ed . Non e th e fl e s s , D a sh fi e fl fl w a s fo r c ed o f f g r a z fing fl and s fin S t ev en s Coun ty by con t finu fing wo fl f a c t fiv fi ty . H e h a s k ep t h fi s sh e ep on p a s tu r e s n e a r th e T r fi -C fi t fi e s and sp end s $10 ,000 a mon th on h ay . So no on e cou fld b fl am e D a sh fi e fl fl fo r t ak fing a h a rd fl fin e on th e sub j e c t o f wo flv e s and th e env fi ronm en t a fl fi s t s who advo c a t e fo r th em . Bu t fl a s t w e ek D a sh fi e fl fl c am e to a t en t a t fiv e ag r e em en t w fi th con s e rv a t fion fi s t s th a t cou fld pu t h fim b a ck on g r a z fing fl and . W e s e e th a t a s a v a flu ab fl e s t ep fo rw a rd . D a sh fi e fl fl fi s a m emb e r o f th e WDFW wo fl f adv fi so ry p an e fl . Th e adv fi so ry g roup ’ s env fi ronm en t a fl fi s t s t en t a t fiv e fly ag r e ed to pub fl fi c fly suppo r t D a sh fi e fl fl ’ s r e tu rn to g r a z e fin wo fl f coun t ry . D a sh fi e fl fl s a fid h e w fi fl fl w e fl com e th e fi r finvo flv em en t fin pu t t fing tog e th e r a p fl an to p ro t e c t h fi s sh e ep w fi th non - fl e th a fl m e a su r e s . Env fi ronm en t a fl fi s t s finvo flv ed fin th e d e a fl s ay th ey w an t to show th ey c an wo rk w fi th r an ch e r s . Th a t ’ s p r e t ty gu t sy o f th em . I don ’ t know wh a t k find o f b flowb a ck th ey ’ r e go fing to g e t , D a sh fi e fl fl s a fid . I don ’ t know wh a t k find o f b flowb a ck I ’m go fing to g e t . Th e r e a r e ex t r em fi s t s on bo th s fid e s . Som e r an ch e r s wou fld fl fik e to s e e a fl fl o f th e wo flv e s e fl fim fin a t ed . Som e env fi ronm en t a fl fi s t s wou fld fl fik e to s e e r an ch e r s pu sh ed o f f pub fl fi c r ang e fl and and to a s sum e flo s s e s on p r fiv a t e fl and a s th e co s t o f do fing bu s fin e s s fin wo fl f coun t ry . I f fi t com e s to f ru fi t fion , th e co fl fl abo r a t fion cou fld an sw e r two qu e s t fion s c en t r a fl to th e fi s su e . C an r an ch e r s and env fi ronm en t a fl fi s t s wo rk tog e th e r to en su r e bo th fl fiv e s to ck and wo flv e s su rv fiv e on th e r ang e ? C an non - fl e th a fl m e a su r e s a flon e p ro t e c t fl fiv e s to ck wh fi fl e k e ep fing r an ch fing e conom fi c a fl fly v fi ab fl e ? W e ’ r e no t su r e wh fi ch fi s th e mo r e v ex fing qu e s t fion . I f th e m e a su r e s d ep floy ed ad equ a t e fly p ro t e c t th e sh e ep and a r e v fi ab fl e , ev e ryon e w fin s . I f th ey don ’ t , th en ev e ryon e w fi fl fl know . D efin fi t fiv e judgm en t s c an ’ t b e m ad e on ju s t on e exp e r fim en t . Bu t wh a t h app en s a f t e r th e r e su fl t s a r e known w fi fl fl t e fl fl u s a flo t abou t wh e th e r r e a fl coop e r a t fion fi s po s s fib fl e . Th r e e a c t fion s th a t cou fld t r an s fo rm W a sh fing ton ag B y HE ID I E ISENHOUR and DON STUART F o r t h e C a p fi t a fl P r e s s I R fi k D a fl v fi t /F o r t h e C a p fi t a fl P r e s s O ur V fiew Op e n do o r s c a n fl e ad t o op e n m fi nd s N o th fing d fi s a rm s c r fi t fi c s f a s t e r th an th e t ru th s e rv ed w fi th a h e ap fing h e flp fing o f ho sp fi t a fl fi ty on th e s fid e . Th a t ’ s th e hypo th e s fi s John B rub ak e r , a Buh fl , Id aho , d a fi rym an , t e s t ed r e c en t fly wh en h e and h fi s f am fi fly op en ed th e doo r s o f th e fi r f a rm to th e pub fl fi c . Th ey finv fi t ed v fi s fi to r s and th e m ed fi a to t ak e a flook a round th e fi r 300 - cow d a fi ry f a rm . F a r f rom th e f a c to ry f a rm s o r findu s t r fi a fl ag r fi cu fl tu r e so o f t en ch a t t e r ed abou t on b flog s and an t fi - f a rm fing w eb s fi t e s , wh a t th e v fi s fi to r s s aw w a s r e a fl fi ty . P r ev fiou s fly , B rub ak e r s a fid h e ju s t w an t ed to b e fl e f t a flon e to run h fi s f a rm w fi th h fi s son s . Th e h figh qu a fl fi ty o f th e m fi flk th e fi r cow s p rodu c e shou fld sp e ak fo r fi t s e fl f , h e r e a son ed . H e fi s no t a flon e . Mo s t f a rm e r s choo s e th e fi r p ro f e s s fion b e c au s e , fin p a r t , th ey fl fik e th e qu fi e tud e o f fl fi f e fin th e coun t ry . Th ey fl fik e g e t t fing up e a r fly to do cho r e s , p fi t ch fing fin w fi th th e m fi flk fing and g e t t fing to wo rk on th e n ex t job on th e d a fi fly to -do fl fi s t . Th e s ch edu fl e r evo flv e s a round c a r fing fo r th e an fim a fl s . Ev e ry th fing e fl s e fi s don e on a t fim e - av a fi fl ab fl e b a s fi s . Bu t th e s e a r e d fi f f e r en t t fim e s th a t r equ fi r e a d fi f f e r en t r e spon s e to th e n a tu r a fl cu r fio s fi ty p eop fl e h av e abou t f a rm fing . And no on e c an t e fl fl th e s to ry o f ag r fi cu fl tu r e b e t t e r th an a f a rm e r o r a r an ch e r . F a rm fing fi s a sp e c fi a fl p ro f e s s fion , and fi t t ak e s sp e c fi a fl p eop fl e to b e su c c e s s fu fl . I t t ak e s som eon e who c an h e flp d e fl fiv e r a c a fl f , m end a f en c e , b fl end f e ed r a t fion s , run a f ron t - end flo ad e r , t e s t th e so fi fl and upd a t e th e book s — a fl fl fin on e d ay . Th a t g en e r a fl bu sy -n e s s p r ev en t s mo s t f a rm e r s f rom t ak fing th e t fim e to exp fl a fin th em s e flv e s . Th e fl fi s t o f job s do e sn ’ t fl e av e a flo t o f sp a r e t fim e fo r so c fi a fl fi z fing , o r exp fl a fin fing why o r how h e , o r sh e , do e s som e th fing . An op en hou s e a fl flow s a f a rm e r to w a flk fo flk s th rough wh a t th ey do , and why . I t u s ed to b e th a t n e a r fly ev e ryon e e fi th e r g r ew up on a f a rm o r kn ew som eon e who h ad a f a rm . Wh en th a t w a s th e c a s e , th ey h ad a po fin t o f r e f e r en c e . Th ey r em emb e r ed wh a t fi t w a s fl fik e to bu ck h ay , m fi flk cow s , t end th e an fim a fl s o r wo rk flong hou r s p fl an t fing , h a rv e s t fing o r do fing fi e fld wo rk . Now th a t th e pub fl fi c ’ s fl fink w fi th ag r fi cu fl tu r e fi s d fi s app e a r fing , th e on fly t fim e a typ fi c a fl m emb e r o f th e pub fl fi c g e t s to v fi s fi t a f a rm fi s du r fing an op en hou s e . By op en fing h fi s f a rm to v fi s fi to r s , f a rm e r s su ch a s B rub ak e r and h fi s son s p rov e th a t th e r e ’ s r e a fl fly on fly on e s e c r e t to b e fing a f a rm e r . P fl a fin o fld h a rd wo rk . Reade rs ’ v fiews D ep t . o f Labo r u s e s e x to r t fion I t fi s v e ry s ad th a t th e U .S . D ep a r tm en t o f L abo r h a s s toop ed so flow a s to u s e ex to r - t fion to fo r c e th e fi r ov e r - r egu fl a t - fing w fi fl fl on a bun ch o f f a rm e r s . Wh fi fl e I und e r s t and th e r e h a s to b e c e r t a fin r egu fl a t fion s to en su r e s a f e ty and s an fi t a t fion and r e a son ab fl e wo rk fing cond fi - t fion s fi t s e em s to th e app fl fi c a t fion o f th e u fl t fim a t e h amm e r o f ho t good s fi s b eyond r e a son and common s en s e . Th e u fl t fim a t e r e su fl t o f d e- s t roy fing a g row e r ’ s c rop and fl fiv e fl fihood do e sn ’ t s e rv e th e pub fl fi c good fin any w ay . Th e ag r fi cu fl tu r a fl p rodu c t s th a t don ’ t r e a ch m a rk e t a r e a flo s s to th e food supp fly and a flo s s o f job s and fin com e th rough th e who fl e d fi s t r fibu t fion sy s t em . Th e on fly g roup th a t s e em s to g a fin and g row w fi th a fl fl th fi s gov e rnm en t ov e r - r egu fl a t fion fi s th e gov e rnm en t and th e fi r r egu - fl a to r s . I c an on fly hop e and p r ay th a t th e e fl e c to r a t e w fi fl fl w ak e up and e fl e c t an adm fin fi s t r a t fion th a t und e r s t and s th e gov e rnm en t fi s to SERVE th e p eop fl e and no t th e o th e r w ay a round , fl fik e fi t fi s now . A r v fid M yh r e Camb r fidg e , Idaho Nu t r fien t p flan shou fld have been en fo r ced I n y o u r 2 7 A u g u s t e d fi t o r fi a fl y o u w r o t e , C o n t r a s t t h a t w fi t h t h e Y a k fim a V a fl fl e y , w h e r e fi v e d a fi r fi e s h a v e f o fl fl ow e d s t a t e - a p - p r o v e d n u t r fi e n t m a n a g em e n t p fl a n s o n fl y t o b e d r a g g e d fi n t o c o u r t b y EPA - a fl fl fi e d e n v fi r o nm e n - t a fl g r o u p s t o t e s t a n ew fl e g a fl t h e - o r y . T h fi s fi s n o t a t r u e s t a t em e n t , p e o p fl e n e e d t o r e a d t h e c o u r t t r a n s c r fi p t a n d t h e d e p o s fi t fi o n s o f t h e d a fi r fi e s ’ ow n w fi t n e s s e s . Th e d a fi ry h ad a nu t r fi en t m an ag em en t p fl an a s r equ fi r ed by W a sh fing ton s t a t e . Th fi s p fl an fi s ONLY a sugg e s t ed p fl an on how b e s t to app fly m anu r e to b en efi t th e c rop s g rown and r edu c e env fi ronm en t a fl h a rm s . Th e r e fi s NO fl eg a fl en fo r c em en t too fl to m ak e th e d a fi r fi e s fo fl flow th e fi r own p fl an s . Th fi s fi s ju s t a f e e fl good do cum en t to t e fl fl th e pub fl fi c , Look , w e ’ r e do fing wh a t w e ’ r e suppo s ed to . Th fi s fi s wh e r e th e p rob fl em fl fi e s . Wh en th e d a fi ry sp r e ad s m a- nu r e on th e fi r fi e fld s th ey u s e th e c a fl cu fl a t ed ag ronom fi c r a t e s fin th e fi r nu t r fi en t m an ag em en t p fl an , no t th e fi r nu t r fi en t so fi fl t e s t s . So fi fl t e s t fing fi s u s ed to gu fid e nu t r fi en t m an ag em en t d e c fi s fion s r e fl a t ed to m anu r e and s fludg e app fl fi c a - t fion w fi th th e ob j e c t fiv e o f m ax - fim fi z fing e conom fi c / ag ronom fi c b en efi t s wh fi fl e m fin fim fi z fing th e po t en t fi a fl fo r n eg a t fiv e fimp a c t s on w a t e r qu a fl fi ty . Th e d a fi ry on fly t e s t ed 1 o f 1 1 m anu r e fl agoon s to d e t e r - m fin e nu t r fi en t con c en t r a t fion s and u s ed th e s e t e s t r e su fl t s fo r a fl fl 1 1 fl agoon s . Th e t e s t fing o f th e o th e r fl agoon s show ed a v a r - fi ed con c en t r a t fion r a t e b e tw e en th em . Th e r a t e o f app fl fi c a t fion w a s no t b a s ed on y fi e fld go a fl s bu t on th e av e r ag e o f p r ev fiou s y fi e fld s . M anu r e w a s app fl fi ed to fi e fld s w fi th no c rop s p fl an t ed , to t ak e up th e app fl fi ed nu t r fi en t s . H av fing a Nu t r fi en t M an ag e- m en t P fl an and fo fl flow fing fi t a r e two d fi f f e r en t th fing s . I f th e d a fi r - fi e s w e r e m ad e to fo fl flow th e fi r Nu t r fi en t M an ag em en t P fl an s th e ou t com e o f th fi s c a s e p rob - ab fly wou fld h av e gon e fin th e fi r f avo r . I t ’ s t fim e to ho fld th e d a fi r fi e s , con s e rv a t fion d fi s t r fi c t s and th e D ep a r tm en t o f Ag r fi cu fl tu r e , who a r e suppo s ed to b e h e flp- fing and en fo r c fing th e ru fl e s , a c - coun t ab fl e . J fim D y ja k Mo x e e , W a sh . n thr e e s t r a t eg fi c s t ep s , W a sh - fing ton f a rm e r s cou fld t r an s - fo rm th e fi r findu s t ry . E a ch s t ep fi s w fi th fin th e fi r pow e r to a c com - p fl fi sh . E a ch su c c e s s wou fld m ak e th e n ex t e a s fi e r . 1 . An findu s t ry -w fid e com- mod fi ty comm fi s s fion s e fl fl fing ag r fi cu fl tu r e to th e W a sh fing ton pub fl fi c . Th e pub fl fi c n e ed s fin fo rm a t fion abou t ag r fi cu fl tu r e . A c amp a fign exp fl a fin fing th e env fi ronm en t a fl v a fl - u e o f ag r fi cu fl tu r e cou fld t r an s fo rm pub fl fi c a t t fi tud e s , fimp rov e r e c ep- t fiv en e s s by fl eg fi s fl a to r s and fin su - fl a t e f a rm e r s f rom n ew r egu fl a t fion . Th e fo r e s t findu s t ry h a s h ad su ch a c amp a fign und e rw ay fo r y e a r s — w fi th d r am a t fi c su c c e s s . Im ag fin e a s e r fi e s o f TV ad s : • A r an ch e r po fin t s to a r ang e - fl and h fi fl fl s fid e and exp fl a fin s how n ew w a t e r fing s t a t fion s h av e d fi s- t r fibu t ed th e h e rd a c ro s s th e fl and , p rodu c ed c fl e an e r w a t e r and s t ron- g e r fi sh run s fin th e s t r e am b e flow — and fimp rov ed g r a z fing . • A wh e a t f a rm e r d e s c r fib e s con tou r f a rm fing and cov e r c rop s and exp fl a fin s how th ey p ro t e c t s t r e am s and p r e s e rv e so fi fl . • An o r ch a rd fi s t d fi s cu s s e s how fin t eg r a t ed p e s t m an ag em en t en - cou r ag e s b en efi c fi a fl fin s e c t s , r edu c - e s p e s t fi c fid e u s e , fimp rov e s c rop s and s av e s mon ey . • A row c rop f a rm e r exp fl a fin s how d r fip fi r r fig a t fion u s e s fl e s s w a- t e r , p r e s e rv e s so fi fl , r edu c e s ex - p en s e s and g row s b figg e r c rop s . • A po t a to f a rm e r d e s c r fib e s how GPS p r e c fi s fion ag r fi cu fl tu r e r edu c e s th e u s e o f ch em fi c a fl n fi t ro - g en , s equ e s t e r s c a rbon and p ro- du c e s s t rong e r h a rv e s t s . A t ag fl fin e m figh t s ay : W a sh- fing ton F a rm e r s : H e flp fing ou r S t a t e ’ s Env fi ronm en t and E cono- my . Th e ad s wou fld f e a tu r e r e a fl f a rm e r s . Th ey wou fld o f f e r b r fi e f bu t fin t r figu fing fin s figh t s fin to ag r fi- cu fl tu r e ’ s env fi ronm en t a fl b en efi t s . P eop fl e wou fld r em emb e r tho s e fin s figh t s and flook fo r mo r e . A n ew a fl fl - ag r fi cu fl tu r e com- mod fi ty comm fi s s fion cou fld fund th fi s . On e -h a fl f -o f -on e p e r c en t o f f a rmg a t e s a fl e s wou fld p rodu c e $3 m fi fl fl fion a y e a r . H a fl f wou fld m a fin- t a fin ad s fin th e b figg e s t m ed fi a m a r - k e t s . Th e o th e r h a fl f cou fld fund con s e rv a t fion co s t - sh a r e fo r f a rm s . Th fi s cou fld b e s t a f f ed by ex- fi s t fing findu s t ry p e r sonn e fl . I t s so fl e pu rpo s e wou fld b e to s e fl fl ag r fi cu fl- tu r e to th e pub fl fi c , c r e a t fing a po fl fi t - fi c a fl c fl fim a t e fin wh fi ch f a rm e r s c an su c c e ed . M a rk e t fing f a rm p rod - u c t s wou fld con t finu e th rough th e commod fi ty comm fi s s fion s . 2 . S ta t e suppo r t fo r ag r fi cu fl- tu ra fl env fi r onm en ta fl ma rk e t s . W fi th env fi ronm en t a fl m a rk e t s , f a rm e r s r e c e fiv e f a fi r m a rk e t v a flu e fo r th e fi r env fi ronm en t a fl s e rv fi c e s , u su a fl fly w fi thou t d fim fin fi sh fing cu r - r en t p rodu c t fion . So c fi e ty s e cu r e s fimp rov em en t s fin th e env fi ronm en t a t th e flow e s t po s s fib fl e co s t . P e rh ap s ou r s t rong e s t oppo r tu- n fi ty fi s w a t e r qu a fl fi ty t r ad fing . W fi th f a rm e r h e flp , pub fl fi c u t fi fl fi t fi e s and findu s t r fi a fl p fl an t s cou fld m e e t w a t e r qu a fl fi ty r equ fi r em en t s a t a f r a c t fion o f th e cu r r en t co s t . F a fi r fly p a fid fo r adop t fing w e fl fl -known con s e r - v a t fion p r a c t fi c e s , m any f a rm e r s wou fld h app fi fly p a r t fi c fip a t e . O th e r s t a t e s h av e c r e a t ed r eg- u fl a to ry f r am ewo rk s f a c fi fl fi t a t fing su ch m a rk e t s . T o d a t e , W a sh fing - ton ’ s D ep a r tm en t o f E co flogy h a s no t b e en suppo r t fiv e . Th ey a r e w a ry o f env fi ronm en t a fl s e rv fi c e s d e fl fiv e r ed vo flun t a r fi fly by m any fin- d fiv fidu a fl fl andown e r s . Th e W a sh- fing ton L eg fi s fl a tu r e cou fld , how - ev e r , d fi r e c t E co flogy to c r e a t e a r egu fl a to ry f r am ewo rk . Su ch fl eg - fi s fl a t fion cou fld p a s s e a s fi fly fi f fi t h ad suppo r t f rom a co a fl fi t fion o f bo th f a rm e r s and env fi ronm en t a fl fi s t s . A r gum en t s fin f avo r a r e s t rong : Su ch a m a rk e t wou fld r edu c e pub- fl fi c co s t s o f a ch fi ev fing c fl e an w a t e r and d fim fin fi sh p r e s su r e to r egu fl a t e ag r fi cu fl tu r e . I t cou fld g en e r a t e n ew p rofi t s fo r f a rm e r s w fi thou t d fim fin- fi sh fing th e fi r fin com e s . I t wou fld en fl fi s t f a rm e r - en t r ep r en eu r sh fip to m ak e ag r fi cu fl tu r e th e so flu t fion to so c fi e ty ’ s env fi ronm en t a fl ch a fl fl eng - e s r a th e r th an a c au s e . 3 . A W a sh fing ton Ag r fi cu fl- tu r e R e s to ra t fion and Con s e rva - t fion A c t . Suppo s e ag o r g an fi z a t fion s p ro- po s ed a W a sh fing ton Ag r fi cu fl tu r e R e s to r a t fion and Con s e rv a t fion A c t . W fi th $60 m fi fl fl fion a y e a r , t r an s fo rm a t fiv e fin fi t fi a t fiv e s fl fik e th e fo fl flow fing cou fld b e fin c flud ed : - • $20 m fi fl fl fion cou fld fund en v fi ronm en t a fl fin c en t fiv e s cov e r fing f a rm e r co s t s o f adop t fing con s e r - v a t fion p r a c t fi c e s , fimp rov e env fi- ronm en t a fl p e r fo rm an c e , fo r e s t a fl fl n ew r egu fl a t fion and s t r eng th en ag r fi cu fl tu r e ’ s pub fl fi c app rov a fl . • $20 m fi fl fl fion cou fld pu r ch a s e d ev e flopm en t r figh t s to p ro t e c t f a rm fl and f rom d ev e flopm en t , g fiv - fing f a rm e r s a p r a c t fi c a fl a fl t e rn a t fiv e . In tu rn th fi s wou fld s flow th e an t fi c - fip a t ed flood o f f a rm s s e fl fl fing ov e r th e n ex t d e c ad e — w fi thou t u s e o f g row th m an ag em en t . A t $2 ,500 an a c r e , w e cou fld p ro t e c t 160 ,000 a c r e s ov e r 20 y e a r s . • $20 m fi fl fl fion cou fld go fin to e conom fi c d ev e flopm en t , p ay fing fo r f a rm fin f r a s t ru c tu r e , n ew m a r - k e t s , fl and and equ fipm en t a cqu fi- s fi t fion and o th e r bu s fin e s s n e ed s . Coun t fi e s cou fld h e flp d r fiv e th fi s . Ov e r th e p a s t 12 y e a r s , W a sh- fing ton h a s comm fi t t ed a round $9 b fi fl fl fion fin t ax b r e ak s and fin c en- t fiv e s to en cou r ag e a e ro sp a c e to bu fi fld a fi r c r a f t fin th fi s s t a t e . Ag r fi cu fl- tu r e fi s rough fly equ a fl to a e ro sp a c e fin e conom fi c fimp a c t , y e t th fi s p ro - po s a fl wou fld co s t on fly $600 m fi fl- fl fion ov e r th e n ex t 10 y e a r s — and f a rm e r s won ’ t mov e to Ch fi c ago . Th e t ax fimp a c t wou fld b e fl e s s th an on e - t en th -o f -on e -p e r c en t fin s a fl e s t ax e s ( .0075 /$1 ) . A f a rm - env fi ronm en t a fl co a- fl fi t fion cou fld p a s s th fi s w fi th e a s e . F a rm e r s cou fld d e fl fiv e r ru r a fl vo t- e r s . Th e t ax b e wou fld fl a r g e fly p a fid by p eop fl e fin u rb an a r e a s . Env fi ronm en t a fl fi s t s wou fld s e e fimp rov ed env fi ronm en t a fl p e r fo r - m an c e , p ro t e c t ed f a rm fl and and f a rm e r s s t ay fing on th e fl and . Su c c e s s fu fl f a rm - env fi ronm en- t a fl co a fl fi t fion s c r e a t ed fo r th e s e pu rpo s e s wou fld u fl t fim a t e fly sp fin o f f jo fin t po fl fi cy su c c e s s e s on n ew mu tu a fl fly b en efi c fi a fl p ropo s a fl s fo r m any y e a r s to com e . H e fid fi E fi s enhou r fi s No r thw e s t r eg fiona fl d fi r e c to r fo r Am e r fi can Fa rm fland T ru s t . R ea ch h e r a t h e fi s enhou r@ fa rm fland .o r g . Don S tua r t fi s fo rm e r r eg fiona fl d fi r e c to r fo r Am e r fi can Fa rm fland T ru s t and fo rm e r d fi r e c to r o f th e W a sh fing ton A s so c fia t fion o f Con s e r va t fion D fi s t r fi c t s . H e w r o t e Ba rn ya r d s and B fi r k en s to c k s : Wh y Fa rm e r s and En v fi r onm en- ta fl fi s t s N e ed Ea ch O th e r .