Category Overview
Farmland Preservation protects valuable farmland and habitat for recreationally important animals, like salmon, birds, deer, and elk. These projects allow families to continue farming the land they have worked on for generations, and provide Washingtonians with healthy local food and a diverse economy. WWRP is the only source of farmland preservation funding in the state budget.
Project Highlights
This 25.87-acre property located within the City of Kennewick has been agriculturally active since the 1930s. For the last 27 years, the farm has been utilized for raising beef for market; horses; and poultry (chickens, turkeys, and geese for eggs and meat). The family is currently in the process of leasing this property out to a young farmer as a working farm for raising livestock and produce to either sell at local farmers markets and restaurants or for personal business endeavors. The homestead consists of a 100-year old house, garage, barn/shop, two outbuildings and a turkey shelter. The property is central to several properties that are classified as either Open Space or Residential Agriculture in Kennewick. The land and the neighboring open space ag properties have provided a peaceful habitat for the neighboring residential areas for wildlife and for small farmers through the years. The Kennewick Valley Grange #731 is directly across the street. In addition, the owners also have adjacent agricultural properties that are in intensive vineyards but not a part of the proposal. Through a partnership with WSU Tri-Cities, the family has recently opened the farm to local students for their educational and research purposes that will benefit agriculture. The soils on the property consist of three types of silt loam. Depending on the slope, these soils are either Prime Farmland if irrigated, Farmland of Statewide Importance, or Farmland of Unique Importance.