Farm Publications

PASTURE MANAGEMENT RESOURCES

For links to past recorded workshops on pasture management, visit our Farm Events and Workshops page.

Livestock Best Management Practices - Better Ground publication including the 3 best management practices for livestock farm operations.

Pasture Management Calendar - Thurston Conservation District publication that includes a month by month pasture management calendar recommending which practices to do when.

Pasture and Grazing Management in the Northwest - Pacific Northwest Extension publication, which is a partnership of the University of Idaho, Oregon State University, and Washington State University that is a comprehensive teaching guide for pasture management planning and implementation.

Horses on Spring Pastures - Better Ground publication providing information to consider when rotationally grazing horses in the spring on pastures in the Pacific Northwest.

Managing Small Acreage Livestock Farms - Oregon State University that details everything you should consider for having livestock, especially horses, on small acreage.

Rotation Grazing Paddock Sizing Calculator - NRCS developed excel sheet that helps you calculate the size, number, and rotation frequency of your divided pastures.

Pasture Calendar - Washington State University and Oregon State University publication that recommend specific grazing practices based on the grass growth pattern in the Western Washington and Western Oregon's regional climate data.

Pasture Reseeding Recommendations - Thurston Conservation District publications that outline specific forage varietals, timing, seeding rate, and best uses for each forage type.

MUD PREVENTION RESOURCES

For links to past recorded workshops on mud prevention, visit our Farm Events and Workshops page.

Heavy Use Areas - Better Ground publication explaining what a heavy use area, or livestock confinement area, is and considerations for setting up a heavy use area on your farm.

Hog Fuel Installation - Pierce Conservation District publication describing how to install hog fuel for a heavy use area, or livestock confinement area. Hog fuel works best for cattle, and is often used for horses, sheep, and goats.

Heavy Use Area Engineered Design Example for Gravel-Geotextile Footing Material - Engineered design example that includes step-by-step instructions and material selection for installing gravel and geotextile for a footing material in your heavy use area, or livestock confinement area.

Heavy Use Area Footing Design Plans - Pierce Conservation District publication showcasing demonstrations of different footing material types and installation guidelines.

MANURE MANAGEMENT RESOURCES

For links to past recorded workshops on manure management, visit our Farm Events and Workshops page.

How To Use and Compost Livestock Manure - Thurston Conservation District publication that includes considerations for composting livestock manure.

Manure Management Flyer - Thurston Conservation District publication that includes considerations for storing and applying livestock manure. Includes a calendar for best times to apply livestock manure.

Manure Volume Calculator - NRCS developed excel calculator that allows you to see how much storage you will need for your livestock based on your management practices.

Single Manure Bin Design Plans - Pierce Conservation District publication that includes a materials list and design plans for a simple one bin manure storage structure.

Small Farm Composting Guide - Washington State University publication that explains how to store, compost, and spread manure. The publication also includes basic designs for a three bin manure storage structure.

Livestock Manure Management and Livestock Mortality Composting - Oregon State University publication that examples the process of composting livestock manure and aboveground composting methods after a livestock mortality that protects water quality.

COVER CROPPING RESOURCES

For links to past recorded workshops on cover cropping, visit our Farm Events and Workshops page.

Cover Crop Recommendations - Thurston Conservation District publications that outline specific cover crop varietals, their characteristics, planting timing, and planting seeding rates.

Cover Crop Termination Guide - NRCS publication that recommends dates and methods to terminate cover crops throughout the season based on university research in those regions.

Cover Crop Soil Health Benefits - NRCS publication outlining the benefits that cover cropping has on soil health.

Methods for Successful Cover Crop Management - Washington State University publication on cover crop management practices for your vegetable operation.

Cover Crops for Home Gardens and Vegetable Production - Washington State University publication on cover cropping varietals, timing, planting methods for home gardens and small scale vegetable production.

SOIL FERTILITY RESOURCES

For links to past recorded workshops on soil nutrient management, visit our Farm Events and Workshops page. Pierce Conservation District also offers free soil testing to pasture/hay producers and commercial crop farmers. For more information, visit our soil sampling page. If you're looking for an soil test interpretation guide for a specific crop, please contact our Farm Team for more resources.

Guide to Collecting Soil Samples - Oregon State University publication that explains how to take soil samples in your crop fields.

Soil Test Interpretation Guide - Oregon State University publication explains how to interpret your soil test results.

Pas ture Nutrient Management Interpretation Guide - Oregon State University publication that provides a comprehensive understanding of forage crop nutrient requirements to interpret your soil test results.

Vegetable Nutrient Management Interpretation Guide - Oregon State University publication that provides a comprehensive understanding of vegetable crop nutrient requirements to interpret your soil test results.

Lime for Pastures and Crops - Better Ground publication that explaining soil pH and how limestone applications buffer the pH to maintain an optimal pH range for crop growth.

Forage Sampling Interpretation Guide - Oregon State University publication that provides a comprehensive understanding for how to interpret forage tissue sampling test results.

Manure and Compost Nutrient Sampling - Oregon State University publication for how to take manure and compost nutrient samples.

VEGETABLE AND FRUIT PRODUCTION RESOURCES

Vegetable Gardening - Washington State University publication for general vegetable production in the Pacific Northwest.

Washington State University Gardening Resource Page - Extensive library on nutrient management, pest management, and research on management practices to help gardeners and small scale vegetable production growers in the Pacific Northwest.

Washington State University Tree Fruit Resource Page - Extensive library on nutrient management, pest management, and research on management practices to help fruit tree growers in the Pacific Northwest.

Market Garden Vegetable Production - Washington State University publication for market garden vegetable production in the Pacific Northwest.

Pacific Northwest Insect Management Handbook

Pacific Northwest Weed Management Handbook

Pacific Northwest Plant Disease Management Handbooks

IRRIGATION RESOURCES

Understanding Your Water Rights - Washington State University publication for understanding your water rights and how to use them in Washington State.

Washington State University Irrigation Resource Page - Extensive library of resources for calculating watering rates, application periods, soil conditions, and irrigation systems.

Landowner Guide to Washington State Water Rights - Washington Rivers Conservancy publication for understanding how to read and use your water rights in Washington state.

FARMLAND RESOURCES

Washington Farmland Trust - Local non-profit that protects and stewards threatened farmland in Washington State and provides unique farmland trust rental property opportunities to farmers in our region.

Finding Farmland Calculator - Use this calculator to build scenarios for purchasing farmland. You can compare detailed estimates of total costs, monthly payments and affordability metrics, then download the results to have on hand when meeting with a loan officer.

BEGINNING FARMER RESOURCES

Cultivating Success Farmer Training Program - Washington State University educational programs that aim to provide beginning and existing farmers with the planning and decision-making tools, production skills, and support necessary to develop a sustainable farm or food business.

Beginning Farmers Organization - Non-profit offers information on how to start a farm, planning a new farm, funding resources and finding land to start your farm on. We cover all areas of farming from raising chickens and goats to mushroom production, and urban farms to business farming. Internships and employment opportunities posted regularly.

Cornell Small Farmers Free Tutorials - Cornell University's Small Farms Program offers a variety of free tutorials on business planning.

USDA New Farmers Program - Offers mentorship and resources for beginning farmers to help plan their new farm operation endeavor.

GENERAL FARMING RESOURCES

Washington State University Puyallup Extension Organic Farming Program - Extensive publications on conducted research working with Washington State University Puyallup Extension and local farmers in our region.

Oregon State University Publications Catalogue - Extensive library of Oregon State University publications on farming and research studies.

National Farming Handbook- USDA publication that is an in-depth guide to several management practices for a variety of cropping systems.

Building Sustainable Farms, Ranches, and Communities - USDA guide to federal programs for sustainable agriculture, forestry, entrepreneurship, conservation, food systems, and community development.

USDA Farm Service Agency Programs - A complete catalogue of USDA Fact Sheets for available loan and cost share funding programs for farmer operations.

Tilth Alliance Resource Page - Local non-profit resource page of aggregated farmer resources in Washington State.

Northwest Agriculture Business Center - Provides Washington farmers with the skills and the resources required to profitably and efficiently supply their products to consumers, retailers, wholesalers, foodservice operators and food manufacturers.