YAKIMA, Wash. — Washington State University will host a listening session on water management and drought preparation for Spanish speaking growers in the Yakima Valley region. The session will be of special interest for those within the Rosa Irrigation District where water rationing is already in effect.
The session will be held on Thursday, May 26, starting at 3:00 pm at El Ranchito Restaurant, 1319 E. First Street, Zillah. The session is free of charge and no advance registration is required.
Representatives of WSU Extension, the WSU Small Farms Team and the WSU Farm Family Support Network will be joined by area state legislators, representatives of the state departments of Agriculture and Ecology, and of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“Our speakers will give brief presentations, but the real purpose of the meeting is for all of us to listen to the growers about the challenges they are facing because of the water shortages and to answer their questions,” said Malaquias Flores of the WSU Small Farms Team.
The session will include brief presentations in Spanish or with Spanish translation, followed by question and answer sessions with growers.
Topics will include an update on conditions in drought-impacted water districts, presentations on production practices to help survive drought conditions for various crops, and a panel presentation on available financial and management assistance from state and federal agencies.
The state legislators who will attend or who are invited include Sen. Jerome Delvin who serves on the Senate Agriculture and Rural Economic Development Committee, Sen. Jim Honeyford who serves on the Water, Energy and Environment Committee, and state Rep. Dan Newhouse, a member of the House Agriculture and Trade Committee.
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