Aid sought for farmers hurt by little rainfall

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  Counties had until Jan. 22 to decide whether to join the recently created state program that would be an alternative to the critical area development regulations mandated by the state Growth Management Act for protecting areas used for agriculture.

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  The U.S. Agriculture Department has designated 15 Washington counties as primary natural disaster areas due to extreme weather conditions in the first seven months of 2011.

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  WALLA WALLA -- Walla Walla County commissioners voted last week to opt into the state Voluntary Stewardship Program.

  The program, approved by the state Legislature last year, is aimed at balancing the needs of farmers and ranchers with protection of critical areas as defined by the state's Growth Management Act.

  The program, which is under the direction of the Washington State Conservation Commission, is also intended to protect counties from challenges and lawsuits over such rules as buffers between working farmlands and streams.

• Enterprise for Equity, WSU team up to assist farmers

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