Page 27 - Rural Tourism Report Washington County

CHAPTER 2: THE WASHINGTON COUNTY AGRICULTURE SECTOR

Top Ten Success Factors that Keep Farmers Farming in Washington County
There are a number of success factors that help sustain a viable local agricultural sector. The factors imperative

to Washington County include: productive soils, stable farmland base, good water supply, agreeable climate,
proximity to major urban areas, relevance and availability to the market, efficient transportation, historical
longevity and future security, innovation, and access to scientific research and practical education.
1. Quality Soils 2. Stable Farmland Base
Washington Farmers need a secure base inventory of farmland
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County has with high-value soils . The availability of farmland
some of the best in the future is vital. Owners of land under

soils in the world consideration for urban development in the future
for growing may find it difficult to obtain bank loans and certain
food and fiber. types of insurance for farming construction and
They are fertile improvement projects depending on the risk to
and generally creditors.
moderately 3. Good Water Supply
well-drained, meaning that above the floodplain, Washington County

these soils are not saturated with water year round. agriculture has
Washington County soils have reasonably high a good supply of
organic matter, and crops grow well in these soils . high-quality water
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(relatively pure
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and not saline)
(NRCS)prepares maps that delineate soils. NRCS compared to many

divides soils into eight classes, with class 1 holding counties because
the best potential for various farm uses, and class of Henry Hagg Lake
8 holding the least. Class 1 soils can be used for and the Tualatin
farming, commercial, residential, and forestry uses Valley Irrigation District (TVID). These two assets
with very few problems. Some of the primary soils have allowed for the cultivation of a large variety
in Washington County are class 1 and 2—mainly of high-value crops such as berries, vegetables,
class 2. In these two classes, farmers can get very and nursery stock. Water from Hagg Lake is stored
good yields of crops without using the amounts behind Scoggins Dam and is a major source of water
of fertilizers, humus, and other soil conditioners for agricultural irrigation. In contrast, Yamhill County
needed to cultivate class 3 and 4 soils. Some crops does not have the same water storage capabilities.
such as grapevines and Christmas trees, however, For non-irrigated crops, rainfall gathers in the
grow more successfully in lower-quality soils. Rich water shed above Hagg Lake, and fills ground water
soils stimulate too much growth on some vines and resources, such as aquifers and wells, and moistens
branches, resulting in lower fruit production .
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the soil directly on dryland crop fields.
30 Dean Moberg, Basin Resource Conservationist, Washington County
31 Dean Moberg, Basin Resource Conservationist, Washington County
32 High-value farmland is determined based on United States Natural Resources conservation Service (NRCS) Geological Survey classification. A definition may be found
at www.oregonlaws.org/ors/215.710.
WASHINGTON COUNTY RURAL TOURISM STUDY 23