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WSDA outlines threats to farm viability and outlines climate‑resilience, tech and workforce priorities
Summary
Department of Agriculture staff briefed the committee on threats to agricultural sustainability — rising input costs, consolidation and labor shortages — and described plans including an agricultural competitiveness study, a climate resilience plan and programs to support soil health, precision agriculture and workforce development.
Department of Agriculture staff briefed the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on Jan. 31 about efforts to support sustainable agriculture in Washington, focusing on economic viability, stewardship, climate resilience and technology adoption.
Madison (“Maddie”) Roy, an agricultural economist at WSDA, summarized current trends she said threaten farm sustainability: rising input costs (noting a 12% production‑expenditure rise between 2022 and 2023 with labor accounting for a large share of the increase), consolidation (WSDA figures cited a 10.4% drop in farm numbers over five years with remaining farms growing in size), and pressure on rural livelihoods. She said Washington produces more than 300 commodities, accounts for roughly $14 billion in agricultural production…
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