Erik
Johansen
Pesticide
Management Division
On a
sunny September morning, I met with Tai Saito at Buddy Boy Farms, a marijuana
farm located north of Reardan in Lincoln County. Tai is the warehouse manager
at Buddy Boy.
I’d
been helping answer some of Tai’s questions about what pesticides are allowed for
use on marijuana. I’ve worked on developing criteria for these allowable
pesticides and consulting with this new industry since legal recreational
marijuana production and use was approved by Washington voters in 2012.
Tai let
me stop by to see the farm and learn more about their operation. I met the farm
owner, Steve Walser, and his daughter Galadriel, who were very open and
welcoming.
In the outdoor
growing area, I saw several different varieties of marijuana plants. The biggest
was over ten feet tall. Steve also showed me some shorter varieties, including
one with purple coloration. The plants were drip irrigated and looked very
healthy.
Steve said
they are growing about 20 varieties of marijuana, and they anticipate a good
harvest this year. Last year they grew about 75 varieties, and had selected
varieties best suited to their operation.
Steve’s
enthusiasm was infectious – he encouraged me to smell each variety. It reminded
me of visiting hop farms in Central Washington. The aroma of some varieties of marijuana
buds is similar to hops. We toured several greenhouses full of healthy looking
plants. A nursery of young marijuana plants will replace the plants ready for
harvest.
In a
packaging room were scales that had been certified by the WSDA Weights and
Measures Program. Steve and Tai praised the Weights and Measures inspector, saying
he had provided several helpful suggestions.
It was really
helpful for me to see this farm, and gain a better understanding of how WSDA is
working with marijuana growers and processors. See our Marijuana and Hemp Information Web page to learn
more about WSDA’s role. Along with providing information on allowable pesticides
and certifying scales, we inspect processing facilities making marijuana-infused
edibles.