Communications
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| Director Sandison visits the Emergency Food Network. |
The Washington State Legislature approved the state’s two-year operating budget April 23, and Governor Jay Inslee approved May 16. The new budget will fund the state’s government through June 30, 2025.
Along with other state agencies, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has received funding that will allow us to continue providing the services we already offer our partners. But over the next two years, we’ll also have the resources we need to expand some important programs. In this article, we’ll highlight three areas where WSDA will be growing.
Improving food systems while advancing equity
Since the onset of the
global pandemic, WSDA has been at the leading edge ensuring Washington’s food
systems are strong and effective while decreasing food insecurity within the
state.
As part of this effort,
WSDA uses grant opportunities to provide a safety net for many producers. To support
us in this effort, WSDA received $8 million dollars for local food system and
infrastructure grants, $1 million for meat and poultry assistance grants, $30
million for food assistance programs, and $10.6 million in Coronavirus State
Fiscal Recovery Funding to provide supplemental flexibility in spending to
continue supporting our Washington farmers and their families.
Additionally, funding
for our We
Feed Washington initiative and related programs totaled
$63 million in the 2023 budget. These funds will be used to decrease food
insecurity for hungry Washington families.
What’s more, WSDA is
committed to advancing equity and environmental justice in our state, with the
goal of ensuring every Washingtonian has access to healthy, safe, and
culturally relevant food. To contribute to these goals, WSDA was awarded
$180,000 to continue working with communities while responding to recommendations
we made to the state legislature in 2022.
Continuing collaboration efforts
From invasive pests to water availability, Washington’s food producers face a slew of challenges. The 2023–2025 budget includes funds designed to increase collaboration across that state, equipping producers to face these challenges. These funds include $400,000 that will allow WSDA to partner with WSU’s IMPACT Center to conduct an Ag competitiveness study that will analyze producers' challenges and identify tools to address them. WSDA also received $581,000 to enhance the WA Soil Health Initiative and implement a voluntary program that provides producers with tools to track soil health, providing the state with information that will be critical to improving farming viability in the future.
Responding to the threat of invasive pests
WSDA works to maintain and improve the health of Washington’s farms, but eradicating and containing invasive pests – including insects, noxious weeds, and more – benefits the entire state. We have already made significant progress in detecting, trapping, and eradicating many invasive pests, but the effort is ongoing. Thanks to funding from the Washington State Legislature, we can continue our efforts of detecting and eradicating invasive pests that pose the greatest threats in our state: northern giant hornets, spotted lanternfly, popillia japonica (Japanese beetle), and invasive moths.
Looking ahead
With WSDA’s budget set for another two-year cycle, we are excited to continue our mission to protect consumers, ensure public health, and serve as stewards of the environment in Washington state through service, regulation, and advocacy.
To learn more about the 2023–2025 budget, visit the State budgets page on the Washington State Office of Financial Management’s website.