The Blog

Dan Newhouse, Director, Department of Agriculture

03/03/09

When Gov. Chris Gregoire approached me about the position of director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture, I will admit that I had mixed emotions. My wife Carol and I love farming our land near Sunnyside. And as a legislator committed to my local community and with many close friends in the House of Representatives, I weighed my options carefully.

One thing became clear as I deliberated: as a farmer who cares deeply about the future of agriculture, no position would give me a more visible platform to advocate for Washington producers. That opportunity to make a difference for farmers and ranchers throughout the state tipped the balance.

In general, these past few years have been good ones for crop yields, farm income, volume of international trade and most other metrics. Policymakers around the state have a growing appreciation of the importance of agriculture. Urban consumers continue to demand local Washington produce.

Since last fall, however, we have seen a dramatic shift in the prices farmers are getting for their products. The nation’s economy and international markets continue to soften. The dark clouds of risk and uncertainty are gathering on the horizon. Critical issues around the factors of agricultural production need attention: tight labor markets, development pressures on farmland, inadequate water storage and distribution, input cost volatility, availability of farm credit – the list goes on.

If we are to meet these daunting challenges successfully, we must work together as an agriculture community. All of us in the food and agriculture industry are part of an interconnected web that supports economic growth in rural communities and the state as a whole. Our discussions will include all voices and take place in many forums. I look forward to hearing your perspective on how WSDA can support the competitiveness of agriculture.

We have a great team at WSDA. The agency is well-respected in the agriculture community. Bob Gore, who served effectively as the agency’s acting director, will be staying on to get me up to speed on our diverse operations. We will continue to be responsive to our customers and our stakeholders. As always, our mission will be to support the profitability of producers as they grow and market their commodities.

Please don’t hesitate to call or stop by my office in Olympia. My door is always open to you. But rest assured that I will spend considerable time out of the office, meeting with farmers and ranchers all over Washington. I look forward to working with you.