I-1433 Could Mean Fewer Farms

Washington voters will decide whether or not to raise the minimum wage and add paid sick leave to the state’s laws through Initiative 1433.

Ag Policy Research Director for the Washington Policy Center Madi Clark said this could be bad news for smaller and medium farms.

“Those are the ones that already pay a larger percentage of their expenses to labor and so when this increases, it’s going to impact them disproportionately and so you’re going to see farms go out of business and see farms leave the state.”

The bill, if passed, would aggressively move the state’s minimum wage, currently $9.47 an hour, to $13.50 by 2020.

Clark also sees a consolidation of ag producers in the future and a move towards mechanization.

“What we’re likely to see is this high jump in labor costs, about a 40 percent increase by 2020 and total labor costs is going to dry up jobs.”

Clark noted the ag producers already pay well above the minimum wage and with a tight labor market, the rise of minimum wage will mean those ag laborers will see an increase as well.

Supports of I-1433 did not respond to the Washington Ag Network’s attempts to reach them.

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail krounce@cherrycreekradio.com.