Agriculture Impacted By WSU Regents Decisions

Washington State University’s Board of Regents recently approved the university’s 2019-21 operating and capital budget, which included several agriculture related requests.  In the Capital Budget the school approved $36.4 million for Phase II of the Global Animal Health Building.  The capital and operating budgets now go before lawmakers in Olympia for their approval.

Regents also authorized the sale of six or 9 ½ acres of real property which serves as part of the Wenatchee Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center.  The headquarters of the WTFREC is located in the city of Wenatchee.  Some research is conducted at the headquarters but most of the research is performed at other WTFREC properties in the Wenatchee area.  Housing developments are encroaching on the area surrounding the WTFREC headquarters, and as a result, the headquarters property has become less desirable for research.  Property has been valued at about $1-1.53 million.

Regents also authorized the lease of approximately 150 acres of agricultural land at the Roza Unit of the WSU Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center located in Prosser for a period of 10 years and 4 months with the potential for two five year renewals.

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