Hector Castro

While the Washington State Department of Agriculture has long provided food assistance programs, once the pandemic hit, WSDA had to take new and sometimes innovative steps to meet a rapid increase in food insecurity. Hector Castro said an estimated 2 ...

As the state of Washington continues to battle COVID-19, the state Department of Agriculture is taking additional steps to promote social distancing. Last week, WSDA announced that offices across the state would be closed for the foreseeable future ...

As the number of COVID-19 cases continue to grow nationally, and across the Northwest, some have expressed concern, and even doubt, that there will be enough food. In response Washington state Department of Agriculture Director Derek Sandison released a statement Wednesday saying, “I want to assure the public that we are committed to keeping Washington’s food supply chain open and operational”.

While the application period won’t open for a few months, the Washington state Department of Agriculture is talking about the importance of Specialty Crops and its Block Grant program.  Specialty crops in Washington include fruits, tree nuts, nursery and horticulture.  The WSDA’...

The Washington State Department of Agriculture is warning rabbit owners of a deadly virus that has been detected in British Columbia.  And while this strain of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease has not been reported in the U.S., veterinarians said it’s important to take extra precautions to keep their animal safe.   T...

According to legislation passed during the 2017 legislative session, starting April 1st of this year, the Washington State Department of Agriculture will regulate makers of marijuana edibles within the Evergreen State.  WSDA’s Hector Castro told the Washington Ag Network it’s more accurate to say the Department of Ag will share regulation requirements with the state Liquor and Cannabis Board.  Sta

The 100th annual meeting of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture is this week in Lincoln, Neb.   Director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture Katy Coba said these meetings provide critical connections and allows them to shape their message.  ...

In an effort to chip away at an ongoing budget deficit, the Washington State Department of Agriculture is floating the ideas of increasing the fees the cattlemen and auction yards pay for livestock inspections.  WSDA’s Hector Castro told the Washington Ag Network the Livestock Inspection program, one of the Department’s oldest programs, is a critical service offered, not only for owners, but for t