This Is A Catastrophe Unrolling In Front Of Us, Washington Senator Says

The Washington Farming community continues to struggle, and those struggles appear to be more severe than what other states or the national farm economy is facing.  It’s estimated that Washington loses, on average, two farms a day.

“We had several briefs this session that focused on the profitability of our farms, or essentially the lack of profitability on our farms, and it was just striking," said Washington state Senator Keith Wagoner.  "For Washington State, a state where Ag is big business and sustains the state, our farmers aren't able to make a profit.”

When it comes to profitability in the farming community, Washington recently ranked last in the nation, driven primarily by high operating costs.  The Sedro Woolley, Republican said much of the blame goes to goes to the feet of state lawmakers.

“And the source of many of those high operating costs is overregulation and bad fiscal policy that originates right here in Olympia," he said.

Wagoner added while the condition of the farm economy was predictable, the magnitude was shocking, not only for him, but others on the Ag and Natural Resources Committee.

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