Jan 4, 2016

Study: Drought costs Washington state agriculture $335 million

A recent study by the Washington State Department of Agriculture estimates farm losses from the 2015 drought to be in the millions. While all the numbers aren’t in yet, the study estimates more than $335 million in losses.

Crop production value in Washington is estimated at $10 billion and makes up about 13-15 percent of the state’s economy each year.

Wheat growers experienced the biggest impact with an estimated $212.4 million loss. The 2015 harvest was 22 percent below the five-year average.

Apples, the number one crop in total value in the state, fared better with $86.5 million estimated in losses.

Blueberries had an estimated loss of $12 million, while red raspberries had an estimated loss of almost $14 million.

In Central Washington, timothy, alfalfa and pasture were the dominant crops in the Kittitas Reclamation District affected by drought. The district had a loss of $11.4 million. Assessments of impacts in the Roza Irrigation District are ongoing.

Along with the drought, Washington crops experienced a port slowdown along the West Coast, leaving them to sit waiting to be loaded or unloaded, and above normal temperatures caused little to no snowpack throughout the state.

Data for the report was collected through targeted mapping, meetings with commodity groups and an online survey. Almost two-thirds of the survey’s respondents said they expect to see negative impacts from the 2015 drought on their farming operation and crop this year.

A final report on the 2015 harvest and drought impacts is due Dec. 31.

For more information on the 2015 drought and the study, visit the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s website.