Department of Agriculture

  Annual FTEs General Fund State Other Funds Total Funds
  (Dollars in Thousands)
Estimated Expenditures 895.0 39,227 182,700 221,927
2021-23 Maintenance Level 892.2 38,829 180,471 219,300
Difference from 2019-21 (2.8) (398) (2,229) (2,627)
% Change from 2019-21 (0.3%) (1.0%) (1.2%) (1.2%)

2021-23 Policy Other Changes

Emergency Food Assistance Program 1.0 23,100 0 23,100
Agency Overhead Reduction 0.0 (821) 105 (716)
Pesticide Safety Reform 7.0 0 2,325 2,325
Vacancy Management 0.0 (1,494) 0 (1,494)
Gypsy Moth Eradication 2.3 190 564 754
Food Supply Chain Resiliency 1.0 9,600 0 9,600
Farm to School Program 1.0 5,000 0 5,000
Fairs Reduction 0.0 0 (600) (600)
Fertilizer Program Solvency 0.0 0 153 153
Asian Giant Hornets 6.9 388 1,134 1,522
Aquaculture Coordinator 1.0 340 0 340
Pesticide Water Quality Testing 0.0 0 200 200
Maintain Dairy Nutrient Management 1.0 0 304 304
Shift Pesticide Program Costs 0.0 (640) 640 0
Wolf Livestock Conflict Account 0.0 0 752 752
ISO Certification 0.0 210 0 210
Shift Soil Health Initiative 0.0 (400) 400 0
2021-23 Policy Other Changes Total 21.2 35,473 5,977 41,450

2021-23 Policy Comp Changes

Pension Adjustments, nonrate 0.0 16 82 98
State Employee Benefits 0.0 (26) (88) (114)
WFSE General Government 0.0 (95) (2,262) (2,357)
Temporary Layoffs and Other Savings 0.0 (875) (2,307) (3,182)
Rep Employee Health Benefits 0.0 (19) (152) (171)
Non-Rep General Wage Increase 0.0 (180) (618) (798)
2021-23 Policy Comp Changes Total 0.0 (1,179) (5,345) (6,524)

2021-23 Policy Central Services Changes

Archives/Records Management 0.0 2 4 6
Audit Services 0.0 (1) (2) (3)
Legal Services 0.0 (25) (49) (74)
CTS Central Services 0.0 74 145 219
DES Central Services 0.0 23 93 116
OFM Central Services 0.0 358 729 1,087
Self-Insurance Liability Premium 0.0 2 7 9
2021-23 Policy Central Services Changes Total 0.0 433 927 1,360
Total Policy Changes 21.2 34,727 1,559 36,286
2021-23 Policy Level 913.4 73,556 182,030 255,586
Difference from 2019-21 18.4 34,329 (670) 33,659
% Change from 2019-21 2.1% 87.5% (0.4%) 15.2%

Policy Changes

Emergency Food Assistance Program

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic food insecurity among Washingtonians has increased dramatically. Additional funding is provided to expand the capacity of the state's Emergency Food Assistance Program that supports over 500 hungry relief organizations working to reduce food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic. (General Fund - Federal, General Fund - State)

Agency Overhead Reduction

The department will absorb an administrative reduction to support a shortfall in the state general fund by reducing goods and services, travel, and staffing. (General Fund - Federal, General Fund - State, Agricultural Local Account - Non-Appropriated)

Pesticide Safety Reform

The Pesticide Management Division at WSDA enforces state and federal pesticide laws to protect human health and the environment. Pending enactment of agency request legislation to increase pesticide program fees, the department will improve operations to process pesticide registrations and enhance pesticide regulation compliance. The department will also expand its training, education, and outreach to workers, including non-English speaking workers, and surrounding communities to help reduce exposure to pesticides. (Agricultural Local Account - Non-Appropriated)

Vacancy Management

The department will achieve one-time state general fund savings by delaying the hiring of staff who work on performance management, human resources, IT, animal health, food safety, and veterinary services. (General Fund - State)

Gypsy Moth Eradication

The department will conduct eradication treatments and follow-up monitoring to ensure gypsy moths do not reproduce. Gypsy moths are very damaging to trees and negatively impact the timber industry and the state's trust lands. State funds will be used to secure federal grants to help pay for the cost of treatment and monitoring. (General Fund - State, General Fund - Federal)

Food Supply Chain Resiliency

Many food supply businesses needed to adapt to a new business model during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the disruption of farm to food operations, funding is provided for food infrastructure and market access grants that assist farms, food processors, and food distributors to pivot to new markets and business models. (General Fund - State)

Farm to School Program

The COVID-19 pandemic has limited the types and quality of food that can be served to students. Funding is provided to expand the department's farm to school program which provides grants to schools to purchase local foods for distribution at schools, food service institutions, child care facilities, and other school settings. This provides more nutritious food to students while also supporting local farmers. (General Fund - State)

Fairs Reduction

WSDA provides grants to support county, community and local fairs through the Fairs account. Returns $600,000 in GFS from the Fairs Account due to the lower amount of competitive events happening at Washington State fairgrounds. (General Fund - State, Fair Account - Non-Appropriated)

Fertilizer Program Solvency

The department's fertilizer program protects human health and the environment by ensuring that fertilizers distributed in Washington are not adulterated with heavy metals, product labels provide sufficient and accurate information, and products contain the guaranteed nutrients claimed. Pending enactment of agency request legislation to increase fertilizer registration fees, funding is restored for the Fertilizer Registration Program which was reduced in fiscal year 2021 due to a lack of revenue. (Agricultural Local Account - Non-Appropriated)

Asian Giant Hornets

Asian giant hornets have been recently found in Washington. These hornets represent a significant threat to managed honey bee hives and native bee populations. State and federal funds are used for the continued detection and eradication of the Asian giant hornet in the state. (General Fund - State, General Fund - Federal)

Aquaculture Coordinator

Shellfish aquaculture is an important part of the state's rural economies. Ongoing funding is provided to maintain a full-time aquaculture coordinator to provide technical assistance to shellfish growers and monitor implementation of the Washington Shellfish Initiative. (Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account - State, General Fund - State)

Pesticide Water Quality Testing

WSDA monitors pesticides in select water bodies to protect water quality, fish, including ESA listed salmon, and human health. Current pesticide water quality testing will be maintained with an increase in funding to ensure samples are collected from remote testing areas across the state. (Model Toxics Control Operating Acct - State)

Maintain Dairy Nutrient Management

Efforts to reduce dairy nutrient waste from entering streams and water bodies in north Puget Sound have been successful due to federal funding support from the Environmental Protection Agency. However, this grant funding is no longer available in the 2021-23 biennium. State funding is provided to continue monitoring dairy nutrient management efforts and improve water quality. (Model Toxics Control Operating Acct - State)

Shift Pesticide Program Costs

Funding to support the Pesticide Program is shifted from the state general fund to the Model Toxics Control Operating Account on an ongoing basis to preserve state general fund dollars. (General Fund - State, Model Toxics Control Operating Acct - State)

Wolf Livestock Conflict Account

Provides continued grants to producers for nonlethal deterence of wolf predation on livestock. (NE WA Wolf-Livestock Management - Non-Appropriated)

ISO Certification

Accreditation is expected for government regulatory laboratories to ensure a standardized quality of work and to generate defensible data that drives compliance actions. International Organization of Standardization (ISO) Accreditation is a prerequisite for WSDA programs to receive federal funding. The department needs additional funding to ensure laboratory quality assurance practices are followed. (General Fund - State)

Shift Soil Health Initiative

Funding for the agency to administer the Soil Health Initiative is shifted from the state general fund to the Model Toxics Control Operating Account on an ongoing basis to preserve state general fund dollars. (Model Toxics Control Operating Acct - State, General Fund - State)

Pension Adjustments, nonrate

This funds the potential impact of Department of Retirement Systems request legislation on pension service credit and benefit calculation. It will prevent budget reductions such as temporary layoffs from negatively affecting employee retirement benefits. (Agricultural Local Account - Non-Appropriated, Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Acct - Non-Appropriated, General Fund - State, other funds)

State Employee Benefits

Health insurance funding is provided for state employees who are not represented by a union, who are covered by a bargaining agreement that is not subject to financial feasibility determination, or who are not part of the coalition of unions for health benefits. The insurance funding rate is $988 per employee per month for fiscal year 2022 and $1,018 per employee per month for fiscal year 2023. (Motor Vehicle Account - State, Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account - State, Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Acct - Non-Appropriated, other funds)

WFSE General Government

This adjustment reflects the impact of the 2021-23 collective bargaining agreement. (Motor Vehicle Account - State, Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account - State, General Fund - Federal, other funds)

Temporary Layoffs and Other Savings

This item reflects savings achieved from temporary layoffs or similar actions. (Dedicated Marijuana Acct - State, Motor Vehicle Account - State, Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account - State, other funds)

Rep Employee Health Benefits

This provides health insurance funding for the master agreement for employee benefits as part of a coalition of unions. The insurance funding rate is $988 per employee per month for fiscal year 2022 and $1,018 per employee per month for fiscal year 2023. (Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account - State, Dedicated Marijuana Acct - State, Motor Vehicle Account - State, other funds)

Non-Rep General Wage Increase

This reflects savings from the cancellation of the July 1, 2020 general wage increase for some non-represented, non-classified employees. (Motor Vehicle Account - State, Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account - State, General Fund - Federal, other funds)

Archives/Records Management

Adjustments are made for each agency’s anticipated share of charges for archives and records management services provided by the Secretary of State’s Office. (General Fund - State, Grain Inspection Revolving Acct - Non-Appropriated, Agricultural Local Account - Non-Appropriated, other funds)

Audit Services

Adjustments are made for each agency’s anticipated cost of audits performed by the State Auditor’s Office. (General Fund - State, Agricultural Local Account - Non-Appropriated, Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Acct - Non-Appropriated)

Legal Services

Adjustments are made for each agency’s anticipated cost of legal services provided by the Attorney General’s Office. Because legal services expenditures are based on consumption, funding provided in the central service model is not all inclusive. (Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account - State, State Toxics Control Account - State, Motor Vehicle Account - State, other funds)

CTS Central Services

Adjustments are made to reflect each agency’s anticipated share of charges for Microsoft 365 G5 licenses contracted for state agencies by the Consolidated Technology Services agency. This contract allows the state to achieve economies of scale and administrative efficiencies in the management of licenses. (Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Acct - Non-Appropriated, Agricultural Local Account - Non-Appropriated, General Fund - State, other funds)

DES Central Services

Adjustments are made to reflect each agency’s anticipated share of charges from the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) for campus rent, utilities, parking, and contracts; capital project surcharges; financing cost recovery; public and historic facilities; real estate services; risk management services; personnel service rates; the Perry Street child care center; small agency services; and the department’s enterprise applications. (General Fund - State, Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Acct - Non-Appropriated, Agricultural Local Account - Non-Appropriated, other funds)

OFM Central Services

Adjustments are made to reflect each agency’s anticipated share of charges for existing statewide financial applications, One Washington, and other central services provided by the Office of Financial Management. (General Fund - State, Agricultural Local Account - Non-Appropriated, Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Acct - Non-Appropriated, other funds)

Self-Insurance Liability Premium

Adjustments are made to reflect each agency's share of actuarily projected costs of the Self-Insurance Liability Account. This includes adjustments to existing funding levels as well as enhancements for anticipated liabilities in the 2021-23 biennium. (General Fund - State, Agricultural Local Account - Non-Appropriated, Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Acct - Non-Appropriated, other funds)