Celebrate. Agriculture. Washington

Celebrate Agriculture in Washington

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AG: THE ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE 13% of Washington s economy $9.89 billion of farmgate value $49 billion total combined food and agriculture industry Washington s # 1 Employer More than 160,000 people in every corner of the state Everyone eats!

Strength in Diversity More than 230 commodities are produced commercially in Washington, making our agricultural economy the second most diverse in the nation! Apples to Zucchini Aquaculture, berries, rhubarb, mint, hops, lentils, wheat, barley, cherries, peaches, canola, hay, timothy, milk, honey, onions, asparagus, beef, eggs, carrots, tulips,..

Washington State 39,300 farms 14.8 Million acres (377 acre avg.) 51% cropland 32% pasture 13% timber 4% other Pacific Rim Location Washington is very trade dependent

VALUE OF AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY PRODUCTION TOP 6 in 2012 Apples $ 2.251 Billion Wheat 1.180 Billion Dairy 1.159 Billion Potatoes 700 Million Hay 679 Million Beef 623 Million

Percentage of US Production Washington leads the nation: 100 80 60 40 20 Red Raspberries Hops Spearmint Oil Apples Sweet Cherries Concord Grapes Pears Niagra Grapes Green Proc. Pea 0

WASHINGTON STATE Two separate regions split by Cascades Actually seven physiographic regions based on topography, precipitation, and river systems

Growing Regions of Washington

Olympic Mountains Glacier capped mountains Old-growth forests Rugged Pacific coast > 180 rain Agricultural Products Western Greens Timber Nursery Small Niche Farms

Average Rainfall

Olympic Mountains

Olympic Mountains Lavender Festival Sequim July 18, 19 & 20, 2014

Growing Regions of Washington

Willapa Hills Coastal hills of SW Washington Deep harbors 55 to 100 rain Agricultural Products Cranberries, raspberries, blueberries Aquaculture (17% of nation s oysters) Timber Christmas Trees

Willapa Hills

Growing Regions of Washington

Puget Sound Lowlands Plain between the Olympics & Cascades 3/4 of the state s population Up to 100 of rain Agricultural Products Flower bulbs Dairy Vegetable seeds Produce

Puget Sound

Growing Regions of Washington

Cascade Mountains Mountain chain from Canada to California Part of Ring of Fire Active volcano Mt. St. Helens Agricultural Products on foothills Apples Timber Cattle Timothy Hay

Cascade Mountains

Growing Regions of Washington

Okanogan Highlands Rugged foothills between Cascades & Rocky Mountains Rich in minerals 10 to 60 rainfall Agricultural Products Apples Peaches Cattle Horses

Okanogan Highlands

MICRO-CLIMATES Large bodies of water (rivers and lakes) tend to moderate the climate. It is warmer in the winter, and cooler in the summer. Water used for irrigation or cooling adds humidity

Okanogan Highlands

Growing Regions of Washington

Columbia Basin Immense lava plateau with rich soils <6-20 rainfall Irrigated crops Potatoes, hay, corn, grapes, cherries, mint Palouse Hills 20-40 rainfall Dryland farming Wheat, peas, lentils, canola, barley

Area Covered by the Columbia River Basalt Group

GREAT FLOODS (x40)

Dry Falls

Average Rainfall

Natural Desert Vegetation

IRRIGATION Water is applied in the correct amount and at the right time for the growing plant Water can be shut off for harvest Unused water recharges streams and aquifers, returning water later in the season and at a cooler temperature Water is also used for frost control and cooling Combined, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho divert only 6% of the entire Columbia River basin to irrigate about 7.8 million acres

Columbia Basin Irrigation Project Original size: 1,029,000 acres BOR has developed only half of the designated project area.

Colorado River Serves 7 states Has only 1/8 of the water of the Columbia System

WASHINGTON HAS ABUNDANT WATER!!! More than 100 billion gallons each day from rivers entering from outside the state borders Plus precipitation that falls in-state Most of it goes directly to the Pacific We don t have a water quantity problem; we have a water storage problem. We don t have enough storage!

WASHINGTON DAMS 1933 Rock Island 1938 Bonneville 1941 Grand Coulee 1948 1953 McNary 1957 The Dalles 1959 Rocky Reach 1963 Wanapum 1965 Chief Joseph 1967 Wells 1968 John Day 1955-1975 Snake R Ice Harbor Lower Monumental Little Goose Lower Granite

Columbia Basin - Irrigated

Columbia Basin

The Palouse

PALOUSE HILLS Fertile rolling hills extending for 250 miles from Spokane to Grangeville, ID about 50 miles wide Actually giant soil dunes developed on wind blown dust called loess; incredibly deep topsoil Palouse is derived from the name of the Native American tribe living in the region Whitman county consistently leads the state and often the nation in the production of wheat, barley, peas and lentils!

Steptoe Butte

Columbia Basin - Palouse

Growing Regions of Washington

Blue Mountains South of Snake River Most inland seaport Rich soils 7-30 rainfall Agricultural Products Wheat Onions Wine Asparagus

Blue Mountains

Designated Wine Appellation Regions

Economic Sustainability High costs of fuel, fertilizer, machinery, transportation Highest labor costs Reduced labor availability Increased regulation Water certainty Globalization

What Is Sustainability? Environmental Health Economic Profitability Practices based on sound, scientific research as well as common sense Respect for neighbors and employees Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future

WASHINGTON IS UNIQUE Diverse climates Rainforest to desert Sea level to Mt. Rainier Volcanoes Create new soil Deep Water Ports Pacific Rim Location Columbia Basin Irrigation Project

WASHINGTON IS UNIQUE Columbia Plateau One of the world s largest and most spectacular volcanic provinces 42,000 cubic miles of basalt Channeled Scablands Carved by Great Floods Palouse Hills Abundant water Irrigation, hydroelectric power, flood control, transportation, recreation, water for communities and industry, micro-climates

WASHINGTON IS UNIQUE Seven physiographic regions 1. Olympic Mountains 2. Willapa Hills 3. Puget Sound Lowland 4. Cascade Mountains 5. Okanogan Highlands 6. Columbia Basin (and Palouse) 7. Blue Mountains

Celebrate Agriculture In Washington Thank a farmer!

CELEBRATE AG IN WASHINGTON Created by: Robyn Meenach Washington Agriculture in the Classroom 2012 Ag stats used, available at www.nass.usda.gov/wa