July 07, 2003
WSDA Budget Cut Ignores Public's Demand for Locally Grown Products and Support for Small Farms
Small Farm & Direct Marketing Program cut by 75%
BELLINGHAM—Small farmers, sustainable agriculture and local food system advocates are dismayed by the recent decision by Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Director Valoria Loveland to cut the department's successful Small Farm & Direct Marketing Program by seventy-five percent (75%).
After hearing from numerous farmers, community and family farm advocates who support the WSDA Small Farm & Direct Marketing Program during an emergency campaign organized by the Washington Sustainable Food and Farming Network (WSFFN), in late June the Governor vetoed a budget bill that would have virtually eliminated the program. This victory was short-lived, however, as word soon arrived that Director Loveland was only willing to fund the program for six more months with state general funds.
"Director Loveland isn't listening to the numbers that show the program has huge benefits for small farmers," said Mariah Cornwoman, a Tonasket farmer, member of the WSFFN's Leadership Team and chair of the Small Farm & Direct Marketing Program's advisory board. WSFFN, a statewide advocacy organization for sustainable agriculture and family farms in Washington state and other small farm and direct marketing advocates successfully lobbied the state legislature two years ago for creation and funding of the program. The legislature voted unanimously to establish the program, noting that "The state would greatly benefit from a focused effort to increase the economic viability and profitability of small farms through increasing their ability to market their products directly to consumers."
The Small Farm & Direct Marketing Program has made significant contributions towards improving the profitability of Washington's farms and increasing the state's food security. In its first year, the program assisted nearly 6500 small farmers, consumers and others with technical advice, leveraged $3.6 million in federal, state and local resources including $450,000 in grants to 26 local direct marketing projects and published handbooks on regulations and organic farming resources. In 2002, the program's $75,000 general fund budget generated an estimated $550,000 in new sales at 75 farmers markets across the state that are members of the Washington State Farmers Market Association, according to Zachary Lyons, the association's Executive Director. "In a year when our state's economy is in such dire straights, it simply does not make good fiscal sense to cut an inexpensive economic growth powerhouse like the Small Farm & Direct Marketing Program," said Lyons.
Supporters of the direct marketing program are angry that the cuts being made are very disproportional within the agency. For instance, the International Marketing Program's budget of $1.7 million is only being cut five percent (5%). No other program is being cut as deeply as the Small Farm & Direct Marketing Program.
"WSDA should be supporting the large growth in public demand for locally-grown farm products, and higher financial returns for farmers through direct-to-consumer marketing programs. Instead, the department is once again putting virtually all of its marketing funds toward large scale, export-oriented agriculture," said Jeff Herman, President of Washington Tilth Producers, the statewide association of sustainable and organic farmers. "Many Tilth members, mostly small farmers, volunteered numerous hours advocating for establishment of the program and to see it cut is disheartening."
The budget cut to the Small Farm & Direct Marketing Program will have major impacts on the program's ability to fulfill its mission-a mission that was developed over many months of planning and consultation with small farmers and other stakeholders—including termination of matching funds for both the popular Women with Infants and Children (WIC) and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Programs. Also lost will be activities supporting infrastructure development of farm product processing such as commercial kitchens and meat cutting facilities. "I will do what I can to maintain the integrity and intent of the Small Farm & Direct Marketing Program as long as I can without the availability of the general fund money. How long this will be, under the current circumstances, is unclear," says Program Manager Leslie Zenz.
The program's mission includes helping farmers large and small, especially those who direct market their products directly to the public, to understand and comply with government regulations; educating farmers about and gaining access to direct marketing opportunities; and supporting market access for small farms through infrastructure development.
CONTACT:
Bonnie Rice, Director, Washington Sustainable Food & Farming Network
(360) 527-9426,
info~at~wsffn.org
Jeff Herman, President, Washington Tilth Producers
(509) 738-6165,
jherman~at~plix.com
Zachary Lyons, Director, Washington State Farmers Market Association
(206) 706-1932,
zach~at~wafarmersmarkets.com