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Agency 495
Department of Agriculture
RCW 43.23

Current Law Budget

Return to Governor Lowry's Proposed Budget

Request

$77,242,554

Net change from current biennium

$2,757,034

Increase

Percent change from current biennium

3.7%

Increase

The Department of Agriculture carries out a broad spectrum of activities that benefit the producers, distributors, and consumers of food and agricultural products.

The primary goal of the Department is to protect public health and safety through its regulation of food producers, processors, and distributors and its regulation of pesticide and fertilizer use. The Department also seeks to protect the state's natural resources, its agricultural industry, and the public through surveillance, control, and/or eradication of selected plant pests and diseases and animal diseases in Washington State. The Department works to facilitate the orderly movement of agricultural products in domestic and international markets by providing timely and accurate official inspection and certification of grain, fruits, vegetables, nursery stock, seeds, livestock, and other agricultural commodities. The Department also works to assist the development of agricultural markets and to guarantee marketplace equity for businesses and consumers.

Links to Program Level Detail

Agency Operations

Commodity Inspection

Consumer and Producer Protection

Food Safety and Animal Health

Laboratory Services

Market Development

Pesticide Management

Agency Level Summary

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Operating Budget: Summary
1995-97 Appropriations								Appropriated Funds							Expenditures
	Amount		Estimated Balance											1993-95 Actual			1995-97 Estimated		1997-99 Proposed
14,745,655				26,294				General Fund - Basic Account - State							14,634,991			14,719,361		14,471,150
5,250,565				629,005				General Fund - Basic Account - Federal							3,756,556			4,621,560		4,372,784
								General Fund - Basic Account - Governors Emergency							24,999
406,000								General Fund - Basic Account - Private/Local										406,000		407,298
								General Fund - Basic Account - Private/Local Unanticipated							251,045
805,699				5,699				Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account - State										800,000		805,567
								Weights and Measures Account - State							623,162
178,000								Industrial Insurance Premium Refund - State							71,674			178,000		184,532
305,246				2,035				Motor Vehicle Account - State							395,822			303,211		303,890
1,097,577				2,555				State Toxics Control Account - State							1,036,367			1,095,022		997,846
22,788,742				665,588				Total Appropriated Funds							20,794,616			22,123,154		21,543,067
								Non-Appropriated Funds
								Agricultural Local Account - Non-Appropriated							12,344,245			17,177,821		18,743,212
								Horticultural Districts Account - Non-Appropriated							16,929,063			19,446,336		20,534,980
								Grain Inspection Revolving Acct - Non-Appropriated							12,049,977			11,933,311		12,215,669
								Fair Account - Non-Appropriated							3,624,805			3,804,898		4,205,626
								Total Non-Appropriated Funds							44,948,090			52,362,366		55,699,487
								Total All Funds							65,742,706			74,485,520		77,242,554

Operating Budget: Summary by Object

					1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Salaries And Wages				17,933,156			19,037,275			21,459,174			20,552,314			21,153,278
Employee Benefits				5,207,647			5,376,767			6,338,195			6,179,169			6,315,838
Personal Service Contracts				348,518			473,873			654,700			597,950			704,950
Goods And Services				5,540,701			6,387,860			6,497,659			6,348,077			6,447,685
Travel				1,221,632			1,280,685			1,526,477			1,541,148			1,546,602
Capital Outlays				622,302			1,070,714			466,240			798,778			470,299
Grants, Benefits & Client Services				1,679,577			1,647,437			2,567,309			2,394,180			2,397,306
Debt Service				62,897			55,606			18,570			30,060			18,570
Interagency Reimbursements				(314,468)			(226,197)			(146,825)			(106,825)			(146,825)
Intra-Agency Reimbursements				(1)			1
Annual Total				32,301,961			35,104,021			39,381,499			38,334,851			38,907,703

Operating Budget: Program Summary

					1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Agency Operations				2,498,142			2,732,186			2,803,294			2,916,026			2,891,069
Commodity Inspection				13,861,025			14,055,849			15,871,812			15,300,546			15,886,345
Consumer and Producer Protection				2,824,504			3,075,573			3,099,503			3,268,744			3,184,247
Food Safety and Animal Health				2,729,811			3,106,829			3,402,402			3,305,064			3,305,621
Laboratory Services				4,974,091			6,064,793			7,475,392			6,771,380			6,718,002
Market Development				2,713,613			2,998,252			3,517,184			3,466,455			3,713,582
Pesticide Management				2,700,775			3,070,539			3,211,912			3,306,636			3,208,837
Annual Total				32,301,961			35,104,021			39,381,499			38,334,851			38,907,703
Fiscal Year 1993-94				33,440,745
Biennium Total				65,742,706			74,485,520						77,242,554

Operating Budget: Change from Preceding Biennium

				1993-95 Actual								1995-97 Estimated								1997-99 Proposed
				Amount			Percent				Amount					Percent			Amount					Percent
Agency Operations			(337,665)			(6.9)%				960,850					21.0%			271,615					4.9%
Commodity Inspection			(272,511)			(1.0)%				2,090,036					7.5%			1,259,230					4.2%
Consumer and Producer Protection			(332,867)			(5.4)%				369,289					6.4%			277,915					4.5%
Food Safety and Animal Health			(112,158)			(2.0)%				1,102,745					20.4%			101,454					1.6%
Laboratory Services			(2,859,630)			(21.3)%				2,983,359					28.3%			(50,803)					(0.4)%
Market Development			(2,797,283)			(34.3)%				1,150,518					21.4%			664,601					10.2%
Pesticide Management			(520,928)			(7.8)%				86,017					1.4%			233,022					3.7%
Total			(7,233,042)			(9.9)%				8,742,814					13.3%			2,757,034					3.7%

Employment Summary

			1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated		1996-97 Estimated				1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
FTE Staff Years			649.2		664.1			718.6				706.7				706.7
Average FTE Staff Year Costs			27,623			28,666		29,862				29,082				29,932

Agency Local Funds

Rural Rehabilitation
This account is used to account for moneys received from the United States Department of Agriculture for use in carrying out rural rehabilitation programs under the Bankhead-Jones farm tenant act. It provides funds for farm rehabilitation loans, grants, and other purposes specified by agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture.
Commission Merchants Act Account
Under the Commission Merchants Act, commercial purchases of agricultural products from farmers must be licensed and bonded by the Department of Agriculture. When the purchaser fails to pay the farmers for their products, the bond is called and the farmers are allocated partial reimbursement. This account is used to collect the bond proceeds and to process payments to the farmers.

Statement of Local Fund Balances

			6/30/95 Fund Balance			6/30/97 Estimated Fund Balance			1997-1999 Estimated Revenues			1997-1999 Estimated Expenditures		6/30/99 Estimated Fund Balance
Non-Budgeted Funds
Rural Rehabilitation			1,063,681			987,143		96,444			256,846			826,741
Commission Merchants Act			11,166			15,030		9,358						24,388
Total Non-Budgeted Funds			1,074,847			1,002,173		105,802			256,846			851,129

Program Level Detail

Agency Operations

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The Agency Operations program provides executive leadership; policy development and review; financial services including budgeting, accounting, and payroll services; computer and information technology services; personnel services; communications; administrative procedures guidance; legal services; and safety and emergency management programs for the Department's 25 field programs.

The objectives are to provide policy guidance and administrative support for the agency's programs and ensure representation of agricultural interests in statewide policy development.

Program Employment

			1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated		1996-97 Estimated				1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
FTE Staff Years			37.0		40.4			41.0				44.1				43.7
Average FTE Staff Year Costs			35,384			37,628		41,148				38,117				38,955

Expenditure Detail

				1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Salaries and Benefits			1,648,354			1,907,130			2,115,641			2,114,732			2,138,589
Grants and Subsidies			1,062
Other Operating Costs			848,726			825,056			687,653			801,294			752,480
Annual Total			2,498,142			2,732,186			2,803,294			2,916,026			2,891,069
Fiscal Year 1993-94			2,076,488
Biennium Total			4,574,630			5,535,480						5,807,095

Source of Funds

					1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated				1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
General Fund - Basic Account - State				1,409,968			1,057,706				691,094			721,146			697,139
General Fund - Basic Account - Federal				212,909			93,659				221,360			126,146			129,442
General Fund - Basic Account - Private/Local							1,792
General Fund - Basic Account - Private/Local Unanticipated				1,534
Industrial Insurance Premium Refund - State				71,674			80,616				97,384			92,266			92,266
Agricultural Local Account - Non-Appropriated				148,856			306,991				532,096			651,003			638,833
Horticultural Districts Account - Non-Appropriated				468,360			708,213				754,196			778,364			786,925
Grain Inspection Revolving Acct - Non-Appropriated				184,841			483,209				507,164			547,101			546,464
Annual Total				2,498,142			2,732,186				2,803,294			2,916,026			2,891,069

Commodity Inspection

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The Commodity Inspection program inspects fruits and vegetables for quality, size, labeling, condition, and contract specifications and certifies these commodities as free from disease and insects as required by domestic and international markets. The program also provides inspection, analytical, and weighing services to ensure orderly commerce for grain, dry peas, dry beans, lentils, rapeseed, and similar commodities sold in or from Washington.

The objective is to provide timely, accurate, and cost-effective inspections and certifications.

Program Employment

			1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated		1996-97 Estimated				1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
FTE Staff Years			355.4		344.9			366.7				361.5				362.2
Average FTE Staff Year Costs			25,481			26,648		27,997				27,052				28,345

Expenditure Detail

				1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Salaries and Benefits			11,753,280			11,879,504			13,311,556			12,684,280			13,302,414
Other Operating Costs			2,107,745			2,176,345			2,560,256			2,616,266			2,583,931
Annual Total			13,861,025			14,055,849			15,871,812			15,300,546			15,886,345
Fiscal Year 1993-94			13,976,600
Biennium Total			27,837,625			29,927,661						31,186,891

Source of Funds

					1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated				1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Agricultural Local Account - Non-Appropriated				441,783			486,847				605,850			583,955			605,802
Horticultural Districts Account - Non-Appropriated				8,491,930			8,211,243				9,772,684			9,183,575			9,786,116
Grain Inspection Revolving Acct - Non-Appropriated				4,927,312			5,357,759				5,493,278			5,533,016			5,494,427
Annual Total				13,861,025			14,055,849				15,871,812			15,300,546			15,886,345

Consumer and Producer Protection

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The Consumer and Producer Protection program regulates the use and accuracy of all commercial weighing, measuring, and counting devices used in the state, including gas pumps, grocery store scale systems, and price scanners. It also registers livestock brands and inspects cattle and horses to verify ownership, audits grain warehouse inventories and the records of licensed grain warehouse operators and dealers, and licenses and investigates complaints against firms buying raw agricultural products. The program inspects, tests, and certifies agricultural, vegetable, and flower seeds for domestic and international marketing.

The objectives are to: provide timely, accurate inspections, certifications, and audits; protect buyers and sellers from fraud, theft, or unfair business practices; and guarantee marketplace equity for businesses and consumers.

Program Employment

			1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated		1996-97 Estimated				1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
FTE Staff Years			59.4		59.1			65.1				65.5				65.5
Average FTE Staff Year Costs			27,349			28,704		29,116				28,622				28,930

Expenditure Detail

				1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Salaries and Benefits			2,080,714			2,158,367			2,405,142			2,379,558			2,403,366
Grants and Subsidies			543
Other Operating Costs			743,247			917,206			694,361			889,186			780,881
Annual Total			2,824,504			3,075,573			3,099,503			3,268,744			3,184,247
Fiscal Year 1993-94			2,981,283
Biennium Total			5,805,787			6,175,076						6,452,991

Source of Funds

					1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated				1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
General Fund - Basic Account - State				249,456			217,323				156,656			204,739			156,825
General Fund - Basic Account - Private/Local							50,000				33,290			103,288			103,288
General Fund - Basic Account - Private/Local Unanticipated				50,000
Weights and Measures Account - State				166,809
Motor Vehicle Account - State				223,730			166,614				136,597			151,950			151,940
Agricultural Local Account - Non-Appropriated				2,093,424			2,522,122				2,725,574			2,761,456			2,724,844
Grain Inspection Revolving Acct - Non-Appropriated				41,085			44,515				47,386			47,311			47,350
State Toxics Control Account - State							74,999
Annual Total				2,824,504			3,075,573				3,099,503			3,268,744			3,184,247

Food Safety and Animal Health

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The Food Safety and Animal Health program strives to protect the public from injury and illness caused by food products that are contaminated, adulterated, or otherwise unfit for consumption by monitoring, regulating, and inspecting the dairy industry and the food processing and storage industry. The program inspects eggs at retail and wholesale outlets to determine compliance with sanitation and refrigeration requirements and quality and grade standards. The program protects animals and the public from communicable animal diseases by monitoring the movement of animals across state lines and examining and testing animals to detect introduced diseases and eliminate select diseases. The program also ensures that all food products making organic claims meet state standards for organic production and labeling by inspecting and certifying all organic producers, processors, and handlers.

The objectives are to: improve voluntary compliance with state and federal food safety laws; institute Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points inspections of the food industry; eradicate all serious, communicable animal diseases detected; and provide timely, accurate inspections, certifications, and technical assistance.

Program Employment

			1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated		1996-97 Estimated				1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
FTE Staff Years			48.9		50.7			53.9				54.9				54.9
Average FTE Staff Year Costs			36,140			36,927		40,518				36,692				37,179

Expenditure Detail

				1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Salaries and Benefits			2,239,660			2,372,058			2,689,658			2,563,272			2,583,602
Grants and Subsidies			948			600			10,000			10,000			10,000
Other Operating Costs			489,203			734,171			702,744			731,792			712,019
Annual Total			2,729,811			3,106,829			3,402,402			3,305,064			3,305,621
Fiscal Year 1993-94			2,676,675
Biennium Total			5,406,486			6,509,231						6,610,685

Source of Funds

					1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated				1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
General Fund - Basic Account - State				2,133,233			2,249,962				2,431,020			2,455,059			2,438,004
General Fund - Basic Account - Federal				72,939			60,394				87,758			88,998			88,990
General Fund - Basic Account - Private/Local							68,853				75,000			361			361
General Fund - Basic Account - Private/Local Unanticipated				41,887
Agricultural Local Account - Non-Appropriated				481,752			727,620				808,624			760,646			778,266
Annual Total				2,729,811			3,106,829				3,402,402			3,305,064			3,305,621

Laboratory Services

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The Laboratory Services program provides all of the chemistry and microbiological analyses in support of the other programs within the Department. The program also provides third party inspection of hops and testing and inspection services to assure disease-free planting stock. The program inspects nurseries to ensure plants are healthy, pest-free, and disease-free and certifies plant materials as free from disease and insects as required by domestic and international markets. The program enforces quarantines and carries out surveillance and control activities to prevent the introduction or establishment of high risk insects, plant diseases, and weeds.

The objectives are to: increase the accuracy and timeliness of laboratory analyses and the defensibility of reported data; use the most effective preferred methods to protect against high-risk insects, plant diseases, and weeds; and provide timely, accurate inspections and certifications.

Program Employment

			1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated		1996-97 Estimated				1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
FTE Staff Years			96.4		116.2			135.6				119.9				119.9
Average FTE Staff Year Costs			25,572			25,234		25,276				25,511				25,902

Expenditure Detail

				1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Salaries and Benefits			3,232,217			3,786,915			4,735,709			4,259,783			4,315,535
Grants and Subsidies			78,222			3,296			457,309			384,180			387,306
Other Operating Costs			1,663,652			2,274,582			2,282,374			2,127,417			2,015,161
Annual Total			4,974,091			6,064,793			7,475,392			6,771,380			6,718,002
Fiscal Year 1993-94			5,582,735
Biennium Total			10,556,826			13,540,185						13,489,382

Source of Funds

					1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated				1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
General Fund - Basic Account - State				2,053,604			2,461,714				2,656,032			2,256,821			2,232,998
General Fund - Basic Account - Federal				860,075			1,161,374				1,711,298			1,459,715			1,430,435
General Fund - Basic Account - Private/Local							137,065				40,000			100,000			100,000
General Fund - Basic Account - Private/Local Unanticipated				49,639
Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account - State							282,021				517,979			402,790			402,777
Agricultural Local Account - Non-Appropriated				2,010,773			2,022,619				2,550,083			2,552,054			2,551,792
Annual Total				4,974,091			6,064,793				7,475,392			6,771,380			6,718,002

Market Development

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The Market Development program assists in the identification and expansion of markets for Washington's food and agricultural products; allocates funds to agricultural fairs and youth shows; provides administrative support to the state's 24 commodity commissions; and gathers and reports agricultural statistics and market trends.

The objectives are to: enhance the state's agricultural economy; encourage and support agricultural fairs and youth shows; and provide current, factual agricultural statistical information.

Program Employment

			1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated		1996-97 Estimated				1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
FTE Staff Years			7.5		8.3			7.8				11.9				11.9
Average FTE Staff Year Costs			29,582			33,312		32,417				33,338				33,517