Tom Dent — Mr. Sandison was referenced in a discussion about Washington’s agricultural diversity and the importance of research, with one mention noting his point that Washington has the second most diverse agricultural economy in the Union and another noting his comments about several ways research impacts the state.
Tom Dent — Representative Tom Dent is called on, asks about how many farms and ranches are adopting precision agriculture and what its economic impact is, and then receives a response directed to his question.
Andrew Engell — Andrew Engell is noted as joining online as Assistant Ranking Member.
Andrew Engell — Andrew Engell was recognized and then asked follow-up questions about how Washington can protect agricultural viability while remaining competitive despite high regulatory burdens. He asked whether any regulations could be modified or whether other proposals exist to help Washington stay competitive, and his earlier questions were later referenced as part of the discussion on possible policy solutions.
Joe Schmick — Representative Joe Schmick was noted as joining the meeting online.
Joe Schmick — Joe Schmick is called on to ask questions about agriculture policy. He first asks what policy changes or gaps could further agriculture, including the role of fresh perspectives and precision agriculture. The discussion continues with acknowledgments of his question, and he then follows up by raising the cost of precision agriculture technology as a barrier to broader adoption in the field.
Adison Richards — Representative Adison Richards was noted as joining the meeting online.
Larry Springer — Representative Larry Springer was noted as joining the meeting online.
Larry Springer — Representative Springer is recognized by the chair and asks for a working definition of precision agriculture. The discussion then continues with a follow-up explanation that builds on his question, including a reference to a summer tour and an example involving green bell peppers in Pasco, all within the same broader topic.
Larry Springer — Representative Springer was recognized by the chair near the end of the discussion and then asked that the presentation be sent to all members.
Adam Bernbaum — Representative Adam Bernbaum is noted as joining the meeting online.
Adam Bernbaum — Adam Bernbaum first opened by complimenting the presentation and then asked a series of related questions about why compliance and regulatory costs are so high, especially in time and labor, and whether there are proposals to reduce duplicative regulations. He expanded the inquiry to compare mechanizable crops like wheat with labor-dependent sectors such as apples and cherries, asking how Washington can remain competitive despite high labor and regulatory costs, why market share has not fallen more on the labor-exposed side, and what policy solutions might address these compliance burdens. Later references noted that he had asked a similar question about potentially modifiable regulations and that his earlier questions fit broader policy concerns about reducing costs and improving competitiveness.
Stephanie McClintock — Noted as excused today due to her day job schedule.
Derek Sanderson — Derek Sanderson is introduced as the Director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture, identifies himself in that role, and begins his opening testimony by outlining that he will provide background on Washington agriculture and the department’s work, including phytosanitary and sanitary inspections related to trade.
Raj Kozla — Invited to the testimony table as dean of the WSU College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences.
Kristine Reeves — Addressed as Chair and thanked for the opportunity to appear.
Kristine Reeves — Addressed respectfully by the speaker as the committee chair.
Kristine Reeves — Addressed as Chair Reeves at the start of the testimony.
Kristine Reeves — Chair Reeves is thanked as the director resumes the discussion.
Dean Kosla — Identified as the next presenter to follow Sanderson.
Dean Kosla — Introduced as the Dean of the College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Resource Sciences at Washington State University.
Mr. Sanderson — The speaker first thanks Mr. Sanderson, then later refers back to him when noting that Mr. Sanderson had pointed out the speaker's Kansas background.
Raj Kosla — Raj Kosla introduced himself to the committee, identifying himself as the new dean and providing his full title as the Cashab Davis Family Endowed Dean of the College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences at Washington State University. He thanked the chair and committee and noted that he is in his first month as dean.
John Kerry — Identified as Secretary of State in the context of the speaker's advisory role on food security.
the speaker's lab — The speaker says their prior lab worked for seven years on micro-level sensors printed on biodegradable material.
Dr. Randy Fortenberry — Dr. Randy Fortenberry is introduced as the professor and Thomas B. Mick endowed chair at the WSU School of Economic Sciences, and he is further described as the primary researcher and a respected expert familiar with Washington agriculture.
Madison Roy — Identified as the project manager, also called Maddie Roy, who was unable to attend.
Dr. Fortenberry — Dr. Fortenberry is introduced as the presenter for the Impact Center’s work, but his presentation is briefly interrupted by audio/visual and connection issues. The committee works to reconnect him by phone and asks him to test his audio. Once reconnected, he resumes and explains the methodology behind the Impact Center’s research, including enterprise budgets, shift-share analysis, competitiveness measured by relative growth rates, and location quotients. He then moves into findings from the Washington dairy analysis, describing changes from 2017 to 2023 and reporting that regulatory compliance costs account for about 26% of total revenue, with labor identified as the largest regulatory cost.
Dr. Fortenberry — The committee chair and members offered closing thanks to Dr. Fortenberry for his testimony, expertise, and presentation.
Dr. Fortenberry — The committee thanked Dr. Fortenberry for his presentation, asked that his contact information be shared so members could follow up with him individually, and noted that the committee is focused on supporting agricultural producers and helping products get to market.
Mattie Roy — Named as part of the research team working on the study.
Tim Nadro — Named as the initial researcher on the study.
Director Sanderson — Director Sanderson is brought in to keep the discussion moving while technical issues with Dr. Fortenberry are resolved, then continues with substantive remarks on the Department of Agriculture’s efforts to address agricultural viability. He references initiatives such as supporting local food systems, farm-to-school grants, and infrastructure grants as part of the department’s response to agricultural challenges.
Director — Responded that he would follow up with an answer about bee trade with Canada.
Randy — Randy is addressed positively for his presentation, and the discussion continues in the same exchange with questions about regulatory-related costs and the time required for compliance.
Maddie Roy — Identified as the department's ag economist who was unable to attend.
Dean Kosala — Dean Kosala is introduced to provide concluding remarks, thanks the committee and reiterates Connors’ role in serving as stewards of the land-grant institution, and then the discussion continues with a follow-up question about whether Connors has staff focused on agricultural policy initiatives.
Professor Fortenberry — His remarks and study were cited as an example of the work being done.
Melanie Morgan — Vice Chair Melanie Morgan was present in person and was subsequently acknowledged by name during the meeting.
Melanie Morgan — Identified as having a question for the presenters.
Melanie Morgan — Chair/Vice Chair Morgan is referenced as having asked a follow-up question, which prompts a brief pause in the presentation and a response addressing her earlier question. The exchange centers on the same discussion thread and then transitions into Morgan’s own follow-up question about bees and disease mitigation.
Tom Dent — Tom Dent is noted as joining online as the Ranking Member and is then acknowledged again shortly afterward, including a brief thanks for his participation.
Ed Orcutt — Noted as present in person.
Ed Orcutt — Ed Orcutt asked a series of follow-up questions on agricultural market impacts. He first asked whether China’s stopping soybean purchases opened markets for Chile and Argentina and whether the U.S. had actually lost market share or simply needed to redirect soybean marketing. He then shifted to milk, asking whether Idaho and Oregon should have been considered as comparable states and whether Washington was losing milk market share to those neighboring states.