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WSDA Releases Climate Resilience Plan for Washington Agriculture
Climate change creates new challenges for Washington agriculture. However, with the right planning, tools, and resources, Washington is well positioned to adapt and remain resilient.
February 26, 2025
Author: Dani Gelardi
Climate change creates new challenges for Washington agriculture, including extreme weather, wildfires, flooding, increased pest pressure, worker safety risks, and water supply volatility. However, Washington’s diverse geographies, cropping systems, state funding, and history of science-based innovations position it to adapt and remain resilient.
The Washington State Department of Agriculture’s new Climate Resilience Plan for Washington Agriculture, released this month, lays out practical steps to help farmers stay productive, protect resources, and keep the state’s agricultural industry strong for generations to come. It also provides a playbook for institutions that support agriculture, such as state agencies, local jurisdictions, and research universities.
Key priorities of the Climate Resilience Plan for Washington Agriculture
- Safeguarding operational resilience: Enhancing emergency preparedness, recovery, and response measures to address climate impacts such as drought and extreme weather.
- Supporting agricultural innovation: Fostering sector-wide innovation through research, education, partnerships, and workforce development.
- Encouraging climate-smart practices: Promoting the voluntary adoption of sustainable farming practices that mitigate climate risks and enhance resilience.
The plan was shaped by a collaborative process that included climate science reviews, feedback from agricultural stakeholders, and assessments of current WSDA programs. More than 500 farmers, farmworkers and staff from agricultural organizations shared their experiences, helping us shape realistic and impactful strategies.
The Climate Resilience Plan for Washington Agriculture also supports broader efforts in the state. It aligns with Ecology’s Washington State Climate Resilience Strategy, and the state’s Enhanced Hazard Mitigation Plan (2023), ensuring a coordinated approach to climate adaptation across sectors.
Key elements of the plan
- Agricultural climate risks and adaptation opportunities: Identifies risks and strategies for both on- and off-farm climate adaptation.
- Goals, strategies & actions: Proposes 27 strategic, measurable actions to enhance agricultural resilience across Washington’s agricultural sector.
- Implementation & evaluation: Details the process for putting the plan into action, with a focus on ongoing evaluation and improvements.
- Stakeholder engagement: Summarizes the experiences and perspectives of over 400 farmers and 200 farmworkers.
- Research: Synthesizes the latest science on climate change impacts to agriculture, and the local and national policy measures to mitigate those risks.
Next steps
Now WSDA will shift its focus to implementation. Actions in the plan require a high level of coordination and collaboration. WSDA is committed to: 1. Working with stakeholders to carry out the 27 actions; 2. Supporting stakeholders as they integrate the strategies into their own operations; and 3. Proactively updating the plan based on stakeholder feedback, evolving science, and changing conditions.
While some strategies can move forward with existing resources, fully realizing the plan will require additional funding and collaboration. We are committed to working alongside our partners to pursue opportunities, maximize available resources, and take meaningful steps toward greater agricultural resilience.
A sneak peek
The Resilience Plan describes 6 goals, 14 strategies, and 27 actions to address risks and enhance agricultural resilience, guided by 5 overarching principles. Read below to learn more, or visit agr.wa.gov/ClimateResilienceWaAg to download the full document.
You can also learn more about how climate change is impacting Washington Agriculture, and how the state is responding, by watching this recorded webinar from SoilCon 2025
Dani Gelardi is the Senior Soil Scientist and Climate Coordinator at the Washington Department of Agriculture where she leads soil and climate efforts for the agency including the Washington Soil Health Initiative.
This article was published by the Washington Soil Health Initiative. For more information, visit wasoilhealth.org. To have these posts delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to the WaSHI newsletter. To find a soil science technical service provider, visit the Washington State University Extension website or the Washington State Conservation District website.