Why is Washington investing in soil health?
Maintaining and improving soil health is key to preventing soil depletion, ensuring long-term agricultural productivity, and protecting the environment in our region, as well as the ongoing health of the rural economy and regional food security. According to the USDA – Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), soil health is defined as “the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans.” A host of indicators are currently available to assess soil health; however, our understanding of the relationship between these indicators and plant production and environmental outcomes is incomplete.
To address these knowledge gaps, better understand linkages, and provide better guidance to stakeholders, we are embarking on the Washington Soil Health Initiative (WaSHI). This initiative is an ambitious plan that funds research, extension, and demonstration of soil health best management practices through a network of long-term agroecological research and extension (LTARE) sites across Washington state’s diverse agricultural systems.
WaSHI's Four Primary Goals
Broadly WaSHI strives to increase resiliency of Washington's food system. The Washington Soil Health Initiative (WaSHI) was developed over many years of work between many partners in the state.
Click on each goal to find justification, projects, and outcomes that have contributed to the formation of the initiative and the methods we will employ to accomplish our four primary goals.
An increased understanding of the linkages between soil health, production, and the environment achieved through the Washington SHI will contribute to several important outcomes:
A baseline assessment of soil health and the tools to monitor and manage it across the diverse agricultural systems in Washington;
Better understanding of the opportunities to improve soil health through changes in management practices; and
Increased adoption of these practices to increase food production and farm profitability and provide important economic and environmental benefits to the state of Washington.
We can’t track soil health improvements over time if we don’t know where we are currently, and farmers are comparing their soil health test results to those in the Midwest, which are irrelevant due to climatic and inherent soil differences.
An increased understanding of the linkages between soil health, production, and the environment achieved through the Washington SHI will contribute to several important outcomes:
A baseline assessment of soil health and the tools to monitor and manage it across the diverse agricultural systems in Washington;
Better understanding of the opportunities to improve soil health through changes in management practices; and
Increased adoption of these practices to increase food production and farm profitability and provide important economic and environmental benefits to the state of Washington.
Soil health is critical for maintaining agricultural productivity, and science-based information is not as easy to access as false information.
An increased understanding of the linkages between soil health, production, and the environment achieved through the Washington SHI will contribute to several important outcomes:
A baseline assessment of soil health and the tools to monitor and manage it across the diverse agricultural systems in Washington;
Better understanding of the opportunities to improve soil health through changes in management practices; and
Increased adoption of these practices to increase food production and farm profitability and provide important economic and environmental benefits to the state of Washington.
Management practices that increase soil health differ by region and cropping system, and improving the understanding of soil health practices leads to greater adoption.
Long-term Agricultural Research: A Research, Education, and Extension Imperative
Safeguarding Potato Cropping Systems in the Pacific Northwest Through Improved Soil Health (PDF)
An increased understanding of the linkages between soil health, production, and the environment achieved through the Washington SHI will contribute to several important outcomes:
A baseline assessment of soil health and the tools to monitor and manage it across the diverse agricultural systems in Washington;
Better understanding of the opportunities to improve soil health through changes in management practices; and
Increased adoption of these practices to increase food production and farm profitability and provide important economic and environmental benefits to the state of Washington.
Adopting soil health management practices is not economical for all farmers.
WaSHI Over Time
The beginning
WaSHI was funded as proviso through the Washington state legislature.
Mount Vernon LTARE site established
The northwestern Washington potato-based annual cropping system LTARE site was established in Mount Vernon, Washington.
First samples taken for State of the Soils Assessment
The first soil samples of the growing State of the Soils Assessment dataset were taken.
WaSHI Roadmap completed
The WaSHI soil health roadmap was completed.
Puyallup LTARE site established
The western Washington diversified organic LTARE site was established in Puyallup, Washington.
Sustainable Farms and Fields Program Launched
After a long-awaited launch, the Sustainable Farms and Fields Program awarded technical service providers $1.8 million to increase climate-smart practices.
Wenatchee LTARE site established
Honey crisp trees were planted at the central Washington tree fruit systems LTARE site in Wenatchee, Washington.
STAR Funded
The STAR: Saving Tomorrow's Agricultural Resources program was funded through the state legislature to provide economic valuation for on-farm soil health management.
Wilke LTARE site established
The dryland systems LTARE site was established in Davenport, Washington.
Prosser LTARE site established
Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon vines were mechanically planted at the central Washington wine grape system LTARE site in Prosser, Washington.