HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 1554

BYHouse Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Jacobsen, Chandler, Fraser, Belcher, Anderson, Ballard, Wolfe and Brekke)

Providing a program to promote organic farming and low-input agriculture.

House Committe on Agriculture & Rural Development

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Rayburn, Chair; Kremen, Vice Chair; Nealey, Ranking Republican Member; Baugher, Chandler, Grant, Jesernig, McLean, H. Myers, Rasmussen and Youngsman. 

House Staff:Kenneth Hirst (786-7105) 

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations 

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (21) 

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; H. Sommers, Vice Chair; Youngsman, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Appelwick, Belcher, Braddock, Brekke, Brough, Doty, Ebersole, Ferguson, Hine, Holland, Peery, Rust, Sayan, Spanel, Sprenkle, Valle , Wang and Wineberry.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (6)

      Signed by Representatives Silver, Ranking Republican Member; Bowman, May, McLean, Nealey and Padden.

House Staff:      Nancy Stevenson (786-7136)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 15, 1989

BACKGROUND:

State law authorizes the Director of Agriculture to establish by rule a certification program for producers of organic foods. Such a program may include inspection, recordkeeping, and other elements.  The certification program is to be a fee-for-service program.

SUMMARY:

The organic food certification which state law permits the Director of Agriculture to establish is expanded.  It may also apply to the certification of processors of organic foods.  It must also promote the use of organic and low-input farming practices and provide information to growers. The program must work with others to meet the research, education, and extension needs of the industry.  The fees charged under the program must provide for the recovery of the costs of the inspection portion of the program (rather than, under current law, the entire certification program).

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Agriculture) David Garretson; Mike Schwisow, Department of Agriculture; Pat Moore; Susan Kraut, Farmers Wholesale Co-op; Margaret Clark, Town & Country Market; Diane Dempster, Charlie's Produce; and Tony Maskal.

(Appropriations) Miles McEvoy, Kurt Moulton; Washington State University Cooperative Extension Service.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Agriculture) None Presented.

(Appropriations)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Agriculture) (1) Retailers of organically grown products cannot secure enough product to satisfy customer demand.  (2) The bill provides research and extension assistance.  Much of the relevant research was done in the 1920's before the chemical age in agriculture; this information should be made available to organic farmers.  (3) The bill will provide the administrative assistance needed to ensure the integrity of the current certification program.  (4) The demand for information exceeds the Department's ability to supply it within existing resources. (5) The bill will provide a stronger paper trail for verifying that goods sold are actually organic.  (6) Expanding organic production is good for the environment, will reduce the rate at which pests become resistant to existing pesticides, and will make organic production more efficient which should reduce consumer costs.

(Appropriations) There is a growing market for organically grown produce.  To ensure consumer confidence, monitoring is needed from the grower through the retail level.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Agriculture) None Presented.

(Appropriations) None Presented.