The WSU IMPACT Center’s analysis aims to understand the factors impacting the competitiveness and economic viability of food producers in Washington state. To develop a comprehensive view of the challenges faced by Washington agriculturalists, the study examines farms and businesses ranging in geographic location, marketing technique, operation size, and commodity type. The featured commodities include tree fruit, wheat, dairy, grapes, hops, and potatoes. The IMPACT Center will also include a special analysis specific to small farms and ranches. 

While it is understood that each producer and each commodity face unique challenges, there is a general recognition that certain challenges (i.e., labor, climate, etc.) impact all producers. The knowledge gained by analyzing select commodities is expected to provide insight into the agricultural industry as a whole and build a base for improved analyses pertaining to other commodities and industry segments (i.e., diversified, varying sized farms).

As part of the analysis, the WSU IMPACT Center has developed commodity-specific surveys (see links above). The study utilizes existing data to estimate the value and costs of production in Washington state but requires producer responses to quantify the impacts of our state-level regulatory environment. The survey focuses on topics for which data cannot be gathered elsewhere. Survey responses, paired with existing data, will improve understanding of the threats, barriers and challenges facing Washington’s agricultural industry. Washington state’s business environment will be compared to peer states to identify advantages, disadvantages, and changes over time.

Ultimately, this study will be used to better understand the challenges facing Washington’s agricultural industry and to shed light on opportunities where WSDA, stakeholders and policy makers can collaborate to strategically invest to benefit farmers, ranchers and business owners as well as enhance resource stewardship and improve food access.

These surveys asks questions about time spent on, and costs associated with, state-level regulatory compliance. We are asking as little personally identifiable information as possible. Individual responses will not be used to draw conclusions. The study utilizes existing data to estimate the value and costs of production in Washington State but requires producer responses to quantify the impacts of state-level regulatory environment.

Key Information about the survey 

There are 35-45 questions, depending on the survey and it is estimated that each survey will take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. These surveys seeks to collect information pertaining to the time and expenses associated with state-level regulations.

Prior to beginning the survey, you are strongly encouraged to gather operation information regarding costs of and time spent associated with labor (employment taxes, worker benefits, overtime), workplace safety (trainings, heat, air quality, sanitation), chemical compliance (spray record, trainings, licensure), and climate-related activities. 

Survey access is distributed through anonymous links, allowing for increased respondent protection. However, this means that responses cannot be saved and returned to at a later date. You must complete the survey in one sitting.

If you exit the survey before completion, you will not be able to re-enter the same survey. Your participation in the survey is voluntary and you may exit at any time. Incomplete surveys may not be included in the final analysis for the study.

 

Individuals who own, manage, or otherwise represent a farm, ranch or agricultural operation in the state of Washington are invited to participate by taking a survey. Specifically, operations that consist of tree fruit (apples, cherries, and/or pears), hops, grapes, potatoes, wheat, and dairy or are a diversified/ small farm. A farm, ranch, or agricultural operation, referred to as “the operation” in all survey questions, is an entity that sold at least $1,000 in agricultural products in the 2022-2023 growing season.

Your participation in this survey allows us to communicate about challenges associated with the profitability of Washington farming operations, highlight the true cost of agricultural production, and communicate about how this relates to an operation’s viability.

Personally identifiable information is not asked for in the regulatory costs of production surveys. The research team encourages you to refrain from including anything that can be personally identifiable in your responses. This includes, but is not limited to, names, farm names, dates of birth, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses. 

All responses collected will be anonymous. However, due to Washington state public disclosure laws, information collected through this survey may be shared with other university researchers and the public, if requested appropriately. The results of this study, including aggregated and de-identified information collected in this survey, may be published in an article or presentation without your permission. Any forward-facing deliverables from the study will not include any identifiable information about survey respondents or producers without their express permission.

Survey responses will be stored electronically on “the cloud”; the term “cloud” refers to the large computers located in different parts of the world where individuals may keep and remotely access their personal and professional files. Each cloud service has its own policies and methods for preventing unauthorized individuals from accessing files stored on their cloud servers. The cloud service used to store files associated with this survey meets Washington State University's protection standards. 

Information included in survey responses may be used or seen by researchers or others during or after the larger study is completed. Examples include university officials, government officials, study sponsors, auditors, and/or the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Each of these entities may need the information to ensure the survey is conducted in a safe and proper manner. We will keep all information collected during the research process in compliance with Washington State University records policy.

Please contact the researchers listed below to obtain more information about the study, ask a question about the study procedures, or express a concern about the study.

WSDA Ag Viability Team: AgViability@agr.wa.gov

Principal Investigator: Katelin Swanson, Ph.D.
Email: Katelin.swanson@wsu.edu
Phone: 
(Cell): 208-473-8911
(Office): 509-335-2972

If you have questions about your rights as a research participant, or wish to obtain information, ask questions or discuss any concerns about this study with someone other than the researcher(s), please contact the following:
Washington State University Human Research Protection Program/Institutional Review Board (HRPP/IRB)

E-mail: irb@wsu.edu
Phone: 509-335-9553 or 509-335-7195