Building a Climate Roadmap

This story is part of the 2024–2025 CSANR Biennial Report.

By Dani Gelardi, Washington State Department of Agriculture

With the right planning, tools, and resources, Washington agriculture is well positioned to adapt and remain resilient to climate change.

Sun shines through leaves and apples of apple tree.
Imperial Gala apples at Turkey Orchard. Photo: WSU

Climate change creates new challenges for Washington agriculture, including extreme weather, wildfires, flooding, increased pest pressure, worker safety risks, and water supply volatility. However, our 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 (WSDA), released in February 2025, 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.

Climate Resilience Plan priorities

  • Safeguarding operational resilience: Enhancing emergency preparedness, recovery, and response measures to address climate impacts.
  • 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.

Collaborating with other scientists across WSU, CSANR researchers contributed to the plan by providing a summary of the state of the science relating to climate change and Pacific Northwest agriculture.

The Climate Resilience Plan for Washington Agriculture also supports broader efforts in the state, aligning with Ecology’s Washington State Climate Resilience Strategy and the state’s Enhanced Hazard Mitigation Plan (2023).

Resilience Plan

Goal 1: Increase agriculture’s preparedness for, response to, and recovery from climate-related extreme events.

Goal 2: Support the adoption of climate-resilient agricultural practices.

Goal 3: Safeguard a sufficient quantity of high-quality surface and groundwater for people, farms, and aquatic ecosystems.

Goal 4: Prepare the agricultural workforce for a changing climate.

Goal 5: Minimize impacts from pests, weeds, and disease.

Goal 6: Ensure that laws, policies, and regulations efficiently work towards climate resilience and agricultural viability.

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, and actions: Proposes 27 strategic, measurable actions to enhance agricultural resilience across Washington’s agricultural sector.
  • Implementation and 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

The Resilience Plan describes six goals, 14 strategies, and 27 actions to address risks and enhance agricultural resilience.

WSDA is ready to implement the plan. The plan’s actions require a high level of coordination and collaboration with stakeholders. WSDA will support stakeholders as they integrate the strategies into their own operations, and will continuously update the plan based on feedback, evolving science, and changing conditions.

Some strategies can move forward with existing resources, but fully realizing the plan will require additional funding and collaboration. WSDA will work with partners to pursue opportunities, maximize available resources, and take meaningful steps toward greater agricultural resilience.

Explore the Climate Resilience Plan