Marketing Methods Used in 2001
(percentage using each strategy)

Central Region

State-Wide

-

Wholesale Buyers, Brokers

56.66

47.40

-

Grocery Stores

6.75

6.40

-

Growers’ Cooperatives

38.04

25.73

-

Farmers’ Markets

8.26

8.28

-

Direct Sales (Catalogs/Internet)

5.23

8.54

-

Community Supported Agriculture

0.61

1.79

-

Roadside Stands/Farm Stores

9.48

12.19

-

U-Pick Sales

4.59

6.83

-

Food Cooperative

1.23

2.31

-

Production/Marketing Contract

11.08

14.36

-

Institutional (schools, etc.)

2.14

1.88

-

Restaurants

1.22

3.32

-

Retained Ownership

7.41

6.60

-

Other

16.51

29.31

Farm Products Grown/Produced in 2001
(percentage growing each commodity)

Central Region

State-Wide

-

Fresh Vegetables

3.66

10.05

-

Fresh Fruits

61.47

28.16

-

Fruits/Vegetables for Processing

17.85

10.53

-

Grains

6.15

17.15

-

Hay

17.13

28.60

-

Ornamentals (Flowers, Bulbs, etc.)

0.31

7.31

-

Eggs and/or Poultry

0.61

4.51

-

Dairy Products (milk, cheese)

0.92

2.98

-

Cattle and/or Cows

22.94

34.92

-

Hogs

2.15

3.15

-

Sheep

1.23

3.32

-

Goats

1.84

2.21

-

Value-Added Products (jams, etc.)

0.92

2.05

-

Other

9.32

16.62

Strategies to be Attempted in 2002-2004
(percentage choosing each strategy)

Central Region

State-Wide

-

More Direct Marketing to Consumers

19.76

25.13

-

Diversify Products Grown on Farm

27.54

23.85

-

Explore Greenhouse Production

5.09

6.39

-

Add On-Farm Packing/Processing

4.79

4.86

-

Join Producers’ Cooperative

5.99

5.45

-

Market Directly to Stores/Restaurants

7.19

7.16

-

Use Product Labeling (e.g. “green”)

4.79

5.88

-

Other Strategy

18.26

17.21

-

NO RESPONSE

62.57

60.14

Farming Practices Used in 2001
(percentage using each practice)

Central Region

State-Wide

-

Crop Rotation

15.26

32.06

-

Vegetative Buffer Strips

8.70

18.28

-

Reduced Tillage

17.13

21.50

-

Direct Seeding/No-till

6.90

13.79

-

Intercropping /Companion Planting

3.46

7.19

-

Cover Crops

30.94

23.02

-

On-Farm Composting

12.62

21.45

-

Apply Compost/Organic Materials

19.50

27.27

-

Fertilize at Agronomic Rates

50.00

49.82

-

Mulch Using Organic Materials

15.14

18.51

-

Use Manure as Fertilizer

26.96

42.40

-

Water/Soil Moisture Monitoring

40.44

32.47

-

Soil Conservation/Erosion Control

35.42

43.32

-

Soil Nutrient Testing

48.14

45.83

Release of Beneficial Predators

9.05

9.52

Pheromones

34.60

15.18

Monitoring Pest Populations

58.57

42.37

Intensive Rotational Grazing

11.95

22.16

Tillage for Weed Control

26.33

37.81

Precision Agriculture with GPS

5.47

6.89

Attitudes Toward Marketing and Farm Policy
(percentage of Those Who Neither Agree nor Disagree are not given)

Central Region

State-Wide

Agree

Disagree

Agree

Disagree

-

Labeling products as “Grown in WA” would benefit producers

80.81

4.96

77.22

5.63

-

Biggest threat to my farm’s viability is falling prices

87.19

7.19

73.86

12.68

-

Free Trade Agreements will help my farm be profitable

28.26

48.25

21.91

45.50

-

Government-supported agriculture programs should be targeted to small/medium farms

73.75

14.38

68.23

14.39

-

“Buy Local” campaign could increase consumption of local products

55.90

15.22

57.22

13.82

-

Maintaining family farms is important to County’s future

88.58

2.47

86.60

4.82

-

Need is greater than ever for Public Ag. Research and Extension

64.40

10.22

63.79

11.45

-

Private Agribusiness can replace most University Research and Extension

14.87

56.33

13.03

56.38

-

In-County consumers should have more local foods made available

54.83

5.60

57.08

6.32

-

Direct Marketing is effective for keeping farms viable in my county

55.94

15.31

60.96

11.09

-

Significant demand exists for organic ag. products in Washington

32.82

28.12

39.43

23.18

-

Extension programs benefited my farm business

67.50

12.19

59.05

14.21

Level of Involvement in Farm Related Organizations from 1999-2001
(percentage of Those Who Are Not Involved are not given)

Central Region

State-Wide

Somewhat

Very

Somewhat

Very

-

Farm Bureau

25.41

4.23

21.53

3.63

-

Commodity Commission

11.64

3.77

8.86

3.41

-

Grange

11.15

3.93

13.53

2.93

-

Growers’ Association

26.54

16.83

24.67

12.43

-

Growers’ Cooperative

24.10

22.80

18.95

11.62

-

Farmers’ Market Association

6.83

3.41

6.80

3.59

-

Other Farm Organizations

1.66

1.99

2.94

3.60

Attitudes Toward Farming and Environmental Issues
(percentage of Those Who Neither Agree nor Disagree are not given)

Central Region

State-Wide

Agree

Disagree

Agree

Disagree

-

Environmental Regulations have negative impact on farming practices

76.46

12.53

74.26

12.52

-

Farmers’ Contributions to land stewardship are appreciated by public

22.77

56.30

28.60

53.51

-

Environmental Risks of GMOs are not well understood

64.38

8.74

69.18

8.04

-

Farmers should be paid for participation in wildlife programs

67.49

9.50

73.78

9.35

-

Local Gov’t should restrict non-ag. development in key ag. areas

54.32

29.32

65.82

19.02

-

Land should be farmed to protect long-term productive capacity

49.69

26.70

59.31

19.16

-

Consumer Concerns about GMOs outweigh overall benefits of their use

25.71

38.25

27.66

35.64

-

If a GMO were available in one of my commodities, I would try it

44.62

22.47

41.75

25.69

-

To protect against urban sprawl, ag. land restrictions will be needed

38.08

52.63

43.57

43.22

-

Farmers should be compensated if restricted from selling ag. land

80.55

12.65

81.03

9.97

Information Sources Accessed by Farmers During 2001
(percentage of Those Who Do Not Access a Particular Source are not given)

Central Region

State-Wide

Once or Twice

>Twice

Once or Twice

>Twice

-

Other Growers/Farm Managers

25.82

50.98

27.70

45.52

-

Private Consultants

14.04

24.66

15.62

17.74

-

Commodity/Grower Associations

26.18

28.19

26.06

17.79

-

WSU Co-operative Extension

36.85

26.32

36.25

18.97

-

Farm Supply Dealer/Ag. Business

23.96

57.83

30.77

46.65

-

Farm Newspapers/Magazines/etc.

28.39

49.03

30.18

45.65

-

State Department of Agriculture

26.29

13.15

24.66

8.64

-

Farm Bureau

17.93

10.00

15.52

7.66

-

Natural Resource Conservation Svc.

15.90

4.59

18.24

7.51

-

Banker/Financial Consultant

17.36

10.42

16.86

10.66

-

Legal Consultant

17.53

6.62

18.43

7.27

-

Television/Radio

13.28

13.64

14.58

10.69

Internet

16.78

25.00

16.93

25.26

Farmers’ Current Moderate and High Priority Information Needs
(percentage of Those Not Indicating This Need are not given)

Central Region

State-Wide

Moderate

High

Moderate

High

-

Soil Fertility Management

34.54

28.29

39.68

33.97

-

Farm Product Diversification

32.78

30.77

36.23

30.43

-

Non-Chemical Pest Management

33.11

29.14

32.98

26.96

-

Biotechnology, including GMOs

28.37

15.60