Sen. Keith Goehner, R-Dryden/CREDIT: Washington State Senate

In early October, I participated in a roundtable discussion in Wenatchee with Gov. Bob Ferguson and local farmers and tree fruit growers. While I appreciate the governor taking the time to meet with our agricultural community, the conversation reinforced something I’ve seen throughout my career: the future of Washington agriculture depends far more on removing barriers than on creating new government programs.

The harsh truth is that many challenges facing our farmers today come straight from Olympia — taxes, regulations, and mandates that increase costs and reduce flexibility. If state leaders truly want agriculture to succeed, we must cut unnecessary programs and remove the barriers that are keeping our farms and orchards from being profitable.

The governor cited the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) as a success for both the environment and the economy. I completely disagree. The CCA’s carbon-pricing scheme has hurt farmers and orchardists by raising fuel and transportation costs and squeezing their already thin margins. No one cares more about the environment than farmers. Every day, we work to improve soil health, conserve water, and naturally capture carbon through our crops. Policies that penalize these efforts do not promote sustainability — they undermine it.

Instead of enacting new spending measures or mandates, the Legislature and the executive branch should focus on practical solutions like lowering compliance costs for small and mid-sized farms, expanding water storage and irrigation infrastructure, and ensuring access to affordable, reliable energy.

Farmers and fruit growers don’t need more paperwork or political talking points. They need the freedom, flexibility, and trust to do what they do best — feed people and care for the land.

With deep roots in orchard management and local government, I will keep fighting for policies that boost rural economies, protect farmland, and maintain Washington as a global leader in tree fruit production. Our agricultural heritage is worth defending, and its future relies on common sense rather than government micromanagement.