Five win prizes in latest QUICK Award drawing

Kathy Davis, Communications

Diane Tsao

Five WSDA employees became eligible to select a prize because their names were randomly selected from the full list of all those receiving a QUICK Awards during the first quarter of 2021. Agencywide, employees handed out 48 awards to their coworkers, with 31 awarded in Eastern Washington and 17 in Western Washington.

QUICK Awards are presented by employees who see their peers demonstrating good work and service to others – either inside or outside the agency. Below are the prize recipients from the most recent drawing.

Luisa Castro – Food Safety and Consumer Services, Food Safety, Olympia

For participating in the 2021 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) Phase I evaluation process. Your expertise, time, and thoughtful evaluation of proposals ensure that WSDA selects the most promising projects with the greatest impact to Washington's specialty crop industry. We appreciate your time and hard work. Thank you! - Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

Jorge Contreras – Plant Protection, Laboratory, Yakima

Luisa Castro

Jorge shoveled the snow along the walkway in front of the employees entrance at the Yakima building on February 16 after the massive snow storm we had over the weekend. Way to go Jorge, thinking of your coworkers safety! – Theresa Otto  

Gloriann Robinson – Administrative Services, Administrative Regulations, Olympia

For helping out with the RFP, subsequent interviews, and selection of a bidder to conduct an economic and social impacts study of Washington's agricultural fairs. I sincerely appreciate your willingness to help out and I'm very grateful for it and your interest in the program. - Teresa Norman 

Randy Smidt – Commodity Inspection, Fruit  and Vegetable Inspection, Yakima

Jorge Contreras

In recognition of Randy’s support to the Yakima admin team. He demonstrated willingness to lend a hand that went above his usual duties. We appreciate you greatly. Thank You! – Yakima F&V Admin Team  

Diane Tsao – Commodity Inspection, Fruit  and Vegetable Inspection, Chelan

Thank You Diane for your help testing the non-GMO certificate and writing the tutorial for staff. You presented the information clearly, concisely and logically while focusing on the key points to make all successful! – Bill Walker 

Congratulations to all WSDA employees, listed below, who were recognized with a QUICK Award from a colleague between January 1 and March 31, 2021. 

Western Washington

Gloriann Robinson

Beth Lorence, Hannah Flournoy, Jeni Cena, Jennifer Falacy, Joel Demory, Karen Ullmann, Leslie Michel, Megan Finkenbinder, Nathan Chambers, Rianne Perry, Ric Torgerson, Sapphitah Dickerson, Scott Rice, Telissa Wilson

Eastern Washington

Aaron Heilman, Abigail Nickelson, Alvaro Ambriz, Andy Bommersbach, Anthony Chaney, Art Rodrigues, Caleb James, Cassandra Givens, Daniel Valencia, Emily Oberhoffer, Epi Rodriguez, Erica Venegas, Ivan Guzman, Jairo Ambriz, Jeremy Phillips, Jessica Rimestad, Jon Peton, Jose Guevara, Jose Mendiola, Leslie Parker, Lisa Parker, Madison Moore, Max King, Nicholas Caballero, Sarah Pugh

June 30 next drawing deadline

When you catch one of your coworkers doing something special for staff or customers, why not let them know with a QUICK Award? You can find the award form on the intranet. Forms are also available from your division coordinator or agency receptionists.

In summary: WSDA staff presented 48 QUICK Awards during the first quarter of 2021. Five names were randomly drawn to receive prizes. See who they are and why they were recognized by their colleagues. 

Safety first; employees learn whitewater river rescue

 Robert Ambriz, Safety Program

Katie Noland diving into whitewater during river
rescue training.

This year for the first time, the WSDA Safety Program purchased river rescue training from Wet Planet Whitewater for the Pest Program and the Natural Resources Assessment Section (NRAS). 

During April, seven WSDA staffers took part in this three-day course that’s designed for those who work on or around rivers. The training, which was held in White Salmon, uses scenario-based rescue situations to teach how to respond when a river rescue is necessary. Participants earn internationally recognized certification. 

Those participating in the first course offered April 20-23 were Brad Blowers, Chad Philips, McKenzie Watson and Jonathan Still, whose work takes place in or near the water as they to treat and eliminate Spartina, an aggressive, invasive weed.

On April 28-30, NRAS participants were Katie Noland, Matthew Bischof, and Abigail Nickelson. These employees wade into rivers and streams to collect water samples for pesticide monitoring. 

The instructor explained what a river rescue is and why it’s important. He described how to check the river’s flow and develop a rescue action plan. He also covered communication, roles, equipment, and area awareness. 

Rescue skills

Abigail Nickelson practices throwing
a water rescue bag. 

An important part of the training is learning how to use the “throw bag” - a floatable bag stuffed with rope. The rescuer holds one end of the rope and throws the bag with their other hand. The rope uncoils from the bag as it soars through the air. 

The instructor demonstrated how to use a throw bag, and then participants practiced in teams of three. 

The trick to tossing the bags is to let the person in distress reach for the rope - not the bag – so there’s less rope to reel in. After throwing the bag, placing the rope behind the rescuer’s back prevents them from being dragged into the water. They must maintain support and hold on tight.

Next, participants put on wet suits and headed into the river. Everyone had to jump into the river and swim against the strong current to get to the other side. To take the course, you must have moderate to excellent swimming skills. Still, this was not easy!

Everyone in class had a chance to be submerged underwater, toss the throw bag, and rescue one other person. 

After all participants were exhausted, they took off the dry suits and learned how to tie knots. 

Matt Bischof reads the river. 

Prepared for the unpredictable

“I feel very fortunate to work for an agency that prioritizes workplace safety,” said Katie Noland with NRAS. “For those of us in the field, it’s important to have trainings such as these to make sure we feel comfortable when the unpredictable happens. 

“Although I don’t plan on swimming through class 3 rapids again like I did in the training, I now know how to read the water and swim to safety,” Katie continued. “The streams we wade in have flows that can rise by the minute, so it’s valuable to know when to get out and what to do if something goes wrong.”

Wet Planet did an amazing job and as did the trainees, who showed tremendous heart and dedication under what would be a dangerous circumstance. 

In summary: This year for the first time, the WSDA Safety Program purchased river rescue training for the Pest Program and the Natural Resources Assessment Section. During April, seven WSDA staffers took part in this three-day course that’s designed for those who work on or around rivers. Read about the training in this Insider blog post. 

Overview results of legislative session for WSDA

 WSDA Policy Office and Financial Services

The Legislature approved new work and funding
to implement pollinator health recommendations.

The 2021 legislative session, which ended on April 25, was productive for WSDA. It resulted in just over $101 million in newly funded initiatives included in the 2021-23 biennial budget, and two out of our three agency request bills being passed. 

The operating budget also contains some good news for state employees. Furloughs proposed last year due to economic uncertainty were cancelled. Non-represented staff who had to forgo a salary increase last year due to COVID-19 will receive a three percent raise increase on July 1. 

WSDA also took two budget reductions; a onetime vacancy decrease of $1.49 million, and an ongoing overhead reduction of $821,000. 

Below, we list bills by their number (SB for Senate Bill or HB for House Bill). To get more details, go to the Bill Information webpage and put the number only in the search box at the top of the page. 

Legislation the agency requested

SB 5317 provides for pesticide safety reform. Increases in fees for pesticide registration and application licensing will generate $2.1 million annually to support new staff positions for pesticide safety, technical assistance, training, and science support. 

WSDA’s Pesticide Technical Services and Education Program
conducting on-farm airblast technical assistance in Grandview
in March. Our pesticide safety activities will be expanded under
new legislation.

SB 5318 makes the agency’s fertilizer registration services budget solvent by approving its first fee increase in over 20 years.

SB 5300, which would have banned the feeding of garbage containing meat to swine, did not pass, although it got through the Senate and House. It will be reintroduced next session and start further along in the process. 

Other bills of note

The following bills were not requested by WSDA, but they will have major impacts on the agency. 

SB 5253 implements the pollinator health task force recommendations, including new work and funding in both Plant Protection and Pesticide Management divisions. A total of $625,000 was provided from two different fund sources for WSDA to implement this bill. 

SB 5372 creates voluntary registration for hemp processors and funds the creation of a hemp extracts certification program in the Food Safety Program. This should improve market access for Washington hemp growers and processors. To make the rules for this bill, the agency received $120,000. 

SB 5141 creates a new environmental justice assessment process for all significant agency actions by 2023. The budget includes $144,000 to begin creating this new assessment process.

HB 1355 makes technical changes and cleans up some issues in the noxious weed control statute.

Funding provided in budget

The 2021-23 budget approved by the Legislature (pending Gov. Inslee’s signature) contains funds for several agency initiatives and ongoing work. Dollar amounts listed below are one-time funding for the next biennium, unless noted as ongoing. 

Plant Protection

• Japanese beetle monitoring and eradication - $406,000
• Asian giant hornet continued detection and eradication - $388,000 state and $1.134 million federal
• Gypsy moth eradication and follow-up monitoring - $190,000 state and $564,000 federal 
• Electric vehicle equipment; rulemaking for SB 5192 - $152,000

  

  A Walla Walla nonprofit displays food from a local
  farm, received with help from WSDA’s hunger relief
  efforts, which will be expanded with increased funding.

Food supply and markets

• Enhanced Emergency Food Assistance Program to expand capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic - $23 million federal appropriation
• Local food system infrastructure and market access grants prioritized for women, minority, and small business owners - $8 million federal appropriation
• Food supply chain infrastructure and market access grants for farms, food processers, and food distributors - $9 million federal appropriation
• Farm to School Program to help schools purchase and distribute local foods - $5 million federal appropriation
• State farmers to families food box program as alternative to USDA food box program - $45 million

Pesticide Management

• Dairy Nutrient Management Program position - $304,000 ongoing 

Food Safety and Consumer Services

• Food Safety lab ISO (international standards) certification - $210,000 ongoing
• Meat and poultry processing technical assistance and grants - $4 million

Director’s Office

• 

  Sorting mussels at the Penn Cove Shellfish Farm in
  2019. WSDA’s aquaculture coordinator position,
  which supports this industry, was funded.

  Equity in farming proviso to coordinate and report efforts to ensure inclusion of  historically
  underrepresented farmers and ranchers - $180,000
• Shellfish grants to continue research on alternatives to imidacloprid to address impacts of burrowing shrimp in Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor - $1.4 million
• Pesticide water quality testing increase - $200,000 ongoing
• Aquaculture position to coordinate activities, including educating industry of regulatory requirements and working with other agencies to streamline permitting  - $340,000 ongoing
• Northeast Washington wolf-livestock management grants for nonlethal deterrence of wolf predation on livestock - $952,000 ongoing
• Agricultural fairs transfer from state general fund to fair account is increased each fiscal year from $2 million up to $4 million in fiscal year 2026 and ongoing thereafter

In summary: The 2021 legislative session, which ended on April 25, was productive for WSDA. It resulted in just over $101 million in newly funded initiatives included in the 2021-23 biennial budget, and two out of our three agency request bills being passed. The Insider presents a high-level summary of session results.