Continuing the election foray, Tuesday night’s gubernatorial debate jumped into a “hot” agriculture topic – Yakima Valley water quality. Such a topic merits its own research study but the debate briefly illustrated the problem for agriculture and all of Washington – regulatory overreach with disregard to actual sound science.

The Yakima Valley water quality situation is controversial. Human health is of the upmost concern for all but the actual changes imposed by the existing and upcoming regulations may have little to no impact. Pointing fingers is the only accomplishment of much of the regulation imposed on farmers in the Yakima Valley without improvement in water quality.

Sound science should lead the discussion, not fear. Multiple scientists are involved in the debate and multiple sides exist on every front. Is there an actual water quality issue? What is the level of contamination? What is the prevalence? What are the realities of the health concerns involved with nitrate contamination if it does exist? What rules are effective? What regulation is needed?

Using fear to further executive authority is not good for agriculture or Washington. All are concerned for the human health and safety of the Washington community. However, playing on the fears of rare events and accidents in order to impose more rules only hurts progress that local solutions can achieve.

Ignoring existing rules and actions taken by private companies will burden the taxpayer for enforcement and push companies out of business or out of state. More rules based on fear and without limit will overburden the economy and have no accountability when it comes to results.

Practical and effective regulatory oversight in combination with local solutions leading the effort will go much further than excessive rules.

You can watch the exchange during Tuesday’s Gubernatorial debate at the 37:40 mark: https://www.tvw.org/watch/?eventID=2016101080