Last weekend my little family and I went to the Skagit Tulip Festival. It was beautiful. Since my little guy was born last May, I have had plans of going to the Tulip festival to take some adorable pictures. Though colder, wetter, and a lot windier than I imagined, we had a great time, despite pictures featuring three shivering people. 

As we drove through farm country, I marveled at Washington’s crop diversity. Daffodils, tulips, potatoes, seed crops, orchards, and greenhouses dotted the landscape. When we stopped for lunch at one of the local nurseries, a wandering chicken started eying our crepes.

What is the benefit of agricultural diversity? Of course, tourists crowd the fields for a picturesque shot amongst the diverse flowers. Local towns tout their beautiful and diverse agriculture industry, and our local food movement is blessed with above average access to a diverse array of products. But, the true benefit of agricultural diversity is farm resiliency.

Farming regions with a diversity of crops have the ability to survive tough economic times and recover more rapidly. As we discuss the need to promote agricultural viability, it is important to include the need for resiliency. Not only must farms be successful, they also need to survive the inevitable economic downturns.

Benefits of resilience are obvious when we compare Washington with the American Corn Belt. With over 300 different crops, our agricultural sector has diversified across our regions, giving the industry options during less profitable years, like the last few. In the Corn Belt, corn is King, followed by soybeans and wheat. The dependency on fewer crops makes it very difficult for these regions to successfully weather downturns without heavy reliance on government support.

Washington ranks 32 out of 50 states in terms of total subsidies received per acre in 2014, and all Corn Belt states rank in the upper half. Other variables, of course, factor into this calculation, but diversity helps agriculture on a macro-level. Even on a micro level, farm incomes are less volatile when diversified. 

In the attempt to preserve and protect Washington farmers, we should consider more than just preservation of acreage, and focus on how to improve the resilience of the farming community. Crop diversity, improved access to markets, trade opportunities, dependable labor supply and costs, and most of all a reduction in redundant and burdensome regulations will go far in strengthening Washington’s agricultural resilience.