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Washington Director of Agriculture
| Washington Director of Agriculture | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $202,056 |
| 2024-25 FY Budget: | $220,311,000 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Serves at the pleasure of the governor |
| Authority: | Washington Code - 43.23.002 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by the governor |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Washington Director of Agriculture
Derek Sandison | |
| Other Washington Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education• • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner• Natural Resources Commissioner• Labor Commissioner• Public Service Commissioner | |
The Washington Director of Agriculture is an appointed state executive position in the Washington state government. The director of agriculture is responsible for promoting and protecting agriculture in Washington state.
Current officeholder
The current Washington Director of Agriculture is Derek Sandison (nonpartisan). Sandison assumed office in 2015.
Authority
The office of the director of agriculture is established in the Washington Code.[1]
Washington Code - 43.23.002:
| The executive and administrative head of the department of agriculture shall be the director. The director shall be appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate and shall have complete charge of and supervisory power over the department. |
Qualifications
Article 3, Section 25 of the state Constitution establishes the qualifications of the office:
- a citizen of the United States
- a qualified elector in Washington
| Qualifications, Compensation, Offices Which May Be Abolished. No person, except a citizen of the United States and a qualified elector of this state, shall be eligible to hold any state office... |
Appointments
The director of agriculture is appointed by the governor with the consent of the Washington State Senate.[1]
Vacancies
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that details the process of filling vacancies for a state executive office. That information for the Washington Director of Agriculture has not yet been added. After extensive research, we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Duties
As of January 2021, the stated duties of the Department of Agriculture were:[2]
| “ | WSDA has been serving agriculture and the public for more than 100 years. Through service, regulation, and advocacy, we support keeping agriculture viable and vital in Washington State, while protecting consumers, public health, and the environment.
The nature of our work falls into three primary roles: Service Regulation Advocacy |
” |
Divisions
As of January 28, 2021, divisions within the Department of Agriculture included:[4]
- Agricultural Products
- Animals, Livestock, and Pets
- Director's Office
- Food Safety
- Insects, Pests, and Weeds
- Laboratories
- Land and Water
- Marijuana
- Business and Marketing Support
- Pesticides and Fertilizers
- Plant Health
- Scales, Meters, and Fuel
State budget
- See also: Washington state budget and finances
The budget for the Department of Agriculture in Fiscal Year 2024-2025 was $220,311,000.[5]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $202,056, according to the Council of State Governments.[6]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $182,652, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2021
In 2021, the director received a salary of $173,856, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2020
In 2020, the director received a salary of $173,856 according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2019
In 2019, the director received a salary of $161,268 according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2018
In 2018, the director received a salary of $144,192 according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2017
In 2017, the director received a salary of $141,369 according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2016
In 2016, the director received a salary of $125,400 according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2015
In 2015, the director received a salary $125,400 according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2014
In 2014, the director was paid an estimated $125,400 according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2013
In 2013, the director was paid an estimated $118,800 according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2012
In 2012, the director was paid an estimated $118,800 according to the Council of State Governments.
2010
In 2010, the director was paid an estimated $122,478 according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Washington Director of Agriculture has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Washington State Agriculture Director. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
Washington State Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Building
P.O. Box 42560
1111 Washington ST SE
Olympia, WA 98504-2560
Phone: (360) 902-1800
See also
| Washington | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Washington State Code, "RCW 43.23.002," accessed December 28, 2012
- ↑ Washington State Department of Agriculture, "About WSDA," accessed January 28, 2021
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Washington State Department of Agriculture, "Departments," accessed January 28, 2021
- ↑ Washington State Legislature, "Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5187," December 6, 2023
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 28, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 28, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 28, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 28, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 8, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," January 31, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed June 7, 2011
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