Top: Visual differences between compost and non-compost treatments on a dryland wheat farm are very noticeable in a field trial in Washington state. Photo courtesy Burke Lab

The Washington State Department of Agriculture’s (WSDA) Compost Reimbursement Program (CRP) is coming to an end June 30, 2025, although participating farmers already enrolled in the program this year will still be reimbursed, says WSDA. This voluntary, farmer-direct grant program was first funded by the Washington State Legislature in 2023; however, it did not receive funding in the 2025–2027 state operating budget. The loss of program funding after June 30th means that WSDA will no longer be able to provide grants to farmers to encourage the application of compost on commercial farms and conduct soil testing and data analysis to evaluate the long-term impact of compost application on soil health. Over 200 Washington commercial farms participated during the two years the program operated, receiving access to grant funding and soil health profiles.

Juxtaposed with this news is a WSDA video (above) produced about Schuster Farm in St. John, Washington that participated in the reimbursement program. The Schuster family speaks glowingly about the benefits of using compost on their land, including improved water retention, healthier soil and higher yields.