Preparing for Wildfire Starts Now
 In preparation for wildfire season, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has developed a communication toolkit to help support producers and agricultural communities across the state.
Wildfires can be overwhelming, and it's often difficult to find and understand resources during a crisis. We've gathered easy-to access resources focused on wildfire preparedness, livestock protection, and post-disaster recovery in one place. The toolkit is found on our Wildfires webpage: Wildfires | Washington State Department of Agriculture. Sharing this information now is important so farmers, ranchers, and community members have time to plan before wildfire risk increases.
Wildfire Smoke Awareness Month begins in June and WSDA will be addressing how smoke affects people and animals. Follow along and visit WSDA across Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram as we share tips on how to stay safe and protect animals during smoky conditions.
During critical weather months, our Natural Disasters webpage is another valuable resource
you can share to help protect your community: Disasters | Washington State Department of Agriculture.
Please take a few minutes to review the toolkit and share it with your neighbors, community members, and networks. Preparing now helps protect lives, property, and livestock when wildfires happen, building a resilient Washington during wildfire season.
Questions? Email emergencymanagement@agr.wa.gov
Alert and Warning Notifications
Stay informed by opting to receive emergency alerts on your phone and follow emergency instructions provided. These alerts provide early warnings when conditions are dangerous or are expected to become hazardous due to high temperatures, dry weather or strong winds. Subscribe to local emergency notifications at mil.wa.gov/alerts#local
Watch Duty, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, alerts you of nearby wildfires and firefighting efforts in real-time. Locations of active wildfires, evacuation zones, evacuation shelters, animal shelters, information centers, and food distribution points for evacuees can be viewed in the app.
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Farmers and agricultural workers are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide compared to the general population — a sobering truth that too often goes unspoken. Washington is a physically, agriculturally, and culturally diverse state with extensive regional, national, and international markets and over one-third of Washington’s land — 14.7 million acres — is farmland. Behind every crop, every gallon of milk, every acre worked, is a farmer. Someone wearing many hats: mechanic, accountant, animal caretaker, environmental steward, business owner, and parent. But sometimes, doing everything right still isn’t enough.
Many regions of Washington are relatively isolated and rural, presenting difficulties regarding travel and access, especially during severe weather conditions. Wildfires, floods, droughts, and pandemics - farmers here in Washington and across the country have weathered storms that reach far beyond their balance sheets. Washington’s animal agricultural industries face increasing economic and animal health risks associated with pest and disease outbreaks, which have increased across the state in frequency and severity due in part to changing climate patterns that allow vectors and diseases to expand into new geographic areas.
What’s at stake isn’t just income — it’s legacy and the dream of passing the farm on to the next generation. When those dreams feel out of reach, the emotional toll can be heavy. It’s important to seek help if you or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or hopeless. Suicide is preventable and reaching out, offering support, and showing care can truly save lives. If you or someone you know is struggling, please know that help is available. Let’s keep the conversation going — and remind our farming community that it’s okay to ask for help.
Here’s where you can find help:
WSU Farm Stress Support — Workshops + local resources.
WRASAP — Tools & events for farm stress support.
Farm Aid Hotline — Talk to someone who understands ag life: 1-800-FARM-AID
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call/text 988 any time, 24/7.
Crisis Text Line — Text HOME to 741741.
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