Opinion - Agriculture remains the heart and soul of the county

The Gazette’s annual Ag Edition is included in this paper.

It is in part a tribute to the farmers and ranchers who are the heart of this area.

Historically, Whitman County has been farming country. It remains one of the richest dryland farming areas in the world, but, over time, the local economy has shifted. Higher education and hi-tech industries are becoming important factors in the prosperity of the county. There is concerted effort to diversify the economic and tax base away from agriculture. Still, agriculture is the county’s mainstay and influences all who live here.

The evolution has b...