OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The Washington state Department of Agriculture says the 17 organic farms flooded in southwest Washington last December continue to meet organic standards.

Agriculture inspectors have visited each of the farms affected by the floods, walking the fields and noting how high water levels rose, where sediment deposited on farmland and checking for signs of contaminants.

Inspectors gathered 40 samples of plant material in recent weeks. The Agriculture Department says tests on those samples show the flood waters did not cause any contamination that threatens the farms' organic status.

Several farms lost livestock, feed, harvested produce and equipment in the flood.