Crop progress report 07/23: Drought conditions impact Washington

From the National Agricultural Statistics Service

There were 7 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington, unchanged from 7 days reported the previous week.

The continued drought in Western Washington has caused difficult farming conditions.

Central Washington dealt with heat and lack of moisture that impacted wheat and forage crops. Forage crops had little regrowth; in some areas, cattle grazed fields that should have been a second cutting of hay. In Yakima County, daytime highs for the week started in the lower 80s but neared triple digits by the end of the week. The county received no rain, and several brushfires started throughout the county, with some fires shutting down interstate highways. Growers started peach harvest. There were late-maturing sweet cherries that passed through the packing houses. Pear growers moved bins into orchards to prepare for the Bartlett harvest. Vegetable harvest picked up with more cucumbers, summer squashes, peppers, sweet corn, and melons at roadside stands. Some early hop cones were maturing, and hop harvest was anticipated to start within the next couple of weeks.

In east central Washington, producers geared up for harvest.

Northeast Washington experienced continued dry conditions, and harvest was expected to begin soon.

Southeast Washington experienced warm temperatures and high winds, with harvest already in full swing.

Washington crop condition

Winter wheat:
3% very poor
15% poor
35% fair
44% good
3% excellent

Spring wheat:
2% very poor
25% poor
33% fair
38% good
2% excellent

Barley:
1% very poor
11% poor
38% fair
50% good
0% excellent

Dry edible peas:
0% very poor
6% poor
47% fair
46% good
1% excellent

Washington crop progress:

Winter wheat harvested:
20% this week
6% last week
5% last year
18% 5-year average

Spring wheat harvested:
4% this week
NA last week
NA last year
3% 5-year average

Barley harvested:
5% this week
1% last week
1% last year
4% 5-year average

Dry edible peas harvested:
8% this week
NA last week
12% last year
19% 5-year average

Alfalfa hay 2nd cutting:
67% this week
50% last week
39% last year
78% 5-year average

Alfalfa hay 3rd cutting:
10% this week
2%NA last week
3% last year
NA 5-year average