From the USDA Economic Research Service Widespread drought across the northern and western regions of the United States has dampened prospects for projected production and exports in the 2021/22 marketing year of three classes of U.S. wheat: hard red spring, white, and durum. Cultivation of hard red spring wheat, typically the second largest class of U.S. wheat, is concentrated in ... Read More »
From NASS There were 7 days suitable for field work, up from 6.9 days the previous week. Statewide temperatures for the week were above normal. In Jefferson County, the weather remained very dry and warm. Crops were one to two weeks ahead in maturity compared to an average year. Nonirrigated crops showed stress from the drought. Grass regrowth shut down, ... Read More »
From NPR The wheat harvest on Marci Green’s farm doesn’t usually begin until late August, but a severe drought stunted this year’s crop and her crews finished harvesting last week because she didn’t want what had grown so far to shrivel and die in the heat. It’s the same story across the wheat country of eastern Washington state, a vast ... Read More »
From NASS There were 6.9 days suitable for field work, up from 6.7 the previous week. Statewide temperatures for the week ending Aug. 8 were above normal. In Jefferson County, the weather remained very dry. Crops showed stress, and growth slowed down. Crops were ahead in maturity compared to a normal year. In Whatcom County, producers struggled to keep up ... Read More »
In June, the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) welcomed two new board members, Leif Claassen from Asotin County and Dave Swannack from Whitman County. Leif Claassen Claassen is the third generation on his family’s Asotin County farm. He graduated from Washington State University (WSU) in 2006 with a degree in ag technology and management with a minor in business. ... Read More »
From the Capital Press Over the summer, National Association of Wheat Growers CEO Chandler Goule toured six wheat-producing states. He says Washington wheat farmers hold a dubious distinction. “I hate to tell you this, but Washington still wins,” he told the Capital Press by phone Aug. 4. “You all still have the shortest wheat that’s got the most heat stress on ... Read More »
Andy Juris, Washington Association of Wheat Growers secretary/treasurer and a farmer from Klickitat County, is featured in KXLY’s latest Tribute 4 Our Farmers television spot. Read More »
From NASS There were 6.7 days suitable for field work, down from the previous week. Statewide temperatures for the week ending Aug. 1, were above normal. In San Juan County, drought conditions remained. Most hay was done, but a lot was poor quality. Some fields of barley pulled through the drought and were harvested. Blueberry harvest had begun, and other ... Read More »
From the Capital Press A dearth of soil moisture due to drought might not allow researchers to plant wheat this fall at Washington State University’s dryland research station, and farmers in other parts of the region might face the same problem. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »
From the Spokesman-Review Short stalks, thin rows, cracked soil and small bushels; the wheat Kevin Klein is harvesting in a field near Sprague just looks plain different this year. At least that’s what he sees, and considering he’s a fourth generation farmer who’s been working some type of a field for basically his entire life, its not too much of ... Read More »
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