Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Harvest report
Combines roll to a field to continue harvest near Kamiak Butte Monday. Whitman County grows 26 percent of Washington’s annual wheat crop.
Harvest 2017 is at its halfway point and the numbers coming from area grain elevators to the United States Department of Agriculture are looking good.
The USDA’s projections for Washington state wheat as of Aug. 10 show an overall prediction for the year at 141 million bushels, down from a near-record 157 million in 2016. The five-year average is 133 million.
The statewide winter wheat projection is at 71 bushels per acre and spring wheat at 46 per acre.
“Winter wheat has been phenomenal,” said Mike Pumphrey, associate professor and spring wheat breeder at WSU.
Winter wheat’s high number is attributed to the consistent snow on the ground over last winter.
The ensuing late spring kept farmers out of the fields longer than usual, delaying spring wheat planting.
The result is seen in the spring numbers so far.
“The heat and late planting reduced what may have been a bumper crop to basically average,” Pumphrey said.
The USDA does not project on individual county totals. Whitman County, consistently the top wheat-producing area in the state, grows 26 percent of Washington’s annual output.
“Our projections went mostly higher during the growing season,” said Chris Mertz, director, Northwest Region, USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service, referring to the agency’s monthly state evaluations.
“Growers were more optimistic and as the crop progressed, they felt better that it was going to be better than anticipated.”
The looming question of falling numbers, a year after its wide affect last year, appears moot.
“We are not having any real issues with falling numbers,” said Glen Squires, CEO of Washington Grain Commission.
Falling numbers refers to the stage at which starch and protein start to break down in a wheat kernel. Last year, wide temperature swings in May and June and late rains contributed in some areas to the phenomenon, which affects sales. Anything is deemed lacking quality below a certain threshold.
Rain delay
The light rain last weekend, Aug. 12-13, is not expected to have much of an impact.
“I don’t know that the rain was long enough and extended enough,” said Squires. “But we don’t know for sure.”
“It takes multiple days of rain, three to four days, and considering how dry we were before, it doesn’t help by any means, but it doesn’t hurt,” said Pumphrey. “Farmers are used to a little sprinkle.”
The main effect was in time lost.
“The more timely we can get crops out of the field is the key this time of year,” said Pumphrey.
So far the USDA estimates 74 percent of winter wheat has been harvested and 43 percent of spring.
In specific numbers so far, hard red winter proteins are down, due to the heat.
“Not quite as high as the growers would like,” Squires said.
Proteins for soft white spring/winter are on the lower side of average: 9.5-10 percent.
Many buyers have a maximum of 10.5 percent.
County
Pacific Northwest Farmers Cooperative (PNW) reports that the southern part of their area – in and around Colton – is 90 percent finished harvesting on winter wheat, with average to slightly below average bushels per acre. The central area (Colfax) is at least half harvested, with average yields coming in. Average numbers are also seen in the northern section (Rosalia, Oakesdale), which is half to two-thirds done with winter wheat cutting.
Within the “micro-climates” of the county, a 70 bushels per acre yield in one area may be a 90 within 10 miles.
“The heat definitely hurt the yields,” said Bill Newbry, Chief Executive Officer of PNW. “You can’t have 90 plus degrees for 30 days with no moisture. … We’ve been running on residual moisture in the ground.”
Company-wide, PNW is at the halfway point as well.
“Quality is excellent,” said Newbry. “Proteins are really good.”
Newbry concurred that the impact of falling numbers has not been seen this year.
“No issues at all with falling numbers,” Newbry said. “If there are, it’s one out of 1,000. Nothing like the devastation we saw last year.”
Harvest so far has been mostly limited to wheat, with farmers starting to cut chickpeas/garbanzo beans this week.
“I think the overall quality is really good. The yield is a little disappointing,” said Newbry.
So are falling numbers just an anomaly from a peculiar weather stretch in 2016?
“Falling numbers is always a concern,” Newbry said. “Until there’s a conclusion reached on cause, and a real positive test, we’re at the mercy of an antiquated test and at the mercy of mother nature.”
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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