USDA projects 17 percent drop in spring wheat yield

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service released crop acreage numbers for the state June 28 and spring wheat statistics July 11.

Washington winter wheat is forecasted to produce 116 million bushels, two percent more than projected the previous month. However, the winter wheat projection remains down seven percent down from last year.

According to the June 28 report, officials estimate planted winter wheat totaled at 170 million acres in Washington, marking no change from last year.

The yield is expected to average 70 bushels per acre, down six bushels from last year in Washington state. Spring wheat shows a larger decrease with a 17 percent hit from the previous year.

The forecast said the yield will be 45 bushels per acre, down nine bushels.

Whitman County farmers planted about 520,000 acres of spring wheat, the same as last year.

The report stated weather in Whitman County was mild, which boosted crop condition. In Washington, the topsoil moisture content was 61 percent adequate for crops, 33 percent short of moisture and three percent very short for the week ending July 14.

Whitman County planted about 70,000 acres of lentils this year, about 10,000 more than last year. The county’s lentil acres make up about 13 percent of the U.S. total 535,000 acres of lentils.

Hay harvest is expected to total 680,000 acres, down 11 percent from last year.