Progress report bleak for wheat

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Washington spring wheat isn't doing well, according to the July 19 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Crop Progress report.

The spring wheat condition is the percentage of kernels in Washington deemed "good" or "excellent." They did not register on the chart. "Very poor" spring wheat accounted for 45%, "poor" 43%, and "fair" 12%.

"Looking around the countryside, I'd say that's pretty accurate," said Gary Bailey, a wheat grower west of St. John and board member of the Washington Grain Commission.

For overall topsoil moisture condition statewide, "adequate" conditions are a...