Farmers play wait, see on planting

Washington farmers are reluctant to plant spring wheat this year even as recent rain showers ease drought conditions.

“This is definitely an interesting game of let’s wait and see,” said Gretchen Borck of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers.

Across Eastern Washington, acreage seeded with spring wheat could drop 17 percent this year. The prediction for barley acreage is more dramatic. Farmers are poised to plant 20 percent fewer acres of barley this year, the lowest since 1953.

The numbers – which were compiled during the first two weeks of March – were reflective of the uncertainty facing farmers as they considered drought risks and higher costs for things such as diesel fuel and fertilizer.

Better estimates should be available in late April when the U.S. Department of Agriculture conducts another survey in the wake of showers that swept across much of the state in late March and early April.

“Clearly things have changed, but it’s hard to tell how significantly,” said Kate Sandboe, spokeswoman for the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

As of mid-March, spring wheat acreage was expected to slip to 440,000 acres compared to 530,000 acres in 2004.

Even with the slide of spring crops, the overall grain outlook is relatively stable.

The winter wheat, which is planted in the fall, appears adequate. While not expected to reward farmers with a bumper crop, the harvest is expected to be average.

Winter wheat is the dominant crop grown in the region. About 82 percent of all the wheat growing in Washington right now was planted last fall. The remaining 18 percent is planted in March and April.

Borck said quality and yield will vary widely by region. Some areas of the Eastern Washington – notably Spokane and Whitman counties – received generous rains while showers were scattered in other counties

Across Adams County, for example, rains fell on certain farms while missing a neighbors field, Borck said.

“Bottom line: the whole state needs more,” she said.