Wheat Spared From Sprout Damage

Wind and warm weather have spared most Inland Northwest wheat fields from costly, rain-induced sprout damage, officials said Friday.

John Burns, Washington State University Cooperative Extension agent for Whitman County, said there’s little sign of sprouting in fields doused by rain during the past two weeks.

Farmers had feared the worst. Cool, wet weather in previous years caused kernels to sprout in the heads of grain, turning a good crop into livestock feed.

“This was like taking a hose and washing off the plants,” Burns said. “The wind dried it out. Under these conditions, sprout is not going to happen.”

Wheat harvest west of Spokane is more than half complete, but Whitman County farmers have just started. Farmers were nearly finished this time last year and are seven to 10 days behind normal. , DataTimes