Wheat crop gets boost from rain

Rains that have swept across large swaths of Eastern Washington are expected to deliver the best winter wheat crop in five years.

Drought fears have eased for grain farmers, especially for those in the higher rainfall areas around Spokane and south through the Palouse.

The Agricultural Statistics Service reported that harvest of the all-important winter wheat crop is expected to reach 125.8 million bushels, 7 percent more than last year and the highest since 131 million bushels were reaped from fields in 2000.

Though irrigators may face a difficult summer because of low snow pack and runoff, dryland farmers in many areas have enjoyed ample and timely rains throughout March, April and May. Fields of winter wheat south of Spokane are in good shape, farmers say. One good shower in early June should help deliver a big crop. Only Kansas and Oklahoma are expected to produce more wheat than Washington.

Average yields across Washington could reach 70 bushels an acre, the Agriculture Statistics Service said.

In fact, some farmers are now hoping for some drier, warmer weather to push the crop along.

While the wheat planted last fall is shaping up, the outlook for spring wheat is less clear.

Agriculture officials have not taken a count of acres planted with spring crops, said a spokeswoman. But in early March, before the rains began, drought fears caused many farmers to avoid planting spring wheat. Predictions were that 440,000 acres would be seeded, about 90,000 fewer acres than a year ago.

In Idaho, growers will harvest about 730,000 acres this summer. Yields are expected to reach 90 bushels an acre.