USDA crop weekly update, August 11

WASHINGTON, DC— Hot and dry harvest weather continued in Washington state. There were 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington, down from 6.9 the previous week. In eastern Washington, there was a lack of precipitation, and pastures suffered. Winter wheat harvest was well underway. Spring wheat and barley harvest was ramping up in some areas. The onion and potato harvest were off to a good start and the dry pea and alfalfa hay harvest continued.

In Idaho, grain harvest ramped up in warmer than average temperatures. There were 6.9 days suitable for fieldwork in Idaho, down from 7.0 days the previous week. Most of Idaho continued to experience warmer-than-average temperatures. Isolated thunderstorms were reported in some parts of the state, and the fire danger level remained high. Smoke from ongoing wildfires was quite heavy on some days. In northern Idaho, hot and dry conditions persisted. In southwest Idaho, thunderstorms produced lightning, concentrated areas of hail, and locally heavy areas of precipitation. These thunderstorms started three fires, all of which were contained by the end of the week. In south-central Idaho, a few thundershowers were reported early in the week. For the most part, it remained warm and dry. Alfalfa and cereal grain harvests continued. More potatoes matured with vines dying and a few acres of potatoes had been harvested. Sugarbeets looked good. Corn was well tasseled. Beans were flowering. Smoky conditions continued for some days. In eastern Idaho, hot and dry conditions were reported. Grain and alfalfa fields were harvested.

Hot temperatures and dry conditions continued in Oregon, where there were 6.9 days suitable for fieldwork, down from 7.0 days the previous week. Clackamas County reported very dry conditions on land with no irrigation, and there were fires in the region. Clatsop and Tillamook Counties received very little precipitation, although some fog events occurred. Corn was in the tassel stage. Field activities continued with irrigation, mowing, manure applications, and hay baling. Sherman and Wasco Counties had a thunderstorm with rain and lightning strikes. Some areas received enough rain to delay harvest. One small fire resulted from the storm. Harvest was still going strong. In Gilliam, Hood River, and Wasco Counties, pastures were dry, and conditions were hot. In Umatilla County, conditions were hot and dry. Winter wheat harvest was close to completion.