Drought Conditions Impact Washington AG

OLYMPIA, WA. — According to the USDA, seven days were suitable for fieldwork in Washington, unchanged from the previous week. The continuing drought in Western Washington has caused difficult farming conditions.

Central Washington dealt with heat and lack of moisture, which impacted wheat and forage crops. Forage crops had little regrowth; in some areas, cattle grazed fields that should have had a second hay-cutting.

In Yakima County, daytime highs for the week started in the lower 80s but neared triple digits by the end of the week. The county received no rain, and several brushfires started throughout the county, with some fires shutting down interstate highways. Growers started peach harvest. There were late-maturing sweet cherries that passed through the packing houses. Pear growers moved bins into orchards to prepare for the Bartlett harvest. Vegetable harvest picked up with more cucumbers, summer squashes, peppers, sweet corn, and melons at roadside stands. Some early hop cones were maturing, and hop harvest was anticipated to start within the next few weeks.

In east-central Washington, producers geared up for harvest. Northeast Washington experienced continued dry conditions, and harvest was expected to begin soon. Southeast Washington experienced warm temperatures and high winds, with harvest already in full swing.

For more information, contact the Ag Statistics Hotline at 1-800-727-9540 or http://www.nass.usda.gov.