Adams County wheat harvest draws to a quick close

Despite a very dry growing season wheat yields for the year are not far from average.

According to Ritzville Warehouse CEO John Anderson, this year’s harvest was only about five percent lower than the 10-year average for the area.

The reduced yields however seem magnified when compared to the three previous years crop yields, which were up to 30 percent higher than average. That average, however, includes the 2005-2007 harvest years, which, according to Anderson, were terrible.

Manager Jon Sperl from Union Elevator in Lind reported similar yields, about 30 to 40 percent lower than recent years.

“We’re a little disappointed but it is what it is,” Sperl said.

Both companies reported this year’s harvest started earlier and was shorter than usual as well. Anderson attributed this to clear weather while farmers were harvesting and the lower overall yields.

Harvest began in the area around July 10 according to Ritzville Warehouse and Union Elevator.

Despite having very dry conditions this year the quality of the wheat is still high. Both Ritzville Warehouse and Union Elevator reported test weights of this year’s wheat crop are still very good. Both Anderson and Sperl seemed surprised at this due to the lack of moisture this year.

This year’s harvest was fortunate, however, in the lack of fires.

Even with the extremely hot and dry conditions during this year’s harvest season with few fires causing major damage to wheat farmers this year.

Along with the few scattered stubble field fires one fire burned approximately 200 acres of standing wheat before being extinguished and another destroyed a combine with no injuries but then continued to burn only stubble.

Anderson reported that though harvest is completed in a lot of areas, there is still wheat coming into Ritzville as well as the Edens and Edwall stations and Sperl reported that three elevators for Union were still receiving grain including Pence and Gering stations south of Lind.

Anderson said farmers who are still harvesting were delayed by recent rains but about 10 more days of clear weather should see harvest completed in these areas as well.