County winter wheat up '20-25 percent'

WHITMAN COUNTY – Reports from harvest fields and grain elevators in Whitman County are bringing good news in winter wheat.

The USDA forecasts a Washington state average of 74 bushels per acre. Whitman County represents the higher side of the median, particularly this year, it appears.

“From what I understand, and what we’re experiencing, it’s probably a good 20-25% increase in the winter wheat crop,” said Gary Bailey on Tuesday, from a tractor pulling a bankout wagon south of Ewan. “It came up good in the fall and the May and June rains just topped it off.”

Bailey, a third-generation St. John farmer, is chairman of the Washington Grain Commission.

It is mostly too early to tell how the spring wheat crop will come out. Winter wheat – midst another year of low prices – is usually harvested first.

“Winter wheat, it’s our bread and butter, so we want to get it in the bin before anything else,” Bailey said.

He and other farmers began harvesting in the St. John area in the past 10 days to two weeks. In other areas of the county, such as south toward the Snake River, some growers are finishing harvest.

Overall, the increased winter wheat yield is welcome to area farmers, and beyond.

“These extra bushels are gonna pay a lot of bills,” said Bailey. “It will really help. The price is not where we want it, there’s just too much wheat in the world.”

Author Bio

Garth Meyer, Reporter

Garth Meyer is a reporter and sports writer at the Whitman County Gazette in Colfax, Wash.

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