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...