Wheat harvest shows low-yield, so far

RITZVILLE - Local agriculture officials say this year's wheat harvest has been lacking due in part to unusual weather early in the growing season..

Ritzville Warehouse Co. – which pairs with Odessa Trading Co. – officials gave a negative report on the harvest this year, remarking that it was a low-yield year with high protein.

Although the final cutting of this year's harvest are not complete, company officials were less-than-positive about harvest results.

A strange freeze in the spring, rain the early summer months and near-drought conditions now are the most likely suspects for the low-yield this year.

The pricing for wheat this year has been volatile and will most likely continue to stay volatile as world politics heat up and the drought persists, officials said, noting the harvest was below average for wheat, so far this year.

But it may be too early to really tell.

According to the Washington Association of Wheat Growers, the July 19 outlook for soft white wheat July 19 was that it is "too dry, but too early in the harvest to tell the yield."

Then on July 27, the association reported "most of the state (Washington) was classified as moderate drought conditions."

Adams County is not listed among those already experiencing drought.

As of July 23, the quality of the wheat was spread out with around 40% of overall yields being good, and 35% being fair conditions.

To determine the quality officials, examine several wheat characteristics including moisture, which is related to the storage of the wheat, as well as protein content, which is related to the milling.