Crop Progress Report 08/20: Dry conditions persisted for Washington

From NASS There were 7 days suitable for field work last week. Pasture and range conditions were reported at 11 percent very poor, 26 percent poor, 32 percent fair and 31 percent good. A low temperature of 37 degrees F was reported in the northeast region, while a high temperature of 97 degrees was reported in the southeast region. Statewide temperature differentials ranged from 8 degrees below normal to 5 degrees above normal. In the western region, temperatures dropped, but conditions remained dry. Places that received rain only received a marginal amount, leaving most still dry. Corn and grasses were especially impacted by the dry conditions. Some grass cutting operations anticipated being finished for the year after the most recent cutting. Operation with access to irrigation and water did well. Pastures, on the other hand, were hindered due to the dry conditions and lack of irrigation. Berry harvests were mostly done, while tree fruit operations began to prepare for harvest, as their fruits finished sizing up. In some regions, barley had a few more weeks before harvest, while squash and pumpkins grew with the aid of irrigation. In the central portions of the state, conditions were dry and warm. Fire danger remained high in some areas as the smoke from Canada began to dissipate over the week. Cereal grain harvest continued alongside peaches, while some areas cut hay for the third time. Pumpkins started to color and grape vineyards began to change color as they ripened. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, melons, squashes, and sweet corn harvests continued. Some blueberry and black raspberries were also being harvested, along with pears and apples. In the eastern part of the state, temperatures dropped, but no rain was reported. Winter wheat harvest was still underway, and regions which completed winter wheat harvest began seeding the 2018 winter wheat crop. Overall, harvests in the east slowed down as they began to finish, with only spring wheat left.

Washington crop conditions:

Spring wheat: 2% very poor 19% poor 38% fair 39% good 2% excellent Barley: 2% very poor 10% poor 51% fair 37% good 0% excellent Oats: 0% very poor 5% poor 36% fair 58% good 1% excellent

Washington crop progress:

Spring wheat harvested: 62% this week 43% last week 63% last year 67% 5-year average Winter wheat harvested: 89% this week 74% last week 86% last year 88% 5-year average Barley harvested: 54% this week 42% last week 63% last year 63% 5-year average Oats harvested: 30% this week 25% last week 69% last year NA 5-year average Dry peas harvested: 77% this week 67% last week 79% last year 74% 5-year average Alfalfa hay 2nd cutting: 96% this week 93% last week 98% last year 98% 5-year average Alfalfa hay 3rd cutting: 59% this week 46% last week 73% last year 55% 5-year average Alfalfa hay 4th cutting: 10% this week 4% last week 22% last year 5% 5-year average