Crop progress report 08/23: Crop conditions remained mostly unchanged in Washington

From NASS There were 6.9 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington last week, the same as reported the previous week. Washington grain harvest continued in a weather week that saw a little of everything. Crop conditions remained relatively unchanged. In western Washington, warm and dry weather continued with the exception of some quick rain late in the week. Fruit trees continued to size up. Cane berry crop harvest wrapped up. Blueberry harvest continued. Skagit County received quite a bit of rain over the weekend. The rain made some crop farmers happy, but those with crop on the ground, berries or hay were a little more concerned. In Snohomish County, fall crops were planted. A fair amount of late-planted silage corn, not even close to tasseled yet, was observed in several fields. In central Washington, the week in Yakima County started with daytime highs reaching into triple digits for two straight days. Midweek and over the weekend, daytime highs in the mid-80s to mid-90s were well received. No rain was reported. Firefighters were able to contain a rash of brushfires that started last weekend with minimal damage to structures and orchard blocks. The harvest of Gala apples and Bartlett pears continued. A few vegetable fields were turned under, but plenty of vegetables could still be found in vegetable stands throughout Yakima County. The hop harvest approached as hop cones started drying. In northeast Washington, warm temperatures prevailed. Dry and windy conditions fueled several fires. In east central Washington, the winter wheat harvest wrapped up, and fall seeding started. Alfalfa cutting, baling and stacking continued. Sweet corn harvest also continued. Potato, onion and dry beans were also harvested. In Lincoln County, winter wheat harvest was completed throughout the county with the exception in the northeastern area of the county. Winter wheat seeding began in the southwest corner of Lincoln County.

Washington crop conditions:

Spring wheat: 0% very poor 6% poor 10% fair 59% good 25% excellent

Washington crop progress:

Spring wheat harvested: 48% this week 36% last week 41% last year 68% 5-year average Winter wheat harvested: 82% this week 73% last week 80% last year 90% 5-year average Winter wheat planted: 5% this week NA last week 1% last year 2% 5-year average Barley harvested: 57% this week 46% last week 42% last year 68% 5-year average Oats harvested: 52% this week 41% last week 40% last year 56% 5-year average Dry edible peas harvested 65% this week 61% last week 75% last year 81% 5-year average Alfalfa hay 3rd cutting: 56% this week 48% last week 80% last year 76% 5-year average Alfalfa hay 4th cutting: 2% this week NA last week 27% last year 14% 5-year average