Crop progress 1013: First freeze of the year in Washington

From NASS There were 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington last week, up from 4.5 days suitable the previous week. Western Washington had its first freeze for the season. San Juan County had more rain and a cold wave with freezing temperatures. There was already standing water on recently harvested silage fields in Snohomish County. Producers were busy trying to beat the rain by harvesting crops and sowing cover crops. Ferry and Okanogan counties had heavy dew every morning. There was only a trace of precipitation in Kittitas and Yakima counties. Nighttime low temperatures fell below freezing in Yakima for many evenings. Winter squash was still out in the fields, but most vegetable harvest had wrapped up. Approximately 50 percent of the apple harvest was completed. Honeycrisps came in from higher elevations, and Fuji apples were harvested in lower elevations. Cosmic crisps came into farmers’ markets and sold out quickly. Pend Oreille and Spokane counties had spring wheat, lentils and garbanzos beans left to be cut. Some areas of Lincoln County received snow. Adams County producers caught up on dry bean harvest. Hay was put up. Some onions were caught in the freeze and were damaged. The Palouse also had freezing temperatures, which limited spraying and fall crop emergence. Fall crops were almost completely planted before the weather turned.

Washington crop progress:

Winter wheat planted: 79% this week 67% last week 85% last year 84% 5-year average Winter wheat emerged: 47% this week 30% last week 46% last year 59% 5-year average Barley harvested: 93% this week 90% last week 100% last year 100% 5-year average Alfalfa hay 4th cutting: 74% this week 72% last week 69% last year 82% 5-year average