Crop progress report 07/04: Hot temps continued throughout Washington

From NASS There were 7 days suitable for field work, unchanged from the previous week. Statewide temperatures for the week ending July 4 were above normal. In San Juan County, dry conditions and a historic heat wave sparked the area. Soil moisture continued to decline. All crop conditions in nonirrigated areas suffered. Crops on limited irrigation were kept viable through extra irrigation schedules. Berry crops began to ripen, and tree fruit sized up. In Chelan County, crop and pasture conditions deteriorated at an accelerated rate. Wildfires broke out and grew quickly due to extreme drought conditions. In Yakima County, 115-degree temperatures struck the area. Some wheat was damaged, but the severity was unknown. Field crews harvested sweet cherries, apricots, raspberries and blueberries. Majority of orchard and field crops showed signs of heat stress. In Adams County, potatoes were losing quality because of the extreme change in temperature. Haying entered second cutting and was nearly complete. In Whitman County, pastures worsened every day with no rain.

Washington crop condition

Winter wheat: 10% very poor 26% poor 44% fair 20% good 0% excellent Spring wheat: 31% very poor 37% poor 24% fair 8% good 0% excellent Barley: 22% very poor 38% poor 39% fair 1% good 0% excellent Oats: 10% very poor 13% poor 15% fair 62% good 0% excellent Dry edible peas: 9% very poor 42% poor 27% fair 22% good 0% excellent

Washington crop progress:

Spring wheat headed: 98% this week 88% last week 82% last year 87% 5-year average Winter wheat harvested: 0% this week NA last week 1% last year 1% 5-year average Barley headed: 96% this week 91% last week 88% last year 82% 5-year average Oats headed: 77% this week 71% last week 59% last year 47% 5-year average Alfalfa hay 2nd cutting: 30% this week 13% last week 9% last year 45% 5-year average