Crop progress report 09/06: Hot, dry weather throughout Washington

From NASS There were 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington last week, down from 6.9 days the previous week. In western Washington, it continued to stay dry. Irrigation continued where it was possible. Tree fruit began to ripen. CSA farms continued to haul in large harvests. Livestock were running low on pastures. Pastures started to suffer from lack of rain, so farms moved livestock to stock-piled feed. Yakima County daytime temperatures worked their way from the low 90s to the upper 90s over the past week. The Evans Creek fire started last Monday, and due to dry conditions and high winds, it covered more than 75,000 acres of scrubland, hills, canyons and recreational areas in Yakima and Kittitas counties. Air quality and visibility was poor. The wind, smoke, ash and blowing sand did not slow down apple or hop harvest. Packinghouses were receiving Gala, Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp and Granny Smith apple varieties. Hop harvest began only a week ago, but facilities ran continuously. Some winter pear varieties, like Bosc and Comice, started to come in. Tomato and winter squash harvest picked up. Roadside vegetable stands were at peak selection.

Washington crop progress:

Spring wheat harvested: 83% this week 62% last week 70% last year 88% 5-year average Winter wheat harvested: 95% this week 88% last week 94% last year 99% 5-year average Winter wheat planted: 32% this week 16% last week 15% last year 17% 5-year average Barley harvested: 89% this week 67% last week 64% last year 87% 5-year average Oats harvested: 63% this week 58% last week 67% last year 83% 5-year average Dry edible peas harvested 84% this week 69% last week 79% last year 91% 5-year average Alfalfa hay 3rd cutting: 80% this week 68% last week 84% last year 90% 5-year average Alfalfa hay 4th cutting: 10% this week 5% last week 31% last year 37% 5-year average