Crop progress report 0929: Washington damp and delayed

From NASS There were 4.1 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington last week, down from 4.9 days suitable the previous week. Western Washington had cold, wet weather for the week. Soil moisture recovered from the summer drought. Work conditions were wet, and field work slowed down. Pastures rebounded and grass was supple. Alfalfa was about knee-high. Some areas received six to eight inches of rain for the month. Saturated soil prevented potato harvest. Tomato harvest suffered from blight due to the increased moisture and cold nights. Producers scrambled to harvest tender crops due to the cold temperatures. The fifth and final cutting of grass silage was chopped in Whatcom County. Corn and seed potato harvest finished up. Okanagan and Ferry counties had to delay wheat harvest, and second and third cuttings of hay due to moisture. Kittitas and Yakima counties remained dry. Snow, rain and then more snow hit Pend Oreille, Lincoln and Spokane counties. Adams and Lincoln counties still had to complete winter wheat seeding and reseeding due to cold and wet conditions. The last few acres of spring wheat had yet to be harvested. The Palouse had freezing temperatures at night. Seeding slowed to a halt.

Washington crop progress:

Spring wheat harvested: 93% this week 91% last week 100% last year 100% 5-year average Winter wheat planted: 61% this week 47% last week 68% last year 65% 5-year average Winter wheat emerged: 13% this week 5% last week 33% last year 38% 5-year average Barley harvested: 88% this week 84% last week 100% last year 100% 5-year average Oats harvested: 95% this week 92% last week 99% last year NA 5-year average Dry peas harvested: 91% this week 86% last week 100% last year 100% 5-year average Alfalfa hay 3rd cutting: 96% this week 94% last week 99% last year 99% 5-year average Alfalfa hay 4th cutting: 67% this week 54% last week 63% last year 70% 5-year average