Crop progress report 10/23: Washington received beneficial moisture

From NASS There were 6.3 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington, down from 6.7 days reported the previous week. Temperatures continued to remain well above normal throughout most of the week. As the week ended, a more traditional late-October rainy pattern arrived in northwest Washington and spread throughout the state. Weekend precipitation was reported statewide. Wildfire smoke from fires in the central and western parts of the state dissipated. Air quality also improved throughout the region. Temperatures dropped anywhere from 10-20 degrees as Washington received the first significant amount of beneficial moisture in months. Rainfall accumulations ranged from a quarter of an inch to over an inch. Low temperatures hovered around freezing, with 0.5 inches of rain reported in Douglas County. Klickitat County received about a quarter of an inch in the middle of the county, while the east end received about half an inch. Snow fell above 4,000 feet in the Cascade Mountains. Prior to the weather event, good progress was made in the 2022 row crop harvest. Onion harvest wrapped up. Grain corn, silage corn and potatoes were harvested on a normal schedule. Winter wheat planting wrapped up. The very dry conditions late this summer and early this autumn impacted fall pasture growth and forced many livestock producers to start feeding hay earlier than usual.

Washington crop condition

Winter wheat: 2% very poor 4% poor 26% fair 58% good 10% excellent

Washington crop progress:

Winter wheat planted: 95% this week 89% last week 96% last year 92% 5-year average Winter wheat emerged: 72% this week 64% last week 67% last year 66% 5-year average Alfalfa hay 4th cutting: 84% this week 77% last week 85% last year 84% 5-year average