05/21/08 Heat took toll on wheat

Farm and Ranch May 21, 2008 Cooler temperatures and some rain are certainly welcomed by the region's wheat growers. But for some producers it comes too late. Chris Herron who raises dryland hard red winter wheat near Connell, Washington, says his moisture conditions were marginal and then it got hot. Herron: "It was hanging on until the heat wave hit. And then after the heat wave it pretty much decided to go from yield producing mode to survival mode. The wheat headed and in all respective instances the crop is done for the year. It put me from promising to crop insurance in three days." Moisture and heat stress on cereal grains were reported throughout eastern Washington. In north-central Oregon Umatilla, Morrow and Sherman Counties all reported crop impacts from lack of moisture and heat stress. Idaho's Nez Perce County reported that timely rains are needed to maintain optimal yields. Nationally the winter wheat crop began the week with 45 percent in good to excellent condition. Down two points from last week. Twenty four percent was rated poor to very poor, up three percent. Crop development continued to run well behind normal. The Agricultural Research Service says stripe rust has shown up in wheat nurseries near Pullman and it advises growers in the Idaho-Washington Palouse to scout for the disease and apply a fungicide if economic thresholds are reached. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.