10/01/08 Washington's winter wheat crop smallest in 17 years

Washington Ag October 1, 2008 The final production numbers on Washington's 2008 wheat crop are in and David Knopf who heads up the Washington Bureau of the Agricultural Statistics Service says the result is disappointing. Knopf: "The winter wheat crop is the lowest since 1991 and its 11% below last year's crop." Average winter wheat yields of 56 bushels an acre were the lowest since 1994. Average spring wheat yields were down too, at 42 bushels an acre but increased plantings resulted in three percent more spring wheat production in the state than in 2007. Knopf says the weather just didn't cooperate for wheat growers this year. Knopf: "We had some good moisture to start the year but as the growing season went along we had rather cool seasons at the start and then some untimely warm temperatures when the crop really couldn't stand the high temperatures. And we failed to get some water at some critical junctures during the growing season too." Total wheat production in Washington this year is pegged at 117.5 million bushels. Washington's barley crop for 2008 is 10.5 million bushels, down 22 percent from 2007 on fewer acres and lower yields. I'm Bob Hoff.