Winter Wheat Conditions, Ag Census, & Christmas Tree Sales

Winter wheat conditions across the state appear quite good, in fact the end of November 56% of dryland winter wheat acreage was reported as being in good condition, and over 63% of irrigated winter wheat was reported as being in good to excellent condition. Recent rains and snowfall have recharged the topsoil and greatly improved the moisture profile for dryland wheat growers.

The information you supply on the 2012 Census of Agriculture provides valuable information that helps the USDA work with other organizations and rural communities to develop short-term and long-term improvements, strategies, and safeguards to better serve agricultural producers. NASS’s Renee Picanso says it’s even easier this year for producers to respond.

PICANSO: We have an internet page where we collect data, we’re also doing data collection via the i-pads this year.

Farmers and ranchers should be seeing a census form arrive in the mail anytime between now and the first of January.

Christmas tree farms have been open now for a little over two weeks and Christmas tree growers are reporting good sales this year so far, and there’s still two weeks left until Christmas. Washington Christmas trees are sold not only in the Pacific Northwest, but in California and Hawaii, as well as on the international market, and have a production value over $40 million.

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I’m Lacy Gray and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Ag Information Network.