Washington Wheat Outlook Pt 2

Washington Wheat Outlook Pt 2

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson. Washington’s wheat forecast from the USDA’s National Ag Statistic Service is up 85% from last year, when record high temps and drought really hit the crop.

Glen Squires, CEO of the Washington Grain Commission, says until recently, there were still questions …

SQUIRES … “A couple of months ago, there was concern about, you know, the moisture. I mean, quite a bit of the wheat land is still, well as of June 9th, you know, quite a bit of it was still moderately drought, but it’s been improving.”

But the rain, Squires says has put us a little behind schedule…

SQUIRES … “You know, I see that spring wheat headed is 2% this week compared to a normal 20%. Winter wheat headed is 50% when normal is 84%. So, the crop is behind a little bit because it’s been so cool and there’s been, you know, moisture.”

Last year, Squires says was the worst production since 1964 …

SQUIRES … “This year, if all these numbers materialize, we could easily be over 300-million bushels. So, that’s a tremendous rebound.”

And the wheat market, Squires says is pretty reliable …

SQUIRES … “From a demand point of view, I think the market will be able, just like every other year, will be able to utilize what we produce.”

Elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest, Idaho wheat production is forecast to be up 51%, and Oregon 41%.

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