06/30/06 Pre-harvest wheat tour finds good crop

Washington Ag June 30, 2006 The 2006 Pacific Northwest Pre-harvest tour of the region's wheat crop was held earlier this week and the leader of the event, Dave Shelton of the Wheat Marketing Center in Portland, summed up the findings. Shelton: "I would characterize this year's PNW wheat crop as being in really good shape at this time. And also we are looking at the potential of some above average yields." Shelton answered a question about whether the recent hot temperatures had hurt the crop. Shelton: "We had some discussion about that and it seemed to be probably not with the winter wheat. Probably going to be okay. And talking with the guy at Dayton today, it looks like there is enough moisture in the soil at least in that area, to carry through the winter and probably also the spring planted crops." The tour even found enthusiasm about the moisture profile for the planting of this fall's winter wheat crop. Millers, exporters and northwest wheat commission representatives participated in the Pre-Harvest tour which visually inspects wheat fields around the region. Expectations are for harvest to start in Washington in the Horse Heaven Hills area between the 6th and 10th of July. I'm Bob Hoff.