05/31/07 Dry conditions lowering PNW grain yield potential

Farm and Ranch May 31, 2007 Overall the condition ratings of both winter and spring wheat around the Pacific Northwest are mostly good to excellent. However, lack of moisture in some areas is reducing yield potential and hot and mostly dry weather is in the forecast this week. For example this week's Crop Weather Bulletin from Oregon says winter wheat fields in Morrow County that looked like they might yield 60-70 bushels an acre two weeks ago, now have a yield potential of approximately 40 bushels. Washington's Adams County also reports reduced winter wheat yield potential and in Lincoln County despite some areas getting good a good rain, in those that missed the moisture some winter wheat is getting that blue-green color from stress. Spring wheat and barley in both counties have also been downgraded. Oregon saw the biggest week to week drop in winter wheat condition ratings in the region, falling from 81 percent good to excellent to 61 percent good to excellent. Nationally, USDA meteorologist Eric Lubehusen says winter wheat ratings are still better than last year at this time. Lubehusen: "Seventeen percent of the crop coming in at very poor to poor. Fifty-seven percent rated good to excellent. This is down two percentage points from last week but it is 29 percentage points up over last year." The U.S. spring wheat crop is rated 79 percent good to excellent, down two points from last week but better than last year. The U.S. barley crop is 79 percent good to excellent, also down from last week and slightly better than last year at this time. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.