07/25/07 Winter wheat harvest ahead of average pace in PNW

Farm and Ranch July 25, 2007 Despite some short rain delays the harvest of winter wheat in the Pacific Northwest at the start of this week was running ahead of both last year's pace and the five year average for now. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says Oregon was the most advanced. Rippey: "Oregon, one-third of the crop harvested in just the last week reaching 55%, well ahead of the 5-year average of 28%." 0 As of Sunday 19 percent of Washington's winter wheat had been cut, seven percent in Idaho. Oregon has 30 percent of its spring wheat harvested, Washington three percent. Spring wheat harvest had not begun in Idaho and in eastern Idaho dryland spring wheat was reported to be severely drought stressed. Low irrigation water supplies have prompted cutbacks in some areas. Generally average winter wheat yields are being reported around the region though there are instances of above to below average yields depending upon location. Nationally 81 percent of the winter wheat has been harvested, right on the five year average, but USDA's Rippey says some of those Plains states are still having problems because of the wet weather they have had. Rippey: "Still trying to harvest in parts of Texas and Oklahoma. Texas 92% harvested. Five year average is 100%. Oklahoma even worse shape. Just 83% harvested. The five year average is of course 100%." I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag information Network.