06/14/05 Dryland organic grain field day

Washington Ag June 14, 2005 Organic dryland grain production in the Pacific Northwest is the focus of Washington State University's third annual Organic Grain Crop Field Day scheduled for tomorrow, June 15th. This year's field day features a progress report on current field studies at the farm of Les and Pat Boyd, located just north of the Moscow-Pullman Airport at 3801 Airport Road. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. In 2003 a study was initiated with funding from the USDA to determine the optimal production system for making the transition into certified organic grain production. Despite drought concerns this year it appears hop acreage in Washington is up over 2004. Ross: "Our acres strung for harvest is up. We are looking t 20,807 acres this year compared to a harvested area last year of 19, 382 acres." That's Joe Ross of the Washington Agricultural Statistics Service and that is a seven percent increase in acres. Washington's acreage this year accounts for 71 percent of total U.S. acreage. Acreage in the Pacific Northwest is up five percent over 2004. The Statistics Service says that while water supplies have not affected crop development at this time, growers' concerns will increase as the crop progresses into the hotter months of summer.