Checking in On Crop Conditions

I'm Susan Allen Numbers are a big deal to Chris Mertz the Regional director for Alaska, Idaho ,Oregon and Washington's USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. Our industry is dependant on numbers they effect exports, ,loans, programs and projections. Crop update s are a part of their service here is Chris with Washington's crop update for last week .

MERTZ: Hay cutting progressed to the fifth cuttings, which were earlier than usual. Conditions remained dry and hot for most of the week while blueberries were harvested. Vegetable crops planted for autumn and winter did not progress as well due to the heat. Plums, pumpkins, apples, and other fruit began to ripen and were nearing harvestable conditions.

What about wheat and potato

In the central region, the winter wheat harvest continued, but its quality degraded. Onion and potato harvests continued. Wine grapes, melons, and apples were in good condition. Cattle were still in good condition as well. In the east, wheat yields were high, but quality had dropped. Ground moisture decreased due to the hot temperatures. Apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums, and apples were doing well. Sweet corn harvest continued during the heat wave. Fruit and vegetable crops progressed unabated by the hot and dry conditions, primarily due to irrigation and moisture present from the last few weeks of rain. High and record yields were expected for wheat and other crops while quality for wheat dropped. No losses are expected

Thanks Chris, now if we could just get prices to be as strong as this growing season. Kind of fun to hear what all the different farmers are up to look forward to having Chris Crop Updates on a regular basis