04/18/06 Spring weather challenges

Washington Ag April 18, 2006 Wet conditions have Washington farmers running behind in getting their spring wheat crop in the ground. Luebehusen: "Washington, a big producer, they stand at 45% planted. This is 43 points behind last year when they had almost all the crop in." That's Eric Luebehusen, a USDA meteorologist. Washington farmers would normally have over half their barley planted now too, but so far only about 30 percent has been sown. The weekly weather bulletin from the Agricultural Statistics Service says some farmers are stressed about having the time to get their spring crops planted. Some fruit crops are in bloom and freezing temperatures means orchardists have had to take frost protection measures in some areas. Some fruit blooming is lagging behind because of cool temperatures. A law was enacted from this year's legislative session that will provide farmers a retails sales and use tax exemption for replacement parts for farm machinery. The Department of Revenue is holding informational meetings about the exemption which takes effect July 1st. One of those meetings is today from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Department of Revenue Spokane Field Office. Another will be Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Yakima Valley College. I'm Bob Hoff.