dryland

Thanks to dryness “plaguing” many of the major wheat producing sections of the country, including the Pacific Northwest, concern is starting to grow about the upcoming winter wheat crop.  USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey said growers have planted 69% of the crop, which is 1% ahead of normal.  He noted weather co...

As our Northwest Farm Credit Services’ quarterly commodity snapshot continues, we turn our attention today to hay and wheat.  Bill Perry, Vice President at Northwest Farm Credit Services said their hay industry outlook suggests profitable returns.   “Stron...

As we move into the 2nd half of October and harvest picks up, the 2022 crop numbers are a mixed bag.   According to NASS, Washington canola production is forecast at 231 million pounds, up 62% year-over-year.  Harvested area, at 130,000 acres, is unchanged from 2021.  Yield i...

When it comes to the latest winter wheat seeding numbers, the USDA says 40% of the crop is in the ground this week.  Meteorologist Brad Rippey said that figure is about 4%-5% behind the five-year average as well as where growers were this time last year.   “...

Winter wheat acres jumped substantially from 2021, according to NASS.     Idaho growers planted 770,000 acres of winter wheat this year, up 60,000 acres from 2021.  Harvested area, at 710,000 acres, is up 70,000 acres from 2021.  Winter wheat prod...

Late last week, the Administration issued a final report that advocates for the breaching of the four lower Snake River dams.  Many lawmakers across the PNW decried the report as nothing more than a political maneuver by the Biden Administration.  Dan New...

The canola crop in the Northwest is making a comeback after last year's drought.  PNW Canola reports 2022 yields were up from the previous drought year, but still lower than average.  It's not clear at this point why the crop is making a sluggish recovery, or whether it's a long-term impact from the two-year drought.  This past summer ...

When it comes to robbing wheat growers of their yields, many things are out of the control of the producer, whether that’s rainfall, summertime heat, etc.  But one thing growers can control is their weed management.  In an effort to help wheat growers across the PNW, Limagrain Cereal Seeds has introduced Co Axium Soft White.  Mike Klicker with Limag...

There’s a long way to go, but commodity markets are watching U.S. harvest results.   “Early yield reports I’m getting, coupled with the cash basis, is the market, and I are both thinking that USDA has got a low enough yield in these corn and bean numbers at this point," said Mike Zuzolo, founder and president of Global Commodity Analytics.  "And with export dem...

Researchers at UC Davis, have found a way to reduce the amount of nitrogen fertilizers needed to grow cereal crops.  UC Davis’ Eduardo Blumwald said the discovery could save American farmers billions of dollars annually in fertilizer costs while also benefiting the environment.   "...