harvest

According to NASS, Hop stocks are up 2% from this time last year.  The inventory of hops held by growers, dealers, and brewers on September 1st totaled 115 million pounds, an increase from 2018’s 113 million pounds.   That marks four years of year-over-year increases in September.   Stocks...

Hemp farmers are worried about losses because of a lack of processing equipment.  Delta Separations, a manufacturer of hemp processing equipment, claims the holdup is because U.S. banks won't make loans for processing equipment.   The company's CEO says banks are "scared that the FDIC will penalize them for supporting anyone that has the word cannabis in their supply chain."  Becaus... R

Hemp farmers are worried about losses because of a lack of processing equipment.  Delta Separations, a manufacturer of hemp processing equipment, claims the holdup is because U.S. banks won't make loans for processing equipment.   The company's CEO says banks are "scared that the FDIC will penalize them for supporting anyone that has the word cannabis in their supply chain."  Becaus... R

With a variety of harvest seasons heating up across the Inland Northwest, the need for labor becomes even more evident.  Dennis Janikowski, farm lending specialist with Numerica, said labor shortages can hit in a variety of ways, either meaning fruit that dos not get picked, product that’s not handled with care, or additional costs to find that needed labor.  He noted...

The USDA's Brad Rippey says the spring wheat harvest is progressing rapidly.  Noting that on August 19th, 60% of the harvest was complete, which is well ahead of the five-year average of 44% and even ahead of last year's drought-affected crop of 55% harvested.  ...

The 2018 Hay crop appears to be at least an average one for Northwest growers.  Many growers are in the middle of their 3rd alfalfa cut, and/or 2nd Timothy cut of the season.  Andrew Eddie Vice President of the Washington state Hay Growers Association said the extremely hot weather the region has experienced over the past couple of weeks as been a double edged sword.   “...

What a difference a year makes for spring wheat.  Especially when comparing year over year conditions for the spring wheat growing areas of the northern plains and the Northwest. "At this exact time a year ago, at the end of July, 56% of the spring wheat production area was in a drought. You actu...

Winter wheat harvest is underway in some of the southern reaches of the country-- a process that usually takes days, weather-permitting.  But for a custom harvester like Rana Zeller who follows the harvest with her equipment and crew no matter the crop.   ...

Corn harvest is underway in the Northwest and quality is looking good according to the latest USDA look at crop quality.   In Oregon 71 percent is good to excellent while in Washington 82 percent is good to excellent.   In Oregon 55 percent of the corn has been harvested for silage which is behind of last year’s pace of 74 percent.   In Was...

A lot of smoke, excessive heat; these are the conditions under which many wine grape growers have begun harvesting their crop.   WSU Extension Viticulturist Michelle Moyer said the biggest concern is the workers who are already picking white wine grapes.  ...