Wet Spring Puts Some Wheat Growers Between A Rock and A Hard Place

The late winter snow and early spring rains have left many fields across the Northwest wet and extremely soft, to the point of delaying many producers from getting their spring wheat in the ground.  And for those growers to get crop insurance for the 2019 season, they must have their wheat in the ground by a variety of dates.

So with many of those Preventative Planting dates looming at the end of this month and into May, what options do growers have?

Michelle Hennings, Executive Director of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers, says one option they tried was asking RMA to extend those Preventative Planting deadlines.  That didn’t work, so what’s next?

“Make sure they get their plantings in by the dates, or they can actually leave the acreage idle and and receive a full preventative planting payment which is 60% of their wheat insurance guarantee.  They can plan a cover crop during the late planting period and receive a full planting payment.  They can plant a second crop after the late planting period.”

Hennings added while there are options for growers consider, she acknowledge none are really a good fit.  She said farmers don’t want their land to stay idle, and many feel a ten day delay would allow the ground to dry out enough to wrap up planting.

“Even though there have been studies that have shown that wheat, if it’s planted late, yields could potentially decline.  We’ve been trying to work with RMA, but haven’t been able to get anywhere, because RMA says they cannot extend the final planting dates, because it would change in terms of conditions of the insurance policy after the contract changed dates.”

Hennings said with the first deadline already past, it’s important that growers chat with their crop insurance agent to determine the best plan of action.

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekradio.com