Regional Farmers See Mixed Results from Surprising Wheat Crop

A year of surprises for regional farmers has come to an end as they bring in their spring wheat and barley harvests. Despite last winter's higher-than-normal temperatures and lower-than-average rain and snowfall, the winter wheat crop planted last fall has been surprisingly good.

According to Doug Finkelnburg, University of Idaho extension educator for Nez Perce County, 'the winter wheat has been very good from what I'm hearing from folks.' Wheat yields are above average, but cooler temperatures and rain in late May and early June slowed the harvest start down to a more typical timeline.

A hailstorm on July 16 devastated acres of wheat crops across nearly 2,500 acres, estimated to be worth over $1 million. Finkelnburg mentioned that while spring crop yields are expected to be average at best due to drought this summer, winter wheat prices have ticked up recently compared to last season.

Although higher input costs such as fuel and fertilizer will take a bite out of the increased prices, producers may benefit from the price increase. 'That's going to put pressure on profitability,' Finkelnburg said. However, he noted that 'we will take a tick-up in prices every time.'