Washington Wheat Growers Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Late Spring Rains Save Northwest Wheat Crop Yields, But Price Still Down

By Anna King August 10, 2020

Golden wheat got a recent crew cut outside of Walla Walla, Washington. Experts say the 2020 Washington and Oregon crops look about average, saved by late-spring rains.

The latest harvest estimates say Washington ranchers will harvest nearly 153 million bushels of wheat and Oregon 44 million bushels. That’s around average for both states. A typical barge holds around 122,500 bushels of wheat — meaning 44 million bushels would be about 360 barges full of grain on the Snake and Columbia Rivers heading toward export terminals.Read More

‘You Have To Remain An Optimist.’ Northwest Farmers Wrap Wheat Harvest As Prices Depress

By Anna King August 20, 2019

Roger Hsieh and Daniel Berg walk toward a pickup truck in the Horse Heave Hills of south central Washington during wheat harvest this year. CREDIT: NICOLE BERG

Right now, Northwest wheat farmers are wrapping up their harvest in many areas. But across the country, farmers are losing money on every load of that golden grain. Read More

Eastern Washington Wheat Farmers Say Removing Snake Dams To Help Orcas Would Hurt Them

By Eilís O'Neill August 15, 2019

Eastern Washington's Snake River is dotted with wheat-loading facilities. CREDIT: EILIS O'NEILL/KUOW

Washington's Snake River dams are important to wheat farmers.The state's wheat crop brings $700 million into the state's economy, more than any crop except apples. The vast majority of that wheat gets exported, most of it to Asia.Read More

USDA Secretary Says Plan To Help Farmers Affected By Tariffs Coming In September

By Emily Schwing July 2, 2018

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue was in Washington state Monday alongside Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers. During a breakfast with leaders in forestry and agriculture, trade was the biggest topic of conversation. EMILY SCHWING / NORTHWEST NEWS NETWORK

Trade was at the forefront of the conversation with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue July 2 in Spokane. Perdue said President Donald Trump has assured him “he’s not going to allow agricultural producers to bear the brunt of trade disruptions” with China, Canada or Mexico—countries Perdue calls “the big three” for U.S. international trade.Read More