USA, ID: Barley harvest starts in Idaho as crops develop well

Crops continue to develop well in eastern Idaho and harvest has started in some of the southern regions.

According to the USDA-National Agriculture Statistics Service Idaho field office, rain and cooler weather allowed for good crop progression last week and reduced stress in crops in the south-eastern region.

University of Idaho Extension educator Ben Eborn said that in the eastern region in Teton County, harvest has not yet started. “The malting barley and spring wheat looks awesome and some of it is starting to turn,” Eborn said, “they were fortunate to not have had the stripe rust and barley yellow dwarf disease in their crops that other areas had, so it looks as if producers in Teton County will have a good crop. It has been raining a little every day, but not enough to damage the crops.

”The wheat and barley harvests in the southern region were slowed by thunderstorms and rain but the harvests were in full swing in the south,” according to NASS. But heavy precipitation knocked down some mature wheat fields.

“Producers were able to get out into the fields 6.1 days during the week,” NASS reported. Producers are reporting their barley is 95 percent headed, and 1 percent harvested. Producers report that 89 percent of the crop is in good to excellent condition.

24 July, 2015