Idaho Wheat Harvest

The Idaho Wheat Harvest is a mixed bag in 2008 with dryland areas suffering bigger yield losses than the irrigated areas, but a statewide frost and hail took their toll as well. The change from a cold, wet spring to blazing, hot summer barely took a week and caught many fields at the flowering state, their most vulernable time.

Wheat in the American Falls area looked good all season but frost, winds and high temps cut into yields even on irrigated land.

In north Idaho a frost on July 10 combined with a dry summer has hurt yields and quality in some areas. Yields there are down to half of normal.

Idaho Agricultural Statistics Service says they have seen a statewide barley yield of 80 bu. per acre, which is a good average.