WALLA WALLA — Combines have made their way back to wheat fields in the Walla Walla Valley; the harvest is about 10 percent complete, and the early yields show promising results.
Cory Christensen, the grain merchant for Northwest Grain Growers, said in an email that the yields are 5 percent to 20 percent better than average, comparing it to the record-breaking soft white wheat yields from 2022.
Uses for soft white wheat, the most common strain of wheat grown in the Walla Walla Valley, include baked goods such as cakes and cookies. High-quality soft white wheat has protein levels of 8.5 percent to 10.5 percent.
In addition to the optimal protein levels, the NWGG is projecting that this year’s crop will be bigger than average and that it could cause the rate of harvest to be slower.
Yet, wheat farmers are facing some hurdles. Christensen said the NWGG cooperative has record numbers of unsold farmer-owned wheat from the previous harvest.
Some reasons why farmers have turned to storing their wheat are the levels of protein in last year’s yields, relying on the income from disaster insurance payouts from years prior and an extended river closure that prevented wheat from being shipped in the region.
Also, demand for Pacific Northwest-grown wheat has continued to stay at low levels as buyers turn to competitors from Australia and the European Union.
“We’re finding some small bits of business, but it’s far less than we’d like to see for this busy time of year,” Christensen said in an email. “Much of our loss of business came from being just too high priced, not being included in advantageous trade deals, and swing buyers like China and price-sensitive buyers like Indonesia having gotten used to doing business with our competitors.”
The high amount of older wheat stored has strained farmers and those who provide storage for unsold wheat. Limited space and options for farmers combined with a larger-than-average harvest could be an additional burden on those looking to store their crop this season.
“Between interest borrowing rates at 20-year highs, input costs at levels higher than those seen during COVID disruptions, a weak insurance safety net and grain prices now at 5-year lows, local farmers are likely to cut costs everywhere they can to try to shore up their bottom line,” Christensen said in the email.
As the wheat harvest continues in the region, Christensen said he also wanted to remind rural drivers to be patient with any slow-moving vehicles and other farm-based transportation.
