The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WASHINGTON-Crop insurance is a complex topic, but it may come in handy for area farmers as they ride out the fifth driest year since data recording began in 1894. Rainfall is down 2.94 inches from an average year, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), resulting in lower yields for many dryland producers.

According to data from the NIDIS, which can be accessed at www.drought.gov, April 2021 has been the second driest month since the system began recording data in Walla Walla 127 years ago. One hundred percent of Walla Walla has experienced a D0-dryness level,...