Drought Conditions Impact Washington AG

OLYMPIA, WA. — According to the USDA, seven days were suitable for fieldwork in Washington, unchanged from the previous week. The continuing drought in Western Washington has caused difficult farming conditions.

Central Washington dealt with heat and lack of moisture, which impacted wheat and forage crops. Forage crops had little regrowth; in some areas, cattle grazed fields that should have had a second hay-cutting.

In Yakima County, daytime highs for the week started in the lower 80s but neared triple digits by the end of the week. The county received no rain, and several brushfires started...