PENDLETON, Ore. (AP) — Cold, wet weather pushed back harvesting on the Oregon wheat crop this year, but farmers say it’s worth the wait: The extra rain has doubled this year’s harvest in some areas.
The wheat harvest in Umatilla County usually begins on July 5, but farmers say they were forced to wait an extra 10 days this year.
The East Oregonian reports the higher yields will create distribution bottlenecks that will require more trucks and trailers than last year.
The 2011 harvest also had a severe infestation of the fungus stripe rust, forcing farmers to apply triple the amount of fungicide as they usually do.
