Expectations grow for Washington’s winter wheat crop

Washington’s farmers are expected to see a larger winter wheat crop than officials had anticipated earlier this year.

Washington’s 2013 winter wheat crop is expected to reach 119.7 million bushels, a 1 percent increase from last year, according to the U.S.. Department of Agriculture.

Washington farmers are expected to average about 70 bushels per acre from 1.71 million acres, up 2 bushels from the May forecast, according to a news release.

Benton County has about 74,000 acres of winter wheat, according to USDA. Those acres produced about 6.2 million bushels in 2012.

Franklin County has about 62,000 acres of winter wheat, according to USDA. Those acres produced 2.9 million bushels last year.

Overall, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington grows may produce 228 million bushels, down just 1 percent from the region’s 2012 production of 229.6 million bushels, according to USDA.