Blustery weather leaves some growers battered

Hay, fruit growers dealt with challenging season

COLUMBIA BASIN — Weather conditions were the subject of much concern for growers back in May, with hail and rain creating potential conflict for the fruit and hay industries.

Upon the first day of autumn, growers were still feeling pretty battered about by the weather.

"We finally worked our way out of the rain (in May), but then there was late season rain, so we had problems with rain or rain-softened cherries that were complicated by the early and middle part of the summer," said Gip Redman, head of the field department for the Holtzinger Fruit Company.

While there were "pockets of good fruit," Redman said that all areas of the state were hurt or influenced by the weather, and growers were unable to consistently deliver a high-quality product to all markets at all times. Because of that, he said, markets were soft and never recovered from the price dip that usually occurs around July 4.

"It was a challenging year, because we had extensive heat early and (some) nights with winds that went as high as 70 miles per hour, but the number one factors were two different major rain events," said B.J. Thurlby, president of the Washington State Fruit Commission, regarding cherries.

Thurlby said that the cherry crop is estimated to be 10.7 million boxes, with each box equivalent to 20 pounds. The original estimation was that it would be a 12 million box crop.

"Early season growers were devastated and we feel we lost between 1.5 and 2 million boxes to rain this year," he said.

Thurlby said that the overall season, which lasted from June 1 to August 10, still has to be considered a success because growers got as many cherries into boxes as they could and sold successfully, with consumers returning in spite of the fact that the quality was down from 2003.

Other fruit fared better, Thurlby said, with apricots experiencing an almost record crop at 5,300 tons and numerous retail entities informing him that they considered the crops the best products ever.

As for peaches, nectarines, prunes and plums, Thurlby said that it's still the heart of the season.

"The overall quality this year has been outstanding, and demand has so far been consistent with supply," he said.

Damage on the hay growing front has been more wide ranging, according to Ben Davis, county executive director of the USDA Grant County Farm Service Agency.

"Virtually all growers were adversely affected by rain on the first cutting," Davis said, adding that second and third cuttings are getting a better price this year than they normally would command.

Growers that are making their third cutting late or into their fourth cutting are concerned again about rain events, Davis said.

"Some growers have not escaped rain on any cuts this year, while others were primarily affected only on the first and have done fairly well getting the second and third cuttings up without rain," he said. "Overall, it's been a pretty tough year for Grant County hay growers."

Moses Lake farmer Don Turner said that the weather created a supply and demand that has given a better price for his crops.

"Hopefully, we've been able to cut in between the weather," he said.

Davis said he has not received any word about a declaration of government aid for hay crops because of rain damage yet. While it still could happen, he said that would only open the door for potential low interest loans.

"Basically, not a lot of growers would qualify for low interest loans because the criteria is pretty restrictive," he said.

Davis said that the real unknown is whether the government would open a crop disaster program so disaster payments may be made directly to the grower. If that sort of a program were announced, quality losses on alfalfa hay could qualify for benefits.

The 2001-2002 crop year disaster program has been concluded, but there's been nothing for 2003 or 2004, Davis said.

He said that periodically, specific weather events will get action, and noted that an Aug. 2 windstorm that bypassed Grant County but did considerable damage to lentils in the Palouse has been getting a lot of attention.

And the future?

"It's always good," Redman said. "That's the things about growers — the next season is always going to be great."

Redman said that there seems to be no indication otherwise for next season, with no significant effects from rain or heat.

"There's potential for a few more doubles — two cherries on one stem — but if growers manage to keep orchards moist, it shouldn't be a real big problem," he said.

Thurlby said that cherries need as much promotion as possible to keep consumers tuned into products and excited for them.

"As long as we have that piece of marketing product in place, we've got a great chance to be successful," he said.

Turner wished he could make that prediction.

"That's nature's call," he said.

Davis noted that the hay industry is driven by supply and demand.

"Hay is a major crop in Grant County and will continue to be," he said. "Success or failure has a lot to do with Mother Nature. There's a lot of factors that come into play on the success of the hay farmer."