2024 good for most but not all Washington agriculture products

COLUMBIA BASIN — Washington, and more specifically the Columbia Basin, is known for its impact in agriculture, growing millions of pounds of apples, wheat, potatoes and other food.  

“We aren’t the best, we’re just blessed,” Dale Lathim, the executive director of Potato Growers of Washington, said. 

As the growing season is coming to an end, here is an update on some of the crops.  

Apples   

As the 2024 apple season continues its harvest, optimism prevails among growers and agricultural specialists. Tree Fruit Extension Specialist Tianna DuPont provided an encouraging outlook, stating, “We’re still getting estimates on the crop turnout, but the quality seems to be good.”   

The season has been characterized by fluctuating weather patterns, notably during spring when some apple crops were affected by unseasonably cold temperatures. Despite these challenges, DuPont reports that most locations have weathered the storm.   

The apple harvest is a vital component of the agricultural landscape, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, where climate conditions are often ideal for growing a diverse range of apple varieties. The region's growers have faced a lot of unpredictability in recent seasons, but early forecasts for 2024 suggest a strong recovery as conditions have remained favorable for much of the growing cycle, according to DuPont.   

In the spring, reports indicated significant risks to the blossoms from late frosts. However, many orchards bounced back, showcasing the apples' vitality and flavor, DuPont said.   

Asparagus 

Washington is a leading producer of asparagus in the United States, particularly known for its high-quality offerings. Recently, the state has increased its production of organic asparagus, now making up about 8% of its annual yield, according to the Washington Asparagus Commission.  

About 60 asparagus farms operate within a 100-mile radius of the Tri-Cities. The state's asparagus is cultivated on approximately 4,500 acres across the Columbia Basin, Yakima Valley, and Walla Walla area. The average farm size is 75 acres. 

Since 2016, annual production in Washington has consistently grown, with 2020 seeing a harvest of around 19.3 million pounds and generating an economic impact of approximately $52 million for growers and packers, according to the Washington Asparagus Commission.  

Advances in growing techniques and intensive farm management have led to increased yields from fewer acres, maintaining excellent quality. On a global scale, the U.S., along with Mexico, Peru, China, and Germany, ranks as a top asparagus producer. 

Barley  

Barley production has seen a notable decline.  

“We’re pretty close to a record low in terms of acres for barley,” said CEO of the Washington Grain Commission Casey Chumrau.  

With 68,000 acres harvested this year — significantly lower than in previous years — the barley industry faces challenges that have prompted farmers to reconsider their crop choices.  

Chumrau highlighted that this year brought slightly better growing conditions than in the previous year, but despite that, the acreage continues to drop.   

“I actually don't have any of those production numbers yet,” Chumrau said.   

The economic landscape for barley has been affected by lower prices, which, according to Chumrau, makes it increasingly difficult for farmers to achieve a sustainable return on their investments.  

“One of the reasons that barley acres have gone down over the years is that there are some other crops, like pulses, canola, beans, that are more profitable than barley,” Chumrau said.  

Chumrau explained that farmers are consistently weighing the profitability of different crop options, leading to a shift in cultivation patterns that favors alternatives over barley.   

“There is kind of just not a huge market here for barley, other than for feed,” Chumrau said.   

Blueberries  

Berry crops like blueberries are also experiencing mixed conditions. In Oregon and Washington, a recent commodity report from the United States Department of Agriculture highlighted a light supply alongside moderate demand, contributing to slightly higher market prices.  

Cherries  

The 2024 cherry season in Washington state was a remarkable success, according to BJ Thurlby, President of the Washington Fruit Commission. The season concluded Aug. 24, culminating in a harvest of approximately 380 million pounds of cherries.  

“The fruit that went into a box this season was stellar,” Thurlby said. “It was nice to have a good growing season because the last couple of years we have been having some issues, but this year went great.”   

The growing conditions were notably favorable overall, with the exception of a heatwave at the start of July that prompted farmers to begin picking cherries earlier than expected.   

“This is one of the first seasons in my 28 years that we didn’t get rain,” Thurlby added. “That was so wonderful, and our cherries appreciated that.”   

Originally anticipating a smaller crop, Thurlby expressed surprise at the surplus.  

“We probably could have even grown more cherries and been fine with the supply and demand of this year.” 

Grapes  

Grape harvests are currently underway, said Colleen Frei, Executive Director of the Washington Wine Growers Association. Frei reported that the grape crop appears to be bigger than the previous year, with an estimated 250,000 tons expected to be harvested this season.   

“Our crop appears to be a little more fruitful than last year,” Frei said. “We anticipated having some enhanced tons per acre compared to 2023.”  

Although the winter brought some challenges, including deep freeze incidents in January, Frei mentioned that the vines managed to recover without suffering significant damage. The grape harvest is projected to continue through the first weeks of November.  

Hazelnuts   

Hazelnuts are a new industry in Washington, with most U.S. hazelnuts being grown in Oregon. However, 14 years ago, Jim Canaday, the vice president of Eastern Washington Hazelnut Association started growing acres of hazelnuts in Washington.   

Now, there are around 400 acres planted throughout Yakima Valley and the Columbia Basin, according to Canaday. There have been harvests for this around 1,500 to 2,000 pounds per acre depending on the age of the tree. Older trees tend to have a larger harvest, according to Canaday.   

“You know, a hazelnut tree is just beautiful,” Canaday said. “They have big, fat leaves and real, you know, they're a nut tree. So, they're real, they're pretty. And so, yeah, it's, it's, it's exciting, and I enjoy it.”  

Washington is also the only state in the United States that grows organic hazelnuts according to Canaday. There is a fungal disease in Oregon called Eastern Filbert Blight that prevents farmers in Oregon from growing organic hazelnuts, however, that is not an issue in Washington, according to Canaday. This leads to the Washington organic hazelnuts selling for around $2.00 a pound vs. Oregon's at $0.90 a pound.  

“It’s the people on the front end that got interested, and we're all working together,” Canaday said. “I mean, that's really the truth. And, you know, I brought it up here and kind of got it started. That's kind of a pain, because everybody wants to know what to do and all of that. So, I get a lot of phone calls and a lot of interested people, but I enjoy that.”  

Pears  

According to DuPont, severe impacts from winter weather damaged bud counts, and a subsequent frost in March further threatened the pear harvest. In areas like Yakima and Hood River, Ore., however, damage was less pronounced, allowing local crops to perform reasonably well.  

DuPont noted that Washington will see a lower-than-average pear yield this season due to the winter damage.  

“There will be 50% of a crop in the northern areas and 75% of a crop overall,” she said.   

The Pear Bureau Northwest, which oversees markets in Washington and Oregon, projects a harvest of 10.6 million standard boxes, which is 31% lower than the five-year average. Bosc pears experienced the most significant decline, with reported yields down by 62% compared to last year, attributed to early season frost. Green Anjou pears are also expected to fall short, at 36% lower than the five-year average.  

“Despite this year’s shorter crop and some regional differences in overall appearance,” said CarrieAnn Arias, President and CEO of the Pear Bureau Northwest, “this year’s harvest will continue to deliver a great eating experience for the consumer.”  

Potatoes   

According to Dale Lathim, the executive director of Potato Growers of Washington, the potato season fared well for the Columbia Basin.  

Fewer potatoes were contracted this year; however, the yield is expected to be high. There is an estimated production and sale of around 93 million pounds of potatoes and 150,000 acres of crops. The first yield from June and the beginning of July exceeded expectations due to sunny weather followed by cooler temperatures, which benefited the crops.   

“The early crops were a hit,” Lathim said.   

However, the second round of crops is anticipated to be at or below average due to the excessive heat experienced in July, particularly in the Tri-Cities area where there were 17 days with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit, said Lathim. This heat caused the potatoes to dry out and impeded growth during that period.  

Stone Fruit  

This season has proved to be especially challenging for stone fruit growers due to adverse weather conditions. According to DuPont, a severe frost and a cold winter have led to significant crop losses among stone fruit growers, particularly affecting peaches, plums, and nectarines. DuPont reported that some growers have experienced a complete loss of their crops following the harsh winter and particularly devastating frost in March. Those able to salvage some of their crops can expect low yields, she said.  

Wheat  

The winter wheat crop has shown resilience this year, with most areas reporting an average yield of around 70 bushels per acre, which is a significant increase from last year. However, spring wheat has not mirrored this success, yielding an average of 48 bushels per acre — lower than the typical winter wheat harvest. Chumrau provided insights into the contrasting performance between the two types of wheat.   

Chumrau said there were some challenges this season, including moisture issues, frostbite and a cold snap in January. Nevertheless, she emphasized that most wheat crops bounced back with minimal damage.   

"I think overall, percentage-wise, the fires probably didn't impact that much," she said. "But in certain areas and for certain farmers, there were some devastating fires, and there were a lot of wheat fields that would have been lost because of those fires."   

Chumrau noted that while the fires affected local production for some regions, they did not drastically alter overall statewide yield numbers.  

Despite the relatively positive yield reports for winter wheat, Chumrau highlighted a pressing concern: the low prices that continue to challenge farmers.   

"I think the fact that the low wheat and barley prices are a real challenge for farmers and that they don't get to set those prices is always something that we like to highlight," she said.   

This profit dilemma is compounded by increased production costs, making it difficult for farmers to see returns on their investments, according to Churmrau.   

Looking ahead, Chumrau expressed optimism but remains cautious as most of the state continues to grapple with drought conditions.   

"We're hoping for additional rain as we go forward because most of the state continues to be in drought conditions," she said.   

As planting season progresses, she underscored the importance of ensuring that crops are in good condition going into winter. Properly established crops have a better chance to thrive in the next growing season.  

    DuPont noted that Washington will see a lower-than-average pear yield this season due to the winter damage with only around 75% of the crop surviving the frosts, Executive Director of the Washington Wine Growers Association Colleen Frei said.
  

    Executive Director of the Washington Wine Growers Association Colleen Frei said that the grape season went well and she is excited to make tasty wine from them.
  

    Tree Fruit Extension Specialist Tianna DuPont spoke about the apples, pears and stone fruit. Pears and stone fruit had a harder season; however, apples thrived according to DuPont.
  

    The cherry growing conditions were favorable, with the exception of a heatwave at the start of July that prompted farmers to begin picking cherries earlier than expected, according to President of the Washington Fruit Commission BJ Thurlby
  

    The 2024 apple season had a hard start to the season with late frosts, however many orchards were able to bounce back with flavorful apples, Tree Fruit Extension Specialist Tianna DuPoint said.