Soft White Wheat prices way off from a year ago; average rainfall all over the board

These plump kernals of wheat harvested in 2022 are not drawing the price of a year ago as prices have fallen off as more than $4.

From Oregon State University Extension Service:

By Jacob Powell

Grain and Rain

Jacob Powell is a General Agricultural Extension Agent with Oregon State University Extension Service based in Wasco and Sherman Counties

The average price for soft white wheat in Portland for March and April was $7.80 and  $7.53 per bushel for 10.5% protein. 

A year ago the price was at $11.43 and $11.02  during March and April. 

So far the price in May has been at around $7.20, a year ago the price was up at $11.12. 

Barley prices stayed steady over the last two months at $240/ton and so far in May the price is at $220/ton for old crop and $210 for new crop.  

Liquid sunshine at the right time can really boost yields. As grain crops are coming into maturity, Wasco and Sherman counties are seeing precipitation at above and below average depending on location.

Precipitation at the Sherman Station in Moro for March and April was 1.22 and 1.76  inches at 126% and 183% of average. The crop year total is at 104% of average for the  Sherman Station with 9.44 total since September. Average precipitation across Sherman  County in March was 0.94 ranging from 1.58 east of Grass Valley to 0.51 in Wasco.  Average precipitation in April was 1.09 ranging from 1.76 at the Sherman Station in  Moro to 0.61 in Kent.  

Precipitation at The Dalles Airport for March and April was 0.79 and 0.92 inches at 67%  and 111% of the 30-year average. Crop year total for The Dalles Airport is at only 67%  of average at 8.13 total, surprisingly lower than in Moro and lower than many other areas in Wasco County.

Average precipitation across Wasco County in March was 1.76  ranging from 2.77 in Mosier to 0.70 in The Dalles. Average precipitation in April was  1.09 ranging from 1.68 in Mosier to 0.43 in the Columbia District (east end of  Fifteen Mile Rd).  

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The Mid Columbia Farmers Newsletter is produced every other month by OSU Extension Agent Jacob Powell for crop and livestock producers in North Central Oregon. The newsletter provides timely updates impacting agriculture in the region on topics covering weather, climate forecasts, commodity prices, market forecasts, local agricultural events, and ongoing extension programs and research. 

Click here to read the entire May Newsletter.