2012 Shaping Up To Be One Of The Best Years For Washington Wheat - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

2012 Shaping Up To Be One Of The Best Years For Washington Wheat Growers

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by Kjerstin Ramsing, KHQ Local News Reporter - bio | email

KHQ.COM - 2012 is shaping up to be one of the best years for Washington wheat growers in years. Farmers say the amount of moisture the area had earlier this Spring is one factor, but the larger issue is the impact severe drought conditions are having on the rest of the Country.

A manager at the Tri-Cities Grain Company in Pasco says the Midwest drought has driven up demand for grain from the State of Washington. The value of wheat has climbed more than 30% within the past six weeks. Whitman County is helping the states $1 billion dollar grain industry.

Most Northwest corn is used in the United States for cattle and poultry feed while wheat is shipped to Asia. This years harvest could rival last year's in value because of higher prices.

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