DAYTON–Small grain producers in the Columbia County area are in full swing bringing in the 2021 crop, according to Jacob Forsman, Northwest Grain Growers' General Manager of Columbia County, Dayton.

As anticipated, a lack of rain this spring has had its negative effects. "It's looking like this crop is at least 25 to 30 percent below average," Forsman said. "We did not get rain so we got higher protein content. We're okay on test weights-not too bad but not great.

"It's slower at the elevators," Forsman added. "There are not as many bushels coming in."

Harvest is getting underway earlier than typical, he said, by a week or 10 days. "So we'll be done a week to 10 days earlier than normal," Forsman said.

The Pacific Northwest has been in a drought cycle the past two or three years, he noted. "It's affecting us more now than in the past," Forsman said. "Last year was one of the biggest crops we've had; this year is considerably smaller."