Drought Threatens Walla Walla's Wheat Harvest
Farmers and weather observers warn that a record-breaking dry spell is devastating crops in the Walla Walla Valley and Garfield County.
Some of the best wheat land in the county, which has historically yielded 50 to 60 bushels to the acre, will suffer alongside the lighter lands this year. Frederick Stine, a prominent local farmer with 600 acres six miles south of the city, estimates his crop will not exceed 35 to 40 bushels per acre, a significant drop from previous years. Stine attributes the decline to a severe lack of moisture, noting that his wheat stands a foot shorter than it did at this time last year. Across the region, the situation is even more dire; Charles Freeze, returning from the Pomeroy district, reports that farmers in Garfield County are praying for rain to save even a half-crop as north winds and heat continue to plague the fields.
“The hot weather of this week, north winds and a lack of rain are playing havoc with crop prospects, and farmers are badly worried over the outcome.”
Agricultural vulnerability to drought remains a recurring theme in Eastern Washington. Today, Walla Walla's economy still balances on the success of its harvests, and the 'praying for rain' sentiment expressed in 1903 reflects the ongoing struggle with irrigation, water rights, and climate variability that persists in the Palouse and surrounding valleys.
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