Harvesting wheat is in abundance

CHENEY – The Palouse region is buzzing with activity as combines move through fields, harvesting the winter and spring wheat that have been the backbone of Washington's agriculture.

By early August, more than half of the state's winter wheat and 20% of its spring wheat had already been harvested. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is predicting a strong yield this year, estimating an average to above-average harvest of around 146 million bushels.

This forecast brings some relief to farmers who have struggled with drought, extreme heat, and low yields in recent years.

However, despite the promi...