OLYMPIA, Wash. — In what looked like a promising year for snowpack, agriculture producers around Washington were hopeful this year would see adequate water supply resulting in healthy crops.
Then spring came and went with little or no rain, causing great concern, especially for dryland producers in Eastern Washington without irrigation.
Growers are telling WSDA that they are already experiencing yield reduction and other effects that could reduce revenues.
Livestock producers are also reporting having to buy feed sooner than expected because grazing lands are drying up.
Washington’s Department of Ecology declared a drought emergency for most of the state last week, opening up opportunities for agricultural producers to access programs, services and funding to help alleviate drought-related hardship.
More information about federal assistance can be found on the USDA’s disaster assistance discovery tool.
WSDA’s drought information webpage has more on available resources.