Waving Wheat

Wheat field basks in the summer sun                                © Diane B. Reed

Waving wheat                                           © Diane B. Reed

Wheat is the backbone of agriculture in the Walla Walla valley. The undulating hills of the Palouse stretch north and northeast, the cradle of dry wheat farming.

It's been a challenging year for the wheat growers. An extended wet spring proved worrisome and expensive. Many growers had to spray for wheat rust, which can ruin their crop. The harvest has been delayed several weeks and is just getting underway in earnest.

Grain silo                                                 © Diane B. Reed

There is something intensely beautiful about a waving field of golden wheat in the late afternoon sun. But the growers are more interested in getting the harvest safely in than admiring its beauty. Weather, fire, and mechanical failures are constant concerns.

So next time you enjoy a loaf of bread, thank the wheat growers of the Palouse, our back yard.