The harvest is on

Katie Teachout, The Journal | Last updated Jul 20, 2021 8:44am0

Katie Teachout count

Dave McCormick fills his DCM Farms truck with club wheat from his Case 1680 Combine off Benzel Road in Ritzville Saturday, July 17. McCormick said his combine usually would be full after one pass, but was having to make two passes to fill up with this year's sparser crops.

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RITZVILLE – Area farmers are busy harvesting fields, with the drought affecting yields and protein counts of some crops.

Mark Schoesler spoke from his combine while harvesting soft white wheat Monday morning, July 19.

"We're probably about one-third or more through harvest, so we've got a feel for it," Schoesler said. "Right now I would say the majority of the soft white wheat, to date, is at a protein discount. Everything in the region will be below average."

Schoesler said his club wheat remained at a premium.

"They raised the protein count maximum from 11% to 12% on Friday, so I think all o...