SMALL GRAIN ACREAGE AND MANAGEMENT TRENDS FOR EASTERN OREGON AND WASHINGTON

Small grain acreage and management trends over the past 20 years were evaluated for counties and regions in eastern Oregon and Washington. Data were obtained from surveys conducted by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) and National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Small grain acreages of dryland and irrigated winter wheat, spring wheat, and barley are reported as a percent of the total acreage in each region of each state. Also reported are trends for tillage practices, cropping frequency, and timing in terms of percent of total acreage. Winter wheat acreage has remained relatively constant over the last 20 years for most regions and comprised over 60 percent of the nearly 3.5 million acres planted to small grains in eastern Oregon and Washington. Acreage planted to barley has generally declined by 5 percent, with production shifting to spring wheat. Use of intensive tillage has decreased by over 50 percent in most regions, with production shifting to reduced tillage and no-till. No-till acreage for all wheat in Oregon increased from 1 percent in 1996 to 17 percent in 2004 and from 3 percent to 13 percent in Washington. For spring wheat, no-till acreage increased from 2 to 21 percent in Oregon and from 2 to 18 percent in Washington.