Pierce County farmers are quietly optimistic about the makings of an outstanding small grains harvest, but as the old expression goes, ‘don’t count your bushels until their in the bin.’

Sheila Braaten, agronomist with Rugby Farmers Union Oil Company, agrees the canola and small grains crop in the region is looking very good, fueled by adequate moisture and warm, but not hot growing weather. Canola, especially looks promising.

Despite a late planting season, harvest for wheat and canola should be close to average timetable, Braaten figures, early to mid-August.

The crop outlook for row crops, on the other hand, is a little concerning. Corn, soybeans and sunflowers have not benefited from the heat need at this point of the summer. Hopefully conditions will be favorable come August and early September so not to push back harvest too far.