Cheney Free Press -

ST. JOHN - As harvest season wraps up in the Palouse, farmers are reporting a less-than-impressive crop yield in the face of high heat and low precipitation.

Cory Christensen, Grain Merchant at Northwest Grain Growers, expressed concerns about the adverse effects of the lack of timely rains and early spring heat on this year's wheat crop.

"We've seen yields reduced to 75-85% of the 10-year average and elevated proteins in the areas in those same fields," he said.

The reliance on non-irrigated moisture makes the region susceptible to the whims of the weather, necessitating a constant sear...