The John Day lock and dam is part of the Columbia River system that brings wheat to the Port of Portland for export.
The executive director of the Oregon Wheat Growers League said growers are watching their rain gauges and paying close attention to weather forecasts. Wheat prices stink, a Boardman wheat marketer said, and he doesn’t expect them to smell better anytime soon. “Without some sort of major weather event, prospects do not look good,” he said.
Wheat growers also are beginning to plan ahead for the closure of locks for repair on the Columbia and Snake river systems. The maintenance will block barge traffic for 14 to 16 weeks beginning in December. … Barge movement is central to the wheat industry. The largest barges move about 4,200 tons, or 127 semi-truck loads. Portland also serves as a key shipping point for hard red spring and winter wheat moving overseas from states farther inland.