USA: Wyoming farmers have started harvesting a barley crop expected to top last year's yields but remain lower than average, The Billings Gazette reported in a statement. About 6.8 million bushels (0.15 million metric tonnes) were expected to be harvested from 80,000 acres of barley this year. While that is up sharply from last season's 4.9 million bushels, it pales in comparison to the 6.97 million bushels produced in 2001. Still, farmers near Powell were optimistic heading into their fields.

"With a very small percentage of the crop in, things are looking pretty decent," said Tom Richardson, a Coors Brewing Co. fieldman. "There are higher expectations of it this year than there were last year, anyway." Some were leery of hail and wind storms destroying their crops. But many expected good yields based on better growing conditions this year. Yields of 85 bushels (1.85 metric tonnes) per acre can be expected in most areas of the state, the Wyoming Agricultural Statistics Service reported.

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