What are some options for dryland cash crops on small acreage (15-20 acres) in Eastern Washington?

Question

Our climate is about the same as, say, Kansas. Four real seasons. Typical cash crop is wheat here but we can't afford that kind of acreage. Please no crops that need irrigation.

Answer 1

I grew up in Washington.  Lived in Ellensburg and Kittitas while I was in college.  I've spent most of my life in the Agriculture sector.

Frankly, you are rather stuck.  Wheat is really the only good dryland crop (especially for Eastern WA).

Have you concidered a specialty market?  Growing organic wheat on 15-20 acres might net you enough to be worth it.

Growing flowers that tollerate dry climate, and can then be dried and sold for crafts is another option, but labor intensive harvest.

A few sheep.

Elk farm...but the fencing is fantasticly expensive.

Hand broadcast a few cover crops, like wheat, but do NOT harvest them.  Instead also raise some ringneck pheasant chicks.  Release the pheasants in the autumn and charge hunters to hunt your land.

There are a few spots (usually by the mountains) which still get enough rainfall to produce alfalfa hay crops.

Raise heritage breeds of turkeys, on free range and sell them for a premium price come Thanksgiving.

Get your land into CRP and return it to a natural state.

Have you ever seen how much those wreath made of wheat sell for? ($200!)  Think about turning your product into something that will sell for more.

Think outside the box....you should be able to come up with something.  

~Garnet

Permaculture homesteading/farming over 20 years