A look back at March
It’s official, spring is here and producers from around the state are gearing up for another growing season. I’ve had the opportunity to chat with a few folks from around the state and it appears many are planning to start dropping seed in the ground the first week of April. Although not unrealistically early, the relatively dry winter has left fields firm enough to begin planting.
In terms of the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee (MWBC) we remain optimistic that trade teams will be able to travel this summer and that we’ll have the opportunity to get them back out in the field. A few groups have confirmed their travel barring any unforeseen circumstances. But even with travel opening back up, we’re going to continue taking a very heavy digital approach when it comes to presenting crop information to buyers.
Speaking of travel, last month we were able to host our annual trip to the Wheat Marketing Center in Portland. The group included staff and researchers with the Montana State University Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology Department (MSU), State Grain Lab employees, as well as a few growers from around the state. The group learned firsthand about the end-use quality’s buyers need, commodity transportation through the Pacific Northwest, and ultimately what happens when wheat and barley leave the coast. You can read more about the Wheat Marketing Center later this month in our Partner Spotlight.
As for the rest of the month, you’ll see below a breakdown of how we spent our time and focused our efforts here a the MWBC.
- March 1—MWBC Board Meeting, Great Falls
- All staff and board
- March 3—National Barley Improvement Council Prep Meeting, Virtual
- Mike O’Hara
- March 7-10—MWBC Producer Tour, Portland
- Jason Laird
- March 9—Montana Drought Task Force Meeting
- Sam Anderson – Virtual
- March 14—National Barley Improvement Council with ARS
- Cassidy Marn – Virtual
- March 15—Quarterly Manager Meeting, Helena
- Cassidy Marn
- March 16—USDPL checkoff collection discussion
- Cassidy, Sam, and Jason
- March 18—Japan prep meeting
- Cassidy Marn – Virtual
- March 19—GenTax assessment collection discussion
- Cassidy, Sam, and Jason, Virtual
- March 22—MT Pulse Committee Meeting, Havre
- Cassidy Marn
- March 22—Northern Crop Council Board Meeting, Fargo
- Terry Angvick
- March 24—Dam Breaching meeting, USW
- Cassidy, Sam, and Jason Laird – Virtual
- March 24—Japan, MSU Breeder Meeting
- Cassidy, Sam, and Jason – Virtual
- March 25—US Grains Council State Staff Meeting
- Cassidy Marn, Jason Laird
- March 25—Heartland Seed Grower Meeting, Lewistown
- Jason Laird, Charlie Bumgarner
- March 29—Varietal Marketing Specialist Meeting, Bozeman
- Cassidy, Sam
- March 31—Prospective Planting Report