By Kent Kupfner, MWBC Executive Director
2025 Budget Cycle
MWBC concluded the annual budget planning cycle during our December 2, 2024, board meeting and approved a $4.4 million budget for 2025. This total represents an eight percent reduction from the 2024 budget. I’m pleased to announce that our financial position remains on solid footing and also maintains a healthy balance in reserves. The majority of the research-related grant requests received were approved for a total of $1.9 million in expenditures and represents the largest portion of the budget. Funding the wheat and barley breeding and genomics programs at Montana State University (MSU) in order to continue developing varieties adapted to Montana growing conditions remains a top priority and a longstanding tradition. Unwavering support continues for funding research studies focused on managing and mitigating damages resulting from wheat stem sawfly. Funding for projects related to heat and drought tolerance, improved yields, and disease resistance were also evaluated and approved. In addition, MWBC voted to support multiple precision agriculture projects. Studies associated with remote sensing for weed management along with utilizing technology to detect insect pressure from pests such as grasshoppers, hessian flies, wire worms and wheat stem sawfly were all determined to be worthy of funding.
Support for market development, a total of $1.2 million, remains a top priority and an important part of our overall mission. This funding level is slightly lower than previous years primarily due to a combination of reduced funding for Wheat Foods Council and slightly smaller Montana production volumes in 2024. MWBC membership and support for groups such as US Wheat Associates, US Grains Council, Northern Crops Institute, and Wheat Marketing Center represent the bulk of the expenditures in this budget category.
While a much smaller portion of our budget, education and information are an important component, nonetheless. Support for groups such as MGGA, FFA and 4-H are integral to our mission and overall effectiveness.
Convention Season
Once the calendar rolls into December, convention season is in full throttle! MWBC set up our booth at the 2024 MGGA convention and enjoyed conversation and camaraderie with our industry partners. The opportunity to network and talk with wheat and barley growers from all over Montana was invaluable. I truly enjoy and value my working relationship with all Montana’s growers. Our malting plant display along with a bread making station were once again a conversation piece and helped drive traffic to the MWBC booth. Congratulations to MGGA and the officer team on a very engaging program and a successful convention. MWBC always values being part of the trade show and agenda and we’re already looking forward to next year. Finally, the chance to attend and participate in Friday’s wrap-up board meeting will always be a priority.
MWBC board and staff members attended meetings hosted by industry stakeholders representing the Montana Organic Association (MOA) and the Montana Seed Trade Association (MSTA). Organic wheat and barley growers fill an important niche in the supply chain and the MOA hosted an eventful convention in Great Falls. A presentation by MSU graduate students discussing increased tillering and yields through the TB1 gene was well received and resulted in significant engagement and questions from the audience. A precision ag update from Paul Nugent, a research professor at MSU, was particularity informative.
The seed trade is also an important cog in the supply chain and the MSTA winter meeting in Bozeman was another good opportunity to network with industry stakeholders. Research updates from MSU scientists related to insects and root diseases in small grains proved insightful. An MSU presentation discussing the status of the small grain breeding programs and future direction was relevant, sharing potential variety releases.
Lori Wickett and Director Cindy McKamey represented MWBC at a milling short course hosted by the milling science program at Kansas State University (KSU) in Manhattan, KS. They joined wheat farmers, grain trade representatives and national wheat organization staff members to take a deep dive into the milling and baking process. Lori and Cindy spent a week learning about basic flour milling principles and the relationship between wheat quality and flour performance. They earned a firsthand look at what it takes to process wheat from the kernel to the loaf and other end-use products. In addition to classroom sessions, the course included hands-on practical training in KSU milling and baking labs. They learned about the milling differences unique to the six classes of wheat, principles of wheat cleaning and conditioning, an explanation of major milling equipment and the process of wheat and flour blending. The impact of grades, wheat quality characteristics, and mill performance on flour extraction was also a focus. The baking lab covered different flour and dough testing methods that end-use customers use to evaluate the quality and functionality of each load of wheat. Lori and Cindy also participated in baking tests to see the variation in products like bread, cakes, and cookies when using different classes of wheat.
Unfortunately, it was a very challenging year for some of Montana’s malt barely growers. MWBC consultant Dave Tweet heard directly from Fairfield Bench growers as he represented MWBC at the Anheuser-Busch customer appreciation day in Choteau. Dave took advantage of the opportunity to meet with growers and discuss Montana’s 2024 barley production results and highlight barley-related activities supported by MWBC.
Upcoming Activities
As we move into 2025, MWBC staff will be attending meetings ranging from MSU cropping seminars to US Wheat Associates winter meeting in Washinton DC. We will once again have a booth and our malting display at the Montana Grain Elevators Association convention. Our working relationship with the commercial grain trade remains key to our succsss. Finally, MWBC will send a representative to the PNW Wheat Quality meeting.
We’re all hoping Mother Nature sends us more winter moisture. The MWBC staff would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year that’s both safe and prosperous!
January 9, 2025 ~ For more information about MWBC and news, hop on montanawbc.com