Get to know:
Sam Anderson
Market Development Director Sam Anderson connects you with the right strategic partner for your grain buying needs. He has an acute focus on logistics and quality of Montana’s grains and spends a large part of his time in close contact with research teams from Montana State University and other critical partners. Sam communicates regularly with Montana producers and you can count on him to be an integral part of your Montana business awareness.
Sam arrived to MWBC in 2019. Raised in southern Minnesota, Sam’s passion for expanding the wheat and barley industry began with those Minnesota roots. He holds a B.S. in Agricultural Economics and a minor in Agricultural Systems Management from North Dakota State University where he gained small grains experiences as a crop scout and an NDSU research assistant. His beginning professional role gave him grain trading company experience where he reported elevator inventories and accounting. When the company acquired an organic wheat business, he strengthened his resume by working in that small team environment.
Sam and his wife, Kelsey, live in Helena, MT. He loves the outdoors and spends his spare time mountain biking, entering local bike races, and downhill skiing in the winter. He also loves rooting for the Minnesota Vikings NFL football team.
Articles by Sam:
Grain Protein in Montana
The Montana Wheat & Barley Committee collects hundreds of spring wheat samples throughout the state. Those samples get graded, flour tested and dough testing. Our international markets each year are eager for the results.
The results are separated into five distinct growing regions arranged by county. Each region has an approximate share of the total U.S production. In 2022 Montana’s regions A and B make up 9% the U.S spring wheat crop.
2023 USDA Winter Plantings Report
January 12th, 2023, the winter wheat seedings and grain stocks report was released. The market was anticipating a bump in US seeded acres. The report showed an 11% increase in U.S winter wheat acres over last year. 37 million acres (14.9 million hectares) are reported in the ground for 2023 crop versus 33.2 million acres (13.4 million hectares) in 2022.
How to Contract Barley in Montana
Contracting barley in Montana can be puzzling for those unfamiliar with the dynamics of this specialty crop. There are many ways to secure barley from Montana, but I want to spell out the easiest way.
Montana Grains of 1954
Tucked away in the National Agricultural Statistics Service office in Helena Montana, current director Eric Sommer shared with me Montana agriculture statistics booklets for the 1954 crop. Called Montana Grains, wheat protein, barley and oat varieties and disposition. In 1954, John Hugo Aronson was Montana’s Governor and Albert H. Kruse was the Montana Department of Agriculture’s Commissioner.
Looking Forward to 2023
This last year has resulted in many successes for the Wheat and Barley Committee (MWBC). The mission of the MWBC is relatively simple and in my short three and a half years as a staff member I’ve been able to help in carry this mission out.
A Year of Market Development
As I look back at the year and some of the achievements of Montana Wheat and Barley Committee (MWBC), a long list of memories quickly emerges. Covid severely halted trade team visits to Montana, however we certainly made up for it in 2022. The MWBC hosted teams from Japan, South Korea, Latin America, and Mexico.
2022 Winter Wheat Final Conditions
Winter wheat conditions improved once again as National Agricultural Statistic Service enumerators drive out to a field of snow and say… “Oh that looks good!” or if a field looks a little wind blown with minimal snow cover they might say “Looks fair!”
Winter Wheat Conditions Improve
According to National Agricultural Statistics Service Montana field office: A cold front impacted Montana this week, bringing below average temperatures and scattered snow showers, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.
Durum Graph Extravaganza
For Eastern Montana producers’ durum is their lucrative savings account. If you don’t like the price, just wait a month. Being a flat priced commodity, it can be subject to larger price swings.
Snow and rain spark winter wheat optimism
Producers in the Treasure state are pulling in their seeders, storing away their Halloween costumes and winterizing their tractors. Winter offers a time of grain deliveries, recreation, family time and preparation for the 2023 crop.
Ag Development & Marketing Bureau host South American buyers
The Ag Development & Marketing Bureau at the Montana Department of Agriculture focuses on expanding market opportunities for Montana farmers. Marketing Officer Weston Merrill recently led a team of South American buyers searching for high quality chickpeas, lentils, green peas, durum, wheat, and barley.
Providing a bridge between end users and varietal development
The Montana Wheat & Barley Committee hosted a team of Japanese end use quality specialists, focused on providing direct feedback to Montana State University’s varietal development.