he 2023 Wheat and Barley Variety Survey report was released yesterday by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Mountain Regional Office. Funded by the Montana Wheat & Barley Committee (MWBC), this survey generates vital information to assist breeding programs around the state and beyond select varieties for seeding with the goal of increasing farm profitability.
State-sponsored data collection via surveys is the most vital effort for the small grain industry in the Treasure State.
So much of the wheat and barley industry in Montana is made up of long days on machinery, agronomics, and shipping. The social aspects of wheat and barley production can be grueling on one’s mental health due to isolation, harsh working conditions, and financial uncertainty.
The wheat stem sawfly lays larvae in the stem of grasses. Loss is seen by overall yield and damage to the stem in the early stages of the development but also the iconic tipping over of stems falling on the ground.
The Farm Fair is to provide a rural ranch atmosphere where students and teachers learn about agriculture in Montana.
Attendees learn about the food supply chain, see first hand how food is prepared for human consumption, and demonstrate the agricultural communities commitment to protecting our natural resources.
For the last few years, virtual trade team events increased significantly. The Montana Wheat and Barley Committee (MWBC) staff found adapting to the virtual setting a critical direction for market development
US Wheat Associates, with direct sponsorship from Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Nebraska wheat commissions, assembled a group of wheat breeders to visit the top Asian wheat markets to talk to overseas buyers about their end-use quality requirements.
Despite the snow and cold in the Treasure State, wheat breeding programs at Montana State University (MSU) remain hard at work. I was able to join Dr. Jason Cook in Yuma Arizona to see the importance of double cropping in plant breeding and foundation seed.
Although the United States remains one of the six major global wheat exporters, our market share has been trending lower for the past 22 years. Over the past decade, the United States has given up market share to competitors such as Canada, the EU, Russia, Ukraine, and Australia.
Taeyoung Grain Terminal’s CEO took time from his busy schedule March 8, 2023, to meet with U.S. farmers from Idaho, Montana and Nebraska and explain what happens when a shipment of imported U.S. wheat arrives in South Korea.
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3024
300 Park Dr. S., Suite 104
Great Falls, MT 59403-3024
Phone: (406) 761-7732
Fax: (406) 761-7851
Email: wbc@mt.gov
The Montana Wheat & Barley Committee promotes local research and develops trade markets around the world.