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.
2022 planting decisions have puzzled producers, waiting to see if things change. If it rains, if the war ends, and if costs of production lower.
The last day of March is considered a holiday in our office as the awaited USDA prospective planting numbers are released.
Funded by the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee since 2017, Dr. Mike Giroux’s durum program has a goal of developing durum varieties that are adapted to Montana’s growing conditions.
Here at the Montana Wheat and Barely Committee we stayed busy during the month of February. We didn’t find ourselves out of the state as much as we did in January, but none the less we were able to attend some notable events.
The Chinese market is one that is both exciting and frustrating for Montana small grains producers.
As you will read below, January was another crazy busy month for us here at the Montana Wheat & Barley Committee (MWBC).
On January 19th, 2022, Montana State University and Montana Wheat and Barley Committee, alongside the Varietal Release Committee met with the Plant Sciences Department to discuss the proposed wheat, barley, and durum plant releases for this upcoming growing season.
To kick of the New Year, stakeholders met with Montana State University plant breeding leadership to discuss and vote on four possible crop releases.
Over the holidays I was able to travel to Costa Rica for a family vacation. A region I am quite unfamiliar with, brought many eye-opening cultural experiences.
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.