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.
December was a month full of activity as I settled in as the new Montana Wheat and Barley Committee (MWBC) Executive Vice President. I’m pleased to report that despite a drop in assessment revenues due to successive years of drought, the Committee was able to approve a budget that funds our ongoing research, market development and education outreach goals.
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.
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.
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.
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!”
The Montana Wheat and Barley Committee (MWBC) is pleased to announce Keven Bradley of Cut Bank, Montana has been appointed as the director of district three.
The Montana Wheat and Barley Committee (MWBC) is pleased to announce Kent Kupfner has been chosen as the new Executive Vice President.
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.
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.
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.