RESEARCH
research investment statement
We directly fund scientific research that improves quality, production, and best farm practices.
GRANTS
Grant Submissions Accepted Each Fall
Fall quarter 2025 includes opportunity for three grant categories and one sponsorship category.
Click here for complete grant submission information and to proceed with an application process. Deadline for fall grant submission (CY25) has passed.
VARIETIES
2024 NASS Variety Reports
Funded by the Montana Wheat & Barley Commitee, each wheat and barley report covers a series of questions presented to more than 1,900 growers in this year’s collection of variety information. Click the links to read the full reports.
RESEARCH PRIORITIES
Since 1967, MWBC has made research a priority. The Committee invests approximately 50 percent of total producer checkoff dollars in varietal development and best practice. Most of these dollars are spent with Montana State University-Bozeman (MSU). Montana’s Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES) has seven off-campus research centers throughout the state. These centers are located in targeted areas to relate directly to agriculture producers where they can address diverse challenges in Montana’s vast agri-ecosystems.
MWBC encourages growers to connect regularly with your local MAES. Your input is highly sought relative to the multitude of research projects conducted by MSU that will impact Montana’s grain industry.
For additional information related to MAES, click here.
INVESTMENT MISSION
Research: We directly fund scientific research that improves quality, production and best farm practices.
Market Development: We establish and cultivate trade relationships as well as explore new markets. We present relevant information to more than 1,000 potential buyers each year.
Education: We support organizations that further the overall knowledge of Montana agriculture.
Operations: We employ five staff members dedicated to pursuing our goal and carrying out our mission.
Tier I
CORE: Critical Ongoing Research Efforts
- Varietal Development, Genomics, Wheat Stem Safely, Quality Labs
Tier II
Agronomic Best Practices
- Crop rotation work, nutrient efficiencies, carbon studies, precision agriculture
Tier III
Combative weed, pest, disease innovation and product development
- Wireworms, sawfly, midge, herbicide efficiencies
Tier IV
End use product innovations
New Project Funding
Newly funded multi-year projects may apply for up to three years of funding with a sliding scale. Upon funding of year 1, years 2-3 will be reevaluated for continued support.
- Year 1: 100% funding
- Year 2: 75% funding
- Year 3: 50% funding
*Use of MWBC funding to leverage additional outside grants, depending on project scale will be necessary to continue multi-year projects. Please describe in detail potential grant opportunities with preliminary data.
*If privately owned technologies are being utilized, match funding is required.
*Exceptions can be made at the MWBC Board of Director’s discretion.
Typical Funding Allocation
*Amount will be determined annually, on average $1.5 million available
- Tier I 60-70%
- Tier II 12.5%
- Tier III 12.5%
- Tier IV 5%
2024 AWARDS
Identifying and deploying genetic solutions to spring wheat challenges through a breeding pipeline: J. Cook
On-farm cereal variety and breeding line testing for environment-specific cultivars: MAES
Reducing varietal development time by speed breeding of hard red winter wheat cultivars: S. Mondal
Eight objectives for continued WSS research from resistance induction to parasitoid attractants: D. Weaver
Reducing impacts of limiting factors, PHS, biotic stress; and improving yields and quality: J. Sherman
Developing high yield varieties (gene ID) preferred by growers and milling/pasta end-users; M. Giroux
Purchase of new plot combine for spring wheat breeding program; matching funds utilized: J. Cook
Small plot combine for barley breeding/foundation seed program; matching funds used; J. Sherman
Innovation of light (solid and hollow stem) with RNAseq, light receptors and genome editing: L. Mendu
Sustaining, screening and testing the winter barley pipeline; long-term goal of malt quality: J. Sherman
An MSU varietal education specialist to work with growers on new variety adoption: M. Giroux
Gene effects on milling, baking and Asian noodle parameters in hard red/white winter wheat: D. Nash
Identifying truly tolerant lines of wheat (165) and barley (10) for the battle of heat stress: V. Mendu
Incorporating yet exploited disease resistances into modern spring and winter wheat cultivars: A. Dyer
Purchase of a glutopeak machine for the Cereal Quality Lab; measures gluten aggregation: D. Nash
Weed control efficacy with LASC spray system; advancing mapping; financial viability of IWM: L. Shergill
Purchase of towing pickup for off-station variety testing research; matching funds utilized: P. Lamb
Dynamics of ROS levels in response to heat stress and employing RNA-sequencing for gene ID: J. Lachowiec
Remote sensing technology to investigate pest infestations in wheat: T. Oppedisano
Long overdue return to study of kochia and wild oats management and herbicide resistance: T. Seipel
Collecting 2024 barley crop quality producer data for contemporary and future study: J. Sherman
Tackling FHB in durum using 13 lines adapted to Montana for FHB resistance: F. Crutcher
Seeking ID of the WSS genetic variation of genotype-by-sequencing: A. Gaur
Leveraging large language models to revolutionize ag data; AI tool bridging info gap: J. Vetch
Soil carbon accrual limits and agro-economic results, measuring alternate crop changes: P. Miller
Rotation impacts of barley, canola, lentil, pea and spring wheat on soil health: P. Carr