RESEARCH
research investment statement
We directly fund scientific research that improves quality, production, and best farm practices.
March 24, 2025
The second annual March Madness research review returns!
We encourage producers to attend this “Shark Tank” event to hear about MWBC-funded projects conducted by Masters and PhD students.
In this competition, students have five minutes to share their project’s progress including its potential impact for producers and the grain industry. This year will feature four categories:
- 1st Year Masters
- Later Masters
- 1st Year PhD
- Later PhD
Students will compete for cash prizes in each category with first place awarded $1,000. Thanks to sponsorship by the Montana Grain Growers Association and additional donors, we will award a total of $7,000 in 2025.
PLANTED GOLD
Montana State University Feature
12/19/24
Unlocking Hidden Potential in Wheat
By
Mei Ling Wong
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.
Montana Spring Wheat Varieties
Click on the cover photo to access our Montana Spring Wheat Varieties guide featuring 22 SW varieties most commonly planted in Big Sky Country. Scoring between exceptional quality to acceptable standards to less preferred helps producers assess best-case varieties for their operation.
SPONSORSHIPS
Grant & Sponsorship Submissions 2nd Quarter CY25
Click here for complete sponsorship submission information and to proceed with an application process. Spring submission is Apr 1-15.
CY25 grant awards have been selected. Click here to read more about those recipients.
RESEARCH PRIORITIES
CY25: $1.931M invested
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.
Sawfly Solutions
In Montana’s quest for a solution to the Wheat Stem Sawfly, Montana Wheat & Barley Committee has produced a video tuned for the national research community. Here’s a teaser:
2025 AWARDS
On-farm cereal variety and breeding line testing for environment-specific cultivars: MAES
Identifying and deploying genetic solutions to spring wheat challenges through a breeding pipeline: J. Cook
WSS research from remote sensing to pathogen evaluation: D. Weaver
Breeding for high quality milling characteristics along with yield, WSS resistance, winter hardiness, stripe rust: S. Mondal
On track for a high-yielding standard height line Jan. 2026 along with a solid stem variety; M. Giroux
Reducing impacts of limiting factors, PHS, biotic stress; and improving yields and quality: J. Sherman
Performing all end-use quality analyses on experimental breeding lines for Montana wheat breeding programs: D. Nash
An MSU varietal education specialist to work with growers on new variety adoption: M. Giroux
Potential for higher yields and lower protein; sustain pipeline, screen germplasm and testing: J. Jensen
Stay-green testing and identifying genetic mechanism of tolerance: J. Sherman
Composition of VOCs emissions during plant stages; behavioral experiments on oviposition prference: T. Oppedisano
HB4 transformation vector (BioCeres) to test Montana-adapted durum germplasm: M. Giroux
Effectiveness of remote sensing for precision weed mapping in fallow; testing accuracy and scalability: R. Pinto
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
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