Montana Wheat & Barley Committee

U.S. Wheat Associates provides an update on their recent stop with the Int. Assn. of Operative Millers Southeast Asia chapter meeting. If you look close, you'll see glimpses of our own Keven Bradley and Kent Kupfner! We are hungry to add valuable markets to our portfolio, and the southeast Asia consumer is of vital importance to Montana and US wheat growers. Enjoy the video. 😎 https://lnkd.in/gCeU-Ngn

Looks like it's coming. Get your down vests gathered, your lined coveralls out, and fingers crossed for some moisture. Here's the latest crop condition report from NASS.

😎 MSU Thursday 😎 Straight outta Jason Cook, spring wheat breeder, MSU - Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology Department: In 2024, Montana producers raised 2.4 million acres of spring wheat. In the spring wheat breeding and genetics program, we are working to mitigate challenges such as identifying and deploying genetic solutions to these problems. We have an extensive breeding pipeline to produce improved varieties! By now you probably know that we achieved a benchmark: 45% of Montana’s spring wheat acres were planted with MSU varieties in 2024. Dagmar leads the pack (22%, MSU release in 2019), surpassing Vida, which has held this position for the past 12 years. Dagmar is a high yielding, high protein, moderately WSS resistant variety with excellent end-use quality. Here are some exciting things to come: MSU has three new spring wheat varieties in MT Carlson (2023), MT Dutton (2023) and MT Ubet (2024) -- all will become available to farmers over the next couple of years. Why are they different? MT Carlson and MT Dutton were released for having the highest yield potential across all testing locations. MT Carlson is drought tolerant, has aluminum tolerance, and moderate WSS resistance, plus its end-use quality is better than Vida -- GREAT for our buyers. MT Dutton has aluminum tolerance and moderate scab (FHB) resistance. MT Ubet, with good protein content and test weight. It has the highest yield potential for eastern Montana. ## The US Hard Red Spring Wheat Regional Quality Report is now out. Find it on our website: (producers: https://lnkd.in/gVktgJrX ) (buyers: https://lnkd.in/gyRUyzVv )

Please share across all research institutions! Montana State University's first fully-funded Chair resides in the College of Agriculture. The Winifred-Asbjornson Plant Sciences Chair is now OPEN FOR QUALIFIED CANDIDATES. The job posting is here: https://lnkd.in/gRUbRwg4 For researchers interested in winning the race to solve a big-time problem for America's wheat industry, this is your chance to make a critical impact. Not to mention, you'll live in God's country in beautiful Bozeman, Montana. Why is this Chair special? The rapid acceleration of wheat stem sawfly damage forced Montana growers to join together in the fight to stop it. Montana Grains Foundation launched a grassroots movement in late 2011, raising the first half of funds literally tractor-to-tractor, almost unheard of in the fundraising industry. Norm Asbjornson helped the Chair cross the finish line two years later. It's an amazing story of grit, perseverance and community.

OPEN CALL! If you think your wheat quality doesn't matter, think again. The flour yield, protein content, kernel hardness and so much more mixes together to make better loaves and noodles. That means more buyers interested in US wheat over the competition. Our annual Wheat Marketing Center tour in Portland, OR occurs in March. Space is limited -- if you'd like to learn more about what buyers want, join us for a visit to the world's premier wheat quality lab! We'll also stop at the port to see where Montana grain is loaded on vessels, visit large commercial bakeries, meet with a barge company, and do some critical thinking about end-use qualities. Interested? Email [email protected] ~ include WMC 2025 in your subject line and let us know who from your farm might be interested in attending. Plans are currently set for March 3-6, 2025. #BallCapsAccepted

Weather lesson: Rapid Onset Drought "Ongoing drought conditions are forecast to persist and worsen in the Plains, with rapid onset drought anticipated to affect eastern portions of the Southern Plains. Rapid onset drought is also known as flash drought." https://lnkd.in/gVmnTjS9

MSU College of Agriculture just released "Wheat Stem Sawfly Best Management Practices" -- a bulletin to assist producers in the fight against sawfly. We encourage growers to order a copy, IT'S FREE plus shipping. Fellow states suffering from this devil of a pest, please share with your producers too. Order here! https://lnkd.in/gascGExq

$66 Million. The number is staggering. With the NASS report on wheat and barley varieties in Montana, we took a look through the data and provided you with this summary. Find it here: https://lnkd.in/gj8vsYYm We have made great strides in our breeding programs on solid stem wheat, but when you see the economic impact made by wheat stem sawfly, we know the time is now to eliminate, or at least greatly undermine this small beast. Also note that Montana State University varieties are now in the top two of spring wheat and winter wheat plantings in Montana; MSU variety Hockett is #2 for barley planted.

HARVEST REPORT: As we wrap up the 2024 harvest, Wade Bitz of Box Elder, Montana, shares a bit about his spring wheat crop. #agristudios https://lnkd.in/gQ2fkbkG

HARVEST REPORT: News out of Bozeman, Bos Farms continues their harvest but this time cutting malt barley. https://lnkd.in/gDwSpEVf