GRAIN STOCKS – MARCH 1, 2017 MONTANA

Off-farm corn stocks in Montana on March 1, 2017 were 109,000 bushels, up 98 percent from March 1, 2016, according to the March 1 Agricultural Survey and March Grain Stocks Report conducted by the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. All oat stocks in Montana were estimated at 768,000 bushels, up 30 percent from last year. On-farm oat stocks were 660,000 bushels, up 20 percent from a year ago. Oats stored off-farm were up 151 percent from last year to 108,000 bushels. Montana barley stocks in all positions on March 1, 2017 were 29.01 million bushels, up 18 percent from a year ago. Barley stored on farms was 17.00 million bushels, up 55 percent from last year. Off-farm barley storage was down 12 percent from a year ago to 12.01 million bushels.   PROSPECTIVE PLANTINGS – MARCH 1, 2017 MONTANA HIGHLIGHTS As of March 1, Montana growers intend to plant 120,000 acres of corn for all purposes in 2017, up 5,000 acres, or 4 percent from last year's plantings, according to the March 1 Agricultural Survey conducted by the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. The area expected to be seeded to oats, at 55,000 acres, is down 5,000 acres from a year ago. Growers intend to plant 690,000 acres of barley in 2017, down 300,000 acres from last year's actual plantings, and the lowest plantings since 1953. All wheat acreage is expected to total 5.19 million acres for 2017. Winter wheat seeded last fall for harvest in 2017 is estimated at 1.90 million acres, down 350,000 acres from the 2016 crop, and the lowest plantings since 2004. Growers intend to seed 690,000 acres of Durum wheat this year, down 90,000 acres from last year. Growers intend to seed 2.60 million acres of spring wheat this year, up 450,000 acres from last year. Hay producers in the State intend to harvest 2.60 million acres this year. This is down 50,000 acres from the acreage cut for hay in 2016. Montana canola producers intend to plant a record high 110,000 acres in 2017, up 48,000 acres from 2016. Flaxseed producers intend to plant 25,000 acres in 2017, down 4,000 acres from last year. The area planted to sugarbeets is expected to be down 600 acres from last year's actual plantings to 45,000 acres. Dry edible bean acreage is expected to total 210,000 acres, up 104 percent from the 103,000 acres planted in 2016. All garbanzo beans (chickpeas) area planted is expected to total 198,000 acres, up 99,000 acres from 2016. Lentil acres planted for 2017 are expected to total 640,000 acres, up 120,000 acres from last year. All dry edible pea area planted is expected to total 460,000 acres, down 150,000 acres from last year. Austrian winter pea area planted is expected to total 15,000 acres, unchanged from 2016.