Montana Grain Production Estimates

Montana: Barley production is forecast at 25.30 million bushels, down 18 percent from the July 1 forecast and down 46 percent from last year’s crop. The area for harvest in 2017, at 550,000 acres, is down 230,000 acres from the 780,000 acres harvested last year. Barley yield is forecast at 46.0 bushels per acre, down 10.0 bushels from July 1 and 14.0 bushels below last year. As of July 30, the barley crop condition was rated 5 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 48 percent fair, 33 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. Barley harvest was 6 percent complete, compared with 8 percent last year and the 5-year average of 8 percent. Winter wheat production is forecast at 75.68 million bushels, unchanged from the July 1 forecast, but down 28 percent from the 105.35 million bushels produced last year. Estimated acreage for harvest, at 1.72 million acres, is 430,000 acres less than the 2.15 million acres harvested in 2016. As of August 1, the average yield is forecast at 44.0 bushels per acre, unchanged from the July 1 forecast, but 5.0 bushels below last year’s final yield. As of July 30, the winter wheat crop condition was rated 8 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 34 percent good, and 17 percent excellent. Winter wheat harvest was 65 percent complete, compared with 49 percent last year and the 5-year average of 34 percent. Durum wheat production is forecast at 10.54 million bushels, down 26 percent from the July 1 forecast and down 66 percent from the 31.37 million bushels produced last year. Estimated acreage for harvest, at 620,000 acres, is 145,000 acres less than the 765,000 acres harvested in 2016. As of August 1, the average yield is forecast at 17.0 bushels per acre, 6.0 bushels below the July 1 forecast and 24.0 bushels below last year’s final yield. If realized, this will equal the yield set in 2006 and be the lowest Durum wheat yield since 9.0 bushels per acre in 1988. As of July 30, the Durum wheat crop condition was rated 15 percent very poor, 40 percent poor, 42 percent fair, and 3 percent good. Durum wheat turning color was at 45 percent complete, compared to 47 percent last year and the 5-year average of 40 percent. Spring wheat production in Montana is forecast at 46.64 million bushels, down 15 percent from the July 1 forecast and down 39 percent from the 75.96 million bushels produced last year. Estimated acreage for harvest, at 2.12 million acres, is up 10,000 acres from the 2.11 million acres harvested in 2016. As of August 1, the average yield is forecast at 22.0 bushels per acre, 4.0 bushels below the July 1 forecast and 14.0 bushels below last year’s final yield. If realized, this will equal the yield of 22.0 bushels per acre which occurred most recently in 2006, and be the lowest spring wheat yield since 21.5 bushels per acre in 1943. As of July 30, the spring wheat crop condition was rated 31 percent very poor, 27 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 7 percent good, and 2 percent excellent. Spring wheat turning color was at 55 percent complete, compared with 56 percent last year and the 5-year average of 61 percent.   Montana farmers and ranchers expect to harvest 1.75 million acres of alfalfa hay this year, down 50,000 acres from 2016. They also expect to harvest 950,000 acres of other hay in 2017, up 100,000 acres from last year. Alfalfa production is forecast at 3.15 million tons, down 13 percent from 3.60 million tons produced in 2016. Other hay production is forecast at 1.33 million tons, down 13 percent from 1.53 million tons a year ago. Yields are expected to average 1.80 tons per acre for alfalfa and 1.40 tons per acre for other hay, compared to last year’s yields of 2.00 tons per acre for alfalfa hay and 1.80 tons per acre for other hay. Dry bean production for 2017 is forecast at 3.11 million hundredweight, up 93 percent from the 1.61 million hundredweight produced a year earlier. Yields are expected to average 1,300 pounds per acre, down from 1,620 pounds per acre last year. Growers expect to harvest 239,000 acres this year, up 139,500 acres from 99,500 acres last year. Sugarbeet production is forecast at 1.53 million tons, down 4 percent from 1.59 million tons produced in 2016. Growers expect to harvest 42,000 acres this year compared with 45,300 acres a year ago. Yields are expected to average 36.4 tons per acre, up from 35.0 tons per acre a year ago.