Montana Production Highlights

Based on October 1 conditions, canola production in Montana is forecast at 191.40 million pounds, up 61 percent from the 2017 crop, according to the October 1 Agricultural Yield Survey conducted by the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. Acreage harvested is expected to total 116,000 acres, down 21,000 acres from the 137,000 harvested last year. Canola yield is forecast at 1,650 pounds per acre, up from 870 pounds per acre last year. Alfalfa hay production in Montana is forecast at 4.32 million tons, up from the 3.36 million tons produced in 2017. Montana farmers and ranchers expect to harvest 1.80 million acres of alfalfa hay this year, up 200,000 acres from 2017. Alfalfa hay yield is expected to average 2.40 tons per acre, compared with last year’s yield of 2.10 tons per acre and the August 1 forecast of 2.30 tons per acre. Producers expect to harvest 900,000 acres of other hay in 2018, down 50,000 acres from last year. Other hay production is forecast at 1.71 million tons, up 13 percent from the 1.52 million tons a year ago. Other hay yield is expected to average 1.90 tons per acre, compared with last year’s yield of 1.60 tons per acre and the August 1 forecast of 1.80 tons per acre Sugarbeet production in Montana is forecast at 1.42 million tons, up 2 percent from the 1.40 million tons produced in 2017. Growers expect to harvest 42,700 acres this year, unchanged from a year ago. Yields are expected to average 33.2 tons per acre, down 1.1 tons per acre from the September 1 forecast but up from last year’s yield of 32.7 tons per acre. As of September 30, Montana’s sugarbeet crop condition was rated 2 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 14 percent fair, 50 percent good, and 30 percent excellent. Harvest of sugarbeets was estimated at 16 percent complete. Sugarbeet production in Montana is forecast at 1.42 million tons, up 2 percent from the 1.40 million tons produced in 2017. Growers expect to harvest 42,700 acres this year, unchanged from a year ago. Yields are expected to average 33.2 tons per acre, down 1.1 tons per acre from the September 1 forecast but up from last year’s yield of 32.7 tons per acre. As of September 30, Montana’s sugarbeet crop condition was rated 2 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 14 percent fair, 50 percent good, and 30 percent excellent. Harvest of sugarbeets was estimated at 16 percent complete.