February 26, 2025

Carter County - Michael Hansen
I haven’t made those decisions yet on my plans for spring seeding.
Well, February was brutally cold until this past week and now it’s nice almost a hundred degree difference. Fed lots of hay in the first twenty days trying to keep cows in good shape. Snow is melting here now and water is either standing in puddles or starting to run. Doesn’t appear to be soaking in ground just still frozen. Bangs vaccinated heifers yesterday and will start calving the bred heifers in about a month.
Moisture conditions have been fair.


Fergus County - Boyd Heilig
We will be seeding spring wheat and Nuseed canola. Maybe some malt barley if we can get a contract soon.
We are planning on growing Winter Wheat, Spring Wheat, and Canola for the 2025 growing season.
The snow is still fairly deep here in central Montana. Have most of the wheat hauled in.
Moisture conditions have been good. We have received 16 inches of snow within the last month.
  



Fergus County - Robert Bold
Been an interesting winter. Great Falls National Weather Service made a statement that this February is on track to be the coldest February on record. Snow is melting off--slowly. Not a lot of flooding. With the dry fall, the ground has very little frost so the snow melt is mostly going in. We are about 65% bare now after 4 days of slow melt. Can't do much grain hauling until the ground firms up. With this soil moisture, what crops can be seeded this spring? Malt barley is in the tank due to reduced consumption. Wheat has lost its price protection for what appears to be the 4th crop due to an antiquated farm bill. All while expenses are at all time highs. Low prices have a habit of ruining supply just as high prices have a habit of ruining demand. The debate is whether to sign up for ARC or PLC. I would like to see ECO and SCO made available to producers on an individual basis not the current county wide basis. That could cushion the lack of slow moving PLC and ARC programs. Certain pulse crops show the best possible income, however the largest importing and consuming country for pulses has an average of 35% tariff on US products--some as high as 200% like on US motor cycles--while US has zero to 5% tariff on that country's exports to the US. I could not help but notice that when a reciprocating tariff program was announced, it took that country's PM half the time to get to DC than it took Canada's PM to get to Florida to negotiate. With that in mind, I think there could to be good opportunity for Montana's production. Have a good spring!  I'll be more knowledgeable by Memorial weekend as time, weather, markets and decisions progress.
Planning on growing Winter Wheat and Spring Wheat for the 2025 growing season. 
Moisture conditions have been good. We have received 28 inches of precipitation within the last month.

Hill County - Trevor Wolery
Grease the drill! Load the sprayer! Snow left this country in a matter of minutes beginning Sunday the 24th and only seven days prior being a negative 37 degrees below. Water over the roads in several spots, Big Sage Creek is out of its banks, and reservoirs are  overflowing in this area. HRW will soon be coming out of its winter slumber and the madness of spring is just around the corner. Hoping there is another winter wet snow event before it’s time to go to the field though.
We are planning on growing Winter Wheat, Barley, Lentils, Garbanzos, and Mustard for the 2025 growing season.


   

 

Judith Basin County - Greg Mathews
Still no word from Malteurop about contracts so far, it is getting late and wondering what is going on. WINTER has been here for over a month and a half with lots and lots of snow and wind. Snow depth from 12-15 inches to over 30 inches in the surrounding area. Wind has swept fields in my area and piled the snow up in others, leaving a tunnel to travel in other areas. Have not seen this since the 80's and 90's. Grain moving slowly, hay still seen on the highways heading some where. It is finally warming up and the snow will not blow until it snows again. Feel sorry for the people calving during the below 0 weather, lots of hours and hard to get around and stay warm.
The off-season has been cold, slow, and wondering if spring will ever come.
We are planning on growing Winter Wheat, Barley, and Hay for the 2025 growing season. 
Moisture conditions have been good. 

Teton County - Levi Ostberg
Finally got good moisture in February, but it all just melted away in the last couple days.
We are planning on seeding Winter Wheat, Sprin Wheat, Barley, and Alfalfa for the 2025 growing season.
Moisture conditions have been good, but not enough to make up for the deficit.
  

 

Valley County - Tony Fast
Moisture conditions have been fair.
We are planning on growing Winter Wheat, Spring Wheat, Durum, Barley, Peas, Garbanzos, Canola, Mustard, and Hay for the 2025 growing season.