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March 26, 2025
Carter County - Michael Hansen
Drill is ready to go to work. Fertilizer and seed is in the trucks. Have had a few days off. Will probably go try and see if the fields are ready tomorrow (3/27). Lots of hay and feed crops will be put in this year as there is no profit in 900 dollar a ton fertilizer and four dollar grain.
Heifer calving is in full swing over half done already and only been going about 9 days.
Moisture conditions have been poor. Have received little showers that have came to about three tenths since Saturday (3/22).
Planning on growing Winter wheat, Durum, Barley, Garbanzos, Oats, Hay, Sorghum, and Hay barley for the 2025 growing season.
Fergus County - Brandon Udelhoven
Planning on seeding yellow and green peas and lentils. No barley for the first time in ages.
Office work is done and it is starting to look like fieldwork is close. Snow has been pretty much gone (other than drifts) for over three weeks. It has been terrible windy more days than not the past month, and has taken us straight from mud season to hoping some rain would show up soon. Have been busy trying to finish hauling last year's grain before the spring seeding rush takes precedence. With this week's coming warmth, hoping to start spraying preplant next week, and seeding right after. Checked two inch soil temperatures yesterday afternoon and was 48 in lighter soils and 43 in heavy ground. Winter wheat sure has greened up in the past week, but could use a shower to perk it up after the last three weeks of wind.
Hoping we can finally break the grasshopper cycle, but not overly optimisitc. Winter annuals in any unsprayed stubble from last fall have greened up and turned active.
Moisture conditions have been good. We have received 0.20" of precipitation in a few different skiffs of snow earlier in the month.
Planning on growing Winter wheat, Peas, and Lentils for the 2025 growing season.
Fergus County - Robert Bold
Winter is behind us!! Been top dressing winter wheat. Have 2 big days left. Rained last night (3/24). Even with all the snow this past winter, sub soil moisture in recrop is disappointing. The snow went into dry unfrozen ground, but the water content just was not there. Everyone is down on spring wheat (and winter wheat) prices. My price canary in the coal mine is still in a heavy molt. No one is talking about seeding spring wheat or malt barley this spring. With US all wheat carry out over 800 mil bushels, which is too high for any positive price, cash grain price is low. A 42% of wheat production is too high, should be 30% for a decent price. Wheat does not have an industrial use to fall back on as do other grains. However, exports are up 13% over a year ago which equates to 90 mil bushels. Currently it is a lot warmer and drier than normal weather in KS, TX, OK, and the entire Black Sea region. Mother Nature and Her weather has a way of quickly changing carryout bushels, market prices, not to mention Her wild life winter survival numbers. Then there is the tariff chatter. Wheat has an annual worldwide carry out of about 33% of annual production. About 68% consumed on year 1 with the balance on year 2 or so. Every bushel produced is consumed--just which day or year. The annual consumption will continue. People are like cattle--they will put up with pain to get into the stack yard for food. With all that said, may not be a bad year to be a cash marketer. Thanks to the years of MGGA's continual efforts, there are revenue products available through crop insurance to help cushion things. Tough times don't last. Tough people do. Good times are not forever. The cattle market is very good. Looks to be putting in a double top. Have a good spring everyone!! Looks to be an early one even with Easter on April 20th, but the first full moon after the Equinox was on Saturday March 12th. See, that situation is not normal either.
Moisture conditions have been good. March has been pretty open and warm. We did receive 1/3 inch rain last night (3/24).
Planning on growing Winter wheat and Spring wheat for the 2025 growing season.
Hill County - Trevor Wolery
Planning on seeding Yellow mustard, Spring wheat, Lentils, and Chick peas during spring seeding.
This past week we top dressed a portion of our winter wheat and all of our spring wheat acres. Majority of fields were traversable. Winter wheat is still predominantly dormant in this country and patiently awaiting heat units to awaken for the spring. Still hoping for a wet snow or rain delay to happen before the drill heads to the field.
Moisture conditions have been fair.
We are planning on growing Winter Wheat, Spring wheat, Lentils, Garbanzos, and Mustard for the 2025 growing season.
Judith Basin County - Greg Mathews
Planning on putting in barley and spring wheat for spring seeding. Some in the area have received a malt contract and others have not. Others are going to seed pulses and canola with a wide range of crops. Waiting for the weather to straighten out some before starting.
It has been an unusual spring with snow and cold for the last of January and Feb. March being open with very little snow or moisture. Moustire conditions have been fair with 0.14 inches received for March here at Buffalo. The only snow left is the big drifts left by the wind as the rest went into the ground. There was none to very little runoff in the Buffalo area. Grain is moving from the elevators as they get unit trains in. Hay and straw continue to move up and down the highway.
We are planning on growing Winter Wheat, Spring wheat, Barley, and Hay for the 2025 growing season.
Teton County - Mitch Konen
The winter wheat is showing signs of life. Still watching the calendar and soil conditions before pulling equipment into the field as we don't want to open the ground too early and have it dry out in these winds. We are just servicing equipment now getting ready for the big dance. Snow pack is looking better than last year but is still 70-75% of normal. Reservoirs for irrigation are lower at this time compared to last year. We are aiming for middle of April for a start.
Spending a lot of time at the desk polishing books for taxes. Other than that it has been a busy season of advocating. Have been to Washington DC one week per month for the last 3 months. One week was for Bayer Leadership training, and the other two trips were for barley. I even made a trip to Helena to testify against a water bill. Have also spent a lot of time working on barley and wheat marketing contracts
Moisture conditions have been poor. We have received .10 inches of precipitation within the last month. Planning on growing Winter wheat, Barley, and Hay for the 2025 growing season.
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