Montana farmers are heading into another planning cycle with a familiar problem: fertilizer remains one of the biggest line items on the budget, and many producers say they don’t feel like they have much leverage when it’s time to buy. Reports from the Northern Plains suggest that consolidation in the fertilizer sector has reduced competition, […]
Across the Northern Plains, reports indicate some livestock auction barns are consolidating, reducing sale-day options and pushing more cattle into fewer facilities. For Montana ranchers, the immediate question isn’t just where to sell—it’s what it costs to get there, and whether the “better” market price pencils out once fuel, shrink, labor, and time are added […]
Across Montana, farmers markets are ramping up for the busy season—whether it’s early greens in the Gallatin Valley, greenhouse starts in the Flathead, or beef and eggs coming into town from the Hi-Line. For producers thinking about adding a market booth, the opportunity is real, but so are the logistics: licenses, food safety rules, pricing, […]
Farmers market season in Montana is more than a Saturday morning tradition. For small farms, ranch families, and value-added operators, it can be a reliable way to move product, test new ideas, and keep cash flowing when the cattle market or hay demand turns sideways. Reports from around the region indicate customer expectations are rising […]
Farmers market season in Montana is never just about tomatoes and bouquets. For small and mid-sized operations—whether you’re growing greens in the Gallatin Valley, raising beef in the Yellowstone Valley, or putting up honey in the Flathead—direct-to-consumer sales can be a real revenue stream when it’s done right. It can also be a time sink […]
New weekly export sales numbers are giving grain markets fresh direction, and the headline for wheat is constructive. Reports indicate U.S. wheat export sales came in stronger than many traders expected, while corn continued a solid run and soybeans didn’t deliver the same kind of punch. Montana isn’t the Gulf Coast export corridor, but export […]
Fertilizer has been one of the most stubborn line items in farm budgets since the price spikes of the early 2020s. Now, reports indicate the U.S. Department of Justice is taking a closer look at the fertilizer industry, including concerns raised by farm groups about pricing and market concentration. For Montana producers—whether you’re raising spring […]
Grain and oil markets don’t feel like “Montana weather,” but they can move ranch and farm budgets just as fast as a dry May wind. Reports from national market watchers indicate corn and soybeans drifted lower overnight alongside crude oil, a reminder that energy markets still set the tone for a lot of ag commodities. […]
Grain and livestock futures finished the week with a split close that Montana producers will recognize: some encouragement on the small grains side, mixed signals for cattle, and a softer tone in hogs. Reports indicate May corn settled higher, May soybeans slipped a touch, and wheat posted a notable gain. On the livestock board, live […]
Montana producers are heading into another planning cycle with fertilizer still near the top of the worry list. Reports indicate the U.S. Department of Justice has been taking a harder look at fertilizer markets and pricing behavior, following complaints from farm groups about steep price swings and a highly concentrated industry. The investigation itself doesn’t […]