Farming
Drought Weed Pressure Is Building in Montana: Timing Residuals, Grazing, and Hay Ground Decisions
Dry springs and tight soil moisture have a way of reshuffling the weed deck in Montana. In some years, drought can slow…
Farming
Winter Wheat Ratings Slide Nationally as Dryness Lingers — What Montana Growers Should Track
USDA’s latest national look at winter wheat suggests the crop is coming out of dormancy with more stress than growers saw this…
Farming
Early Alfalfa Weevil Reports Elsewhere Are a Reminder for Montana Hay Country to Start Scouting
Reports from hay country outside Montana are pointing to earlier-than-usual alfalfa weevil activity this spring. Montana isn’t Missouri, and timing can vary…
Farming
Dryland vs. Irrigated: Montana’s 2026 Small-Grain Outlook Splits by Region
Montana’s small-grain season is shaping up as a tale of two (or more) Montanas: places with moisture and functioning irrigation are holding…
News
Patchy Spring Moisture Sets Up a Uneven Start for Montana Small Grains and Pastures
Reports from around the West suggest a familiar pattern heading into the heart of the growing season: some areas are catching timely…
Farming
Grain markets wobble ahead of USDA numbers, with Montana feed and hay costs in focus
Grain markets were on the defensive heading into the next round of USDA data, with reports indicating corn futures were pressing toward…
Ranching
Cattle Rally While Corn and Soy Slide: What Friday’s Futures Signal for Montana Producers
Friday’s board action sent a split message to the countryside: cattle futures pushed higher while key feed grains moved lower. Reports indicate…
Farming
More Soybeans in 2026? What a National Acreage Shift Could Mean for Montana Feed, Hay and Markets
Reports from national farm surveys indicate a possible shift in 2026 U.S. planting intentions: fewer corn acres than last year, but not…
Farming
Diesel Swings Could Hit Montana Hay and Cattle Costs in 2026
Montana producers have learned to budget for weather risk, but 2026 could bring another variable that’s harder to predict: energy price volatility.…
Farming
Oversupply Signals in Row Crops Have Montana Producers Rechecking 2026 Plans
Reports out of the Southern Plains this summer point to a familiar squeeze: too much supply chasing uncertain demand, paired with weather…
News
Western Corn Belt Drought Signals More Feed and Market Pressure for Montana
Reports out of the Western Corn Belt suggest drought is hanging on longer than many producers hoped, with conditions described as worsening…
Farming
Fertilizer prices in the spotlight: What a federal antitrust probe could mean for Montana fields and hay ground
Montana producers have been living with high input costs for several seasons, and fertilizer remains one of the biggest line items for…
News
Spring Swings Put Montana’s Water and Forage Plans Under the Microscope
Montana is heading into spring with the kind of mixed signals that make planning tough: big temperature swings, pockets of improving moisture,…
Farming
MSU Extension Contacts: A Practical Line to Help Montana Producers Through the Season
As spring fieldwork ramps up and calves hit the ground across the state, Montana producers are juggling the usual mix of weather…