Water & Irrigation
Shut the Headgate in Time: Timing Your Last Flood Before First Cutting
On Montana's flood-irrigated hay meadows, the trick isn't turning the water on — it's knowing when to shut it off so the…
Water & Irrigation
Get the Water On Before the Call Comes: June Irrigation on Montana Hay Ground
Mid-June is when snowmelt runoff peaks and the river goes on call. Here's how to make your water right earn its keep…
News
Montana Spring Fieldwork Outlook: Warmer Signal, Precipitation Still a Question
Reports from ag meteorologists in the central U.S. are pointing to a spring pattern that leans warmer into late spring and early…
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…
Farming
Montana Winter Wheat: Some Fields Hanging On, Others Need a Drink
Montana’s winter wheat picture this spring is shaping up as a tale of different neighborhoods. Reports from around the state suggest some…
Farming
Montana Wheat: Pockets of Promise, Pockets Needing Rain as Spring Conditions Split by Region
Across Montana, the spring wheat picture is shaping up like it often does in a big state: uneven. Reports from producers, agronomists…
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…
News
Spring Moisture Splits Montana: Some Fields Too Wet to Roll, Others Still Waiting
Reports from around Montana suggest spring is arriving with a familiar twist: moisture is not landing evenly. Some producers are looking at…
News
Spring moisture splits Montana: soggy bottoms, dry benches as fieldwork nears
Reports from around Montana suggest spring is arriving with a familiar complication: moisture isn’t showing up evenly. Some valleys are dealing with…
Farming
Chefs Push Farm Bill Priorities—Here’s What Montana Producers Should Pay Attention To
Independent restaurant owners and chefs are stepping into the farm bill debate, urging Congress to move a bill that helps farms and…
Farming
When the Market’s Heavy: What an Oversupplied Crop Story Signals for Montana Hay and Feed
Reports out of the southern Plains point to a familiar squeeze: a crop market that’s carrying too much supply at the same…
News
Drought Talk in the Western Corn Belt Is a Warning Sign for Montana Hay, Feed, and Cattle Markets
Reports out of the Western Corn Belt point to a drought pattern that isn’t letting up. That matters in Montana even if…
News
Dry Pattern Lingers: What Regional Drought Signals Could Mean for Montana Hay, Pasture, and Cattle Markets
Reports from ag meteorologists watching the central U.S. indicate drought has been hanging on across parts of the western Corn Belt, with…
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
New Research Suggests Crop Changes Can Cut Nitrogen Loss—What It Could Mean for Montana Fields and Water
Reports out of national water-quality research circles suggest something important for working producers: changes in what gets grown—and how plants use nitrogen—may…
Farming
Short-Stature Corn Talk Turns Heads: Could It Fit Montana’s Wind, Water, and Weed Pressures?
Short-stature corn isn’t a new idea in plant breeding, but it’s getting fresh attention after reports from the 2026 Commodity Classic that…
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’s News Hub Is Worth Watching as Spring Decisions Pile Up on Montana Farms
Montana producers are used to getting information the old-fashioned way: coffee shop talk, a call to the county agent, and whatever the…
Farming
New end-of-pivot sprinkler options aim to stretch water farther on Montana fields
In a state where a hot wind can pull moisture off a field in a hurry, small improvements in irrigation hardware can…