MGGA Monthly Crop Survey
MARCH 1, 2024
Carter County - Michael Hansen
Started off the month by bangs vaccinating the replacement heifers. Then left for the winter grain grower meeting at hot springs. The drive home was quite eventful as it was snowing and blowing, but made it home. Mostly just been feeding cows and piddling in the shop. Cleaned the durum the last week of February. Just praying for some rain because we haven’t gotten any moisture this winter to speak of. And the wind blows almost everyday, seems like once a week we get 40 plus. Moisture conditions have been poor. I am planning on growing winter wheat, durum, barley, garbonzos, canola, mustard, hay, and sorghum.
Fergus County - Boyd Heilig
We are still hauling some winter wheat. Will get some spring wheat seed cleaned pretty soon. Moisture conditions are still in good shape. The coop here is spreading some urea on winter in the Winifred area. The precipitation in the last month is .5 inches. We are planning on growing winter wheat, spring wheat, barley, and canola.
Fergus County - Robert Bold
Top dressing winter wheat right now on bare frozen ground. I always have liked early application of nitrogen. The plants do too. However, I could not help but look at prices today vs just a few years ago. Fertilizer, even though it has come down, is 81% higher. Most of the chemicals are up even though glyphosate has come down but is still 20% higher. Fuel, even though it has come down, is 50% higher. The current wheat market is 41% of what it was during the same time frame. Farm equipment had a 3%, 6%, and 4% increase, respectively, during the same time frame. But each one of those price increases are "baked in the cake" as the basis for the next price increase. The winter wheat looks good. The October moisture we had is giving us the stand and profile moisture we have. However, we did loose 4 inches of profile moisture during the warm, open November and December. Our winter wheat has broke dormancy 3 times so far this winter. The wild record breaking temperatures in January seems to have left the crop in good shape up to this point. Early Easter this year. Early spring? Early spring--early harvest? Know more by Labor Day. Moisture conditions are good. Between the 3 storms, we had well over 20 inches of snow. Planning on growing winter wheat, spring wheat, and barley for the 2024 season.
Gallatin County - Dale Flikkema
Moisture conditions are good. We have had 2 inches of percipitation in the last month. We are planning on growing spring wheat, lentils, canola, hemp, corn, sunflower, and hay. Did not plant winter wheat.
Teton County - Levi Ostberg
Moisture consitions are good. Almost done calving. Still have lots of semis of hay to get hauled and wheat to price and deliver. I am planning on growing winter wheat, barley, hay, and grass pasture. Winter wheat is in the 3-leaf stage.
Teton County - Mitch Konen
Moisture conditions are good. The precipitation in the last month has been trace. Snow and chinooks. This week finds me away from the farm once again lobbying with National Barley Improvement Committee in Washington DC. The meeting season is nearing an end and spring plans are soon to be in order. Snow pack is scant at a little over 50% of normal. We are planning on growing winter whear, spring wheat, and barley for the 2024 season.