MGGA Weekly Crop Condition Survey

 

 

July 30, 2019

Todd Hansen - Hill County
Harvest has commenced. Crop that hasn’t been hit by hail will be average around here. TW is good. Protein is a little low due to lack of ambition to spend money on $4 HRW. Stay safe.

Trevor Wolery - Hill County
Dry. Hot. Windy. Residents of Goldstone have given up on preparing for flooding and are now focusing their efforts to bringing rail service to town. Swathing WW began on the 20th, severe sawfly damage this year. WW yields averaging in the mid-thirties. SW having a thin stand and beginning to fall down from sawfly. Received zero precipitation in the past week.

Craig Henke - Liberty County
Combines are rolling, some cutting peas and some winter wheat. With the temps in the 90's thing are turning fast. Busy with irrigating alfalfa and spring wheat. Chickpeas are still blooming, only thing still green. Where has the summer gone. Have a safe harvest. Moisture conditions are fair. Winter wheat is good and in the hard dough stage with an expected 50 (bu/A). Spring wheat is good and in the soft dough stage with an expected 40 (bu/A). Problems in the field are a few grasshoppers.

Mitch Konen - Teton County
Someone turned on the blast furnace. Irrigation is ending and the crops are looking outstanding, as are the wild oats. The wild oats really love this weather. Hay ground is getting watered as well. Most are finishing up with haying chores and others are in the middle of it. A lot of dryland grass getting cut due to the wet spring, there is a little something there. But it is dry as evidenced by the numerous field fires that have been seen within the last week or so. Have seen at least a half dozen from the farm here. The pulse crop acres are getting dirtier with weeds but appear to be in good shape. Winter wheat is a week or so away from full swing harvest. Spring wheat and barley are turning rapidly in this heat as well. Moisture conditions are excellent receiving 0 precipitation in the past week. Winter wheat is excellent and in the hard dough stage with an expected 100 (bu/A). Spring wheat is excellent and in the soft dough stage with an expected 100 (bu/A). Barley is excellent and in the soft dough stage with an expected 100 (bu/A). Pulses are excellent. Problems in the field are mosquitoes, wild oats, kochia, lambsquarter and a little fusarium root rot. Will begin harvest Aug 10th.

Greg Mathews - Judith Basin County
What a nice week to put up hay and a great week for the crops. Cool nights and not too hot days are just what the crops needed. Will finish haying this next week and then get ready for harvest. Crops are turning slowly and still at least 2-3 weeks out. Found some better than average hay and some really good hay on the new seeding, if it had grass in it was great. Moisture conditions are excellent receiving 0 precipitation in the past week. Winter wheat is excellent and in the soft dough stage with an expected 70 (bu/A). Barley is excellent and turning with an expected 80 (bu/A). Will begin harvest the 11th of August.

July 23, 2019

Lyle Benjamin - Toole County
Moisture conditions are poor receiving 0 precipitation in the past week. Winter wheat is poor and in the hard dough stage with an expected 20 (bu/A). Spring wheat is poor and turning with an expected 10 (bu/A). Barley is poor and in the soft dough stage with an expected 10 (bu/A). Harvest has already started-guys are haying the barley. Adjustors have called some of the crop 2-4 bushel/acre. The highest yield barley will be no more than 30 in this area. We finally broke through the 3" rain barrier...the accumulated moisture here is 3.18" since Jan 1.

Robert Bold - Fergus County
Harvest will be a little later this year than usual. Will be able to make the Lewistown Fair--first time in 23 years that we will not be in the field. As a rule, early harvests in Montana are never big harvests. Daily temperatures have been very good this year. So far, no 95 degree, hot SW winds with 15% humidity. That always is a yield reducer. Moisture conditions are good receiving .125 of precipitation in the past week. Winter wheat is good and turning. Spring wheat is good and filling. Barley is good and filling. Problems in the field are just new little grasshoppers and kochia.

Mitch Konen - Teton County
Haying season has been in full swing for the past week. Second round of irrigation on the cereals as well. Went for a little drive around the area doing a little crop scouting. Irrigated crops are looking exceptional. Dryland crops are looking really good as well. Dryland canola is done flowering and filling pods while irrigated canola is still flowering well. Did see some dryland corn just north of me that was waist high and flourishing. Dryland wheat and barley are also looking good. Garbs are doing really well. Peas are done flowering as well. This week's heat may take a toll if no added moisture comes with it. We have had good moisture to this point evidenced by the crop conditions, but fear they may suffer if no added moisture comes to help finish the fill. Winter wheat is weeks away if not sooner of being cut. Spring crops are doing well but may need a drink to finish strong. Lots of grass in the field edges, pastures and road ditches. Harvest season is creeping upon us. Good luck. Moisture conditions are good receiving 0 precipitation in the past week. Winter wheat is excellent and in the soft dough stage with an expected 100 (bu/A). Spring wheat is excellent and filling with an expected 100 (bu/A). Barley is excellent and filling with an expected 100 (bu/A). Dryland hay came in at a little over 1T/acre. Problems in the field are wild oats and kochia. Be a few weeks yet until harvest. As soon as the neighbor gives it a try.

Greg Mathews - Judith Basin County
So far in July it has rained 11 out of 13 days. To the south of me it has rained a lot more. Had a hail storm on the 11th, hurt some alfalfa and some crop. Laid a lot of hay flat and delayed haying again. Forecast is more chances of rain till 17th. Alfalfa needs to be mowed but is mud underneath. Grain looks great with WW starting to turn. Barley is about all headed out or will be this week. Good luck to all and hope you miss the big white combine and get some rain where needed. Moisture conditions are excellent receiving .43 of precipitation in the past week. Winter wheat is excellent and turning. Barley is excellent and heading. Still have another crop of cheat coming again will have to spray in about a week.

July 16, 2019

Alex Smith - Big Horn County
Heavy thunder storms in a couple of evenings. Some hail and wind around but just had a few percent on mine. Severe wind with storms. A few producers lost their crops. One neighbor a mile away had isolated hail stones 4 inches across with spikes covering the edges. Moisture conditions are excellent receiving 1.7-2.6 of precipitation in the past week. Winter wheat is excellent and turning with an expected 70 (bu/A). Spring wheat is excellent and filling with an expected 60 (bu/A). Barley is excellent and filling with an expected 60 (bu/A). Alfalfa beginning to swath.

Craig Henke - Liberty County
Sunday night hail storm did much damage, crops were in excellent condition. Storm went through middle of irrigated land. Some of spring wheat 100%. Mustard is a flat mess, and trying to figure what to do with all the material. Most of alfalfa was baled, so saved the hay. Everyone having problems with chem fallow, can't kill anything, lots using iron to control weeds. Moisture conditions are good receiving .25-1.00 of precipitation in the past week. Winter wheat is good and hard dough with an expected 60 (bu/A). Spring wheat is good and filling with an expected 60 (bu/A). Lentils and chickpeas look great.

Robert Bold - Fergus County
Haying is not done yet, but getting close. Not many green bales this year. Most of the hay got rained on in the windrow, so the bales are brown. Production about average. Moisture conditions are good receiving .5 of precipitation in the past week. Winter wheat is good and filling. Spring wheat is good and heading. Barley is good and filling. Lots of little grasshoppers. Just what we need for next year. Hearing of no hoppers from anyone else, that means we can be in the pure bred hoppers business? Another problem is kochia. Not much grain or grass volunteer. Will begin harvest after August 1st--like the 10th.

Mitch Konen - Teton County
Crops are looking great. Just hope we can keep them safe as a few clouds with hail have been around. Great Falls area got hammered the other night. For the most part our haying is done. Just have a few windrows left to pick up between little showers. Others have been trying to dodge rain showers and the progression has been slow for the haying season. Irrigation demand has been slowly increasing but scattered as some of the rains have spread the urgency around. One last push of the irrigation cycle and we will be in harvest mode soon. Moisture conditions are excellent receiving .25 of precipitation in the past week. Winter wheat is excellent and filling with an expected 100 (bu/A). Spring wheat is excellent and filling with an expected 100 (bu/A). Barley is excellent and filling with an expected 100 (bu/A). Chickpeas, field peas, canola in the area all look excellent. Dryland hay did well. Will begin harvest when Lockie decides to report.

Greg Mathews - Judith Basin County
Finally got to haying on Wednesday. Missed the big dumper on Tuesday. Gap got a half and Garneill got over an inch, here just .03 but .23 for the week. Bin quite cool in the am with 38 degrees on Saturday. Hay crop is below average and disappointing. If it has grass in it is better. Crops still looking great and ww is starting to turn. All the barley is headed out. Moisture conditions are excellent receiving .23 of precipitation in the past week. Winter wheat is excellent and filling with an expected 70 (bu/A). Barley is excellent and filling with an expected 70 (bu/A). Have not seen any grasshoppers yet.

July 9, 2019

Alex Smith - Big Horn County
Haven't submitted a report so far this year. Seeding took 5-6 weeks because of cold and wet, particularly in the south end of Big Horn County. The latest I have seeded in my entire farming career. I could report about any stage of growth there was from tillering to heading. I think we are at about 9 inches of rain so far this spring. So I'm reporting what is common to the area. Great moisture and cool weather has supported the late seeding. Haying started in a few fields but most are waiting, very late for this area. Moisture conditions are excellent receiving 1.45 to 2.5 of precipitation in the past week. Winter wheat is excellent and heading with an expected 70 (bu/A). Spring wheat is excellent and heading with an expected 60 (bu/A). Barley is excellent and heading with an expected 70 (bu/A). Alfalfa in heavy bloom but too wet to swath. Looks great. Problems in the field are the usual prickly lettuce and mustards.

Trevor Wolery - Hill County
My wife says life revolves around the sprayer, I have to agree. Second time chem fallow soon to be finished. Peas have flowered , spring grains headed, winter wheat rapidly ripening. 5.08 total precip year to date with the month of June being the largest precip month at 2.16. Very spotty rains with cool temps being our only saving grace. Town of Goldstone still patiently waiting to implement their flash flood preparedness training. Moisture conditions are fair receiving .14 of precipitation in the past week. Winter wheat is good with an expected 30 (bu/A). Spring wheat is fair with an expected 20 (bu/A). Barley is fair with an expected 20 (bu/A). A problem in the field is drought. Will begin harvesting July 23.

Craig Henke - Liberty County
Hay season in full swing, and hope rain holds off for week. Winter wheat starting to turn, everything else looks great with the cool weather. Roundup is losing its killing power, lots going to tillage. Starting to release water from Tiber Dam, so have lots for irrigation. Moisture conditions are good receiving .35 of precipitation in the past week. Winter wheat is good and turning with an expected 60 (bu/A). Spring wheat is good and filling with an expected 60 (bu/A). Lentils and chickpeas blooming, hot weather will slow that down. Mustard looks great.

Robert Bold - Fergus County
Had a good 4th camping. Really nice temperatures and got rained on 2 to 3 times per day--every day. Just the like the Rain Forest, only in Montana. Moisture conditions are good receiving .35 of precipitation in the past week. Winter wheat is good and filling. Spring wheat is good and heading. Barley is excellent and filling. A problem in the field is a lot of grasshoppers. Chem fallow needs immediate attention. Moisture plus heat equals weeds.

Mitch Konen - Teton County
Crops are growing relatively stress free so far. Not too much heat, not too much cold, not too much moisture, but just right. Haying is in full swing in between the rain showers. A lot of hay has been laying on the ground for an extended amount of time due to spotty showers, but is slowly getting picked up. Just getting a good start on my own dryland hay production. Barley and wheat look really good as it is heading out now. Irrigating the corners of the winter wheat. Irrigation demand has slacked off for the mean time but will soon resume. Had a canal failure which the irrigation district was able to repair in short order resulting in minimal delay time of a day. Moisture conditions are excellent receiving 1.5 of precipitation in the past week. Winter wheat is excellent and filling with an expected 100 (bu/A). Spring wheat is excellent and heading with an expected 100 (bu/A). Barley is excellent and heading with an expected 100 (bu/A). Dryland grass/alfalfa hay looks good and being processed. Peas are still flowering. Chickpeas look good. Problems in the field are mosquitoes, sawfly, cereal leaf beetle and milkweed. Will begin harvest when it's time.

Greg Mathews - Judith Basin County
Having a hard time figuring out which month it is as it has rained 6 out of the last 7 days. Seems more like June. On the 4th got 1.06 and along the mountains they got closer to 3-6 inches. Flooded and water over the roads to the south of me. Definitely not haying weather. Crops are looking great. Wonder when will start haying?? Some have tried and all got rained on. Went to Billings on the 5th and saw a lot in the windrow and brown. Moisture conditions are excellent receiving 1.97 in. of precipitation in the past week. Winter wheat is excellent and filling. Barley is excellent and booting. A problem in the field is a herd of weevil in alfalfa.

July 2, 2019

Robert Bold - Fergus County
Good rains. Getting into the hard rain season which usually comes in short period of time with wind. Some hail reported south of us. Moisture conditions are good receiving 1.35 of precipitation in the past week. Winter wheat is good and filling. Spring wheat is good and booting. Barley is good and booting. Haying is in full swing. Windrows are much smaller than in previous years. Tonnage is probably average to less than average.

Mitch Konen - Teton County
Another week of crop growth has gone by at a fast and furious pace. Irrigation on the Greenfields bench has been in full swing with a full demand on the system. Reservoirs have remained stable as the inflows have kept with the outflows. Sounds like ample rain received in the backcountry has kept stream flows stable at normal spring runoff levels. Temperatures have also remained fairly cool reducing stresses on crops. There is a lot of hay laying on the ground waiting to dry out between rain showers. I have yet to start. Waiting for a little more favorable forecast. Most of the crops are in the heading or flowering stage in the area. Stay safe out there as we celebrate another year of independence for this great country. Moisture conditions are excellent receiving .57 of precipitation in the past week. Winter wheat is excellent and filling with an expected 100 (bu/A). Spring wheat is excellent and heading with an expected 100 (bu/A). Barley is excellent and heading with an expected 100 (bu/A). Dryland grass/alfalfa is good with 1.5T/ac expected. Will begin harvest mid-August.

Greg Mathews - Judith Basin County
It has been a different week for the end of June. Some needed rain hail, wind a tornado around Hobson and Judith Gap. The rain was very streaky with down pours to slight showers. Some started haying and all got rained on. Some barley and spring wheat has started to head out and is the earliest that I can remember. Hope everyone has a great Fourth. Moisture conditions are excellent receiving .78 of precipitation in the past week. Winter wheat is excellent and heading. Barley is excellent and booting.