The Associated Press ran a story stating that Montana’s wheat was suffering from “below average” protein levels likely caused by drought, but Montana Wheat and Barely Committee Trade and Marketing Manager Cassidy Marn says that report doesn’t seem accurate.

"That particular article was in regard to our hard red winter wheat," Marn said. "We've actually talked to a lot of producers around the state and they're saying they are seeing excellent quality. Protein levels actually look really good. The one issue we might be seeing is lower test weights than normal."

Rather than seeing a disadvantage in the marketplace, Marn says Montana farmers are probably at a competitive advantage this year.

"So many areas in the south and mid west they had a ton of rain at harvest so it really affected their quality," Marn said. "So they actually suffered maybe a little bit lower protein and some other sprout damage and things like that at harvest. If you go further north, Canada is having a terrible time with drought, so their overall production is going to decrease pretty greatly. So really, we are feeling that this year we are sitting in a pretty great spot."

Marn says that protein yields on winter wheat were great, and that we won’t know about the spring wheat until it is harvested this coming winter. Either way, the situation isn’t as gloomy for Montana farmers as other reports have inferred.

 

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